Elder Scrolls Weekly - New Gameplay, MMO's for Beginners and Character Creation

ESO: Ask Us Anything: Combat 2

Will we be able to easily determine what type of armor (heavy, medium, light) that an enemy player character is wearing before we attack them? My guild intends to concentrate on sniping behind enemy lines, and we expect that armor will factor into our initial target selection. – By Jeff Bangle

Light armor, medium armor, and heavy armor all have distinctive looks. There are also many different types and levels of armor. For example, there are different levels of Orcish armor in light, medium, and heavy. Our goal is certainly to have you be able to tell what armor someone is wearing at a glance, but that’ll come more easily the longer you play because there are so many possible combinations.


If we use a weapon which needs projectiles, we will need to get more projectiles or are they unlimited? – By David BR

As of now, there is no ammo. You have unlimited projectiles.


While holding down the mouse button to perform a more powerful attack, how would that affect mobility? For example, could I run towards a target (wielding a sword), and hold down my mouse key to load up the sword swing to be released when I get close enough? Or would my character start walking or slow down when "loading" the attack? Vice versa, could I walk while holding my shield up? – By Grumbelbum

You can move while charging a heavy blow. Blocking consumes Stamina and you can only walk while blocking. So yes, you could begin charging a heavy attack with a sword while not in range of an enemy, move into range, and then hit the enemy with the attack when you release it.


You stated in your last Ask Us Anything that (essentially) weapons bring certain skills with them, but does your weapon of choice have any effect on your class skills?  For example, are the effects and range of class spells the same regardless of whether my character wields a dagger or a longbow? – By Chris Hansen

Class spells have a range independent from the weapon you have equipped. That said, it is a very good idea to keep your weapon range in mind when selecting what abilities you want to use on your shortcut bar.
 
Weapon abilities, on the other hand, can only be used while the appropriate weapon is equipped. You can slot them at any time, but they will be grayed out if you aren’t wielding the correct weapon. There may have been some question as to weapons determining the shortcut bar, but they do not. However, weapon swapping is set up in such a way that you have one shortcut bar for each of your two weapons (active and backup). The shortcut bars switch when you switch weapons, but again, you can populate either bar with any abilities you like.


I have always been a fan of sneaking, stabbing, and assassinating. Previously in The Elder Scrolls series, there was an indicator which told me if the enemy was aware that I was there, if they knew where I was and if they had no idea I was right behind them with the dagger going for their neck! How will you handle the sneaking system in The Elder Scrolls Online? – By Imba Taggen

This is handled in a very similar way to Skyrim. Your crosshairs change to an “eye” and it closes to show you if you are hidden. When it opens a bit, it shows that enemies are looking for you. If you melee attack an enemy from behind while successfully hidden, you get a bonus to that attack.
We also have disguises in the game. Disguises work by allowing you to put them on. This will make some normally hostile monsters neutral to you. You will see “disguised” instead of “hidden” on your crosshairs. Detection will be very similar.


I was wondering if there are perk trees to specific skills, like knowing beforehand what skills can be unlocked so you could prepare yourself (grinding for some XP). – By Mahamed Bashir

Once you have a skill, you can see every spell and passive that can be unlocked by mastering it.  However, you won’t have every skill on your character initially. For instance, there is a Mages Guild skill line. Until you join the Mages Guild, you cannot see the line or the abilities in it.


In most MMOs, the healers get left out of PvP rewards simply for lack of DPS. My question is: Does ESO follow suit or is a strict healer rewarded comparably to an equally skilled DPS character? Does a healer have a chance at becoming Emperor? – By Donald Kindy

While you can take on the role of the healer at any time, it is still important to mention that you could be a very effective healer and still have plenty of damage dealing available to you. For the sake of argument, let’s say you are “geared up” for healing. You can absolutely gain Alliance Points by healing your allies. And yes, you have a chance to become Emperor.


What I don’t like in some other games is that most abilities seem to just “do damage.” I like utility (Spell Reflection, Disarm, Intervene). On a damage:utility ratio, how would you say ESO fares? – By Jeremy Walton

The vast majority of abilities are focused on utility rather than damage, and the weapon light and heavy attacks “just do damage” when that’s what you need. There are a few spells that do bonus damage in specific situations, but for the most part, you’ll want to select abilities for their situational value.  This includes abilities like heals, spell reflection, casting a light source, stuns, intercepting attacks, summoning pets, and more.


