Now flash forward a couple weeks and his opinion had done a complete 360, why is this?
I think you meant 180. Otherwise, he'd still love the game.
DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOUVE DONE!>!
My credibility was already hanging on a thread after the conspiracy theory about my friend actually being me, because of course I love arguing with myself about games ive aready pre-ordered for me and my girlfriend.
Plot twist: My Girlfriend is also me.
But do you keep your clothes in two separate closets?
Doesn't sound like people I know - or that I would *STILL* know rather.
What's perhaps more scary is to see that (possibly) people can be influenced that much by "doom and gloom" in forums, to the point that they are actually changing their mind completely about a game.
Your friend might be on to something. However all the [mod edits] make this thread useless, without knowing what your friend actually said. Did you intentionally add them?
I mean really, your friend used to love this game, but now he says [mod edit].
Really?
BTW impersonating a moderator is against this sites EULA. By typing [mod edit] (in red before) you are impersonating an MMORPG.com representative.
Maybe other people's opinions matter? Many expected the new age of MMORPG'ing, especially from a Bethesda derivative. Instead of cutting others down, just accept that some don't like what you like.
Some like, some don't. Stop making people who don't like what you like out to be crazy folks. ESO is good for what it's worth. It's no Skyrim, it's no WoW. It's a decent mediocre MMORPG, this time set in the ES world, which will sell regardless.
Settle down, geez.
I'm seeing a thread about someone who became a super-fan -- much more so than 99% of us here who don't start FB groups to praise the game -- after seeing it with his own eyes and did a complete turn-around based on what others were saying about it.
And oh, before you go too deeply into your conspiracy theory about the mod edits, those were all about referencing a pirate server version of another MMO.
Otherwise you get an "E" for effort in randomly supporting ESO negativity wherever you may find it.
"Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community ... but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It's the invasion of the idiots”
― Umberto Eco
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?” ― CD PROJEKT RED
Hes entitled to his opinion. Dont like it? Dont ignore him tell him to STFU or leave the skype call, vent, w/e. And if he wont respect you enough to not force his opinions down your throat then hes not a friend at all.
Playing: FFXIV, DnL, and World of Warships Waiting on: Ashes of Creation
And so it was that nothing proved sacred for in the end of times the forum goers would even fight over the views of some one else's friend...
*A passage from the Elder MMORPG.com Scrolling Net Book.
I do find it disturbing that Joe poster was so disturbed by John Reader quoting these forums that he had to start a thread here just to get all of you talking about him. It's like fat shaming.
Ranging anywhere from core design flaws to instancing to reptitviness of combat, my friend complained non-stop on skype for over an hour and half, eventually forcing me to just straight up stop playing so I could wait an hour for him to get off the game.
Why am I posting about this? Because during the first stress test He LOVED - and I mean LOVED the game! He clamoured about how it was a great representation of an Elder Scrolls game. He even went as far to make a facebook group for all of us so we could form a guild post-launch. We played for roughly 12 hours straight the first beta weekend and then a few more 3 hour sessions thrown in when we had time.
Now flash forward a couple weeks and his opinion had done a complete 180, why is this?
[mod edit]
- He refused to roll a Character on Aldmeri Dominion or Daggerfall Covenant.
When he started saying how repetitive the game had become I asked him "Dude why dont you just roll an alt on a different faction". To which he then claimed their wasnt a point because he wouldnt be playing either faction at launch and that their shouldnt be factions anyways. What?? How does this even remotely add up, but I just tried to ignore it.
- He began spouting forum posts like gospel.
So we both frequent alot of the same forums and as crazy as it might sound to you guys, he began saying quotes that sounded very familiar to me, like things that didnt sound like his opinion but rather something he gathered from an outside source and was reciting rather than stating. I quickly found the post he was directly quoting but didnt confront him, it was pointless because you know what post it was? One of the biggest troll posts on the forum. Hundreds of comments with heated opinions on both sides. This was it for me, I wasnt going to be a dick and call him out but I had enough.
