The Elder Scrolls Online Message Board

There is no hammer time in The Elder Scrolls Online, unless you count the mashing of monster-skulls with war-mallets. If you want to sell your ill-gotten gains though, you’ll notice that there’s no auction house in Tamriel. To trade goods and equipment, players have to work within guild stores, although exchanges can now operate through a newly opened fan-created Marketplace. I quite like the idea of the guild stores, which allow members to barter with one another. Theoretically, they will prevent destabilisation of the economy by creating pockets of value and could also lead to guilds with specialised commercial outlooks. More details on the marketplace under the counter, below.

… [visit site to read more]

Welcome to Postcards from The Elder Scrolls Online, a look at Bethesda's new MMO. Stay tuned for more entries in the coming weeks. Prior to writing about games for a living, I was spending much more time on MMOs than I do now. Once upon a time, I was hell-bent on topping the Everquest 2 server leaderboards for quests completed, and I put more hours into that game than I did my university course (maybe that's not saying much). After that, I got up to Level 65 in World of Warcraft - I even queued up for the Burning Crusade launch, something I've not done for any other game. Since then I've had brief skirmishes with Rift, The Old Republic, and Final Fantasy 14, but no MMO has grabbed me (and my time) like EQ2 and WoW did.

Still, the pangs are always there, so when Richard asked if I wanted to check out The Elder Scrolls Online, I was happy to. If anything, Bethesda Game Studios' recent efforts had done great jobs of satiating my hunger for games gone by. Skyrim in particular felt like a single-player MMO, constantly rewarding me for every little thing I did in its timesink of a world.

So, don't consider this a review of TESO. Instead, it's offered as my musings on returning to the fold with Bethesda's first foray into it. And in my first week I encountered Harry Potter flashbacks, smart-talking cats, and almost-naked epiphanies. [Images: Bethesda]

It's been one week since I donned my tail and cat ears and began my journey into The Elder Scrolls Online, and I'm having a much better time on day seven than I did on day one. Read more...

Like most subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing games, The Elder Scrolls Online includes 30 day free game time with purchase, but in order to access that 30 free days, one first has to set up a subscription, and that's got some of the game's players in an uproar. Read more...

Alien shapes swarm across a once-majestic landscape, now fractured and ruined. An endless battlefield unfolds before our eyes. A struggle against surely-impossible odds, yet camaraderie pulls us together. Death. Chaos. Madness. We field terrible weapons which may save the day but at what cost to our our humanity? From all this, a lone hero rises, the only one who can save us all.

The Elder Scrolls Online, you may have heard, launched on Friday. Our crack reviewer is still reviewing away (we slide a kipper under the locked door every time we hear Brendan’s typing slow) so we can’t tell you what it’s like quite yet, but we can show you a cinematic trailer accompanying the launch and speculate about what it’d like to be.

… [visit site to read more]

The Elder Scrolls Online is now available on PC and Mac, and Bethesda offered up a new trailer today to prove it. The game will arrive on PS4 and Xbox One in June, but those looking to pick up the MMO today should keep our starter guide on hand.

Elder Scrolls Online is a very traditional MMO, so those you out there who don't play them regularly may have some trouble acclimating initially. But like most games, if you persevere and understand the fundamentals, everything will come in time.

Before you even create a character, you should probably understand the basics of the game and how classes work. Though other MMOs rely heavily on the "holy trinity" of tank, damage-dealer, and healer, in ESO, every class is designed to have some competence in anything you want. It's a bit of a different spin on the traditional class system that most MMO players are used to.

At first, you can select between four classes -- Dragon Knight, Sorcerer, Nightblade, and Templar. As a general rule, these classes are similar to those in other games respectively -- warrior, mage, thief, and priest. But again, ESO doesn't prescribe to the typical setup, so all four classes can tank, heal, or do damage. The reason this is possible is due to the dynamic weapon and armor experience system, as well as guild and faction skill trees that unlock new adaptive abilities.

This five-minute short, released by Bethesda today, tells you absolutely nothing about The Elder Scrolls Online, which is officially out today for PC and Mac.Read more...