I have never played an Elder Scrolls game before but I do enjoy playing MMO games with friends. Will I be able to play this game or will I be hopelessly lost because I have no "background" knowledge? – By Odd Thomas
Y
ou won’t need previous knowledge from the other Elder Scrolls games to play The Elder Scrolls Online. You should just be able to jump in and play.


Is an arrow to the knee a killing blow? – By Smittyj Ryan Smith

Only in Star Trek VI.


Will you be able to block with other weapons besides a shield? Does blocking block all damage or is it just damage reduction? Can ranged physical and magic spells be blocked? Thank you! – By Patrick

You will be able to block with all weapons, though a shield is the most effective. Blocking doesn’t block all damage and is far less effective if you are out of Stamina. Ranged physical attacks and spell projectiles can be mitigated with a block, but all other magic will go right through. You have the chance to interrupt some magic spells, though.


Having six usable abilities at any time is much less than virtually all other MMOs. How does ESO plan to keep combat engaging and reward skillful play with so few abilities? – By Christopher Trammell

Our shortcut bar is a tool more than a means to define our combat. Our combat is based more on what you’re seeing in the world and how you react to situations. Combat stays engaging because situations change, requiring you to think about what you are seeing in front of you. It is probably much easier to think of the combat from Oblivion and Skyrim than a more common MMO system.


I've found in the past that one of the “make or break” elements of an MMORPG is how they handle crowd control. What types of crowd control—like roots, snares, stuns, mesmerize—are you going to have in the game and how important will they be in both PvP and PvE scenarios? – By Shawn Skelton

Perhaps it is better to go into the philosophy behind crowd control. Yes, we will have crowd control: stuns, roots, snares, etc. However, we know it isn’t fun to be on the receiving end of these. Provided you have enough Stamina, you can usually get out of a CC situation and have temporary immunity after. But if you have been using your Stamina for other things, you may not be able to extricate yourself.


ESO has been talking about how it will have high density content in zones to keep players busy, but will there be any areas, such as the Alik'r Desert being a good candidate, that will purposefully be left more sparse to force exploration into the expansive unknown, containing hidden treasures for those who can brave the area long enough to discover them? I for one would love to travel out in one direction of that desert hoping to come across a hidden dungeon! – By James Brooks

Content really works better on cadences—some areas which have less content and some areas which have more. We will definitely have a good cadence in all of our zones, and exploration is something which benefits everyone.

Ask Us Anything: Combat

Would you please explain the soft locking system in detail? For example, how does it interact with dodge? Does it apply to melee attacks, or just ranged? During missile travel time, is it possible for another target to intervene between you and your existing soft lock target to take the attack? – By Matt Feisthammel

You must be facing your target to hit it. However, soft locking allows you to pick a target out of a crowd to hit. It is possible that your target could be behind another target. You would hit the target you had soft-locked, provided you were aiming at them. Another target could not step in the way of the soft-locked target to prevent you from hitting your soft-locked target. As for dodging? The target can execute a roll dodge or evasion move to avoid attack.

I know left click will be the main attacks ability but will there be "counter attack" abilities you can put on the hotbar that can only be used after a successful block with your shield or weapon? – By Jesse Perry

There certainly are attacks which work better when capitalizing on certain opponent states, for example, exploiting your opponent’s vulnerability after an interrupt. However, we don’t have attacks that wouldn’t work without that situation being true.

How important will the 'holy trinity' be in PvE endgame/raids? Will dedicated tanks and healers be required, or will lighter armored characters be able to utilize the dodge system well enough to serve as competent tanks? Will healers need to focus entirely on healing, or will a more offensive spellcaster be able to sustain his group via spot heals? – By Lynx

Let’s have some fun here. This is what one of our internal testers sent out on Wednesday, February 27th. This email is unedited other than removing the ending of the letter which would sound a little too self-congratulatory of the tester.

Yesterday in the lunchtime dungeon test, our group of four (all at level 12) included:
· 1 Templar with light armor and healing staff, abilities focusing on healing
· 1 Templar with light armor and dual wield, Templar abilities focusing on healing
· 1 Dragonknight with light armor and destruction staff
· 1 Sorcerer with heavy armor and dual wield
 

This was with no real consultation with each other while making characters, other than ensuring there was at least one healer. For the sake of the dungeon we really could have used a true tank (the closest we had was the sorcerer wearing heavy armor and using unstable familiar to get the monster’s attention, with no real “keep myself alive” abilities), but as a group we were (eventually) able to take down the Fungal Grotto bosses. More to the point, with four players making independent choices in abilities and gear, three of the four made builds that defied the standard templates – and yet felt perfectly viable in actual play. The players were each able to build a character to their own taste with class abilities as a supplement, rather than the rigid defining aspect to the character, and have effective characters.

