Tag: Writhing Wall Phase 3

  • ESO Writhing Wall: Is the New Reward Grind Worth It?

    The Elder Scrolls Online’s Writhing Wall event has sparked some lively discussion among players, with reviews ranging from “awesome” to “abysmal”. Here’s a summary of what the community is saying about the event, the Solstice zone, and whether or not to snag the Content Pass.

    The Event: Phases, Participation, and Grind:

    The Writhing Wall event is a three-phase storyline centered around tearing down the Wall and preparing for an assault against the Worm Cult.

    • Phase 1 is themed around preparation3. It involves repeatable daily quests like Crafting, collecting Items, gathering Vitrified Souls, and Defending a Siege Camp (the last of which is only available in Solstice for Content Pass owners).
    • Phase 2 is set to add additional dailies, rewards, and a new World Boss as the Worm Cult retaliates.
    • Phase 3 will bring more rewards and a public dungeon called the Writhing Fortress, focusing on finally breaching the wall.

    The general sentiment on the event’s current state (Phase 1) is mixed:

    • Positive Notes: Many find the event to be cooler than previous zone events. It’s considered solid for leveling an alt and offers good XP with dailies. Players appreciate the high player turnout, the simple and easy participation, and the vibe in Solstice which includes dance parties and players helping each other. The concept of the whole server working together to tear down a wall was initially exhilarating.
    • Negative Feedback: A significant portion of the community finds the event repetitive. Phase 1 is described as abysmal and boring with reskinned dolmens, and critics claim it’s just “a lot of boring busy work for low rewards”. The current content is seen as a mundane overland grind with few challenges. There are also complaints about buggy elements, a lack of a merchant and banker in the camp, and some dailies being too long and boring.

    Rewards and Drop Rates:

    Rewards for the event are available, including a mount, pet, furnishings, and style pages.

    • Notable Drops: The Coldharbor Estate house drop (normally 5600 crowns) is a major draw for the grind. You can also get new motif pages, skill styles, and furnishing plans.
    • Daily Rewards: Players can earn up to three gold boxes per account, per day, from the repeatable daily quests.
    • Controversy on Drops: The drop rates for desirable items like vitrified souls and other rewards are frequently criticized as inconsistent and ridiculously bad. The low drop rate can encourage a “compete for drops” mentality rather than cooperation, which disappoints some players.

    Important Note: ALL rewards can be obtained after the event by Content Pass owners, as the Siege Camps will remain as ongoing incursions in Solstice. The only exclusive reward is the “Wallbreaker” title, available only during Phase 3. Furthermore, the market may become oversaturated with loot post-event, making style and motif pages potentially cheap to buy with gold.

    The Content Pass: Buy for the Event?

    It’s crucial to understand what you’re buying. You don’t buy the event; you buy the Content Pass, which is a purchase for the remainder of the year’s content.

    • Content Pass Includes:
      • The new Solstice zone (located southeast on the map).
      • A new Zone Story (11 quests) and side quests.
      • 4 Dungeons, 1 Trial (Ossein Cage), 6 Delves, 7 World Bosses, and 2 Public Dungeons
      • New mounts, pets, collectibles, furnishing plans, and over 80 achievements.
      • Access to the Solstice-specific elements of the Writhing Wall event.
    • Participation Without the Pass: You do not have to buy the Content Pass to participate in the Writhing Wall event. Players without the Pass can do almost everything in Phase 1, including three of the four types of repeatable daily quests, in base-game zones.

    Verdict on Buying the Pass:

    • Don’t Buy for the Event Alone: Many veterans and newer players strongly advise against buying the pass just for the Writhing Wall event, especially since Phase 1 is considered “pitiful” and “worse than past events” by some.
    • Consider Buying for the Full Content: If you want access to the Western Solstice zone, the full storyline, the Ossein Cage trial, and the other year-long content, the Content Pass may be worth it—especially if it’s on sale.

    Ultimately, the Writhing Wall event has proven to be a mixed bag. While the concept is great and the social atmosphere can be fun, the Phase 1 grind and inconsistent rewards have left many veterans disappointed. As Phases 2 and 3 are yet to fully roll out, some players are reserving final judgment, hoping they will offer the “harder bosses” and “dungeon-type content” that has been promised.