Bethesda just threw up this fun infographic for The Elder Scrolls Online, which officially launches tomorrow for PC and Mac. (It'll be out on PS4/Xbox One in June.)Read more...

Looks like The Last of Us might be coming to PlayStation 4 & Respawn begins banning Titanfall cheaters. Plus, the Elder Scrolls Online concept art revealed & a Dragon Age return?

The Elder Scrolls Online released a new eight-minute cinematic trailer today, along with news of two special editions and the enticement of five-day early access for those who pre-order the game.Read more...

Good gravy, Zenimax must have a lot of money. Which only fits my firm belief that a company with a name like that is going to be the one everyone remembers after the great zombie outbreak. A sprinkling of their vast coffers has been used to create a very luscious cinematic for The Elder Scrolls Online, featuring your mum as the big baddie. They release this to mark the announcement of an Imperial Edition of the forthcoming MMO, a “premium collector’s edition”, or as I like to call them, The Expensive Ones For Mad People. Except, bloody hell, this game’s going to be expensive for everyone.

(more…)

Today we released an all-new cinematic trailer, The Arrival, to celebrate the announcement of The Elder Scrolls Online Imperial Edition and The Explorer’s Pack pre-order bonus.

The Elder Scrolls Online Imperial Edition, a limited-quantity premium collector’s edition, comes packed with awesome physical and digital rewards. Pre-order the Imperial Edition for PS4 at a participating retailer today and you’ll get:

• Molag Bal Statue. A 12” statue featuring Molag Bal, Daedric Prince of domination and enslavement.
• The Improved Emperor’s Guide to Tamriel. A 224-page illustrated guide annotated by the Imperial scholar Flaccus Terentius.
• Physical Map of Tamriel. A 21” x 26” printed map detailing Alliance-controlled zones and the ultimate conquest: Cyrodiil.
• Steelbook Packaging. A limited edition steel case decorated in the color of the Imperials.
• Exclusive Collection of Digital Content.
  • Play as an Imperial: Become an Imperial and play in any Alliance. Gain unique bonuses, crafting styles, gear, and more.
  • White Imperial Horse: Summon this Imperial mount and journey through Tamriel with speed.
  • Mudcrab Vanity Pet: Explore Tamriel with a mudcrab pet by your side.
  • Rings of Mara: Complete the Ritual of Mara with a friend and receive an experience bonus when you play together.

All those that pre-order either the standard edition or the Imperial Edition will also receive The Explorer’s Pack, which included these digital bonuses:

• The characters you create can join any alliance, no matter which race you choose
• The Scuttler, a tiny but loyal vanity pet
• A bundle of four bonus treasure maps

We can’t wait for your adventure to begin!

We’ve gotten a ton of great questions from the PlayStation community, who are eager to learn more about the PS4 release of The Elder Scrolls Online. While we’re still several months from the game’s June release, we want to make sure we’re keeping you up-to-date as things progress in development.

One question we’ve been frequently hearing is whether or not a PlayStation Plus membership will be required to play The Elder Scrolls Online on PS4. We kick off with the answer to that, followed by answers to several other questions you’ve submitted via Twitter. Thanks to everyone who submitted questions, and thanks for all your support. We love to hear from the community — keep the questions coming.

Will playing online with The Elder Scrolls Online have a separate subscription compared to PlayStation Plus? — @NathanaelMoner A PlayStation Plus membership is not required to play The Elder Scrolls Online. PS4 players will only be required to pay the same monthly subscription associated with The Elder Scrolls Online that PC and Mac users will pay—nothing more. Will PS4 servers be split between EU and NA, or will we be on one megaserver? — @TsoriGaming They will be split. PS4 users will play The Elder Scrolls Online on either the European PS4 megaserver or the North American PS4 megaserver. We’ll share more details about how this will work closer to launch. Will PS4 users be on the same severs as PC users? — @Adzaofoz PS4 users will have their own dedicated ESO megaservers (European and North American). PC and Mac users will not be on the PS4 megaservers. This is good news for PS4 players as they won’t have to worry about contending with higher-level PC players when ESO launches on PS4.