So in summation, we’re pretty happy watching the progression system allow people to play the way they want in the groups they want to play in.

In the introduction video you say that you can start with PvP at an early level. Will you be able to level up through PvP? – By Jan Schuh

Yes, currently you can start leveling via PvP in Cyrodiil at level 10.

With so many people fighting in the world alone or with groups what will be done to stop people stealing kills and XP? – By Danny Blades

Put simply, there is no reason to steal kills. We grant XP to both people for killing, and we have a looting system which makes it so both parties benefit from kills.

I have a question about your targeting system for combat, from what I've heard there will be a soft targeting system. My question is: How does this system work in raids/large PvP groups for healers? Will healers have a hard time finding players, and keeping track of their group’s health? – By Jacob Avila

Soft-lock targeting doesn’t really affect healing because you don’t have to find your target to heal them. You don’t target allies. Most of our heals are area-of-effects (AoEs) or cone effects. To be effective, you might want to stay in the middle of your allies for AoEs or face them for cone effects. Healers will need to be aware of their environment of course, and pay attention to the battle.

I want to know how the different armor types will be balanced. Why shouldn’t just anyone wear heavy armor? With advantages will a warrior have wearing light armor? – By Oliver Sieger

Each armor type has a full progression line associated with it. If you advance down the light armor progression line, you are likely to get bonuses to spells, magicka regeneration, and the like. Medium armor skill lines give you more bonuses to stamina activities such as dodge, sneak, etc. Heavy armor skill lines give bonuses to received healing, bracing, etc. And, of course, armor can have magical properties beyond this, and you may wish to mix and match as you see fit.

Will everyone be able to use active dodging via WASD movement, or will that be an ability linked skill? – By Ken Tweddle

Everyone with enough stamina will be able to use it. It is linked to movement and is not an ability you slot on your bar though certain passive abilities may augment it.

I've always been a high-tier competitive player so the intricacies of the player versus player combat interaction is what interests me the most. From the perspective of one player fighting another, where would you say the skill cap evidences itself (i.e. what part of the combat system will we use to distinguish ourselves and surpass opponent's in combat)? – By Martin Schelasin

There is a huge amount of skill in how you have built your character:

• What abilities you have on your shortcut bar
• What consumables you have at your disposal
• How you allocated your health, magicka, and stamina points
• What armor and weapons you’re using
• Where you place your skill points

Once you are in combat, the big skill differentiators are:

• Using your spells at the right time so you don’t waste magicka
• Dodging or blocking at the right moment so you make your opponent waste his magicka
• Coordinating your healing and crowd control with your teammates
• Fighting near cover
• Recognizing when you need to swap to your alternate weapon
• Using area denial spells to defend choke points and break up formations
• …and more

A small, coordinated group can definitely take down a larger group with the right tactics, character builds, and execution.

How will the bow and arrow system work? Will it just be auto-aim and auto-shoot kind of thing or what? – By Gabriel Bera

Like any of our combat, you must aim at your target to hit them. Bows will have a charged attack, meaning they hit harder if you hold down the left mouse button longer.

You've stated that any class can use any weapon, but will different weapons have different abilities? For example, I plan to be a healing Templar character; will I have the same healing abilities with a greatsword than with a staff? – By Zalkar/Braeden Weibel

Yes, each weapon has a unique set of abilities that can be unlocked as your skill increases. For example, if you become an expert with Restoration Staff, you can use the ability “Grand Healing.” If you equip your greatsword, you would not be able to use that ability. Your Templar healing spell, however, can be used regardless of what type of weapon you have equipped. Finally, you can equip a back-up weapon and swap between the two in combat. So you can have one loadout with a restoration staff and healing abilities, and then swap mid-combat to a greatsword with damage abilities.

ESO Beta Test

The Elder Scrolls Online beta is approaching, and we have more details for you about the program, how it works, and when it starts. Read on for new beta information.

