THE ELDER SCROLLS ONLINE

[Smues]

http://kotaku.com/5907372/the-elder-scrolls-online-coming-next-year

The Elder Scrolls Online Coming Next Year
Bethesda will release a massively multiplayer online version of its popular The Elder Scrolls series next year for PC and Mac, Game Informer reports today.

Set a millennium before the events of Bethesda's last The Elder Scrolls game, Skyrim, The Elder Scrolls Online will take place across all of Tamriel during a time when daedric prince Molag Bal is wreaking havoc on the realm. The game will feature three player factions and PvP combat. Presumably you'll be able to travel across the entire world of The Elder Scrolls—Game Informer mentions recurring areas Elsweyr, Skyrim, and Cyrodiil as locations in the MMORPG.

"We have been working hard to create an online world in which players will be able to experience the epic Elder Scrolls universe with their friends, something fans have long said they wanted," director Matt Firor said in a press release. Firor previously worked on fantasy MMORPG Dark Age of Camelot. "It will be extremely rewarding finally to unveil what we have been developing the last several years. The entire team is committed to creating the best MMO ever made – and one that is worthy of The Elder Scrolls franchise."

This is the first project from developer ZeniMax Online Studios, which was founded in 2007.

Rumors earlier this year suggested that The Elder Scrolls Online would be unveiled this May and that Bethesda would show more about its upcoming MMO at this year's E3 gaming conference. An earlier rumor also suggested that the game's three factions are represented by a lion, a dragon, and a bird of prey.

If I liked MMOs I'd probably be thrilled about this. Instead I just hope it doesn't mean we don't get an Elder Scrolls VI someday.

 

[vivisectvi]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

I wonder what the factions will be? Mages, Fighters & Theives?

 

[BlackFlagg]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/the-elder-scrolls-online-is-a-real-mmo-being-developed-by-zenima/

 

[Edwin]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

I'd be a lot more interested if Bethesda were actually developing it. Instead, it's a brand new branch of Zenimax.

 

[vivisectvi]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

Either way, please dear fucking god please let them be using some other engine aside from Gamebryo/Creation.. I can only imagine what a clusterfuck that would be with an MMO.

 

[vivisectvi]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

The Elder Scrolls Online - Announcement Trailer

 

[Kageho]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

From everything I read, its going to be just like every other MMO out there, built on Everquest and WoW's way of doing things. Action keys, cooldowns, things like that. Not that I mind, but if it was every scrolls, I would assume that I would play it like I did Skyrim. Not like every other MMO.

Though public dungeons and a political system to crown an Emperor sounds kinda neat.

 

[vivisectvi]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

RE: Emperor.. do they mean that a player would be crowned emperor? Or that players would have a say in an NPC becoming emperor? Either way, interesting concept.

I don't mind it being built on other MMOs/WOW either. Honestly, that's one thing I really liked about SWTOR.. the gameplay and UI was so similar to WOW that it was much easier just to dive into the games content instead of worrying about having to learn a whole new system.

 

[vivisectvi]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

Via Joystiq:

 

[vivisectvi]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

Also, some info via Joystiq:

Details from Game Informer's Elder Scrolls Online cover story have already begun appearing online, it would seem. The game has been in development since 2007 by a team of 250, according to a post on NeoGAF. It will feature full voice acting throughout and will be played from a third-person perspective (generally not the most efficient way to play previous Elder Scrolls titles). As mentioned in yesterday's announcement, The Elder Scrolls Online takes place 1000 years in the past and will span almost all of Tamriel, though certain areas are being saved for the purposes of future expansions.

Zenimax Online is reportedly doing its best to strike a balance between the Elder Scrolls series and traditional MMOs, trying to appeal to players of both. In other words, yes, expect to use a traditional MMO hotbar to access your skills. You can also expect epic player-vs-player battles - up to 100-vs-100 in some instances - as factions compete to take over Cyrodil's Imperial City, with the winning faction installing its greatest champion as emperor. The NeoGAF post has plenty of other details and, of course, July's issue of Game Informer has even more.