How are you guys going to incorporate an action bar on console? Or what will the substitution be?? — @AdamJ_Floyd We’re still testing and tweaking different DualShock 4 button mapping configurations, but we’re very happy with the gameplay experience on PS4. Abilities are conveniently accessible for fun “on the couch” gameplay, and the team is really happy with how it’s coming along. We’ll have more specifics to share about this topic later this year. How will you be utilizing and using the touchpad on the PS4 controller in-game? — @SamiRocklynn We love the additional functionality of the DualShock 4 touchpad. We’re playing with a couple of different button configurations to find the best and most intuitive use for the touchpad. How much space will it take up on the PS4 HDD? — @DexMProductions While details aren’t yet finalized, PS4 offers an HDD with a tremendous amount of memory. There is plenty of HDD memory available for the game and for years of continuous post-launch content that will be released for The Elder Scrolls Online.

How will the controls be mapped on PS4? Will it be similar to Skyrim on a controller? — @Brandon_Roark_ Throughout ESO’s development, our goal has been to create an MMO that is fun to play and is familiar to Skyrim fans. Gameplay in ESO isn’t identical to Skyrim, so naturally we’ve made some button configuration changes to reflect the differences, such as the use of abilities. At the same time, there are a lot of controller configuration similarities between Skyrim and ESO. Will PvE instances, like dungeons, offer a single player mode? — @maheirem The Elder Scrolls Online is an MMO that was designed to give the gamer freedom to play with others, or alone. That said, there are instances and areas that are specifically designed and tuned to be taken on with friends. When does the PlayStation beta start? And when should we expect beta invites? — @Wretched86 We do not yet have a date or timeframe to share, but we can assure you that there will be an ESO beta exclusively for PlayStation 4 fans later this year. Keep an eye on elderscrollsonline.com, as well as here on PlayStation.Blog, for further details!

From all of us here on The Elder Scrolls Online team — a big thanks to the PlayStation community for being so supportive. If you haven’t signed up for the PS4 ESO beta yet, you can do so here.

We’ll see you in Tamriel on PS4 later this year!

Sage, Konkle & Crenshaw sounds like a folk band–and who am I to say they aren’t–but they are also three developers working on The Elder Scrolls Online. The three of them banded together, as folk tend to do in MMOs, and recorded a little play session, showing-off a little bit of the game’s group content. I love wandering the worlds Bethesda builds, but when a game includes most of Tamriel, being able to easily and swiftly team up with friends is definitely a plus.(more…)

Bethesda is going all-out for this one: they just revealed the voice cast for The Elder Scrolls Online, and it's packed with acting talent from the likes of John Cleese, Kate Beckinsale, Bill Nighy, Michael Gambon, Alfred Molina, and more.Read more...

…DAHN DAHN DAHN…. April 4, 2014. There, look, I know was a big old tease in the headline but at least I didn’t make you wait long, did I? 4/4/14 is indeed the release date for Bethesda’s MMO adaptation of The Elder Scrolls RPG series, and that’s for PC and Mac – next Jennifer systems will follow in June.

Here’s a PVP trailer, too.(more…)

When I was little, I wanted to grow up to be a fireman and an astronaut and a cowboy and a monster truck and Batman and a shoe and a barn and a machine that could produce infinite popsicles and the head of a moderately successful middle management firm. Eventually, however, I realized that I’d have to settle on just one thing, so I decided that I hated money and became a games journo. The Elder Scrolls Online, however, ties no such noose of practicality around the neck of your dreams. Given time and exploration, you can be everything. Video detailing how it all works below.

(more…)

Today we’re launching Greatness Exchange, a digital auction house exhibiting PlayStation memorabilia from the recent “Perfect Day” commercial, including items based on Killzone Shadow Fall and The Elder Scrolls Online. You can also enter to win rare concept art from the shoot, and even a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Guerrilla Games in Amsterdam.

Here’s how it works: Go to GreatnessExchange.com and log in with your SEN account. Your eligible Gold Trophies will be depicted on the page, which you can redeem as entries into the daily sweepstakes. You must select that day’s sweepstakes (listed below) and enter the total number of Gold Trophies you would like to bid for that day’s prize — you’ll only be able to bid up to the number of Gold Trophies you’ve earned from playing PS3 or PS Vita games.