Our first invites are going out this month. We know many of you have questions about the program, so we’ve put together this article to give you some answers and help prepare you to beta test ESO. Thank you for all your enthusiasm about testing, and we look forward to seeing you in the game.

How do I sign up? 

 

If you haven’t signed up to beta test ESO yet, sign up now.

When does testing start?

 

We held our first small friends-and-family test on February 28th.  Invitations to the general public for the first round of beta events will be sent around the end of March. We’ll post notifications on our website and social media channels whenever we send a batch of invitations. When we do, check the  e-mail address you used to register for the beta. If you’ve been selected, you’ll receive an invitation with instructions.

What is a beta event?

 

In the beginning of the beta program, invitations will be for scheduled play sessions. This means that the game will only be available for play during specific times (provided in the invitation). Every beta event will have a clear focus; our developers will be looking for feedback on specific areas, features, or other gameplay elements.

How long are beta events and when are they held?

 

At first, beta events will generally be held on the weekends, and each test will have limited windows of access to the game. You’ll receive your invitation in advance so you can make time to participate. While there will only be a few events per month early on, they will be held more frequently as we approach launch. As we progress through testing, we’ll also begin scheduling longer tests that allow testers to provide more detailed feedback on topics like progression.

How many testers will be invited?

 

We’re starting with smaller groups of focused testers during March and April. However, as we approach launch, beta events will get bigger. Our AvA tests will likely require thousands of participants, and stress tests will be even larger!

How do you choose testers?

 

We’ll select testers based on different criteria for each beta event depending on our needs for that test. For instance, we may invite players who indicated a preference for a certain type of content (PvE, PvP, crafting) or who reside in a certain territory for particular events, and for others, computer specs may play an important role. We’re not only looking for one type of tester or only for testers with top-of-the-line PCs; a broad range will be selected.

What happens if I’m selected?

 

If you’re invited to test, you’ll receive an e-mail at the address you registered with for the beta. The invitation will include a download link for the game client. You should expect a download size of around 20GB, so it’s best to start downloading as soon as you receive your invitation.

Can I be invited to multiple beta events?

 

Yes, it’s possible to be selected for multiple beta events. However, an invitation to one beta event does not guarantee that you’ll be invited to additional events. When you receive an invitation, it will be for a specific beta event.

What kind of feedback will I be asked for?

 

Your invitation will contain information about the focus of the test you’ve been invited to, so make sure to read it! You’ll be asked to complete surveys and submit feedback and bugs in-game as you play, and you may be asked to participate in additional surveys once the in-game portion of the test has concluded. The beta forums will also be available for feedback and discussion.

How do I avoid beta scams?

 

As we ramp up for beta events, it’s likely you’ll see more attempts by scammers to trick you into sharing your personal information with them. We’ve seen many video, e-mail, and website scams pretending to offer access to The Elder Scrolls Online beta. Here are a few tips to help you protect yourself from scammers:

• Always check elderscrollsonline.com for official announcements. We will make official updates when we send invitations.
• Don’t click on links you aren’t sure about, whether they’re on a website or in an e-mail. Copy or type the URL in the address bar in your browser to be safe.

If you have any questions about an e-mail you’ve received or a site you think could be questionable, contact our Support Team and they’ll be happy to help.

Discuss this on the official ESO Facebook page.

Your Beta Questions Answered

 

The Elder Scrolls Online beta is approaching, and we have more details for you about the program, how it works, and when it starts. Read on for new beta information.

Our first invites are going out this month. We know many of you have questions about the program, so we’ve put together this article to give you some answers and help prepare you to beta test ESO. Thank you for all your enthusiasm about testing, and we look forward to seeing you in the game.

How do I sign up?

If you haven’t signed up to beta test ESO yet, sign up now.

When does testing start?

We held our first small friends-and-family test on February 28th.  Invitations to the general public for the first round of beta events will be sent around the end of March. We’ll post notifications on our website and social media channels whenever we send a batch of invitations. When we do, check the  e-mail address you used to register for the beta. If you’ve been selected, you’ll receive an invitation with instructions.
What is a beta event?

In the beginning of the beta program, invitations will be for scheduled play sessions. This means that the game will only be available for play during specific times (provided in the invitation). Every beta event will have a clear focus; our developers will be looking for feedback on specific areas, features, or other gameplay elements. 

How long are beta events and when are they held?