- He still wants it to be 1999
At the end of the conversation when I had just lost all effort he said one thing I still remember clear as day,
"Why cant they just make a "GOOD REAL MMO" like EQ again?"
Ill let you form your own opinions from there but to me this just speaks to the overall MMO community.
People are so ready to throw their lives away on a single game, one MMO to rule them all, that they lose out on playing a fun game and just enjoying it with their friends.
They micro analyze everything to the smallest detail to figure out what is wrong with the game rather then themsleves.
They dont want to change their ways or try something else in the game to make it better.
They quickly go to forums and to other opinions that are the same as theirs to validate why their opinion is right.
Does this sound like anyone you know or in your community?
I used to have the same problems with my friends when I was a lot younger. Every time we had a difference of opinion, It was very difficult for us just to agree to disagree and leave a subject alone. Games aren’t meant to be chores; If he does not find it entertaining, maybe you should advise him to stop playing. Sometimes a little distance is good for a relationship. Grass is always greener on the other side, and there is always room for complaining. There are certain things that can be changed within games, and there are fundamentals that the game is based on that can hardly be modified. At the end, everyone has their own standards.
Rubber duck is incapable of hate.
" The extinction of Rubber Ducks will bring forth the end of our days. "
Your friend might be on to something. However all the [mod edits] make this thread useless, without knowing what your friend actually said. Did you intentionally add them?
I mean really, your friend used to love this game, but now he says [mod edit].
Really?
BTW impersonating a moderator is against this sites EULA. By typing [mod edit] (in red before) you are impersonating an MMORPG.com representative.
Maybe other people's opinions matter? Many expected the new age of MMORPG'ing, especially from a Bethesda derivative. Instead of cutting others down, just accept that some don't like what you like.
Some like, some don't. Stop making people who don't like what you like out to be crazy folks. ESO is good for what it's worth. It's no Skyrim, it's no WoW. It's a decent mediocre MMORPG, this time set in the ES world, which will sell regardless.
Settle down, geez.
I'm seeing a thread about someone who became a super-fan -- much more so than 99% of us here who don't start FB groups to praise the game -- after seeing it with his own eyes and did a complete turn-around based on what others were saying about it.
And oh, before you go too deeply into your conspiracy theory about the mod edits, those were all about referencing a pirate server version of another MMO.
Otherwise you get an "E" for effort in randomly supporting ESO negativity wherever you may find it.
If you re-read the article as it is right now, you "might" also see it as I do. However the edits happened to come about, it makes the article seem really fishy, because it's lop-sided now.
BTW thanks for your rating of E. I won't stoop to your degrading scheme, even if you didn't even realize I was passively supporting ESO fans, even though the game has deficiencies (mentioned in the article).
He is very right about the RvRvR thing. RvR MMOs model have proven to be total fail. At one point in the very near future there will be huge population skew to one of the sides for whatever reason, in which moment game is over and everybody will start to thing of ways to fix the imbalance and there will be none.
Then it will be clear this game is a single-player and you'll have another SWTOR again.
You could bookmark this post and read it again in 12 months. You'll be surprised of my accuracy.
He is very right about the RvRvR thing. RvR MMOs model have proven to be total fail. At one point in the very near future there will be huge population skew to one of the sides for whatever reason, in which moment game is over and everybody will start to thing of ways to fix the imbalance and there will be none.
Then it will be clear this game is a single-player and you'll have another SWTOR again.
You could bookmark this post and read it again in 12 months. You'll be surprised of my accuracy.
Im going to hold you to that, but sadly I know you are correct in your assumptions, if solely from the history we have seen with RvR games.
I mean I may be the only one here, but does anyone remember Warhammer Online's massive RvR Server debacle?
