The Elder Scrolls Megathread

[otto-san]

god forbid developers let the community play the game before release, so that they can fix the problems that make it so stuffty

Fix bugs, yes.

The beta phase is a bit late to make sweeping design changes in this kind of game, though.

[Ad Bot]

[sir dooble]

New and final mass beta for PC/Mac ESO from Friday, March 14th at 5PM GMT until Monday, March 17th at 3:59 AM GMT. 

This time there's still no NDA, and both the EU and US megaservers are open in all languages.

Plus, for this beta only, every account gets to experience the Imperial Edition and Explorers Pack.
All races are available for all factions and everyone can test out the Imperial race, plus Imperial crafting styles.

If you're interested in buying the gane, but not necessarily preordering then definitely give this a try to see what the preorder benefits are like. Although they may be available later on for individual premium purchase.


Green Man Gaming (and I assume other suppliers) also seem to have gotten involved and provided their own beta keys to those who have preordered, plus an additional code for a friend.
I dont know for certain but this may mean that anyone who has preordered, at least through GMG, and has been a part of previous betas will have 2 new beta keys to give away to friends. If you don't know anyone interested then perhaps consider sharing them here!

Green Man Gaming is also providing a new non-account linked 20% discount to anyone who has already preordered to give to your friends. Look out for any other deals and discounts from other suppliers!

[sir dooble]

The friend I was giving my 20% off code to can't use it because he's spent all his money on a concert.

So, if anyone else is interested in pre-ordering and want's 20% off either Standard or Imperial Edition on Green Man Gaming, then send me a PM and I'll give you a code.

Also, anyone interested in joining the beta this weekend can PM if they want an entry code. Best to join quick so you can install and patch now, rather than on the day.

[Clone v.117]

UUUh finally got a beta key and have been trying to download the game since yesterday, hopefully I can even download it by the weekend but it keeps fluctuating between like 120kbs and 10kbs so not much hope :(

[hgpucom]

Good beta weekend for me. My friend and I assaulted a keep by ourselves and later on i reclaimed the Ebonheart Elder Scroll back from AD and ran it back.

[sir dooble]

So, The Elder Scrolls Online has it's launch in 5/6 days, on April 4^th.

Anyone who has preordered however now currently has access to their 5 days of pre-release!
I'm waiting for mine to patch up and then going in.


I missed the last beta event, but it seems they've changed combat to be much more fluid, fixed a number of bugs, edited out the starting regions (players no longer start on a Tutorial Island, but on the mainland, meaning people with new characters who have played the Tutorial Islands before no longer have to recomplete them to get going, and can instead opt in to go to the islands), and have set in a large number of Veteran content, for players who reach Level 50 and wish to explore more.

There are now Instanced Veteran locations, which have their own unique questlines, bosses and enemies. Probably crafting bonuses too.
There are also plans for regular content updates for Veteran content, and pre-Veteran content too.

[Hardy619]

New Cinematic Trailer for ESO: http://youtu.be/I8wAHOWPggo#aid=P-uusBxwdsw

I love these trailers, they're all so badass.

[Daswiruch]

Man, I wish I had something to play ESO on. >:c
Also why is there a monthly fee of $14.99?!

[Alternat¡ve]

Man, I wish I had something to play ESO on. >:c
Also why is there a monthly fee of $14.99?!

gotta get that cheese in the hood

[Judge]

gotta get that cheese in the hood

Are you saying we should beat the stuff out of a bunch of rich white guys and steal their wallets? becaaaaaaauseeee


I don't speak black
and thats alot of money

[Teneksi]

worth it

[sir dooble]

Wow, that is great. I'd have loved one, but I'm relatively skint so couldn't justify buying the physical Imperial edition.

It looks fantastic though. It comes with maps too, doesn't it? I don't know why but I love game maps.

[MrKitKat]

everyone has eso but I'm still playing skyrim

[Snick0rz]

Has anyone played ESO and can give a compact comparision between Skyrim and ESO? From what I've seen it doesn't look all that good but I'm still interested in it for the sake of it being an Elder Scrolls title. (Oh loyalty, how I do hate you.)

