It would appear that Bethesda has been very busy lately indeed. Between Dawnguard (the first DLC package to be released for Skyrim) and the recently announced The Elder Scrolls Online, the studio seems to have a lot on their plate. Bethesda has now released a teaser trailer for this new title (see above) – and loads of information regarding gameplay and storyline have also been leaked.
Although the trailer itself doesn’t give players much to go on, plenty of information has been leaked about Bethesda’s foray into MMO gaming, so let’s start with the storyline.
The Elder Scrolls Online has been in development since 2007 and is set to take place roughly 1,000 years before the events of Skyrim, which might place the game in the “First Era” of Tamriel’s timeline. During this time, many factions are fighting for control of Tamriel. The Imperials, lead by the Tharn family and Mannimarco, King of Worms, hold dominion over the continent. However, there are three factions that would seek to take the throne for themselves: The “Ebonheart Pact” are comprised of the Nords, Dunmer and Argonians, while the “Aldmeri Dominion” features the Altmer, Bosmer and Khajit, while the Bretons, Redguard and Orcs make up the “Daggerfall Covenant.”
To complicate things further, Mannimarco wants the throne himself, and has made a secret pact with the Daedric prince Molag Bal, who would also rule the land. Daedric princes like Molag Bal play a large part of the story, as each player is fighting to retrieve their soul back from the evil prince. This clever plot device explains how the player can die over and over again, and still be brought back.
As far as gameplay goes, The Elder Scrolls Online seems to take the cues from the likes of World of Warcraft and Star Wars: The Old Republic, with a few major differences. For example, quests are not simply “picked up” by a player. Instead, if a player happens to kill all the necromancers in an undead barrow, an NPC you free afterwards will reward you.
Fans of The Elder Scrolls series will not be happy to hear that combat is not real-time and gameplay is forced in the third-person.
Check out the first sneak peek screenshots at The Elder Scrolls Online in action and note the art style differences compared to the core series:
Many of the popular aspects from previous Elder Scrolls titles will make an appearance in the online installment as well, such as the Dark Brotherhood and Thieves Guild, the use of soul stones, and constellations in the form of Mundus stones – which work like the guardian stones in Skyrim. However, players will not be able to master every skill discipline. Also, no word yet on whether the player can become a vampire or a werewolf.
Though the game will use the genre’s standards for classes, experience points and the like, MMO elements will be placed around the Elder Scrolls gameplay that players have come to know and love. Grinding quests and leveling up your character will come second to exploration, righting wrongs, and seeking riches. The size of the playable area has yet to be fully discussed, though so far we know it will contain most of Tamriel, including the provinces of Skyrim, Morrowind, Summerset Isle, and Elseweyr.
Finally, the PVP aspect of The Elder Scrolls Online will feature up to 100 vs 100 player battles, utilizing siege weapons such as trebuchets to capture keeps, farms, and mines. Most of the PVP action will take place in Cyrodiil, where the final goal is to take over the capital itself, providing huge bonuses for your faction. Simply put, PVP will be a gigantic area full of many tasks to complete and points of interest to interact with.
It looks like players have a lot to look forward to in Bethesda’s latest title!
What do you think, ranters? Is The Elder Scrolls Online already shaping up to be your game of the year for 2013 – even if there won’t be any dragons in this game?
Source: NeoGAF
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They should keep everything in Skyrim. I mean this is their chance to go even more indepth with all of the ‘guilds’ they have. And even with the werewolves and vampires.
Keep an MMO confined in a small continent instead of the entire game world? That is the smartest thing ever. Why don’t you work for Bethesda?
Sounds great but I really hope its not a subscription based game
Second era.
The artistic direction is god awful.
I may warm to it, especially if these are incomplete.
I agree with this.
Made by ZeniMax, not Bethesda thouhh Todd Howard occasionally checks in.
Bethesda Softworks is a subsidiary of Zenimax.