Somewhere along the lines of what, 20-some Order Guilds transfer servers?! Its just that rediculous, skewed the entire RvR to one side for the rest of my servers history. There was literally a banner-call of almost every Chaos Guild on the server and still there was no hope. NO HOPE FOR CHAOS, THINK ABOUT THAT?!
Not to mention the other server which probably suffered the same imbalance, it just didnt work out for anyone.
*Side-note*
Just want to apologize for referancing a current emulator, I am well aware of MMORPG.com guidelines regarding promotion of emulators, I simply thought a referance to the emulator would not be a big dea but I understand the warning. (Just in case anyone else was going to throw in an EMU comment)
He is very right about the RvRvR thing. RvR MMOs model have proven to be total fail. At one point in the very near future there will be huge population skew to one of the sides for whatever reason, in which moment game is over and everybody will start to thing of ways to fix the imbalance and there will be none.
Then it will be clear this game is a single-player and you'll have another SWTOR again.
You could bookmark this post and read it again in 12 months. You'll be surprised of my accuracy.
Im going to hold you to that, but sadly I know you are correct in your assumptions, if solely from the history we have seen with RvR games.
I mean I may be the only one here, but does anyone remember Warhammer Online's massive RvR Server debacle?
Somewhere along the lines of what, 20-some Order Guilds transfer servers?! Its just that rediculous, skewed the entire RvR to one side for the rest of my servers history. There was literally a banner-call of almost every Chaos Guild on the server and still there was no hope. NO HOPE FOR CHAOS, THINK ABOUT THAT?!
Not to mention the other server which probably suffered the same imbalance, it just didnt work out for anyone.
*Side-note*
Just want to apologize for referancing a current emulator, I am well aware of MMORPG.com guidelines regarding promotion of emulators, I simply thought a referance to the emulator would not be a big dea but I understand the warning. (Just in case anyone else was going to throw in an EMU comment)
Warhammer Online suffered from server imbalances due to how stupid and clueless mythic was at the time and what they allowed. Aion IMO got this part right where you were not allowed to transfer to overpopulated faction servers. I played warhammer online from Ostermark to Phoenix Throne to Badlands to Gorfang back to Badlands before finally giving up on mythic and that damn game. Honestly though destruction pretty much ruled all servers I was ever on as most preferred to play evil races. My first 40 was a Ironbreaker but after that it was a 40 DOK 40 Blackguard and 40 Shaman. Be glad ESO has tri-realm pvp and one mega server. Realm hoppers will not be able to organize like they did that cheesy crap in warhammer to be OP.
Ranging anywhere from core design flaws to instancing to reptitviness of combat, my friend complained non-stop on skype for over an hour and half, eventually forcing me to just straight up stop playing so I could wait an hour for him to get off the game.
Why am I posting about this? Because during the first stress test He LOVED - and I mean LOVED the game! He clamoured about how it was a great representation of an Elder Scrolls game. He even went as far to make a facebook group for all of us so we could form a guild post-launch. We played for roughly 12 hours straight the first beta weekend and then a few more 3 hour sessions thrown in when we had time.
Now flash forward a couple weeks and his opinion had done a complete 180, why is this?
[mod edit]
- He refused to roll a Character on Aldmeri Dominion or Daggerfall Covenant.
When he started saying how repetitive the game had become I asked him "Dude why dont you just roll an alt on a different faction". To which he then claimed their wasnt a point because he wouldnt be playing either faction at launch and that their shouldnt be factions anyways. What?? How does this even remotely add up, but I just tried to ignore it.
- He began spouting forum posts like gospel.
So we both frequent alot of the same forums and as crazy as it might sound to you guys, he began saying quotes that sounded very familiar to me, like things that didnt sound like his opinion but rather something he gathered from an outside source and was reciting rather than stating. I quickly found the post he was directly quoting but didnt confront him, it was pointless because you know what post it was? One of the biggest troll posts on the forum. Hundreds of comments with heated opinions on both sides. This was it for me, I wasnt going to be a dick and call him out but I had enough.