At first, beta events will generally be held on the weekends, and each test will have limited windows of access to the game. You’ll receive your invitation in advance so you can make time to participate. While there will only be a few events per month early on, they will be held more frequently as we approach launch. As we progress through testing, we’ll also begin scheduling longer tests that allow testers to provide more detailed feedback on topics like progression.
How many testers will be invited?
 

We’re starting with smaller groups of focused testers during March and April. However, as we approach launch, beta events will get bigger. Our AvA tests will likely require thousands of participants, and stress tests will be even larger!

How do you choose testers?
 

We’ll select testers based on different criteria for each beta event depending on our needs for that test. For instance, we may invite players who indicated a preference for a certain type of content (PvE, PvP, crafting) or who reside in a certain territory for particular events, and for others, computer specs may play an important role. We’re not only looking for one type of tester or only for testers with top-of-the-line PCs; a broad range will be selected.

What happens if I’m selected?

If you’re invited to test, you’ll receive an e-mail at the address you registered with for the beta. The invitation will include a download link for the game client. You should expect a download size of around 20GB, so it’s best to start downloading as soon as you receive your invitation.

Can I be invited to multiple beta events?

Yes, it’s possible to be selected for multiple beta events. However, an invitation to one beta event does not guarantee that you’ll be invited to additional events. When you receive an invitation, it will be for a specific beta event.

What kind of feedback will I be asked for?

Your invitation will contain information about the focus of the test you’ve been invited to, so make sure to read it! You’ll be asked to complete surveys and submit feedback and bugs in-game as you play, and you may be asked to participate in additional surveys once the in-game portion of the test has concluded. The beta forums will also be available for feedback and discussion.

How do I avoid beta scams?

As we ramp up for beta events, it’s likely you’ll see more attempts by scammers to trick you into sharing your personal information with them. We’ve seen many video, e-mail, and website scams pretending to offer access to The Elder Scrolls Online beta. Here are a few tips to help you protect yourself from scammers:

• Always check elderscrollsonline.com for official announcements. We will make official updates when we send invitations.
• Don’t click on links you aren’t sure about, whether they’re on a website or in an e-mail. Copy or type the URL in the address bar in your browser to be safe.

If you have any questions about an e-mail you’ve received or a site you think could be questionable, contact our Support Team and they’ll be happy to help.

Discuss this on the official ESO Facebook page.

Sign Up for The ESO Beta Test Today!

The moment you have been eagerly awaiting is finally here! Now is the time for future members of the Aldmeri Dominion, Daggerfall Covenant, and Ebonheart Pact to rally and show your support!

You can now officially sign up for The Elder Scrolls Online beta program starting today. If selected, you will be one of the first people to embark upon the newest Elder Scrolls adventure, and help us beta test The Elder Scrolls Online. Please be aware that this is just beta sign-ups. Once our first beta test begins, we’ll make sure everyone knows—watch our official website, Facebook, Google+, and Twitter for an announcement about the first round of invites.

In honor of opening beta sign-ups, we have released The Elder Scrolls Online - The Alliances Cinematic Trailer. Watch it below! (For the full experience, we recommend watching it at the highest resolution with your sound turned up.)

To learn more about The Elder Scrolls Online beta plans, be sure to listen to the newest Bethesda Podcast, featuring Game Director Matt Firor, Creative Director Paul Sage, and Director of Social Media Jo Burba. The trio discuss what you can expect from our beta, and provide answers to some of your questions from Twitter. Also, please check our new beta FAQ entries for answers to many commonly asked questions about the ESO beta.

Thank you all for your enthusiastic support. We’re thrilled to share this very important day with you. Please be sure to sign up for beta, and help us spread the word about ESO beta sign-ups being open!
Discuss this on the official ESO Facebook page.

ESO: Alliances at War

ESO: Aldmeri Dominion (Part 1)

How did the Aldmeri Dominion come to be formed in the first place? – By Luke Heys

It was really the brainchild of Queen Ayrenn, after assuming the throne of Alinor. Having traveled Tamriel extensively before returning to Summerset, she was aware of the dire threats menacing the world, and saw it as the proper duty of the Elves to put things right. At the same time, the Wood Elves and Khajiit were facing troubles of their own and in need of allies, so they came together to form the Dominion.

What made the Bosmers decide to join the Dominion?  - By Tamás Várfalvi

After the recent civil war between the Camorans, Valenwood was in disarray and vulnerable. The Cabal who were running the Imperial City took advantage of this by sending in Colovian troops to grab up some of the Wood Elves’ northern territory. Seeking an ally to help repulse the Colovians, King Aeradan of the Bosmer turned to Queen Ayrenn and her new Dominion.