I just gotta say, “EEEEEWWWWW” about the aesthetic of the game… It looks an awful lot like SWTOR, and I can’t stress the word awful enough. SWTOR had many dealbreakers for me, which prevented me from even wanting to subscribe after trying it, one of which was the artstyle of the characters. These characters look very similar, which is a terrible thing. Also, I am sick and tired of these “point and click” MMOs. If I want to point and click, I’ll go back to the 90s and play their games. We are in the 2010′s… online game studios need to follow the example of the likes of DCU or this new Terra game, and abolish the terrible “point and click” function. We deserve real-time combat. I don’t usually judge people, but if you enjoy point and click combat in a video game, you are a boring person.
I couldn’t agree with you more, this game would be soo much better if it had a combat system like Skyrim and interface just with other characters running around. But eh, I don’t think I’ll be getting into this game as it’s going to be like MOST of the MMO’s out there, so what if it’s Elder Scrolls, still the same old thing just a different appearance and story. I LOVE the Elder Scrolls series, but I’m going to stick with my single player experiences most likely.
everything you mention about SWTOR I agree with. I even agree with the point and click thing for me. But I think Point and Click is to each his own, I’m personally tired of it, but I think many player who have just started MMOing will find it easier then the system you mention.
The art style of SWTOR kept me away and still does, it’s very boring.
Like me, I’m new to MMOs because I actually found an MMO I like (I hated WoW and Guild Wars) I love SWTOR and imo the art style is cool. And yeah the point and click is a lot easier (even though I still suck lol) but the fee on it is killing me so if this has one I probably wont get it but if it doesn’t there’s really no reason (for me) not to get it.
The three factions should read:
Along with the guilds are three factions. The “Ebonheart Pact” are comprised of the Nords, Dunmer and Argonians, while the “Aldmeri Dominion” features the Altmer, Bosmer and Khajit, while the Bretons, Redguard and Orcs make up the Daggerfall Covenant.
“No real time combat” ruins it for me. That’s what the Elder Scrolls is supposed to be. Diablo is a great point and clicker, but damn they just effed up my Scrolls man. Fooey.
this sounds horrible. graphics look bad and their taking this series down a few levels if you ask me. maybe if this was a first person mmo available on consoles i would change my mind but i am not even going to bother with this game.
Wasn’t expecting much.
Wasn’t disappointed much.
Won’t be getting much.
I don’t like the new art style. I also don’t like how the enemies are more about fantasy. I don’t like how combat won’t be real-time, either.
I noticed that, too. The enemies look like they stepped out of WoW or something. The Elder Scrolls is about gritty realism, even with a magical and fantasy premise. This game looks like a cheap cartoony piece of @$!# that stole the “Elder Scrolls” title.
Have you ever played any of the Elder Scrolls games before Skyrim, they have more fantasy elements to them than almost any other rpg out there. I don’t even want to get into the Shivering Isles because that was very realisstic.
No I haven’t, Skyrim is the only TES game I’ve played. But comparing Skyrim to a RPG such as Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, Skyrim has way less fantasy elements.
More like “Elder Scrolls In Name Only.” The fantastic elements from Skyrim and previous are gone. I won’t be buying this.
I want an expanded and improved Skyrim, not this turn-based third-person crap.
Those screenshots look more like they were from Neverwinter (Cryptic Studios).
It’s worse than I thought… this is a sad day.
Ahahaha,Looks even worse than I thought
Was that Michael Gambon doing the voiceover?
Also, I would’ve preferred a Fallout MMO. Seems to me the engine and theory behind that once in production game has just been transported lazily across to this gaming world to save time and money.
huge elder scrolls fan, but I will not be picking this one up, no real time combat? what’s the point. I hope they continue to release single player games instead of just investing everything in this
It seems that the Elder Scrolls MMO is going to ruin the world of Skyrim. I’m not gonna waste money over this MMO, and I prefer playing single player TES.
I’m NOT a big fan of the direction for the art and graphics….it just makes me want to flip my wrist and scream EW! but as a big fan of TES I have been wanting an mmo for the series just to see what it would be like but only if its done correctly will it be any good. They need to stop straying from the heart of the game. Build it like an elder scrolls game not freaking WOW and yes that is probably hard for them but thats why everyone is so excited about the game because its supposed to be different from other mmo’s im half and half about this game right now….