Honestly, they've nailed it. Classes literally rock in ESO. They're so very diverse and interchangable. From incredible nightblade-solo-tanks, to battle-mages.

I have always been somewhat of a min-maxer, but FINALLY I'm not forced to do this in ESO to be competitive. I'm so very impressed with the way they handled classes and the simple 5 skill, 1 ultimate ability combat action bar.

The way I look at it, magic is a technology on Nirn, similar to gun powder on Earth. Easy to use, but it takes a lifetime to master. In times of war, everyone picks up a gun or uses magic. That doesn't instantly make them a master of that skill.

In ESO, like in life, you're not forced to use these technologies. But, you'll never stand a chance against those who do. A rifle is always going to be better than a bow and arrow. An enchanted sword is always going to better than a sword with no enchantment. It's not that humans want to use guns, bombs, & nukes one each other. We have no other choice. You can make a character that does alright without magic, just like a UFC fighter would mess some people up in unarmed combat. But, throw guns or magic into the mix and there can be no balance. They can't reward character for not using magic, when that(neglecting to use magic) is logically the wrong decision to make.

I didn't read through every response so forgive me. But every person in the TES worlds are inherently magical....ability to cast basic spells. Yes it took focus to become an Actual Mage...didn't stop Warriors from lighting campfires at their fingertips. The more you studied it, the more you adjusted from one class to another.

However I do tend to agree with you about the focus of magic. I had a few moments of "wtf" when I first ran a DK and noticed that class abilities were using Magic instead of Stamina. I understand their intention, and also their balancing focus, but it struck a nerve with my own personal idea. Knowing it was my OWN PERSONAL OPINION was where I gave over and stopped arguing, as it can be endlessly argued. Is my flaming two handed attack from my DK a Stamina attack? How did the fire get on that sword...seems magical....??

But yes...even looking at the nightblades, lots of magic useage...what happened to the pure thief of TES? I don't remember my poisoned arrows requiring magic to shoot. As much as I see what you are saying, I don't demand a TES game. I don't demand purity in classes....we've been playing pure classes for a VERY long time now. I appreciate that a game "based" on the TES lore has come into reality, and I can still see it if when I run around....even with my non pure character. The abilities are there that define the class, but you are in no way locked into playing it THAT EXACT WAY which is very TES like.

I tend to play Battle Mages, and find ESO to gives me so many options of moving down that path. THAT is very TES like...

I guess I agree and disagree, but I found a balance. Although I may never agree with STA affecting white damage from a magical staff attack LOL

I would have liked to see a classless/skill based system but I don't entirely hate the system they went with. I do however dislike the classes they chose to implement. As much as I like the rest of the game, the classes were the single thing that made me pause before ordering. I don't know what it is about them exactly, they feel wrong to me if that makes sense? Like they're trying too hard to have "cool" classes or something? I think if they had something much more generic I would have been happier (assuming we could still customise). Something simple like picking Combat, Magic or Stealth or hybrids of two of them and letting us use that as our character base.

Well said. +1

The class system in ESO is incredible. It's pliable and everybody can (or should be able to) create precisely what they want to! If you want to stay away from magic, don't take any class skills. Racial skills, guild skills, weapon skills, world skills, armour skills. You want to be a true Barbarian? Focus on 2H skills and Armour skills, and perhaps your racial skills. Not a bit of magic will be used in the playing of that character, no problem! The class system is bloody brilliant.

just level weapon skills/lines?

Totally agree purple, they made the classes too specific, not general enough.

This seems to be an active topic at this late hour, so real quick - Did anyone receive the After-Beta Survey?

I did not, and was wondering if I missed something?

And just a further point, if it bothers you that your melee class is using magicka instead of stamina for abilities, just pretend that the stamina bar is going down. I mean... does it really matter which bar is powering the abilities? I haven't heard anyone say "I don't like the abilities" but rather "I don't like what is powering the abilities that I like". That's like saying that you like having electricity in your house, but only from the hydroelectric generator at the north end of town, because you don't like electricity that comes from the south end of town. It's.. puzzling. It's a resource bar, move past it!

You're out of your [censored] mind.

That is all.

its not the bar they use at all that's my issue, its the fact that all the class skills involve either lighting something on fire, shining it to death with sunlight, or attacking it with blasts of darkness....

it is pretty silly seeing a night blade stab someone and it is uses magicka. i would of been all right if it used both stam and magika with out being to damanding on resources.

LIke someone was saying before about a flaming sword. you use magicka for the fire but stam to swing it.

This is the case in TES.
It's the case in TESO, too, but so big amount of characters in TESO are players...
Not every player should use magic, but I fear it's too late to change it now.

They have loads of times to change, and if the game got pushed back a month or 2 i would be happy

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Morrowind:Nightblade#Nightblade

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Classes#Nightblade

Just sayin....

I'm in the middle of a double facepalm and am typing with my feet. If it bothers you so much, DON'T USE MAGIC. Be mundane, level up your weapon skills, your armour skills, etc. They will still make you strong and powerful and competitive, and you won't have to deal with the annoyance of using magic as a melee class.

Pretty simple fix really. This class system is so incredibly diverse, it astounds the hell out of me that people are complaining about it.

Yes opening locks or going invisble maybe a charm or a paralyze or a detect key i cant see magic blades in there

Sorry was too subtle i guess.

This time more direct: https://help.elderscrollsonline.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3555/kw/classes Make the character how you like for the gods' sakes! Would you turn down a free steak dinner just because the guy giving it to you called it an "evening bovine repaste"?

I kind of agree with you. They split all of the magic schools into the 4 classes and by doing this they removed basic spells for all classes such as fireball, healing, and simple conjuring. in my opinion, there really is no need of the Mages Guild. The least they could do is increase the amount of spells you can gain from the Mages Guild, by la lot. And im talking about offensive spells, not stuff like Entropy, equilibrium, and magelight. I mean they practically removed spells in the game and replaced them with skills, that only certain classes can have. I just want to be a spellsword, someone who is 50/50 with melee and spells such as fireball and healing. and the sorcerer class is practically ruined. its a magic based class and only has access to summoning, dark magic, and shock spells. what ever happened to being able to learn all destruction spells like flame and frost, or alteration, illusion, and restoration in one person/class. I and may, many people that i know are disappointed that they have done this. its looking a lot like any other mmo anymore. Please, Bethesda/Zenimax, fix this. I beg You!!!

Nomenclature quibbling.

Replace the word 'magicka' with 'spirit energy' or 'chi,' and suddenly everyone's an eastern-fantasy martial artist without changing a single mechanic.

Also:

See underlined; your own words describe how it was in Skyrim, and Oblivion before it; and also how it is in ESO. Why do you forgive there, but not here?

I suspect you do so merely for the sake of having something to complain about.

Read the description of the Night Blade class in those links.

• In-game Description: Nightblades are spellcasters who use their magics to enhance mobility, concealment, and stealthy close combat. They have a sinister reputation, since many nightblades are thieves, enforcers, assassins, or covert agents.