That's crazy.. I wonder how that will work. It would be kind of crazy to have the Emperor changing every week due to PVP outcomes.. Have I mentioned that I hate PVP?

 

[vivisectvi]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

So many people are crying about how this isn't Skyrim with MMO functionality. Not sure how they would be able to pull that off at all, to be honest. Also seems a lot of people can't seem to grab hold of the idea that Bethesda dev's are still going to develop single player TES games and that ZeniMax Online is doing the MMO - two separate teams. The "this ruins TES" hyperbole is really amusing.

Anyway, here is the post from NEOGAF that seems to have a lot of major details. Not sure of the reliability, but what the hell.

-Releasing 2013 for PC/Mac
-Developed by ZeniMax Online Studios
-MMORPG
-250 Person Team
-Started development in 2007
-"This time, saving the world from the awakening of ancient evil is only the beginning. What happens when hundreds or thousands of prophesied heroes all think that they should be Emperor?"
-The game is fully voice acted
-Third person perspective
-The game uses a hotbar to activate skills like other traditional MMOs
-Visually it looks like other Hero Engine MMOs like SWTOR
-The general art style is kind of like RIFT or Everquest 2
-You can't be a werewolf or vampire
-Crafting, alchemy, and soul stones will exist in an unrevealed form
-There will be Daedric Princes like Molag Bal, the primary antagonist, and Vaermina, "whose sphere of influence extends to the dream world and the nightmares of mortals", along with some unnamed others
-Constellations will be in the game a la Mundus stones (which work like guardian stones) and also give the answer to things like block puzzles where you step on the blocks in a certain order
-Tons of towns ranging from Imperial City, Windhelm, Daggerfall, Sentinel, Mournhold, Ebonheart, Elden Root, Shornhelm, Evermore, Riften, and a lot more
-Radiant AI will not be present
-There will be mounts, but no flying mounts
-Fast travel exists in the game in the form of wayshrines, which are also your ressurection point, and you can teleport from one wayshrine to any other wayshrine you have already visited
-There most likely won't be dragons
-Sneaking will be in the game, but how it is implemented is undecided
-They're not talking about pets right now
-There will be no player housing
-There will be no NPC romances or marriage
-"It needs to be comfortable for people who are coming in from a typical massively multiplayer game that has the same control mechanisms, but it also has to appeal to Skyrim players."
-Features most of Tamriel including Skyrim, Morrowind, Summerset Isle, and Elseweyr.
-"Not all provinces are included in their entirety; Zenimax Online is keeping large areas inaccessible to save them for use as expansion content. Nonetheless, every major area is represented to some extent."
-As an example, Windhelm is fully implemented, but Winterhold and the mages' college won't be in at launch.
-There are three player factions:
--Ebonheart Pact: The Nords, Dunmer, and Argoninans
--Aldmeri Dominion: Altmer, Bosmer, and Khajit
--Daggerfall Covenant: Bretons, Redguard, and Orcs
-"Recreateing the freedom Elder Scrolls players expect within the World of Warcraft-style mechanics Zenimax Online is using for this MMO would be impossible without changing the way that players interact with the world."
-As such, the game uses a hubless design
-For example, you don't necessarily pick up a quest to do the following, but if you kill all the necromancers in an undead barrow, a shade you free at the end will reward you.
-However, to help you find these events, various NPCs you talk to will tell you where they are happening and put a marker pointing them on your map, which is obviously totally different than receiving a quest.
-Not all quests will have NPCs that indicate where they are
-The game uses MMORPG genre standards such as classes, experience points, and other traditional MMORPG progression mechanics, but they try to present it "around the core fantasy presented by traditional Elder Scrolls games" such as traveling around and righting wrongs or seeking riches
-The game world is very large relative to Skyrim
-You can explore almost anything you can see
-the game is set 1000 years in the past
-You can't master every discipline
-The imperials are an enemy to all three factions, lead by the noble Tharn family and the King of Worms, Mannimarco, and are hatching a plot to take over all of Tamriel
-But BEHOLD, Mannicmarco is scheming with Daedric prince Molag Bal to take over the world behind the Tharn's back
-Also, your soul has already been stolen by Molag Bal, which is the reason you can come back from death over and over again, and the starting plot is that you're fighting Molag Bal to get your soul back from him
-Hitting the level cap takes about 120 hours
-Each faction has their own leveling content