[sir dooble]

Has anyone played ESO and can give a compact comparision between Skyrim and ESO? From what I've seen it doesn't look all that good but I'm still interested in it for the sake of it being an Elder Scrolls title. (Oh loyalty, how I do hate you.)

Skyrim

• 1 large map covering a single Tamriel province
• 10 Races, No set classes, 18 Skills Trees
• Freedom to choose between 2 main factions, or neither, or a treatise.
• Freedom to choose between 4 smaller factions, such as Companions/Mages College/Brotherhood/Thieves
• 9 cities, 5 being large and enclosed in own areas, 4 being smaller and part of the open environment
• A few villages plus lone houses/castles/forts/ruins scattered across the map
• Several types of weapons available in several designs based upon material (Steel/Elven/Daedra, etc...)
• A large number of spells available to all characters, given ample Magicka and skill
• Lots of quests, plus 1 larger main storyline
• Single Player, no co-op of any kind.
• Ability to change weapons mid-combat
• Updates only available in bug-fixes and DLC
• Ability to Modify game on PC with brand new content

The Elder Scrolls Online

• 4 large maps covering sections of all 10 Tamriel provinces
  
• 10 Races (1 locked for premium Imperial edition), 4 set classes, 22+ Skill Trees

3 Class skill trees
6 Weapon skill trees(1 hand+shield/2 hand/dual wield/bow/Destruction Staff/Healing Staff)
1 Race skill tree
1+(?) World skill trees (includes Soul Magic for making respawn soul gems) may be additional skill trees
3+ Guild skill trees (Atleast 3, Fighters, Mage and Undaunted, possibly more)
6 Craftingskill trees (Alchemy, Enchanting, Blacksmithing, Woodworking, Clothing, Provisioning)

• Freedom to choose between 3 main factions (choice must be taken, choice linked to Race unless owning the Explorers Pack)
• Freedom to choose between 3+ smaller factions, such as Mages Guild/Fighters Guild/The Undaunted, and possibly more
• Each of the 3 Faction regions is made of 4-5 sub-regions, each with at least 1-2 large cities
• Each of the subregions has numerous smaller locations, including villages, forests, caves, dungeons, castles and more
• The entirety of Cyrodiil Province is available as a free-roam location, including forts and castles and other places for PvP
• Once the main questline of a faction is complete access is given to a second Faction region, and then a Third.
• Several types of weapons, which can come in over 10 different Race/Culture themes (such as Breton/Nord/Dwemer), plus several types of material too which affect design of weapons and armour.
• Several traits available for all armours and weapons
• Magic Spells are limited by respective Skill Trees, some only available to certain Classes or Guilds or Weapons.
• All Weapons can be picked up and used effectively without previous experience in that weapon. Experience allows for additional useful skills
• Lots of quests, including an overarching universal storyline for all players, plus questlines for individual Faction sub-regions and Faction regions, plus plenty of side-quests. Number increases as access to additional Faction regions is gained.
• Multiplayer, including groups or solo adventure, in both Public and Instanced dungeons. Large groups available for operations, such as attacking Dark Anchors or Boss Fights or PvP.
• Guilds for Multiplayer, including Roleplay, PvE, PvP, Trading or a mixture. Join up to 5 player guilds.
• Limited ability to change weapons mid-combat. Can only use 5 skill abilities at one time and can't change weapons mid battle. At Level 15 a quick-change is available to a secondary weapon, plus a new skillbar of 5 abilities.
• Continually updated, with prospects for future end-game content. Possibly DLC
• Modding limited to UI changes only.

That's only some of what I can think of.
I've not played enough to comment on all of it, but that does a lot.

Also bear in mind that TESO is a purchase of a core-game, plus a monthly (30 days, or 90 or 180) subscription, compared to Skyrim's one-time fee plus DLC costs.

I'd recommend it myself.