Once you’ve used a Gold Trophy to enter a sweepstakes, it can’t be used again. Spend them wisely! And be sure to check back every day as new items are made available, starting today with the Helghast Assault outfit and ending with a “mystery box” on 11:59pm Pacific Time on November 14th. Good luck!

What do you have your eye on?

Date Prizes 10/22 KILLZONE Shadow Fall
Helghast Assault Full Suit & Helmet 10/23 The Elder Scrolls Online
Breton Bow, Quiver & Arrows 10/24 KILLZONE Shadow Fall
Lucas Kellan Suit 10/25 The Elder Scrolls Online
Nord Warrior Costume 10/28 The Elder Scrolls Online
Dagger 10/29 KILLZONE Shadow Fall
VSA Assault 10/30 The Elder Scrolls Online
Nord Sword 10/31 KILLZONE Shadow Fall
KILLZONE Induction Experience* 11/1 The Elder Scrolls Online
Nord Axe 11/4 KILLZONE Shadow Fall
VSA Assault 11/5 The Elder Scrolls Online
Breton Costume 11/6 PlayStation
“Perfect Day” Concept Art 11/7 KILLZONE Shadow Fall
Helghast Support 11/8 The Elder Scrolls Online
The Elder Scrolls Online Experience** 11/11 KILLZONE Shadow Fall
Sergeant Suit 11/12 KILLZONE Shadow Fall
Helghast Civilian Female Costume 11/13 KILLZONE Shadow Fall
Helghast Civilian Male Costume 11/14 KILLZONE Shadow Fall
Shadow Marshal Suit

*The KILLZONE Induction Experience includes: 5 day/4 night trip for two to Amsterdam, Netherlands (round trip coach-class airfare and 4 nights standard hotel accommodations for two), $750 USD gift card for meals, 2 copies of KILLZONE Shadow Fall, and 2 gift bags.

**The Elder Scrolls Online Experience includes: 5 day/4 night trip for two to Quakecon 2014 (August 1, 2014 – August 4, 2014) in Dallas, Texas (round trip coach-class airfare and 4 nights standard hotel accommodations for two), 2 VIP Badges to Quakecon 2014, 2 copies of The Elder Scrolls Online, 2 passes to a PlayStation party at Quakecon 2014, a welcome basket for winner, round-trip airport transfers while in Dallas, Texas, 4 breakfasts and 4 lunches for 2 people.

How do you take your Elder Scrolls characters? Green? Purple? Thick? Lean? With one lump or two hundred disfiguring scars and gashes? These are questions you should probably begin asking yourself – at least, if you plan on playing The Elder Scrolls Online when it launches next year. True to Elder Scrolls tradition, the big, hopefully not bad MMO spin-off will allow for character customization out the wazoo, which sounds really painful. In reality, however, it looks like quite a pleasant feature, although the series’ history of bizarre, uncanny valley unfriendly faces might have a thing or two to say about that. Venture into this post’s frigid southern reaches for a video.

(more…)

As versatile and deep as the series is, it wasn't until Skyrim that The Elder Scrolls started generating somewhat attractive player characters. Looks like they've nailed attractive character creation for The Elder Scrolls Online. Read more...

TESO‘s single player was a little underwhelming when I played it at Gamescom. Sure, it looked like Skyrim, but I suspect that’s probably the wrong message to be sending. My feeling is that TESO needs to be its own game, and by mimicking Skyrim it’s sleepwalking into trouble. Rather than attempting to trade on Skyrim’s success, it needs to be setting out its own stall to the MMO crowd, and doing so on its own. One area it might do this is in PvP, which is increasingly sounding like the most interesting area of the project. In a recent Q&A the team have started going into some details, and they sounds like My Sort Of Thing.