-An example quest is the story of Camlorn, where you have to stop evil werewolves who have their eyes set on conquest. First, you have to do a "standard MMO kill and collection quest" to stop ghosts from attacking some mages and soldiers. The ghosts are reliving a battle that the werewolf leader was in. You summon a ghost to find out what's going on, and the ghost tells you to wear her dead husband's armor to re-experience the battle he died in. You then get transported hundreds of years into the past to fight this battle. During this battle, you can choose to save the dead man's wife or to pursue the Werewolf leader. ZeniMax chooses to save the man's wife, who then tells you that the Werewolf leader is weak to fire. This information is helpful when you fight him, but you don't actually need to do this quest before fighting the werewolf leader if you don't want to. Basically, you can skip parts of quest chains if you want, but you get some benefit for playing the whole thing. Also, whenever you go back to the town you just saved, everything there hails you as a hero.
-The game features three faction PvP where you fight to take over keeps and use trebuchets and other siege weapons to help do it. At the high end, you can have 100 v 100 battles. There are also farms and mines you can try to take over. Most of this happens in Cyrodiil where your goal is to take over and hold the Imperial City to get faction wide bonuses for it. If you have played Dark Age of Camelot, this probably sounds familiar. For those who haven't, essentially the entire zone is a giant PvP area will all sorts of points of interest.
-The most accomplished PvP player on your faction becomes emperor whenever you take over the capital
-When you take over Cyrodiil, you will be able to adventure in it as a hostile city a la Kvatch
-The game will have raids and heroic modes for its dungeons as end game content in addition to faction PvP
-There is also balanced PvP for people who prefer eSports
-The game will also have high end public dungeons
-Public dungeons are essentially instances that aren't actually instanced, so anyone can be in them, so imagine a World of Warcraft dungeon that featured everyone on the server in the area instead of just your party
-There are standard instanced dungeons as well
-Back on the topic of the skillbar, you have a limited number of skills you can use at any given time, and can change them whenever you're out of combat
-The number of skills is equal to (paraphrase) "a light and heavy attack with your current weapon that take up the first two slots, a few more spells related to your class, and an ultimate in the last slot".
-The ultimate is used once you gain enough finesse, which is earned by doing well in combat
-You also get a bonus loot chest if you're soloing and max your finesse, and you can also build finesse by comboing with other players
-For example, a rogue can put oil on the ground that a mage can set on fire
-A fighter can also spin in the firestorm a mage puts down, which sends out fireballs
-If you've seen Guild Wars 2 videos, the above will seem familiar
-You can't combo with the abilities of enemy players though, so if an enemy faction player drops an oil slick, you can't set it on fire
-The Thieves Guild and Dark Brotherhood will be presented, but in what form isn't detailed as their contnet is hard to recreate in an MMO setting
-NPCs will try to work together and use player like behavior when fighting you, and (at least to my understanding) have stamina as well
-They want the AI to be good, so instead of enemies in a dungeon sitting around and waiting to be pulled, you will be attacked by the entire room and they will try to react to how you are playing
-The claim was not demo'ed to Game Informer
-You destroy dark anchors to gain reputation with the Fighter's Guild. They are large hooks that fall from the sky pseudorandomly and have Daedric guardians next to them. They are easier to kill with a group, and once destroyed, everyone who participated gets a reputation boost with the Fighter's Guild, and eventually nets you rewards like new skills and abilities.
-The combat model will not be real time due to latency
-The combat is based around a stamina bar which you can use to sprint, block, interrupt, and break incapacitating effects
-Blocking is the primary focus of these abilities, and can do things like stopping the secondary effects of attacks such as an ice spell slowing you
-Stamina also applies to PvP, so stamina management (and wearing down your enemy's stamina) is important, as your crowd control abilities might be on a long cooldown, and if you use them before the enemy player runs out of stamina, they will probably just block the effect
-ZeniMax feels that having the stamina bar will help break down the Holy Trinity as stamina allows you to do things like tank
-However, healing is still a big part of the game
-There is also no aggro mechanic in the game, which is part of the reason stamina blocking and healing exist