- He still wants it to be 1999
At the end of the conversation when I had just lost all effort he said one thing I still remember clear as day,
"Why cant they just make a "GOOD REAL MMO" like EQ again?"
Ill let you form your own opinions from there but to me this just speaks to the overall MMO community.
People are so ready to throw their lives away on a single game, one MMO to rule them all, that they lose out on playing a fun game and just enjoying it with their friends.
They micro analyze everything to the smallest detail to figure out what is wrong with the game rather then themsleves.
They dont want to change their ways or try something else in the game to make it better.
They quickly go to forums and to other opinions that are the same as theirs to validate why their opinion is right.
Does this sound like anyone you know or in your community?
Maybe the issue is that MMOs require a huge time investment. Even the most casual ones require a lot of time and effort. They are not simple games that can be played and enjoyed in 15 minute play sessions nor finished in a month's time (unless you are a power gamer). That means most gamers will be focusing on a single MMO for long periods of time and they want that time to be productive and entertaining and rewarding and preferably catering to their specific play style. With the slow release time of MMOs in general, it can be very disappointing to find the next one or two releases to be opposite of what you are looking for and knowing it could be years before you see another new MMO to call home.
Games are for having fun. To many people act like it's their profession.
Anyway, see you in game.
its a product of their consumption. why waste money om stuff that isnt worth it long run?
Because that's life. Why is everyone trying to act like an MMO is any different than eating out or going to see a movie?
I wish they would stop beta testing except for an elite group like they used to. Stop letting the public know anything except a few reviews. The public seems far more critical an unhappy now than they did way back when they just had to see what was for sale. PC gamer was one of the only ways to know what was coming out and you WISHED you could get a demo first.
Beats this crapfest we have now....
"This may hurt a little, but it's something you'll get used to. Relax....."
Most of the people on this forum agree with your friend... so be prepared.
Every poll, and I mean EVERY SINGLE POLL THAT HAS BEEN MADE about people going to play ESO has been the vast majority of people on this forum.
There are plenty that hate the game, plenty that troll the game, and plenty that genuinely have concerns about ESO or found it wasn't for them.
Which category do you fall under?
fs23otm is obviously still in the denial phase... Thats mostly where people think there os some big evil preventing others to see his truth as the only truth...
Best MMO experiences : EQ(PvE), DAoC(PvP), WoW(total package) LOTRO (worldfeel) GW2 (Artstyle and animations and worlddesign) SWTOR (Story immersion) TSW (story) ESO (character advancement)
Well his first problem is that he isn't Aldmeri Domion. I've played all 3 factions to at least level 10 (daggerfall 10, ebonheart 13, and Aldmeri 15), and Aldmeri has the best starter areas imho. Ebonheart is cool once you get past the swamps, I don't like it at all in the swamps lol. Daggerfall is ok, but it has way too much running back and forth in the begining. Aldmeri, you actually get to progress up the map as you level, instead of having to run back and forth to town, except to extract stuff from items when your bags get full. Even then, you'll be near the next town that lets you do so
Most of the people on this forum agree with your friend... so be prepared.
Every poll, and I mean EVERY SINGLE POLL THAT HAS BEEN MADE about people going to play ESO has been the vast majority of people on this forum.
There are plenty that hate the game, plenty that troll the game, and plenty that genuinely have concerns about ESO or found it wasn't for them.
Which category do you fall under?
fs23otm is obviously still in the denial phase... Thats mostly where people think there os some big evil preventing others to see his truth as the only truth...
This is true of fanbois as well as haters or any extremist.
Well OP, it just sounds to me like your "friend" here is a weak minded fool that can't form true opinions on his own, so he always get's carried on the breeze of collective thoughts and ideas that are in majority. Sadly enough nowadays the majority is dumbed down, which of course makes sense. If you want majority to dig an idea, the idea has to be stupid enough for the stupid people to understand...