Will Elsweyr be in TESO? - By Jacob Wilde

Yes. At launch, you will be able to explore two corners of Elsweyr: an island off the south coast, and the far northwest corner of Anequina, around the city of Dune and Fort Sphinxmoth. Most of Elsweyr is still in the grip of the Knahaten Flu, and isn’t a place you really want to go until the epidemic has run its course.

Will the Khajiit players in The Elder Scrolls Online also get a choice in sub-species, or will the default still be Suthay-raht? I know that they are the most common breed, but is there any more back-story as to why every Khajiit you meet in Vvardenfell, Cyrodiil and Skyrim are Suthay-raht? Do the others never leave Elsweyr? - By Brandy Dills

Among the Khajiit, the race of feline humanoids who originate from Elsweyr, the Suthay-raht are indeed the most common breed, and at launch, all player-character and non-player-character Khajiit in ESO will be Suthay-raht. Now, will you glimpse more Khajiit sub-species in ESO in the future? Only time will tell!

There hasn't been a ton of content in Valenwood in the past. How exciting is it for the people working on places in Tamriel that have not been prominently featured in the past? - By Chris McNamara

We know from existing lore that Valenwood is an exaggeration of our own world’s jungles and deep forests. Combine that with a bit of the look seen in The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, and we take it from there. The opportunity to take clues and hints from lore and turn them into living, breathing places has excited everybody in art, game design, and audio. What could be better?

I wish for more information about the cultures of the Wood and High Elves. It is the culture that really gives a people its depth, and what subconsciously governs at least my attraction to certain races. What entertainment do the elves enjoy? Do the Wood Elves enjoy poetry? Do the High Elves hunt for sport? Are there any beloved Elf vocalists? How would the Elf lords enjoy an evening off duties? What forms of art have been popular through the ages? – By Joakim Brorson

Both High Elves and Wood Elves have an abundance of rich and tremendously detailed background lore. These ancient races have had a very long time to establish their own unique cultures. We’ve made sure that this kind of lore about the Elves will be included in the game—in plenty—in all the classic ways cultural lore is delivered in the Elder Scrolls games: quest dialogue, conversations with NPCs, lore books of all kinds, music, item crafting, and so forth.

How do you intend to portray the cannibalism of the Bosmer? From what do you draw inspiration for the jungles of Valenwood and the culture of the Bosmer? Any Ayleid enclaves to run across deep in the jungles? - By James Craven

For the Wood Elves, cannibalism is a matter of ritual significance, and typically quite private within a family or tight-knit group. There’s actually a lot of background on Valenwood and the Bosmer in Elder Scrolls lore, though you may have to dig a little to find it.  After Empress Alessia’s “slave army” drove the Ayleids from Cyrodiil, many of them took refuge in Valenwood, so Ayleid ruins are actually rather common in the southern jungles.

The buildings of Alinor are said to look like they are "made from glass or insect wings." If the Summurset Isles are traversable at release will we see a design reminiscent of this? And will we see the Crystal Tower for that matter?! - By Callum Parker

When The Elder Scrolls Online launches, the playable part of the Summerset Isles will be Auridon, the big island between Summerset and the continent that includes the cities of Firsthold and Skywatch. The architecture of the High Elves is fanciful, certainly, but it’s also practical, constructed of real-world materials. Architects can’t make buildings out of poetry!

ESO on "Ask Us Anything": Ebonheart Pact (Part 2)

"This is our second installment of the ESO “Ask Us Anything” series, featuring more of your questions about the Ebonheart Pact and other general ESO topics.  Read on to learn more about this alliance, and see if we chose your question!"

Will we be able to meet Joruun the Skald-King? What about the Tribunal of Morrowind, or the king/queen of Argonia? – By Brandon Donio

Yes, if you create an Ebonheart Pact character in The Elder Scrolls Online and make certain choices as you play, you will have the opportunity to meet Jorunn the Skald-King and members of the Tribunal.  As for Argonia’s royalty, at this point in Elder Scrolls history, Black Marsh (“Argonia”) isn’t ruled by a monarchy – but there are certainly plenty of other prominent Argonians to meet in the game.