 

[Kageho]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

RE: Emperor.. do they mean that a player would be crowned emperor? Or that players would have a say in an NPC becoming emperor? Either way, interesting concept.

I don't mind it being built on other MMOs/WOW either. Honestly, that's one thing I really liked about SWTOR.. the gameplay and UI was so similar to WOW that it was much easier just to dive into the games content instead of worrying about having to learn a whole new system.

From what I've read, it sounds like a player will become Emperor. Which will be interesting to see. I don't think it'll be the same as what TERA is doing though, with a guild leader becoming Emperor.

I don't mind it either, but there doesn't seem to be something different to set it apart combat wise. It seems exactly the same as WoW, which is what's bothering me.

And honestly, new systems aren't necessarily a bad thing. TERA's action based combat makes tanking and melee combat more run and involved, from what little I played of it during beta.

Okay, I hadn't read that (yet) and it seems like they have a difference to combat.

 

[vivisectvi]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

Side note: What's TERA like? Worth checking out?

 

[Kageho]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

Its definitely different in that its more action orientated than other MMOs. You can get through some battles without actually taking any damage if you are good enough (not against BAMs though). Though, you'll notice it more from melee than you will ranged, since ranged just sits back and hammers away.

I didn't really get involved with the political system, but its kinda similar to how it seems to want to work in Elder Scrolls Online. Though the player chosen to lead will be a guild leader. On one server, three large guilds decided to form an alliance in which the leadership would rotate between the three guilds, though this has lead to everyone joining the three guilds only on that server. That could be seen as a downside. Though the guilds kinda function like a political party on that server...

Much is still like standard MMOs. You go talk to people with an identify to get quests, you get elves who look like females but are males, Standard stuff.

To keep this on topic, the system for ESO seems interesting, but I'd probably want to see a proof of concept before I jump head into it.

 

[vivisectvi]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

I'm a mark for TES and fantasy MMOs in general, so I know it's a definite that I'll be pre-ordering this. I'm sure I'll be annoyed with a lot of the bugs and quirks that come along with being an early adopter, but ah I'm such a sucker for this stuff.

 

[Kageho]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

Don't bugs and quirks come with all Bethesda products? Then you are already prepared for the MMO Early Adopter Syndrome!

I do realize ZeniMax is doing it, but it still applies.

 

[vivisectvi]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

Haha, no kidding! I just hope it's not a clusterfuck. Apparently they're using the Hero engine (which SWTOR uses) so we probably won't see any of the crazy save-bloating lag that Bethesda games usually run into.

 

[Kageho]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

I thought it was looking familiar. Its not a bad engine for an MMO. Will definitely need to play in first person view though.

 

[vivisectvi]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

So apparently that Game Informer issue dropped today.. but I can't find any scans of it. I'm actually surprised at the amount of people complaining that this game is even being made. Still a lot of people who don't get that this isn't TES6 and that it's a completely different development branch that's working on it. Well, whatever, I'm still psyched for it. I hope they can pull of an X-mas release..