There's even a saying by Mark Twain about it:
"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect."
A lot of truth there, if more people did that nowadays we would be living in a better world.
As for ESO... I don't know, I don't really care. When it gets released I will wait a while and try it out. But I'll be damned if people on forums such as mmorpg.com could affect the way I feel about the game. Because let's face it, 99,9% posts here are pure garbage... The problem with those posts is that authors are trying to convince the reader to feel about the game the way they do, instead of giving out the objective information about the game and let the people decide on their own.
And that's really the symptom of what's wrong with people on this forum... and many other forums... and the world in general. People are afraid of being alone in their opinion, it makes them feel weak and unsure.
He is very right about the RvRvR thing. RvR MMOs model have proven to be total fail. At one point in the very near future there will be huge population skew to one of the sides for whatever reason, in which moment game is over and everybody will start to thing of ways to fix the imbalance and there will be none.
Then it will be clear this game is a single-player and you'll have another SWTOR again.
You could bookmark this post and read it again in 12 months. You'll be surprised of my accuracy.
TESO features RvR campaigns with a set duration. Also, you may not switch between campaigns at will. After the campaign is finished you may join a new one. So, while you are right assuming that one faction could dominate, you are wrong when saying that the game was doomed due to possible imbalances when it comes to player numbers of the different alliances.
Ranging anywhere from core design flaws to instancing to reptitviness of combat, my friend complained non-stop on skype for over an hour and half, eventually forcing me to just straight up stop playing so I could wait an hour for him to get off the game.
Why am I posting about this? Because during the first stress test He LOVED - and I mean LOVED the game! He clamoured about how it was a great representation of an Elder Scrolls game. He even went as far to make a facebook group for all of us so we could form a guild post-launch. We played for roughly 12 hours straight the first beta weekend and then a few more 3 hour sessions thrown in when we had time.
Now flash forward a couple weeks and his opinion had done a complete 180, why is this?
[mod edit]
- He refused to roll a Character on Aldmeri Dominion or Daggerfall Covenant.
When he started saying how repetitive the game had become I asked him "Dude why dont you just roll an alt on a different faction". To which he then claimed their wasnt a point because he wouldnt be playing either faction at launch and that their shouldnt be factions anyways. What?? How does this even remotely add up, but I just tried to ignore it.
- He began spouting forum posts like gospel.
So we both frequent alot of the same forums and as crazy as it might sound to you guys, he began saying quotes that sounded very familiar to me, like things that didnt sound like his opinion but rather something he gathered from an outside source and was reciting rather than stating. I quickly found the post he was directly quoting but didnt confront him, it was pointless because you know what post it was? One of the biggest troll posts on the forum. Hundreds of comments with heated opinions on both sides. This was it for me, I wasnt going to be a dick and call him out but I had enough.
- He still wants it to be 1999
At the end of the conversation when I had just lost all effort he said one thing I still remember clear as day,
"Why cant they just make a "GOOD REAL MMO" like EQ again?"
Ill let you form your own opinions from there but to me this just speaks to the overall MMO community.
People are so ready to throw their lives away on a single game, one MMO to rule them all, that they lose out on playing a fun game and just enjoying it with their friends.
They micro analyze everything to the smallest detail to figure out what is wrong with the game rather then themsleves.
They dont want to change their ways or try something else in the game to make it better.
They quickly go to forums and to other opinions that are the same as theirs to validate why their opinion is right.
Does this sound like anyone you know or in your community?
Tell you friend to put the razor blades, mascara, and trench coat away.
Then blow him off and tell him your going to play ESO because you enjoy the game and you don't care what he does.
Comments
I see said the blind man. As he pee'd into the wind, "It's all coming back to me now"
I'm a past EQOA player, and ESO is my EQOA NEXT. TELL HIM THAT FOR ME!
I want to know how he affords all those shoes?
Doesn't sound like people I know - or that I would *STILL* know rather.
