The Elder Scrolls Online comes at a time when MMOs might appear to have already reached their nadir. It would seem that the pricing model chosen for this massively multiplayer excursion is also several years behind the curve for this kind of game, but it comes with a fantastic pedigree and a hugely popular world that has a large and very committed fan base that is, to varying degrees, well invested in the fiction of The Elder Scrolls and its now-familiar world of Tamriel.
I’m effectively new to MMOs. I’ve been tempted by World of Warcraft, I almost took the leap with Star Trek and I probably came closest to finally spending significant time with an MMO when my beloved Star Wars universe was brought to the genre by BioWare in The Old Republic. Yet I’ve never actually made that leap of faith necessary to engage in this wholly new kind of gaming experience for a significant period of time. Until now.
It would be a disservice to you and the developers at Bethesda to try to review The Elder Scrolls Online with such little experience of the genre – or with such relatively little time in the game itself. So if you’re a seasoned MMO player, comfortable with all the jargon and well versed in the systems and mechanics of those kind of games, this is not the write up you’re looking for. This is how I found the game, as a big fan of the Elder Scrolls games like Morrowind, Oblivion and, of course, Skyrim but without any meaningful experience with massively multiplayer online gaming.
My first reaction was surprise. I wasn’t sure what to expect but for some reason I didn’t think the game would look, sound and feel so similar to Bethesda’s epic single-player visits to this world. Despite some peculiarities, this was functionally very similar to the opening of a traditional Elder Scrolls game. There’s a guiding voice, a prison break, a tantalising significance to you and your role in the events about to unfold. As soon as the game began, it was an Elder Scrolls that I was entirely familiar with.
The character creation is a little more streamlined, as the extra time in development might deserve, but it’s very recognisably the same decisions you will likely remember from the beginning of your adventures on Skyrim or Cyrodiil. You’ll choose from humanoid Nord, Breton or Redguard, Elvish Dunmer, Altmer or Bosmer, reptilian Argonians, cat-like Khajiit and toothy Orcs. There’s also an Imperial race, for those who purchase the applicable edition of the game. The races are split up into Factions called Ebonheart Pact, Daggerfall Covenant and Aldmeri Dominion.
Each of the factions is host to three of the races, allowing for the traditional RPG roles of warrior, mage and rogue to be naturally met for each group. Of course, once you start your journey, you’re free to develop your character in whatever way you see fit, so you could take an Orc and become proficient with magic, even though they’re more naturally suited to the role of a soldier.
Personally, I went for a giant, muscular Argonian with blueish skin and ivory-coloured spines and horns. The Argonians are naturally quite rogue-like so they’re good enough with single handed weapons, as well as being agile and quite stealthy. I’ve always found a purely magical path to be difficult to follow in Elder Scrolls games, with that route taking longer before it matures and your character gets truly powerful. So I favour a sword-and-shield for the first few hours of play before moving on to sword and destructive magic in the later game.
It feels natural to take that same path in The Elder Scrolls Online, although it’s clear that there exists the same freedom to approach your character’s development in any way you see fit and I would expect that having the right combination of skills in a group would be the key to successfully navigating some of the later game quests. For the first few hours, I was basically able to play The Elder Scrolls Online as if I was the only player in the game world.
That this game can seemingly be enjoyed – at least in these early stages – as a single player experience is, I think, a very good sign for newcomers to the perplexing, almost dauntingly intricate world of the MMO. I felt like I was playing an Elder Scrolls game, like I have several times before, but that there was obviously a bit more going on too. I didn’t feel like I had to be a part of that extra bit of activity I noticed, or even like I needed to acknowledge it at all, just that it was there when I was ready for it.
There were some benefits to such an active world of adventure that I wasn’t necessarily expecting. At times, I was rescued in combat by another human player, and at other times, I did the rescuing. But I was playing the developing narrative on my own and I never teamed up for any grander purpose that noticing someone in trouble and assisting them.
Loot seemed to be unique to each of us too, so it never felt like I was missing out on something because there was another player getting to it before me. This feels like it’s easing me into the larger social interactions much more gently than I had nervously expected as I installed this first MMO that I would seriously attempt. Through this, it seems like it would make this an ideal entry point for those of you who might find yourself in a similar position.
At least for these first few hours, I’ve been playing a familiar Elder Scrolls game and although the next person I need to talk to in a quest is often noticeable by the small crowd of other human players also receiving instruction, that doesn’t necessarily detract from my own single-player experience. As the game develops, I would expect it to encourage me into alliances with other players and perhaps even necessitate them, but I feel like I’m becoming comfortable in this world before I will need to struggle with any of the more idiosyncratic elements of what is apparently a fairly traditional approach to an MMO.
So, in some ways, it feels like the initial purchase price might be justified for someone like me. Whether my interest in the game develops to make that monthly subscription seem more attractive remains to be seen, but the initial fear that the world I’d already come to love so much may have been spoiled by filling it full of other players has certainly been put to rest.
Eldur
Really great to read about your first experiences with the fascinating world of MMOs Peter. Perhaps you could keep us up to date with your progress, as I’m keen to hear both how you get on and about ESO in general.