 

[vivisectvi]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

Oops, nevermind - just found them!

http://gamerprompt.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/eso1.jpg
http://gamerprompt.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/eso2.jpg
http://gamerprompt.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/eso3.jpg
http://gamerprompt.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/eso4.jpg
http://gamerprompt.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/eso6.jpg
http://gamerprompt.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/eso7.jpg
http://gamerprompt.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/eso8.jpg
http://gamerprompt.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/eso9.jpg
http://gamerprompt.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/eso10.jpg
http://gamerprompt.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/eso11.jpg
http://gamerprompt.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/eso12.jpg
http://gamerprompt.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/eso13.jpg
http://gamerprompt.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/eso14.jpg
http://gamerprompt.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/eso15.jpg
http://gamerprompt.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/eso16.jpg
http://gamerprompt.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/eso17.jpg
http://gamerprompt.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/eso18.jpg
http://gamerprompt.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/eso19.jpg

 

[muzzington]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

I like the Hero engine but it's not how I imagine and see the Elder Scrolls Universe. So much colour!

Never use first person view in SWTOR, can't see myself using it with this.

 

[vivisectvi]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

I've tried both WOW and SWTOR in first person mode.. Not sure how anyone could play like that, especially when you have to deal with AOE spells and enemy mobs.

 

[muzzington]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

Aye, MMO's are entirely different beasts. This will have the Elder Scrolls name but I don't think it will feel like the Elder Scrolls seen before.

Sounds completely derivative and repetitive.... I'm going to play the hell out of it.

 

[vivisectvi]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

Ditto. The screens kinda remind me of the Amalur game that is it right now. Very similar art style, which I like, tbh.

 

[Kageho]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

I've tried both WOW and SWTOR in first person mode.. Not sure how anyone could play like that, especially when you have to deal with AOE spells and enemy mobs.

I've been tempted to try it with one character all the way and see how I fare. I have played in short spurts and its pretty fun. Especially since you need to tap V to see behind you. You can also still rotate your view with the mouse to look left and right as well. It just takes time adjusting to playing that way.

And I'll admit, I've been too lazy to let myself do it fully.

This will have the Elder Scrolls name but I don't think it will feel like the Elder Scrolls seen before.

It shouldn't. Its supposedly taking place long before the original series its based off of. Kinda like SWTOR.

Combat seems like it'll utilize a bit from a couple of MMOs. Though the addition of a stamina bar or stamina requirement is something I'd suit up to.

 

[muzzington]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

I meant more so because of the engine.

 

[vivisectvi]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

http://www.gameinformer.com/games/the_elder_scrolls_online/b/pc/archive/2012/05/14/elder-scrolls-online-faction-profile-daggerfall-covenant.aspx

Elder Scrolls Online Faction Profile: Daggerfall Covenant

During the second era, in a time before any previous Elder Scrolls game, the world of Tamriel descended into a four-way war. In an attempt to conquer the continent, the Imperials – natives to the province of Cyrodiil – made a deal with the Daedric prince Molag Bal. At the beginning of Elder Scrolls Online, players will join one of three factions that not only oppose the Imperials and Molag Bal’s undead army, but will also battle one another for the imperial throne. Three different alliances. Three different philosophies. Three different ways to approach the game. Which will you choose? Today we take a deeper look at the Daggerfall Covenant, represented by the lion on the ouroboros.

Zenimax Online’s Take:
“There is a lot of historical friction between the redguards and the bretons,” explains game director Matt Firor. “There have been a lot of little wars between them, and there has been as much internal fighting in High Rock as there has been with external provinces, but it’s a much more settled area and a little more peaceful. The Bretons have given the orcs their own homeland within their territory, and all three races like and respect each other. This faction is a lot more democratic than the others.”

The provinces:
High Rock sits on the northwest end of Tamriel and borders both Hammerfell and Skyrim. The area is highly fertile, features generally mild weather, and is largely populated by the bretons, though it is also the home to the orcs. High Rock was the location featured in The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall – Daggerfall being one of High Rock’s oldest cities and its capital.