Will the Companions be involved somehow? – By Jason Bryden

Yes, The Companions—the legendary group of Nord heroes you met in the city of Whiterun in Skyrim—have been part of Nord culture since Ysgramor’s arrival on the shores of Skyrim before the First Era, so they certainly have a presence in ESO.

To what extent will the Tribunal feature in the Ebonheart Pact storyline, and how far along in the main quest will we learn about the pretender to the Tribunal? – By Josh James

As the rulers of Morrowind, both spiritually and politically, the Tribunal are quite prominent in the Ebonheart Pact – especially Almalexia, who’s been handling temporal affairs since the recent Akaviri invasion. But a pretender to the Tribunal? Mother Morrowind would dismiss the idea as absurd. Clearly impossible.

Are many changes being made to Skyrim to make it differ or stand out from the Skyrim we have recently come to know and love? If so, could you detail some of these changes? – By Brandon Donio

The Elder Scrolls Online is set 1,000 years earlier than Skyrim, so you may notice that some of the ancient Nord ruins are a little less worn and weathered than in Skyrim’s time. You’ll also find towns, like Nimalten in the Rift, that are gone and nearly forgotten by Skyrim’s Fourth Era, but are alive and thriving in ESO’s Second Era.

Will we be able to travel through Black Marsh? It is said that only Argonians can travel to the heart of Black Marsh. Will every player have the option to go there? – By John Ward

All members of the Ebonheart Pact will have an opportunity to visit Shadowfen, the northwestern region of Black Marsh that borders on Morrowind and includes the ancient city of Stormhold.

I've read that anyone can use any type of weapon or armor. Have you thought about having alliance-only weapon/armor styles? (For example, chitin armor available only to the Ebonhart Pact, since they have exclusive access to chitin in Morrowind.) – By Jeremy Eddy

Armor in The Elder Scrolls Online is regionally appropriate, whether it’s a loot drop, merchant stock, or quest reward; however, with the right skills and materials, you’ll be able to craft items in any racial style.

I always imagine all of the nasty, poisonous creatures living in Black Marsh, and I think there's lots of potential there. Could you detail any of your favourite critters from Black Marsh? – By Brandon Donio

If we had to pick just one, the huge reptilian wamasu that lurk in the deep swamps are a big favorite around the ZeniMax Online Studios dev office.

What are the meanings of these Ebonheart Pact insignias you used for the Facebook and Twitter icons? I suspect that the one for Morrowind represents the Tribunal, due to the three 'spikes'. The one for Skyrim represents... the Dragonborn? What about the one for Black Marsh? – By Yamir Ortiz 

Good guesses—and correct. The one for Black Marsh is a stylized rendering of an Argonian’s face – but whether it depicts some ancient hero or ruler of Black Marsh history, or just represents the race as a whole, only the Argonians know. And they’re not telling.

Where is the main base of Ebonheart Pact? In which city will we find Jorunn the Skald-King? – By Douglas Reis Silva

The throne of Eastern Skyrim is in Windhelm, but the great city of Mournhold is the capital of the Ebonheart Pact, and it is there that Jorunn presides over the Great Moot.

Hi, I've been playing The Elder Scrolls games since Morrowind, and I have always played as an Argonian. Now that I've seen the screenshot on your website called 'Argonian soldiers', I'm a little disappointed, I was hoping for a more lizard, amphibian looking Argonian. I assume their faces are flat for helmet modeling, But I hope they'll look more like the one on the Ebonheart pact page. Also, they should have badass horns... So can you tell me, is this the final version of the Argonian? – By Rofaka

Customization of individual characters will allow for much more variety than we’ve been able to convey in the screenshots released so far.  Also, we’re still fine-tuning the ESO character models, including the Argonians.

Last time we had the chance of discovering the land of Morrowind, the different feelings to the Great Houses and the House Wars was one of the most intriguing aspects to the game. Will we have an opportunity to join the houses? If so, which of them will be joinable? I just so loved the mushroom houses. – By Greg

The rivalries between the Dunmer Great Houses have deep roots, and they are all important players in the politics of Morrowind. In fact, House Telvanni – they of the mushroom towers – are estranged from the other Houses at the time of ESO, and refused to join the Ebonheart Pact. (We’ll share more about them in the future, you can be sure.) Your characters will have opportunities to help (or hinder) all the other Great Houses of Morrowind, though formal adoption into their ranks won’t be part of the game at launch.

Official Site: Elder Scrolls Online