Elder Scrolls Online is looking really pretty, and I’ve got to say I’m getting more than a little excited about it. Considering the success of previous Elder Scrolls games, I can only imagine how well an MMO version will go down. Now, as Bethesda reveal the character progression system, things are coming together.
Here’s the trailer detailing the character progression system.
For those of you who aren’t equipped for video, the broad strokes are about the attribute and skill systems. When you level up, you get an attribute and skill point. Attribute points can be used on one of the three main pools for the game, Health, Magica and Stamina. Skill points are a more specific way of defining your character through abilities and spells, as compared to attributes which go towards your survival skills or spell casting ability.
Morphing seems like an ability upgrade system. The example given is a healing ability that can be morphed to heal more people, or restore Magica upon casting.
Beyond active abilities, you can also spend skill points on passive abilities (generally my favorite). Additionally, there are a range of skills specific to the races and classes you have selected when creating your character. The goal is a high degree of customization, and it seems like there are a ton of options for just that.
Could Elder Scrolls Online become the WoW killer? Will we see it gain dominance in the world of MMORPGs? Or are most Elder Scrolls fans single player gamers who don’t want to play with others? I’m curious to see if Elder Scrolls translates into a successful MMO. So far, it looks like something I’d definitely want to play.
Last Updated: December 4, 2013
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
December 4, 2013 at 10:35
I cannot wait for this game. Wooot
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
December 4, 2013 at 10:52
Me neither. I’m going to sell a grand black soul gem to get this game. My only problem is that it’s empty at the moment…
Admiral Chief of Souls
December 4, 2013 at 10:55
No use trying it on Rince, becoz no soul!!!
Brenz
December 4, 2013 at 11:26
why, is he a ginger?
Shift-Tab John (JJ)
December 4, 2013 at 11:28
We prefer the term Rooibos Rince.
MosselWasAlone
December 4, 2013 at 11:32
FML, that was the worst in Skyrim. I was turned into a vampire and needed a black soul stone. I was also broke and had to hike from farking Whiterun to Rorikstead only to realise those badboys cost a fortune. Was the worst 4 hours of my life.
Shift-Tab John (JJ)
December 4, 2013 at 11:33
Man, I remember that happening to me too.
Still makes me want to play Skyrim again though.
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
December 4, 2013 at 11:35
I just bought it and all the DLC off Steam for the stupidly low price they had it at. Had only ever played the main game. Am having so so so much fun at the moment. Am about to embark on building my first homestead and am a pretty hardcore Vampire Lord. The amount of fun is just too damn high.
Shift-Tab John (JJ)
December 4, 2013 at 11:36
Is too damn high!
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
December 4, 2013 at 11:35
Azura’s Star. 🙂
MosselWasAlone
December 4, 2013 at 11:39
Only much much later (like 70hours later) did I get that! But once you have it, it’s pretty sick.
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
December 4, 2013 at 11:46
Yeah I’m twenty hours into a new game as a Vampire/One handed shield bruiser type and I’m going to go fetch it tonight. Because I am going to start killing lots of pesky humans and can enchant forever if I turn the star black. Cannot. Wait.
ElimiNathan
December 4, 2013 at 11:14
Gna be epic
Vampyric Squirrel of the Sith
December 4, 2013 at 13:45
Same here
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2013 at 10:42
Morphing skills? Is this Elder Scrolls or Power Rangers?
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
December 4, 2013 at 10:51
Both… didn’t you play to the end of Morrowind?
Shift-Tab John (JJ)
December 4, 2013 at 11:21
Haha.
MosselWasAlone
December 4, 2013 at 11:29
Either way, I call dibs on Pterodactyl.
Shift-Tab John (JJ)
December 4, 2013 at 11:30
It’s because of the Pink Ranger, isn’t it?
That was probably every boy’s first crush.
MosselWasAlone
December 4, 2013 at 11:35
Dat pink ranger.
Admiral Chief of Souls
December 4, 2013 at 10:46
NORD!!!!
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
December 4, 2013 at 10:52
Psssht. You’re not the Dragonborn anymore! 😛
Admiral Chief of Souls
December 4, 2013 at 10:55
FUS RO YESIAMDAMMIT!!!!
Kromas
December 4, 2013 at 10:53
Yeah I am not getting excited just yet since every time I do the game disappoints.
Weanerdog
December 4, 2013 at 11:04
Did you get super excited about Dragon Age 2 by any chance?