Hammerfell is an arid region composed largely of deserts, mountains, and grasslands. Home to redguards, Hammerfell is predominately an urban and maritime province. The interior of the region is thinly populated with tiny farmsteads and beast herds, while the outer rim is pockmarked with large trade cities.

The races:
Bretons are the descendants of the humans who settled in High Rock. They are averaged-sized people with fair hair and fine features. Bretons are supremely intelligent, willful, and very outgoing. What they lack in physical skill, they make up for with their ability to weave spells.

Orcs are also sometimes referred to as Orsimer. This beastly warrior race hails from the Orsinium Area subsection of High Rock between the kingdoms of Menevia and Wayrest. Orcs are unflinchingly courageous and often feared, and orcish armor is often prized for its quality.

Redguards call Hammerfell home but love to travel and adventure on the high seas. Quick and agile, Redguards are often skilled warriors with a blade and shield, and are known for their hardy constitutions and speed, which makes them capable scouts.

That’s all for now. Come back Wednesday when we take a look at the ruthless Aldmeri Dominion. And check out our Elder Scrolls Online Hub for even more ESO related content.

 

[vivisectvi]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

http://www.gameinformer.com/games/the_elder_scrolls_online/b/pc/archive/2012/05/18/elder-scrolls-online-faction-profile-ebonheart-pact.aspx

Elder Scrolls Online Faction Profile: Ebonheart Pact

During the second era, in a time before any previous Elder Scrolls game, the world of Tamriel descended into a four-way war. In an attempt to conquer the continent, the Imperials – natives to the province of Cyrodiil – made a deal with the Daedric prince Molag Bal. At the beginning of Elder Scrolls Online, players join one of three factions that not only oppose the Imperials and Molag Bal’s undead army, but will also battle one another for the imperial throne. Elder Scrolls Online features three different alliances, three different philosophies, and three different ways to approach the game. Which will you choose? Today we take a deeper look at the Ebonheart Pact, represented by the dragon on the ouroboros.

Zenimax Online’s Take:
“About 50 years prior to the game, an Akaviri invasion came in and basically tried to take over,” says creative director Paul Sage. “What happens now is that the Dunmer and the Nords have formed an alliance because the attack was so bad that they realized they were weak to the Imperial rise. So they form an alliance of convenience with the Argonians. They’re surrounded by all these tides of opposing forces. They feel really threatened, so the Ebonheart’s entire purpose is to band together and make sure they’re no longer in danger.”

Provinces:
Many gamers are familiar with Morrowind thanks to the third entry in the Elder Scrolls series. Homeland of the Dunmer, Morrowind is separated into two parts: Morrowind proper and the island of Vvardenfell. The Sea of Ghosts cuts a giant U through the middle of the province, producing a lot of swampland while mountain ranges to the west isolate Morrowind from other provinces. Vvardenfell has historically been subject to a lot of volcanic activity, and some species depend on this ashfall for survival.

Of all of the provinces, Skyrim is probably the most well known thanks to last year’s Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Fans of last year’s game will likely be excited to see how ZeniMax Online has recreated the area for an MMO. Home of the Nords, Skyrim is a wealthy and powerful province despite its cold and sometimes inhospitable climate. Skyrim houses four out of Tamriel’s five tallest mountains.

Black Marsh is also sometimes called Argonia as it is home to the lizard-like Argonians. As the name suggests, Black Marsh contains a vast amount of marshlands and rainforests. The Hist, a race of sentient trees, also call Black Marsh home. The province’s tropical climate has made it difficult to cultivate its plant life. In fact, much of this swampland is teeming with poisonous plants and violent predators.

Races:
Dunmer, or Dark Elves, are an ashen-skinned, red-eyed people. Dunmer are often seen as proud, ruthless, and aloof, and are rarely willing to trust other races. Their above-average intellect, strength, and agility make them both strong warriors and capable sorcerers. Many Dunmer have been able to attain a balanced mastery of sword, bow, and destruction magic.

