[Megathread] Elder Scrolls Online

[Deleted]

Single player story arcs just don't carry much weight in an mmo for me, watching 5 other Inquisitors leaving the story instance with me, while 3 Sith warriors wait for their friends outside because their "personal story" was shorter just killed the immersion. Also that fact that the world made no effort to be dynamic and your story lost relavance outside of those instances.

It worries me that TESO might be going down a similar path, hopefully, it will be optional, and I'll be able to play just fine by exploring caverns, climbing mountains and bothering guars. It's kind of worth noting that wow is the most successful mmo ever, and it's story is basically just window dressing that you learn by reading the wikis or playing wc3, and the actual game is about gameplay and progression.

[zshikara]

I am extremely excited for eso. Its the first MMO that has seriously made me think about switching from wow. I remember about 3 or 4 years ago my mate and I were talking about what would get us to quit wow, and my comment was along the lines of "only if they made some sort of Elder Scrolls mmo." I still stand by that phrase. I really think they have something going and I get good feelings from Zenimax from what information they've released so far. We'll see how it goes, but I am definitely keeping a very close eye on it.

[Flaks]

Okay, but the evidence is right there. WoW has abysmal story-telling but an arguably great endgame, and TOR has great story-telling but abysmal endgame. WoW's a behemoth and TOR had to fire everyone.

Both are important, but gameplay is far more important than story. Not to mention that a decent story with a setting like Elder Scrolls is a thousand times easier to write up than interesting gameplay that can keep millions of people playing for months and years.

Also, I'm pretty sure there are a lot more "PvE/PvP is shit/boring, I'm unsubbing!" threads than "I didn't like the story, I'm unsubbing!"

Yea that's a very good point and I apologize for misconstruing what you were saying. Gameplay definitely sits at the front which makes WoW the more successful game but being as this is Elder Scrolls I feel lore is it's foundation and without it'd be nothing.

Remember also that TOR was successful at the start because of how awesome the storylines were for each of the classes so it does hold a lot of value. And then again, it's more about interesting and varied stories than overarching seemingly important stories (see: guild quests verses main quests ES IV and V).

But when push comes to shove story telling in MMO's as a whole needs to be redone. Quests that make impacts on the world as a whole. Quests that are responses to those impacts etc. would make one helluva dynamic MMO that would be directed in it's lore entirely by players while still having the game's own lore elements with the guilds and things. But even the guilds can be made into contested territory. Purging a dark brotherhood sanctuary would mean that you now have to go out and kill the players who are in it. Becoming the guild master could be no easy task as both you and another player rose through the ranks really quickly and now must fight over the position. The quest givers are never usually the guild masters themselves so this would work perfectly. God there's so much they can do with this.

[vizzle]

I just think devs would be best off to remember that story only happens once, while gameplay lasts forever. I love story as much as the next guy, but story won't keep me playing for months and months.

Anyway, didn't see anyone post this. They had a little Q&A a few days ago. I'm annoyed that all the nerds are asking questions about lore and "omgherg are we gonna see things from other games?!" Seriously, guys, that stuff is novelty, that's not going to make or break the game or come anywhere near making/breaking it. Disappointed with their answer to the first question. I see dark clouds on the horizon...

I wish devs would figure out that some of us don't like playing alts just to see all the content.

http://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en...rt-pact-part-1

Will the faction PVE areas each have their own quests? Or will they be mirrors of each other? – By El Hefe

Each Alliance (and area) has its own completely unique quests and storylines, layered on top of their individual internal struggles and history. When we design content in The Elder Scrolls Online, we aspire to create storylines, experiences, and characters that are befitting of the Alliance they are a part of. Each Alliance’s content in ESO is as varied and dynamic as the Alliances themselves are—your adventures an Argonian in the Ebonheart Pact, for example, will be quite different than those of a Bosmer in the Aldmeri Dominion.

Should you choose to play characters in each of the three Alliances (and we hope you do!), you will experience completely different content that is representative of each Alliance’s story, history, and politics.

Obviously the Elves and the Nords have never got along too well - are the nations in the factions entirely happy with the alliance, or are there rogue/rebel groups within, say, Skyrim or Morrowind? – By George Trotter

The foundation the Ebonheart Pact was built upon—one of mutual desire for survival—makes for a deeply complex and ever-shifting political atmosphere. The Argonians, Nords, and Dark Elves have set aside their differences, for now, to unite under one banner against their shared enemies—but to say that everyone is happy or even content with the Alliance would be a far cry from the truth. A certain level of distrust and resentment roils just beneath the surface for many members of the Pact.

While some are openly accepting or critical of the Alliance, most Pact members you’ll encounter fall somewhere in between, and hold their true feelings about the arrangement close to their chest. It really depends on each individual character’s perspective and life experiences. Most you encounter are not willing to bring up their personal feelings to a stranger, but you will meet some who are very open with their praise or disdain for the choices their leaders have made.