Kromas
December 4, 2013 at 12:17
DA2, SWTOR, Duke 4EVAH,HL3 and BF4. All of them are crap (HL3 added cause it is taking too long)
Weanerdog
December 4, 2013 at 12:24
So its all your fault, I would hide Banana Jim is gonna be a coming for ya.
Kromas
December 4, 2013 at 12:26
Hahaha … I have got him beat. All I need to do is get super excited that he is coming for me. 😛
Weanerdog
December 4, 2013 at 12:58
Bwhahaha
Gerhard Davids
December 4, 2013 at 10:54
I don’t like the term “WoW killer”. WoW is “suiciding” just fine at the moment.
Admiral Chief of Souls
December 4, 2013 at 10:55
HAHAHAHA, well said sir, well said!!!
Hondsepop
December 4, 2013 at 10:58
Leeeeeeeeeeerooooy Jenkinnnnns.
Don’t like MMORPGs, but this looks really good.
MosselWasAlone
December 4, 2013 at 11:27
hahahaha!! OMW that remains one of my favourite clips on the internet!
EDIT: it’s more like Leeeeeeeeeeerooooy Nnnjenkinnnnns.
Hondsepop
December 4, 2013 at 12:18
At least he had chicken.
Hammersteyn
December 4, 2013 at 11:05
F2P?
Admiral Chief of Souls
December 4, 2013 at 11:07
I hope not. I hope for initial payment and then be DONE
Willem Swanepoel
December 4, 2013 at 11:13
Sorry to say this but it is not F2P and it is $15 p/m
Admiral Chief of Souls
December 4, 2013 at 11:14
$15 pm? Thats like 3 steam games per month.
No thanks then
Willem Swanepoel
December 4, 2013 at 11:19
I might if it has a gripping story
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
December 4, 2013 at 11:20
What if all of Tamriel is available (including what you’ve already seen in the earlier games) with all of the usual guilds, etc. Plus a better engine, better AI, and human players running around the world as well? That could be well worth that price tag. I’d pay it, to be honest.
Lourens Jordaan
December 4, 2013 at 11:32
I find it a bit steep personally. I haven’t missed a Elder Scrolls game since Morrowind, but $15 is just too much. I’ll go for a $60 yearly subscription if it is ever offered but no more.
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
December 4, 2013 at 11:39
Hopefully there are more affordable packages. Seems a lot of people don’t want to pay what they’re asking. What is the Eve Online subscription fee? Isn’t that also really really high? If it’s of the same quality, I think many Elder Scrolls fans will flock to it. Provided it has that sort of depth. Otherwise.. this could kill a lot of potential.
Lourens Jordaan
December 4, 2013 at 12:17
The thing is that I’m a huge fan, but not a fanatic. I’ll play about 20 hours one month and two hours the next. That will be a price difference between $0.75 an hour (almost acceptable) vs $7.50 an hour (ludicrous). It’s really a shame cause I’d love to play this.
Kromas
December 4, 2013 at 12:20
I have two eve accounts. I require 8 hours of gameplay to pay for both accounts via in game money. Most people in EvE follow that payment method eventually.
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
December 4, 2013 at 12:46
I suspect that if you could play eight hours in Elder Scrolls online and that way ensure enough in game currency to pay for game time, that would be a solution to the high price tag per month. It’s a good idea. Another avenue for people who can’t afford $15pm. Maybe they would only need to pay once every so often rather than each month.
Kromas
December 4, 2013 at 13:12
I believe quite strongly that it will go the way of SWTOR. Consumers are just not willing to pay that much for an MMO anymore (the main reason wow is slowly but surely bleeding out its user-base). That and if I really had to pay for an MMO right this minute I would rather play Wildstar (when it gets released.)
Admiral Chief of Souls
December 4, 2013 at 11:35
Nah
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
December 4, 2013 at 11:38
Fair enough.
Admiral Chief of Souls
December 4, 2013 at 11:39
Look, it sounds epic, it looks epic, everything is what I want!
BUT dammit the sub is TOO DAMN HIGH
Shift-Tab John (JJ)
December 4, 2013 at 11:26
Ah man. That’s way too much. That’s like 150 in muggle money. SP Elder Scrolls for me.
MosselWasAlone
December 4, 2013 at 11:26
I think it will be subscription based. You pay a set amount per month and thats that.
Willem Swanepoel
December 4, 2013 at 11:13
They announced that there will be a $15 monthly subscription fee ontop of the selling price of $60.