Nords are sometimes called children of the sky, since they are a tall, fair-haired race of humans who hail from the northern realm. The Nords are a militant people with an incredible resistance to cold and magical frost. These enthusiastic warriors are also natural seamen who have prospered greatly from their nautical trade.

Argonians are called Saxhleel in their native tongue of Jel, a term that means “People of the Root.” Argonians have historically been a slave race to invading bands of Dunmer, and years of defending their borders have made the Argonians talented in the art of guerrilla warfare. Naturally immune to many diseases and poisons, these reptilians are also very agile and make excellent thieves and magicians./quote]

 

[vivisectvi]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

http://www.gameinformer.com/games/the_elder_scrolls_online/b/pc/archive/2012/05/16/elder-scrolls-online-faction-profile-aldmeri-dominion.aspx

Elder Scrolls Online Faction Profile: Aldmeri Dominion

During the second era, in a time before any previous Elder Scrolls game, the world of Tamriel descended into a four-way war. In an attempt to conquer the continent, the Imperials – natives to the province of Cyrodiil – made a deal with the Daedric prince Molag Bal. At the beginning of Elder Scrolls Online, players join one of three factions that not only oppose the Imperials and Molag Bal’s undead army, but will also battle one another for the imperial throne. Elder Scrolls Online features three different alliances. Three different philosophies. Three different ways to approach the game. Which will you choose? Today we take a deeper look at the Aldmeri Dominion, represented by the Eagle on the ouroboros.

Zenimax Online’s Take:
“The name says it all. The Aldmeri Dominion wants to dominate the world. They plan on taking over the world. Submit or die,” explains game director Matt Firor. “The Aldmeri Dominion is like, ‘we’re going to kill everyone that isn’t us. You people are going to help us or else.’”

Provinces:
Valenwood is located in the southwestern region of the Tamriel. Home to the Wood Elves, Valenwood is covered by wide swaths of uninhabited forest. Swamplands and tropical rain forests dominate Valenwood’s coasts, but the nation’s most unique features are a few of its cities which are housed in giant, migratory trees. Valenwood’s capitol Falinesti, actually used to migrate south in the winter, but the tree containing the city has recently stopped walking.

Summerset Isles are a group of islands located southwest of Tamriel. Not much is known about the geography of the Summerset Isles, since it hasn’t been featured in many Elder Scrolls titles, but it is largely inhabited by the Altmer (High Elves.)

Situated on the southern end of Tamriel, Elsweyr is homeland to the various breeds of the cat-like Khajiit. Fertile jungles and rainforests occupy the region's southern end, but much of the rest of the nation is covered in dry plains and harsh badlands. In the south, upper class plantation owners grow the hallucinogenic plant Moon Sugar, which is often processed into the narcotic Skooma.

Races:
The Altmer are a race of High Elf that inhabit the Summerset Isles. Slender with a pale golden hue, the Altmer are among the tallest of all races. They are not as physically capable as humans, and their height makes them less agile, but they are possibly the most intelligent and magically proficient species on Tamriel. Their magical skill also makes them susceptible to magical attacks. However, they are highly resistant to disease.

The Bosmer are also known as the Wood Elves, and as that name implies, they are a people of the forest. Unlike their cousins, the Altmer, these elves prefer a simple lifestyle living in harmony with nature and exploring the beauty of the land. Both agile and quick, the Bosmer are excellent thieves and archers.

Khajiit are a cat-like race known for their natural agility and stealth. This race is not very adept at manipulating magical forces, but their agility and keen intelligence make them fierce warriors. Mobile bands of Khajiit often travel across Tamriel selling wares or distributing skooma. Oddly enough, Khajiit often refer to themselves in the third person.

 

[vivisectvi]

Re: The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

12 minute video about the games story at the following link: http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2012/05/21/creating-the-story-for-the-elder-scrolls-online.aspx