(more…)

Hello! Welcome to Bizarro Land. In this reality, I’m British, everyone else is American, my hair is flat and lacking in ambition, Jim hates both snazzy hats and robots, John is an adorable kitten, Adam is very mean and also 100 stories tall, Horace IS FINITE, and Alec is still on parental leave… for a brood of fire-puking spider demons (who strongly dislike repeating game titles over and over and over and Space Hulk). Also, two MMOs announced that they’re embracing the all-but-dead art that is the monthly subscription model in the same week. First it was Wildstar, and now it’s The Elder Scrolls Online. Head below for details while I stop John from spitting up on the rug again.

(more…)

Putting an end to speculation that the massively multiplayer entry in Bethesda's award-winning role-playing franchise would be free-to-play, Zenimax Online's Matt Firor has confirmed The Elder Scrolls Online will follow a subscription-based business model. Read more...

Oh, The Elder Scrolls Online, now is really not the right time for this sort of behaviour. I see you there, in your thirty minute long QuakeCon presentation, and I can’t deny that I was pleased to see it embroidered with mushrooms and mounts, but my mind is still full of Everquest Next. Maybe it’s just bad timing. Had it been another day, I might not have looked the other way. Chances are I would have done though. That said, toward the end of the video, a player mounts a monster’s head on a spike. That’s new, I think. Although, disturbingly, heads on spikes instantly remind make me think of John Romero. Has there ever been a greater example of the form?

(more…)

It’s thanks to the heightened perception stat of PCGamesN that I’m able to point you toward footage of the first-person combat in The Elder Scrolls Online. Previous videos favoured a third-person approach to swordplay and spell-lobbing, which caused much disgruntlement, so perhaps this short clip will manage a degree of regruntling? I actually saw the short clip twice and didn’t notice the first-person sections at all because they’re the same muddy-brown brawl as the rest, except with some swords occasionally swinging at the fore of the screen. The target of those swords are a clan of kwama, as the dev post accompanying the video explains: “The kwama, which you’ll recognize if you played Morrowind, are insectoid creatures you’ll encounter in three forms in ESO: the scrib, the worker, and the warrior.” Scribblenauts!

(more…)

John Hurt (maybe) earlier, Michael Gambon now… It’s only a matter of time before we get Derek Jacobi narrating a trailer for FIFA 2014, or Simon Callow talking about Call of Duty. Gammbers, the Singing Detective and Dumbledore himself, is here today to talk to us about The Elder Scrolls Online, Bethesda’s MMO adaptation of their until now distintively singleplayer Tamriel-set RPGs.(more…)

The Elder Scrolls Online is in the unusual (and perhaps unenviable) position of having to appeal to two kinds of player – fans of the Elder Scrolls series and fans of the MMO. It would be silly to argue against the suspicion that, at a certain point, these two groups must overlap. It’s that sweet spot of the Venn diagram that Zenimax is pitching to with its foray into the lots-of-people-fighting-at-once genre. It has already been pointed out that TESO looks to be leaning towards the tried and tested techniques of the MMO, rather than forging a distinct multiplayer world from Elder Scroll conventions, a la the broken yet personable Mortal Online. Having recently had a brief wander in Tamriel, it does seem to us that, as a game, it is certainly more World of Warcraft than Skyrim. Even if it does pay tribute to its forebears in terms of lore and world-building.(more…)

Morrowind even had fishing poles. No way to use them, though. Luckily, it appears we'll finally have actual fishing in The Elder Scrolls Online (wading into the water and hitting the use key over fish in Skyrim doesn't count). Also, crafting and loot and stuff. TES Online is landing sometime this year.

I must (and have previously, and will continue to) admit that I wasn’t overly impressed by what I played of The Elder Scrolls Online. One thing that did take me by surprise, however, was all the random doodads lying around that I could just snatch up. One by one, bristling baskets of apples went, right into my increasingly delicious pocket. Bread loaves, too. Oh, and bottles and lighting fixtures, because why not? I guess they were all for crafting, but I was just trying to fulfill my gamerly dream of possessing all objects. The latest Elder Scrolls Online video delves into all that and more, which is nice since these are kind of Elder Scrolls cornerstones. And it all looks quite nice, too! I continue to worry, though, that Zenimax may not entirely be getting the point.

(more…)