PCGamer Article - How combat works in The Elder Scrolls: Onl : Othor Games

» Fri May 25, 2012 8:29 pm

http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/05/25/how-combat-works-in-the-elder-scrolls-online/

Hmm, kind of intrigued by the skill system, sounds like it will be more "Elder Scrollsy" than I thought.

» Sat May 26, 2012 12:12 am

actual evidence of what the game is gonna be like , you know what this means

no more "bye bye TES , its been a good run" threads !

» Sat May 26, 2012 12:09 am

Sounds very similar to Diablo 3...What is kind of good, because D3 has a nice combat gameplay.

But, Im not so sure if its the kind of gameplay TES fans will like.

» Fri May 25, 2012 7:06 pm

Sounds ok, but Ive a strange feeling, people are going to complain ALOT of this, especially MMORPG players. :biggrin:

IMHO, this is step backwards... Hopefully theres more to it basically.

» Sat May 26, 2012 2:13 am

Everyone can equip every weapon confirmed? That is amazing.

The character system indeed sounds very elder-scrollsy. Can't wait to see it in action.

» Fri May 25, 2012 11:31 pm

While this sounds great, I am a little perplexed as to why you can only have 3 "spells" during a fight. At least in Skyrim you can change magic in battle on the fly. Being limited to only 3 abilities a fight sort of kills off diversity. Characters in MMOs generally learn a lot of abilities. That's why you can have multiple hot bars; because you need to use a lot of those abilities to combat different scenarios. Now in ESO we have to constantly pause and reselect our THREE slot layout? Seems a HUGE DUMB DOWN.

» Fri May 25, 2012 9:00 pm

Oh awesome - actual skill progression based on using that skill? Awesome!

» Sat May 26, 2012 12:08 am

Ah, I like this.
A lot of customisation and options, I can see myself spending a lot of time experimenting with weapon/ ability combos.
It also doesnt sound like a clickfest and thats important.

» Sat May 26, 2012 1:02 am

Sounds ok, but Ive a strange feeling, people are going to complain ALOT of this, especially MMORPG players. :biggrin:

IMHO, this is step backwards... Hopefully theres more to it basically.

Actually its a huge step forward (or a step back in time, considering that very similar to how EQ did it) but a step in the right direction none the less, tactical skill choice, not infinite hotbar whack a mole.

» Fri May 25, 2012 7:02 pm

So eventually every character becomes a jack of all trades?

I don't really like that idea. Characters should be able to specialize in a few weapon skills, but not all of them.

Edit: I'm not saying being able to use any weapon with any class is a bad idea though. I like that part.

» Fri May 25, 2012 10:08 pm

Actually its a huge step forward (or a step back in time, considering that very similar to how EQ did it) but a step in the right direction none the less, tactical skill choice, not infinite hotbar whack a mole.

Aye, that article isnt good in my opinion. I bet theres more we dont know, maybe that "work with another player" thing.

» Sat May 26, 2012 12:13 am

Arrghh....

» Fri May 25, 2012 6:39 pm

Aye, that article isnt good in my opinion. I bet theres more we dont know.

I disagree and think its one of the best articles yet as far as info, other than the odd ecco we got. haha

» Sat May 26, 2012 7:49 am

So eventually every character becomes a jack of all trades?

I don't really like that idea. Characters should be able to specialize in a few weapon skills, but not all of them.

Edit: I'm not saying being able to use any weapon with any class is a bad idea though. I like that part.

The choice will be completely up to you. I plan to specialize in bows and two-handed swords for melee and that is it. I have no intention to specialize in any magic. If you choose to become decent in many things then that is all you will ever be; decent. I will become an expert bowman and a good swordsman.

» Fri May 25, 2012 10:26 pm

While this sounds great, I am a little perplexed as to why you can only have 3 "spells" during a fight. At least in Skyrim you can change magic in battle on the fly. Being limited to only 3 abilities a fight sort of kills off diversity. Characters in MMOs generally learn a lot of abilities. That's why you can have multiple hot bars; because you need to use a lot of those abilities to combat different scenarios. Now in ESO we have to constantly pause and reselect our THREE slot layout? Seems a HUGE DUMB DOWN.

On the contrary, it enhances diversity. If everyone could use all their abilites at any time, there would be even less difference between characters. Having to choose 4 abilites out of your ability-pool results in much more options and builds.
I also expect multiple hotbars, which you can set individually and then flick through them as the situation changes. Of course only one is active at a time, but it would enable you to change your build with one klick out of combat.

» Fri May 25, 2012 6:58 pm

The choice will be completely up to you. I plan to specialize in bows and two-handed swords for melee and that is it. I have no intention to specialize in any magic. If you choose to become decent in many things then that is all you will ever be; decent. I will become an expert bowman and a good swordsman.