I’ve had my time with the incredible time sink that is WoW and what I’m most interested in is how ESO will balance the quintessential TES freedom of developing your character as you see fit with the more traditional MMORPG-based triumvirate of ‘tank/healer/damage dealer’. One of the most significant moments from my WoW days was when my guild told me I had to respec my beloved, randomly talented Warrior into a specific, internet shared tank build – I hated the idea at first, but came to love tanking the raid bosses for my Guild in a way that has rarely been replicated in any other game experience. Fulfilling a role is almost fundamental to the MMORPG (as evidenced in ESO’s cinematic trailer) but seems to conflict quite heavily with the open character development TES fans love.
Keep us posted.
tonycawley
Good read mate, well done! I’m in the same position of you that I love elder scrolls but haven’t really got into an mmo, looking forward to this one though and it’ll be the first game I have ever paid a subscription on.
I agree with Eldur above, it would be really good if you could make a regular thing of this article, perhaps weekly posts keeping us up to date with your experiences, what you’ve been getting up to in the world and how you’re getting on with it.
Good stuff.
matthangzhou
Same as Tony. Never really done an MMORPG but love the Elder scroll games. Don’t think I could justify the monthly subscription though or the lack of closure of never completing the game!
XisTG
Exactly how I feel; I’ve always loved Final Fantasy and was tempted to try XI but the subscription put me off. I’m going to give FF XIV a twirl this weekend on the PS4, since it is free, but unless it hooks me hard in a couple of hours I think I won’t bother (specially because it implies more money).
bunimomike
With Tony on this one although I’d plump for monthly updates. Mind you, whilst ESO is so new, weekly really might work.
I took the plunge with Guild Wars 2, this year, as the essence of MMOs tempts me. However, the reality keeps me away. I basically cannot stand the idea of hundreds of idiots running around and potentially spoiling my game. Thankfully, Guild Wars 2 (read: ArenaNET) has done a great job in creating a genuinely warm, kind community, let alone the fact that you’re not encountering people that often unless at the major hubs in the game. Add in a staggeringly beautiful world, at times, with wonderful monsters quests, loot, character creation and back story… and you have a winner.
Tuffcub
Hopefully there will be some sort of PS4 demo or beta, tried Final Fantasy XIV and its just too fiddly I’m hoping there will be less button combinations on this game.
Chris
I’m pretty sure there will be as when I signed up to be a beta applicant you had to pick your chosen platform and Ps4 and X1 were listed.
SpikeyMikey23
I would be looking to try this if my time was not already completely consumed with Final Fantasy 14.
What are the subscription prices?
psychobudgie
£8.99 a month. In the immortal words of Duncan Bannatyne, I’m oot. Well until it inevitably changes to the F2P model 12 months in.
TSBonyman
It sounds really good but it’s a shame it’s not free to play or a once-off premium priced game. I enjoyed Skyrim but it looks like i’ll never even try this one out.
yiddo
I haven’t read this article yet, I’ll do it later, but quick question, is the game world as immersive as Skyrim? (I’m going to assume you played it, correct me if I’m wrong).
I mean, you could get lost in Skyrim and literally sink into that world, I’m just curious if it’s the same with this game – even with the inclusion of multiplayer.
Peter Chapman
it’s still very early days for me but yes, it feels like you could get immersed in this world. That was one of my biggest fears too – that the presence of other people dicking about and trying to be smart would make the world unbearable. It hasn’t happened yet, although you do see people jumping about and there are quite a few people with little monkeys or baby dragons following them, which is weird.
yiddo
That’s good to hear, thanks.
I used to be a heavy World of Warcraft player, so I’ll be used to people having companions and pets following them – just maybe not in an Elder Scrolls setting. If the game world is still vibrant and immersive like you say, then I’ll definitely jump in at some point. Nothing worse than a MMO with a dull world.
I think there is a PS4 beta planned anyway, so I’ll definitely get involved in that. Any chance of a TSA guild being created (for either console or PC)?
Chris
Echo the sentiments for this to become a regular feature. I’m in the exact same position you are as a long time Elder Scrolls fan but a complete MMO novice.
What’s surprising is that every beta impression I read was hugely negative; they wrote off the whole game. Yet people who have had early access over the last few days seem to be loving it.
I just don’t know if I can pay full price for the game and an additional £8, or whatever it is, a month.
colmshan1990
When I played the beta, at times it felt like an Elder Scrolls game (not as good as Skyrim or Oblivion though, but not too far off either).
But at other times… It was like PS Home. I saw people lining up and dancing the conga. Lining up like a giant human centipede. Running around trying to t-bag each other.
And I realised I didn’t want to entrust my epic single player fantasy series to the vagaries of other players.
I won’t be paying the extortionate fee. Maybe I’ll come back to it if it goes free to play, but I doubt it.
I’d rather play Skyrim again.
Eldur
Welcome to the world of MMORPGs. Especially the bit about tea bagging.
djdustb
I so looked forward to this but as every passing month comes I am less inclined to purchase it as I just think that however much I loved Skyrim and the universe they have created this game is not for me. I can’t stand the idea of not being able to do exactly what I want, game restrictions are one thing, but the risk of being told what to do by a guild or being destroyed by one in game does not appeal to me. I just want the Elder scrolls offline on this Generation. What would really sell it to me is a online portion that is smaller so that I can interact with my friends (locally) and not worry about the dicks.
psychobudgie
This in spades. I play Elder Scrolls for the huge single player experience it offers. I have no interest in having my experience diminished by the addition of other human players who I don’t know and can’t dunt over the back of the head when they ruin my game.