Massively.com: The Daily Grind: Do you feel pressured to level faster?

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I've been playing Elder Scrolls Online pretty much daily since early release, but I just now dinged level 25 on my main character. I'd probably be a bit further along if I hadn't been consumed with altitis and some early-game decisional paralysis, not to mention I've spent a significant chunk of time crafting.

I'm seeing a bunch of level 50s, though, and even though ESO is one of those rare themeparks that offers incentives for exploration and things to do off of the beaten paths, I'm feeling somewhat envious of all these higher-level folk.

What about you, Massively readers? Do you feel any pressure -- either from yourself or from others -- to speed up your leveling process?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: Do you feel pressured to level faster? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Apr 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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My favorite reply in that thread was the person who said "Nope! I never level on anyone else's schedule but my own."

I should admit that in chat and in raidcall hearing people talk about higher level zones, dungeons, etc to say nothing of AvA and vet level players does to an extent place pressure on me as a player to level faster simply to be able to participate in Guild activities.

But, I too am a cronic sufferer of altitis, I too love to explore every possible path (and even a few not possible paths) thus my highest is only 11 and I was in 5 day early access!

I think I ALWAYS feel pressure to level faster. It's because all of my friends are always higher lvl than myself, and I always want to play high end content, be it raids or PVP. This game is no different, but honestly I do it to myself, I create my own pressure. I think In this game I'm having trouble finding friends. In other MMO's I always had a core group with whom I'd hook up with and run around with. For some reason in ESO, I don't have that. Maybe I'm getting older and less social, I don't really know lol. (Thanks to Bri for hanging out with me the other day) I think MMO's in general these days facilitate casual groups where you don't have to actually interact with oters to take part in the group. Case in point was an anchor I did the other day. I randomly met up with people who happened to start the anchor. I was able to heal, dps and get XP & credit for closing the anchor all without ever having to formally be in a group. I like how things are more casual now than back in the day with games like EQ, but a part of me misses the necessity for grouping. I have never made the friendships in game like I did back then, when to kill anything we needed a full group lol. ok, /reminisce off. If any of you ever have the need for a healer, keep me in mind. @Kurtz0619.

It's human nature to feel "some" pressure to level faster.  Paraphrasing a massively podcast, mmo themeparks tend to give you the impression that character levels are like a ladder system and who wants to be at the bottom right ;D it's to the top as fast as we can.  

Do I feel pressure to level faster? Heck yea!!! I am always behind, never with the pack, last to see the end, want to do everything now and not be left out. Started in Warhammer and has not stopped since then. I am trying not to do it in this game, not succeeding very well. Family members want events in the pve would and I want to lead, but when the only zone I know is Bleakrack and Devon's Watch not much to lead yet. I am very excited about the adventure zones, that sounds like it will be right up the familys alley. I just hit 12 and I am excite to try my first dungeon - twice - once as a tank and once as a healer. Trying to figure out if I can do both on one toon. As for grouping with people. This game is a little strange in that part in that it seems to encourage solo play since there is a lot of areas that only you can go into, also you need to make the same choices as the person you are grouping with to be able to help. 

Also remember to shout out in guild and rc if you need help doing something or want to group. Family want to do things but are afraid to ask or get it started. As I reread this post I realize that this is all normal for me. (poor Fog).  So the moral of the story is go out have fun, do not worry about the other guy, hollar out if you need help and its not the end that is important - it is the journey to the end that makes memory.

Prissy

The Directionally Challenged Explorer

No!

Im way to "hey look a squirrel, let's kill it" to stay on the task to level fast.  (Yes I do kill every rabbit, rat or squirrel I see, they are a pest and they spread diseases.  Or something.)

I could however have used the extra xp gain from the rings of Mara, but I already had enough trouble finding my rl wife.  I'm not going to waste my time searching for one in a game.

I actually don't feel any pressure to level faster... leveling is a by product of me playing - I don't play to level.

I am actually usually surprised when I make a new level :)   I have consistently been above level for the quests I have by 3-4 levels.  I do every quest I can find - and find most of them fascinating.  I also slay anything that moves and is in my path - my path is every where since I run behind ever tree - into every rock out cropping - up on top of every hill since all because they hide all sorts of stuff every where imaginable.  I haven't seen half of Deshan yet and I'm level 24 and have the achievement for lore books in that Zone. (yet I still find lore books - not sure about that one).

This is the first MMO I've played in a long while where I truly feel a sense of adventure - and want to explore.   I don't want to get to the end ;)

I don't mind power leveling alts. But for my main in any game I tend to take a leisurely stroll through the content first. Endgame isn't the only game and in my experience tends to the repetitive anyway. I don't see a need to rush to dailies, the same dungeons/raids or pvp fights. 

other games yes. But for this game I want more stories. The stories are addictive, just like watching tv series non stop lol.

I'm in a mixed feeling on this.  However, I'm more towards the not feeling pressured.  There are SOOO many of us still doing Stonefalls and Deshaan that I always find things to do with people even if I solo a lot too.  Also, in testing I made it to lower veteran levels and probably played harder to find as many bugs before it released.  Now I'm downright casual about it and spend half my time crafting and doing inventory maintenance to craft everything!  Though after L15 leveling seemed to go faster without really trying too hard.  I hit 21 doing Banished Cells last night and was only getting xp for boss mobs before I dinged and then the completion of it.  Still it was a nice amount and great fun with guildies.  The latter the more important part!

I haven't set up any set events because I'm just too random these days to do it.  =)  Ooooo, shiny.  ::veers left to grab a node::  Even in RL I may have my usual times on the game, but those do vary some based on how I feel and what is going on.  Actually right now I should be writing up another idea for my blog instead of writing in here.  I'm blaming the rainy weather, even if blame games are lame.  ;)

What I have done a couple times is turn guild "let's group for ...." into posted events if no one else was able to post just so people got fellowship points, too.  I personally as an elder don't need the points and rather someone else post, but will definitely do it if I'm the only one of rank to do it.  That way you newer people can learn the system and someday lead cool things for the family. 

Anyway, when I'm around in the game and not in my own quest instance, I don't mind coming to help out with things.

Meh. Been playing since day 1 of 5 day early access. I just hit 35 last night. I like to see and do as much as I can while I am leveling. I thought I would rush to 50, but I am seriously enjoying the questing and dungeon running as it is. Plus, maybe by the time I hit 50, the AvA situation in Hopesfire will be "better."

I love to explore with an army of alts and in all games I suffer from the 'hey guys wait for me I'm not that level yet' syndrome.

In ESO I do feel shy of stepping up and participating with others because of the phase issue of going down the same paths and being at the same turn as other group members. Also it seems true that so very much of the content is solo and even when my wife and I are doing a quest together we have found several times ourselves placed in separate instances of the end or "boss" fight. (and her sorcerer always has to wait while I die and have to try again lol)

Maybe this is only my perception and I will get over it as I gain confidence and move out of my sheltered bubble and, I realize that it's hard to want everyone to stop and read every page and pick every flower.

I do want to be helpful and social and add to the whole more than any leveling or game accomplishment could ever mean to me!

peace...

Tuz

No pressure to level at all.  The game is going to be there for years, no need to hurry.  My highest is just level 14 although I started from first day of early access.  I didn't play every single day though.