What's perhaps more scary is to see that (possibly) people can be influenced that much by "doom and gloom" in forums, to the point that they are actually changing their mind completely about a game.
I'm seeing a thread about someone who became a super-fan -- much more so than 99% of us here who don't start FB groups to praise the game -- after seeing it with his own eyes and did a complete turn-around based on what others were saying about it.
And oh, before you go too deeply into your conspiracy theory about the mod edits, those were all about referencing a pirate server version of another MMO.
Otherwise you get an "E" for effort in randomly supporting ESO negativity wherever you may find it.
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?”
― CD PROJEKT RED
Playing: FFXIV, DnL, and World of Warships
Waiting on: Ashes of Creation
And so it was that nothing proved sacred for in the end of times the forum goers would even fight over the views of some one else's friend...
*A passage from the Elder MMORPG.com Scrolling Net Book.
I do find it disturbing that Joe poster was so disturbed by John Reader quoting these forums that he had to start a thread here just to get all of you talking about him. It's like fat shaming.
I used to have the same problems with my friends when I was a lot younger. Every time we had a difference of opinion, It was very difficult for us just to agree to disagree and leave a subject alone. Games aren’t meant to be chores; If he does not find it entertaining, maybe you should advise him to stop playing. Sometimes a little distance is good for a relationship. Grass is always greener on the other side, and there is always room for complaining. There are certain things that can be changed within games, and there are fundamentals that the game is based on that can hardly be modified. At the end, everyone has their own standards.
Rubber duck is incapable of hate.
" The extinction of Rubber Ducks will bring forth the end of our days. "
"This may hurt a little, but it's something you'll get used to. Relax....."
If you re-read the article as it is right now, you "might" also see it as I do. However the edits happened to come about, it makes the article seem really fishy, because it's lop-sided now.
BTW thanks for your rating of E. I won't stoop to your degrading scheme, even if you didn't even realize I was passively supporting ESO fans, even though the game has deficiencies (mentioned in the article).
/peace
Want a nice understanding of life? Try Spirit Science: "The Human History"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8NNHmV3QPw&feature=plcp
Recognize the voice? Yep sounds like Penny Arcade's Extra Credits.
He is very right about the RvRvR thing. RvR MMOs model have proven to be total fail. At one point in the very near future there will be huge population skew to one of the sides for whatever reason, in which moment game is over and everybody will start to thing of ways to fix the imbalance and there will be none.
Then it will be clear this game is a single-player and you'll have another SWTOR again.
You could bookmark this post and read it again in 12 months. You'll be surprised of my accuracy.
Im going to hold you to that, but sadly I know you are correct in your assumptions, if solely from the history we have seen with RvR games.
I mean I may be the only one here, but does anyone remember Warhammer Online's massive RvR Server debacle?
Somewhere along the lines of what, 20-some Order Guilds transfer servers?! Its just that rediculous, skewed the entire RvR to one side for the rest of my servers history. There was literally a banner-call of almost every Chaos Guild on the server and still there was no hope. NO HOPE FOR CHAOS, THINK ABOUT THAT?!
Not to mention the other server which probably suffered the same imbalance, it just didnt work out for anyone.
*Side-note*
Just want to apologize for referancing a current emulator, I am well aware of MMORPG.com guidelines regarding promotion of emulators, I simply thought a referance to the emulator would not be a big dea but I understand the warning. (Just in case anyone else was going to throw in an EMU comment)
Warhammer Online suffered from server imbalances due to how stupid and clueless mythic was at the time and what they allowed. Aion IMO got this part right where you were not allowed to transfer to overpopulated faction servers. I played warhammer online from Ostermark to Phoenix Throne to Badlands to Gorfang back to Badlands before finally giving up on mythic and that damn game. Honestly though destruction pretty much ruled all servers I was ever on as most preferred to play evil races. My first 40 was a Ironbreaker but after that it was a 40 DOK 40 Blackguard and 40 Shaman. Be glad ESO has tri-realm pvp and one mega server. Realm hoppers will not be able to organize like they did that cheesy crap in warhammer to be OP.