This might also entail the rest of the game, but how big will Morrowind be compared to how big it was in TES 3? I get that the landscape will be different, but will it still be the same size, and have a similar layout? – By Ryon Burridge

It’s difficult to make a direct size comparison between the two, as they actually take place in different areas of Morrowind. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind takes place on the northern island of Vvardenfell. In The Elder Scrolls Online, you’ll get to explore Morrowind’s mainland and see areas you’ve never seen before, or haven’t seen in to the level of detail we’re presenting it in. One such area is Deshaan, the region of southern Morrowind that borders Black Marsh. That’s not to say adventurers in The Elder Scrolls Online won’t ever be able to visit Vvardenfell.

Looking at http://elderscrollsonline.com/en/game-guide/alliances I noticed some areas were grayed... or rather, "browned" out; Black Marsh and Vvardenfell, most notably, and with Solstheim, large portion of the western Skyrim (the areas containing Markath and Solitude, for example), and most of the eastern portion of Morrowind. The question itself is as follows: Do you have future plans regarding these areas, possibly including them at expansions, etc? And is the "only" playable area for the Pact the area colored in red - not to forget Cyrodiil, of course? If so, might we gain a rough estimate of the amount of "zones" (areas with short loading screens separating them) this seemingly massive area includes? – By Juho Kola

It’s too early for us to start discussing the exact number and names of locations that each Alliance will be able to explore when The Elder Scrolls Online launches, but we have plans to expand and open up more regions of Tamriel in the future.

As for the colors you see on our Alliances page map, those are rough visual representations of each Alliance’s territory. That map is meant to give you a general idea of each Alliance’s regions—what you see there is not intended to be exact.

Given the fact that Windhelm will most definitely be in TESO, how familiar will it be to the Windhelm of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim? It's quite a bit younger in TESO, but still of Ancient Atmoran aesthetic, being built by Ysgramor himself. – By Madison Harmon Bullock IV

We’ve taken great care to be extremely faithful to the existing Elder Scrolls lore, history, and visual feel. This includes our approach to how we’ve designed places you’ve visited in previous Elder Scrolls games, such as the city of Windhelm, in Skyrim’s Eastmarch region. If you’ve played The Elder Scrolls V:Skyrim, walking through the streets of Windhelm in The Elder Scrolls Online will feel very familiar. The same goes for Cyrodiil—those who visited the region in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion will notice familiar villages and points of interest in ESO’s Cyrodiil, such as Chorrol.

That being said, the stories and events that unfold in these areas during The Elder Scrolls Online will be different than those in past Elder Scrolls games. The people living in these familiar places won’t be too different from their brethren in later times; however, they will have different views and tales to tell, based on the current events that are impacting their daily lives.

Will we see dragon temples in the Skyrim area? If I remember correctly, dragons had disappeared thousands of years ago at the time of Skyrim. Loved seeing these temples in Skyrim! Including them will give a really cool feeling. – By Wynand van Wyk

Yes, if you explore Skyrim, you will discover Dragon Temples in The Elder Scrolls Online. Their massive size and characteristic architecture is very recognizable, especially if you’re familiar with what they look like in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Some of the Dragon Temples from Skyrim are also in The Elder Scrolls Online, such as the grand mountaintop temple of Skuldafn, but there are also new Dragon Temple locations for you to discover. We look forward to seeing who among you will find them when The Elder Scrolls Online launches.

[Kathandira]

Also, I'm pretty sure there are a lot more "PvE/PvP is shit/boring, I'm unsubbing!" threads than "I didn't like the story, I'm unsubbing!"

Although you are correct, i would like to mention that the story is the reason I quit WoW. I did not like the direction WoW took as Cata was coming to a close. In the beginning of Cata i was sooo excited that the Aspects were assembling and Cenarious was back and Malfurion was back it was an awesome assembling of Heroes, and then there was Deathwing...Dude got punched in the face by an over confident Orc and went into hiding until the aspects came knocking on his door and jumped him with 25 of their boys. Lame! j/k..sorta.

In vanilla - WoLK the lore was fantastic, the story telling not so much, but the actual data there was to be collected about this wonderfullly intertwined world was intoxicating! I really couldn't get enough of it, i would sit on WoW wiki for hours seeing how each person or creature connected to the history of Azeroth.

That was one thing that kept me wanting more when playing WoW, was to see how these characters would grow and who would come out of the wood work. But then...out of nowhere...Pandas...i've since had an additional $15 a month in my bank account, lol.

The point is, Mechanics can be changed if they are terrible, story if changed can really mess up the entire flow of the game.

[Chickat]

Although you are correct, i would like to mention that the story is the reason I quit WoW. I did not like the direction WoW took as Cata was coming to a close. In the beginning of Cata i was sooo excited that the Aspects were assembling and Cenarious was back and Malfurion was back it was an awesome assembling of Heroes, and then there was Deathwing...Dude got punched in the face by an over confident Orc and went into hiding until the aspects came knocking on his door and jumped him with 25 of their boys. Lame! j/k..sorta.

In vanilla - WoLK the lore was fantastic, the story telling not so much, but the actual data there was to be collected about this wonderfullly intertwined world was intoxicating! I really couldn't get enough of it, i would sit on WoW wiki for hours seeing how each person or creature connected to the history of Azeroth.

