Private servers - modding ESO style

This is following up on what I think is an excellent http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1467255-keep-the-phase-allocation-questionnaire/#entry22865376 suggested by Suomijamppa.

It got me to thinking that this could be ESO's answer to the kind of modding we've seen in single-player games. I think many of us have been assuming that this being an online game, UI mods are about as far as ZO could allow us to go with modding. But it could go a lot further.

With the megaserver structure, if ZO allowed individuals or guilds to rent and control some aspects of private servers then this could allow for a significant degree of customisation, eg. allowing duelling or open world PvP. Since graphics are controlled client side it could potentially even allow some degree of graphical modding.

The owner (of the private server) could also control who has access - making it public, guild(s), invitation only. And they could ban individuals from the server. This would allow those with.... specialised tastes to congregate and enjoy each others' company. You know who I'm talking about. The leather and hot wax crowd. Could also be good for the potty-mouths. If they had their own space to trash-talk each other maybe they wouldn't do it on the public servers. And the RP'ers could thee and thou each other without concern for being wedgied.

Personally I prefer and have played the single-player games mod-free. I intend and am perfectly happy to do the same with the MMO. But the moddability of the TES games has been a significant part of their appeal and if they could bring that to the MMO it might significantly broaden the game's appeal and generate more sales.

You should offer a "no" option for the second one, so I can click no across the board. Things like this have no room in a community based genre such as an MMO, as far as I'm concerned.

Can't vote in poll. As Carde said, you need to add some N/A options for those of us that chose No. Otherwise your poll won't be accurate because only those in favor will be able to vote.

Hmmm i don't like the idea. Although i remember the Warhammer 40k mods on Fallout... so maybe a Fallout MMO could be my failed game reborn... times 2 haha!

Not but seriously that hurt's...

I'm going to have to agree with my Brovenite and with Tabby. If you added "no" options to all the questions I would answer this poll. I don't like this idea for MMOs. Private servers just don't sit well with me when it comes to MMOs, and I don't want to see ZOS making private servers for this game.

No, or at least not for a long time. Once the game is near the end of its life-cycle, I wouldn't have a problem with it.

As I said elsewhere, as long as they have no, and never have, a connection to the public servers, not a big deal. Less people running around, but I doubt it would truly affect the community. There would be plenty of people playing, maybe on less shards, but so? Still selling copies and some people would migrate both directions etc.