Maybe the issue is that MMOs require a huge time investment. Even the most casual ones require a lot of time and effort. They are not simple games that can be played and enjoyed in 15 minute play sessions nor finished in a month's time (unless you are a power gamer). That means most gamers will be focusing on a single MMO for long periods of time and they want that time to be productive and entertaining and rewarding and preferably catering to their specific play style. With the slow release time of MMOs in general, it can be very disappointing to find the next one or two releases to be opposite of what you are looking for and knowing it could be years before you see another new MMO to call home.
Turmoil in life, life in game, game becomes turmoil.
That's really all I see here.
Perhaps a switch in hobby, to something like small engine repair. Assuming he can avoid throwing tools when something doesn't work out.
LOL! The visual there
"This may hurt a little, but it's something you'll get used to. Relax....."
its a product of their consumption. why waste money om stuff that isnt worth it long run?
Philosophy of MMO Game Design
Because that's life. Why is everyone trying to act like an MMO is any different than eating out or going to see a movie?
I wish they would stop beta testing except for an elite group like they used to. Stop letting the public know anything except a few reviews. The public seems far more critical an unhappy now than they did way back when they just had to see what was for sale. PC gamer was one of the only ways to know what was coming out and you WISHED you could get a demo first.
Beats this crapfest we have now....
"This may hurt a little, but it's something you'll get used to. Relax....."
fs23otm is obviously still in the denial phase... Thats mostly where people think there os some big evil preventing others to see his truth as the only truth...
Best MMO experiences : EQ(PvE), DAoC(PvP), WoW(total package) LOTRO (worldfeel) GW2 (Artstyle and animations and worlddesign) SWTOR (Story immersion) TSW (story) ESO (character advancement)
Well his first problem is that he isn't Aldmeri Domion. I've played all 3 factions to at least level 10 (daggerfall 10, ebonheart 13, and Aldmeri 15), and Aldmeri has the best starter areas imho. Ebonheart is cool once you get past the swamps, I don't like it at all in the swamps lol. Daggerfall is ok, but it has way too much running back and forth in the begining. Aldmeri, you actually get to progress up the map as you level, instead of having to run back and forth to town, except to extract stuff from items when your bags get full. Even then, you'll be near the next town that lets you do so
For the Queen
This is true of fanbois as well as haters or any extremist.
Well OP, it just sounds to me like your "friend" here is a weak minded fool that can't form true opinions on his own, so he always get's carried on the breeze of collective thoughts and ideas that are in majority. Sadly enough nowadays the majority is dumbed down, which of course makes sense. If you want majority to dig an idea, the idea has to be stupid enough for the stupid people to understand...
There's even a saying by Mark Twain about it:
"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect."
A lot of truth there, if more people did that nowadays we would be living in a better world.
As for ESO... I don't know, I don't really care. When it gets released I will wait a while and try it out. But I'll be damned if people on forums such as mmorpg.com could affect the way I feel about the game. Because let's face it, 99,9% posts here are pure garbage... The problem with those posts is that authors are trying to convince the reader to feel about the game the way they do, instead of giving out the objective information about the game and let the people decide on their own.
And that's really the symptom of what's wrong with people on this forum... and many other forums... and the world in general. People are afraid of being alone in their opinion, it makes them feel weak and unsure.
TESO features RvR campaigns with a set duration. Also, you may not switch between campaigns at will. After the campaign is finished you may join a new one. So, while you are right assuming that one faction could dominate, you are wrong when saying that the game was doomed due to possible imbalances when it comes to player numbers of the different alliances.
Tell you friend to put the razor blades, mascara, and trench coat away.
Then blow him off and tell him your going to play ESO because you enjoy the game and you don't care what he does.