That was one thing that kept me wanting more when playing WoW, was to see how these characters would grow and who would come out of the wood work. But then...out of nowhere...Pandas...i've since had an additional $15 a month in my bank account, lol.

The point is, Mechanics can be changed if they are terrible, story if changed can really mess up the entire flow of the game.

So you quit wow because of pandas.... Well Pandaria has some of the best quests and lore ever made. Just because you dont like the lore they are adding, doesnt mean its bad lore.

[Deleted]

Wish the "Ask me anything" panel had more technical details but I guess they're holding off for now.

[Voidism]

Wish the "Ask me anything" panel had more technical details but I guess they're holding off for now.

Same here.
I'm interested in TESO, looks like it could be pretty good.
I hope they learn from other "MMO mistakes", and are willing to listen.

...reading the posts above, feeling like the thread is going places - game vs game...

[Kuntantee]

If they lock zones, that is we can not visit hostile zone and kill enemy player, I'm not going to buy it. I really don't want to circle jerk until max level with my allies or do some bullcrap instanced PvP or huge zergfest mindless battles like WvsWvsW in GW2.

[Deleted]

If they lock zones, that is we can not visit hostile zone and kill enemy player, I'm not going to buy it. I really don't want to circle jerk until max level with my allies or do some bullcrap instanced PvP or huge zergfest mindless battles like WvsWvsW in GW2.

I'm of a similar opinion, I'm fine with no quests being available to players in enemy territory but I don't see the harm in being able to raid other factions home cities. The devs themselves said in the video; this game is about exploration, so it would be incredibly hypercritical to lock out almost two thirds of Tamriel to your character.

[Chickat]

Now that I think about it, I think not allowing other factions into your faction zone is actually a bad idea after all. They obviously dont want any pvp going on, so make them non pvp zones, but at least let us explore them.

[Tabbycat]

I don't know exactly how they are going to do the faction zones. What I'd like to see is that if your Faction is able to crown one of your own emperor, that gives you the ability to safely explore the other Faction zones. Your faction is fighting for dominance. If you don't crown anyone emperor, then you aren't able to access those zones. It makes sense to me.

[Deleted]

Overall, what impresses me most is the Imperial City concept.

You have 3 factions, that all fight against each other towards one specific exclusive goal, the Imperial City and the Imperial Throne. Hopefully the feature will be deep and actually meaningful, as it's not a concept that we often see(albeit a very interesting one).

[derpkitteh]

it's gonna be kind of stupid to see stuff like "lulusukdik has been crowned emperor!". but, i think i might actually be disappointed if i don't see at least one redguard with a name regarding the HoonDing in a sexual manner.

[Deleted]

I just hope they change the Argonian models to be more like the Skyrim models at least, or the concept art.



Looks an awful lot like the Trandoshans from Star Wars Galaxies:



And less like their beautiful concept art:




That said, I can't wait to explore Black Marsh... Argonian for Life!

I'm very disappointed with the looks of argonians in this future game. I really hope it's just a crappy alpha model and very much subject to change.

[Tabbycat]

At this point, the game is pre-alpha so I am sure a lot of things will be subject to change. Even once it goes into closed and then open beta things will still be subject to change. Although by then the character models will probably be completed. I'd say wait for the beta before you pass judgement on the Argonians. =)

[Deleted]

I'm very disappointed with the looks of argonians in this future game. I really hope it's just a crappy alpha model and very much subject to change.

Hard to tell looking face on in the upper screenshot you posted, imo aslong as they stay true to that concept art you posted im more than happy.

[Throren]

Remember, no need to start whining yet folks, it's still pre-alpha. For all we know those could be placeholder models for the argonians.

[Luko]

Remember, no need to start whining yet folks, it's still pre-alpha. For all we know those could be placeholder models for the argonians.

Let's not start the "It's only in alpha!" "It's only in beta" "It's still six weeks to launch" bullshit. These claims have become jokes in the MMO world. 9 times out of 10 when a game drops the ball on something huge like gameplay or a model design, they do so as early as alpha and do little more than updating the textures before launch.

Besides, the models and most of the game looks hideous. Even if it changes, who cares. We have the screenshots now and they look butt ugly NOW. What, it's whining if we ignore that because of some fictitious leeway period that "fans' invented to give them time to pick up any dropped balls? No thanks.

No one's out of line, here.

[Deleted]

Let's not start the "It's only in alpha!" "It's only in beta" "It's still six weeks to launch" bullshit. These claims have become jokes in the MMO world. 9 times out of 10 when a game drops the ball on something huge like gameplay or a model design, they do so as early as alpha and do little more than updating the textures before launch.

Besides, the models and most of the game looks hideous. Even if it changes, who cares. We have the screenshots now and they look butt ugly NOW. What, it's whining if we ignore that because of some fictitious leeway period that "fans' invented to give them time to pick up any dropped balls? No thanks.

No one's out of line, here.

Couldn't agree with this guy more; if you don't like something within reason, make a damn noise about it, and ignore the "it could change, just wait."

Let's have a look at the first incarnation of FF14.

Let's not have it turn into that.