The MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online is getting Update 35 in August, which brings changes to the combat system. The community is reacting with mixed feelings. On MeinMMO, you can find out which viewpoints are represented and how they are distributed.
Changes to the combat system have always sparked plenty of discourse within the community. Opinions are extremely divided on this matter. Since Update 32 Deadlands, there have been heated discussions with each subsequent update of the base game.
The opinions of players vary widely. Some support the changes to the combat system, while others are strictly against them. Of course, there are also moderate voices among the players, but they are rather limited.
What changes to the combat system are being made? Two things are being adjusted:
- The damage from light and heavy attacks no longer scales with attributes. This reduces damage by 6 – 11%.
- Combat effects that give you buffs and enhance your damage will last longer.
The developers explain the changes by stating that they want to reduce the significant difference in outgoing damage, which is primarily influenced by light attacks. By extending global cooldowns and the duration of damage-over-time abilities, the developers aim to ease some stress from combat rotations. But will this work, or are they missing the target?
Longtime players are annoyed by the frequent changes
There are critical voices in the community. In some cases, pronounced displeasure is apparent:
- “Honestly, I’m skeptical whether the changes will bring the effects that will benefit the game (in my ESO environment),” writes The_Saint in the forum thread from July 6.
- “I’ve just realized I can’t enjoy this game anymore. Whatever makes you happy about it, IT WILL be ruined in a few weeks. I no longer feel motivated. There are no progressions, it’s just exhausting,” writes Avishag in the official discussion thread from July 11.
- “I don’t know if precise feedback on damage between Live / PTS will be possible now, since the Trial Dummy buffs don’t match with Live, but I’ve lost at least 20,000 DPS over eight parses. This effectively ends my ‘Rockgrove Hard Mode’ dreams and could lead to a prog group being dissolved,” writes QueuesAsTanks in the official discussion thread from July 11.
- “The problem is that the overall damage has been nerfed. Why is that bad? Because ZOS won’t adjust the content,” warns Grabmoore in a comment on MeinMMO.
Our expert assessment aligns with the opinions of the players. MeinMMO author MiezeMelli is critical of the changes:
Increased effect duration benefits weaker players
In the discourse, there are players who are relatively neutral towards the changes. However, this is more the exception. Most comments are for or against.
- “I see the weakening of light attacks as uncritical, but in combination with the extension of the DoTs also ineffective,” writes Rollio in the forum thread from July 6.
However, there are players who are looking forward to the changes despite the heated discussion:
- “Thanks to ZOS for these changes. I love ESO, but I’m bad at fighting – I simply don’t have the skill to switch bars and perform two to three actions per second,” writes mashugana in the official discussion thread from July 11.
However, it remains to be seen whether the implementation will proceed as the developers have envisioned.
ESO misses the target with the changes
What stands out when keeping an eye on the ESO forum are critical voices from very different players. There are often controversies between casual and core players, but this time one can find counter-voices from many parts of the community.
There are also players who are just tired of the frequent changes to the combat system with every update. It is often criticized that the purpose is missed by far and the implementation of planned changes has not led to the hoped-for results.
- User Jaava expresses in a forum post: “Aside from the fact that many things catapult us back years. Why do we actually have to heavily adjust the balance every three months?”
- “I can’t remember any other game I’ve played that often presents ‘bad’ news with changes like ESO. At least regarding the changes to the combat system. So far, I have always been able to somehow arrange myself with the changes. But the changes have always missed the target ZOS aimed at with that, capping the immense damage that top players can pull out of the game. Subjectively, it has always made life harder for me as a mid-level DD than for the top players,” writes ASSOLoki in the forum thread from July 6.
The reasons for pros and cons are diverse, as every player naturally sets different priorities. Especially in an MMORPG, you often have to decide on one aspect of the game because the scope of the game in all its facets requires much time.
What do you think about all this? And can you perhaps also understand the players who hold a different opinion? Do you have any other ideas besides what the developers have? Feel free to let us know in the comments if you have any ideas and thoughts you’d like to share with us!