That would work in a singleplayer game, or on a roleplaying server. But once you start PvP-ing, or raiding you'll get absolutely destroyed by the jack of all trade characters some people will have.

I hope we'll have a set amount of perk points we can spend on a skill/weapon to specialize in it.

» Fri May 25, 2012 5:32 pm

So eventually every character becomes a jack of all trades?

I don't really like that idea. Characters should be able to specialize in a few weapon skills, but not all of them.

Edit: I'm not saying being able to use any weapon with any class is a bad idea though. I like that part.

They never actually said that, you can use any weapon of choice and learn new things with it and gain "skill" will it to get better, but they never said we would be able to learn another class's abilities or spells so im sure a battlemage would still have more magic skills than a knight.

While this sounds great, I am a little perplexed as to why you can only have 3 "spells" during a fight. At least in Skyrim you can change magic in battle on the fly. Being limited to only 3 abilities a fight sort of kills off diversity. Characters in MMOs generally learn a lot of abilities. That's why you can have multiple hot bars; because you need to use a lot of those abilities to combat different scenarios. Now in ESO we have to constantly pause and reselect our THREE slot layout? Seems a HUGE DUMB DOWN.

Its a tactical choice as to what skills you bring to the table in any given fight and a very good decision in my opinion, in the single player games your still limited in your equipped skill, the main thing different is you can pause the gameplay to change skills/spells in single player, in an mmorpg you just have to be out of combat, which is close to the same thing, a pause in the action.

» Fri May 25, 2012 6:41 pm

So ... do I read it right, no (active) racial abilities?

» Sat May 26, 2012 8:23 am

They never actually said that, you can use any weapon of choice and learn new things with it and gain "skill" will it to get better, but they never said we would be able to learn another class's abilities or spells so im sure a battlemage would still have more magic skills than a knight.

"I’ll have varying levels of expertise with them, but by trying out various builds and various decks I’m going to become a master of all of them eventually."

So what do you think they mean by this sentence then?

"So I can gain mastery of it by virtue of having it equipped, but I can still pick up any weapon in the game and be good with it. And that’s true of anyone."
Or this.

It seems like you can become a master of all weapon types with any character, but not the master of all skills, because those are based on your class.

» Sat May 26, 2012 8:11 am

That would work in a singleplayer game, or on a roleplaying server. But once you start PvP-ing, or raiding you'll get absolutely destroyed by the jack of all trade characters some people will have.

I hope we'll have a set amount of perk points we can spend on a skill/weapon to specialize in it.

Well that will depend on how the combat and skill system works. If everyone is forced to be a JOAT then the system is not a good one and the game will suffer. We will see.

» Fri May 25, 2012 6:53 pm

So ... do I read it right, no (active) racial abilities?

I didn't see anywhere that there will be no racial abilities.

» Sat May 26, 2012 9:40 am

I liked the article, thank you for sharing!

» Fri May 25, 2012 5:43 pm

"I’ll have varying levels of expertise with them, but by trying out various builds and various decks I’m going to become a master of all of them eventually."

So what do you think they mean by this sentence then?

"So I can gain mastery of it by virtue of having it equipped, but I can still pick up any weapon in the game and be good with it. And that’s true of anyone."
Or this.

It seems like you can become a master of all weapon types with any character, but not the master of all skills, because those are based on your class.

Trying out various builds means putting various different abilities/skills/spells from your class on your hotbar, to try out different play styles, by becoming a master of them all eventually is talking about your skills raising and eventually you will "max" out the "skill" in all your abilities/spells/skills, not another class's skills.

The second line just means you can gain skill in every weapon you equip and use, much like single player TES games.

» Fri May 25, 2012 8:06 pm

Trying out various builds means putting various different abilities/skills/spells from your class on your hotbar, to try out different play styles, by becoming a master of them all eventually is talking about your skills raising and eventually you will "max" out the "skill" in all your abilities/spells/skills, not another class's skills.

The second line just means you can gain skill in every weapon you equip and use, much like single player TES games.

That's fine, but wouldn't a bowman be at a disadvantage against someone who is a master marksman, swordsman, excels at using a warhammer etc.

The article mentions that you can use any weapon with any class, and be good with it.
The question is, can you master all of the weapon types with a single character, or not.

» Sat May 26, 2012 8:09 am

That's fine, but wouldn't a bowman be at a disadvantage against someone who is a master marksman, swordsman, excels at using a warhammer etc.

The article mentions that you can use any weapon with any class, and be good with it.
The question is, can you master all of the weapon types with a single character, or not.

Yes im sure you can skill up to "master" with any weapon and possibly all weapons (unless there is a skill cap on characters) but just cause your bowman is superb with a 2h hammer doesn't mean his class abilities will work well with that weapon. For example just because a Knight can be really good with a bow, doesn't mean he will have an advantage over an archer who's skills will complement the use of a bow.