Zenimax Online Studios has already made us aware of the upcoming MMO version of the popular Elder Scrolls, titled The Elder Scrolls Online. The game was officially announced back in 2012, and is said to allow players to travel across the entire continent of Tamriel, and carry out quests, 1000 years before the events of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
The Elder Scrolls Online, set to arrive for PC and Mac later this year, has been stuck in development nightmare for a while now. However, as far as the previous images of the game are concerned, it seems like the MMO version of Skyrim looks more like its equally popular counterparts like Everquest and World of Warcraft.
The game takes place in Tamriel, and this includes the provinces of Cyrodiil (the setting for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion), Skyrim (the setting of The Elder Scrolls V), and the region called Elsweyr. Possible expansion packs could also be on the cards that will offer more new areas to carry out quests.
“It will be extremely rewarding finally to unveil what we have been developing the last several years," game director and MMO veteran Matt Firor, whose earlier work includes Mythic's well known Dark Age of Camelot, previously stated. "The entire team is committed to creating the best MMO ever made – and one that is worthy of The Elder Scrolls franchise."
While there’s not a lot to say about the game’s plot and settings, as of now, it was reported that players will be looking to fight for controlling the throne of the Emperor in Cyrodiil. “It is a time of strife and unrest. Armies of revenants and dark spirits manifest in every corner of Tamriel. Winters grow colder and crops fail. Mystics are plagued by nightmares and portents of doom,” the official page states.
“Four years ago, in 2E 578, an arcane explosion of energy in the Imperial City set off mystical aftershocks that swept across Nirn. Mages died or went mad. Supernatural abominations from the plane of Oblivion, the Daedra, appeared in greater numbers than ever before. The constellation of the Serpent grew so large that it dominated the night sky.”
However, in this time of chaos, three alliances fight for control of the Imperial City and the White-Gold Tower. While High Rock, Sentinel, and Orsinium stand as one (united under the rule of the High King in Wayrest), Valenwood and Elsweyr have also forged an alliance of their own with Summerset. Black Marsh, Morrowind, and Skyrim, on the other hand, have formed a third pact.
The Elder Scrolls Online will allow players to play as one of three Factions available in the game, and these three factions will consist of a number of Races from specific regions of Tamriel. The races will then form alliances to take on a fourth alliance. Below is a detailed list:
Ebonheart Pact (Northern and Eastern Regions): Argonian, Dunmer and Nord
Aldmeri Dominion (South and Southwest Regions): Altmer, Bosmer and Khajiit
Daggerfall Covenant (Northwest Regions): Breton, Orc and Redguard
The Elder Scrolls Online will be played from a third person perspective, and the in-game skills are said to be activated from a hotbar. Moreover, a new AI system is expected to be used for all NPCs and they will not have the same schedules as older Elder Scrolls games. This, per the devs, was done to allow people to play on their own time.
It is also important to note that players won’t be able to fast travel from point A to Point B in the map, although fast travel will still be available. Once killed in combat, players will come back to Wayshrines to start over again.
Also returning to this MMO scene are the Public Dungeons. These dungeons are not separated from the rest of the world, and have been designed in a special way to allow groups of players to team up and work through the caves or ruins.
More details about The Elder Scrolls Online may be obtained at the upcoming E3 2103.