So you have to pay $75 for the game to play it on day one.
People said GW2 will be the wow killer … and it came and now … meh.
People hope this will be the next one but it wont, it is more expensive than WoW … what the hell…
Deano
December 4, 2013 at 11:15
Guild Wars 2 is doing very well.
Willem Swanepoel
December 4, 2013 at 11:16
it is doing very well but it is not the WoW killer like everyone is saying which is a stupid term anyway.
ElimiNathan
December 4, 2013 at 11:16
Guild Wars 2 is doing well but I never really get an urge to play it much
Willem Swanepoel
December 4, 2013 at 11:17
same here. I played it for a month and lost interest. ;-/
ElimiNathan
December 4, 2013 at 11:15
What’s the release date on this puppy ?
Vampyric Squirrel of the Sith
December 4, 2013 at 13:42
TBA 😛
Shift-Tab John (JJ)
December 4, 2013 at 11:21
I like the SP of the Elder Scrolls series. I’ll totally opt for co-op matches, but not yet so sure about the MMORPG thing.
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
December 4, 2013 at 11:23
Can you imagine taking on a room full of mercenaries with a group of real living people? Imagine you create a Werewolf clan and just roam the countryside ganking offensive locals. It could be epic. I’ve always wanted Elder Scrolls to be co-op purely because it would add so much to the game.
Shift-Tab John (JJ)
December 4, 2013 at 11:27
Absolutely. See Skyrim…but with friends playing along. What else could I need?
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
December 4, 2013 at 11:30
I just think Skyrim. With friends playing along. And hundreds of other people going about their lives also. Who I can loot after they stupidly try to attack a Giant. 😛
Willem Swanepoel
December 4, 2013 at 11:28
I am not 100% confident it will make a big impact on the MMO world. The fact that you have to pay $15 extra to even start playing the game is disappointing.
Thing is, they have a big Elder Scroll fan base like Blizzard had with Warcraft series and that will help them a lot.
I am still unsure if I should try it on day one. So far I have only see GW2 with a successful day one release with no servers crashing but they had multiple servers.
Elder Scrolls Online will have one single world … I still want to see how they will manage a day one release ………….. . . . .. . .
Galbedir
December 4, 2013 at 11:32
Agree’d, I will only pick this up if it does not have a pay per month model attached to it. Id much rather have a ‘gw2’ micro transaction system in it. They have the fanbase to still be successful on initial sales, no need to suck our wallets dry after purchase.
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
December 4, 2013 at 11:32
With great difficulty. But I think we’re jaded as gamers. We don’t believe in the successful launch anymore. Santa is real, damnit! His name is the Hogfather. And all I want for Hogswatch is this game!
In all seriousness. I suspect it may be difficult. I suspect we may have awful ping down here in the far South. But I’m willing to give it a bash. If only because it looks amazing. And I have loved every single Elder Scrolls game to date. With not one exception.
Rock789
December 4, 2013 at 11:30
Looking forward to trying this out… It intrigues me. 🙂 I’m a huge Elder Scrolls fan, so automatically interested in this. Just a case of waiting to see how it is executed.
Shift-Tab John (JJ)
December 4, 2013 at 11:31
Execution is a make or break. But I love Bethesda, they haven’t disappointed me yet.
loftie
December 4, 2013 at 12:07
shuddup and take my money!
Matthew Holliday
December 4, 2013 at 12:13
Made the mistake of playing Skyrim again.
stuck in the loop of making the ultimate armour.
take an enchanting philter to enchant my armour with better smithing, using that armour with a blacksmithing potion to make max armour rating daedric armour, then taking another enchanting philter to double enchant that armour
etc etc.
got my smithing up to 100, speech up to 80 and enchanting up to 60 sofar.
fml my brain hurts trying to figure out how and when to go about things :<
stoked to try the online
Guest
December 4, 2013 at 12:15
Don’t play well it’s others? Slay a small defenseless village of old crippled ladies and all of a sudden you’re “antisocial”. Pfft
Tortoise
December 4, 2013 at 12:18
Don’t play well with others? Slay a small defenseless village of crippled old ladies and all of a sudden you’re “antisocial”. Pfft
oVg
December 4, 2013 at 12:29
BE ALL THAT YOU CAN BETA TEST!!!
Johan du Preez
December 4, 2013 at 13:28
Generic MMO #100 zzzzzz. Free to play by the end of 2014. You can quote me on that.