DLC Suggestion: The Battlespire

SlappyThePoptart

I had an idea for another DLC set in the Battlespire.
We've only seen the battlespire once, in a side game that most people are never going to play. It's an interesting place which I feel is underutilized.
When you get the DLC, and have completed the Mage's guild questline, you would be contacted by Shalidor (maybe) and told that someone is looking for you on Eyevea. When you get there, an agent from the Imperial Shadow Legion invites you to train with them on the Battlespire. Later you learn that the Shadow Legion is planning a full-scale assault on Coldharbour.
Maybe there could be a new skill tree to unlock and level, Shadow Magic.
And possibly a PVP arena for dueling and practice?

Really I just want to see more of this magical spaceship we've heard so little about haha

UrQuan

I'm unclear on the timeline for the Battlespire. Does it exist yet? If it does, then I agree that it could make for a pretty cool DLC.

runagate

I am in favor of anything that makes hanging out in Eyevea worthwhile

CaptainObvious

UrQuan wrote: »

I'm unclear on the timeline for the Battlespire. Does it exist yet? If it does, then I agree that it could make for a pretty cool DLC.

The game took place in 3E 89-99 per UESP. However, there is a book from 2e as reading material in there. So could fit nicely.

TX12001rwb17_ESO

Awesome Idea but shadow magic is already used ingame by Nightblades, its even mentioned in a book.

Sentinel

Well, I decided to do some research to see if it would indeed be in the timeline of ESO, but what I found was...

Well, someone screwed up.

There are books about those who've entered the Battlespire that appear in game, and reference to 200 years earlier in the ES timeline, and yet these same books reference events such as Jagar Tharn's existence which are some 800 years in the future from ESO.

An excerpt from The Doors of Oblivion, written by Morian Zenas's apprentice.
"We had hopes of using the ruins of the Battlespire to access Oblivion. The Weir Gate still stands, though the old proving grounds of the Imperial Battlemages itself was shattered some years ago in Jagar Tharn's time. Sadly, after an exhaustive search through the detritus, we had to conclude that when it was destroyed, all access to the realms beyond, the Soul Cairn, the Shade Perilous, and the Havoc Wellhead, had been broken. It was probably for the good, but it frustrated our goal."1

This indicates that the adventures of this man take place in the future of ESO's timeline, as Jagar Tharn's appearance in Tamriel far into the future, notably around 3E 389. 2

However, when looking at the racial motif books that appear in ESO's timeline, written by "Dr. Lupus (who) was (also an) Imperial Ethnographer for Potentate Savirien-Chorak from 2E 418 to 431", who proceeds to reference "Morian Zenas (as the) Professor of Transliminal Studies here at Arcane University"3, it appears that these newer books, written for the purpose of ESO, imply that Morian Zenas is present even earlier than TES's timeline. While it is entirely possible for an elf such as Morian Zenas to live from the beginning of the Second Era into the Third Era due to magic, it is not possible for Morian Zenas and his apprentice, an argonian. Additionally, notes written later reference Morian Zenas's disappearance. "Morian is gone. With the help of Divayth, cursed Divayth, he fulfilled his dream and traveled to Oblivion. According to Seif-ij, he went to Moonshadow as planned, but he didn't stay there. He went on, to Ashpit, to Coldharbour, to Quagmire. To Apocrypha."4

This would indicate that Morian Zenas's adventures take place in the Second Era, having been written by this man in the Second era.

So...

Someone screwed up. Morian Zenas references the events of Battlespire in his travels, but ESO implies that these travels, and subsequently the events of Battlespire and Jagar tharn are in the past, when in fact it is completely contradictory to current lore of Arena and of Battlespire. So, yeah. The point of this entire post was to pretty much say that I don't know. And I don't think Bethesda or ZOS knows.

SlappyThePoptart

To Oblivion with inconsistent lore, I want more Battlespire!

runagate

Should probably explain that Battlespite was an Elder Scrolls game:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Elder_Scrolls_Legend:_Battlespire

starkerealm

Sentinel wrote: »

Well, I decided to do some research to see if it would indeed be in the timeline of ESO, but what I found was...

Well, someone screwed up.

For what it's worth, there's a number of lore books scattered through the game that are anachronistic. The Lusty Argonian Maid (in that specific form) is from the late Third Era. There's a book on the Elder Scrolls themselves from the Second century of the Fourth Era.

If you have the physical copy of the collected lore books from Titan Books, the Ruminations on the Elder Scrolls text includes an in setting "Editor's Note" talking about how the copies found have a 4e printers data. (Vol 2, p120, if you're curious.)

The implication I remember finding at one point was that Hermaeus Mora was deliberately sprinkling anachronistic tomes across Tamriel as a gag. But, I can't remember the source on that.

UrQuan

runagate wrote: »

Should probably explain that Battlespite was an Elder Scrolls game:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Elder_Scrolls_Legend:_Battlespire

I would hope that people commenting on this thread would know that. Mind you, I'm sure that if you hadn't posted this it wouldn't take long for someone to post something that would prove that they didn't know that

Enodoc

starkerealm wrote: »

Sentinel wrote: »

Well, I decided to do some research to see if it would indeed be in the timeline of ESO, but what I found was...

Well, someone screwed up.

For what it's worth, there's a number of lore books scattered through the game that are anachronistic. The Lusty Argonian Maid (in that specific form) is from the late Third Era. There's a book on the Elder Scrolls themselves from the Second century of the Fourth Era.

If you have the physical copy of the collected lore books from Titan Books, the Ruminations on the Elder Scrolls text includes an in setting "Editor's Note" talking about how the copies found have a 4e printers data. (Vol 2, p120, if you're curious.)

The implication I remember finding at one point was that Hermaeus Mora was deliberately sprinkling anachronistic tomes across Tamriel as a gag. But, I can't remember the source on that.

@starkerealm It's the loading screen of Gandranen Ruins. But that doesn't explain Morian Zenas, as it's the text within the books, not the books themselves, which are the issue this time.

UrQuan wrote: »

I'm unclear on the timeline for the Battlespire. Does it exist yet? If it does, then I agree that it could make for a pretty cool DLC.

@UrQuan There's a contraband item in ESO (Scute of the Mock Turtle) which mentions the Weir Gate. The Weir Gate was created to access the Battlespire, so it must exist in this time period.

JD2013

Hermaeus Mora has something to do with the books being scattered from different times. And apparently knows why there's no children in Tamriel.

TheShadowScout

Best info I have been able to find mentiones Battlespire to be created somewhen in the 2nd era - which is right about the time of ESO. Of course, there is the metter of the interregnum... seeing how battlespire in the game was a training center for imperial battlemages, and the empire is right now kinda in shambles... if it does exist, then likely not in its TES:Battlespire form.

Would it make a decent DLC?
Oblivion, yes!
One HUGE dungeon, a quest to conquer it on behalf of, say, Abner Tharn, as base for imperial loyalists intent on throwing out Molag Bals cronies and eventually restoring the empire to imperial glory by finding a worthy (as in, amulet-of-kings compartble dragonborn) emperor, even if that may take centuries (which it will until Talos comes along)? (thus laying the foundations of what battlespire will become in the third era?)
That sort of thing could work pretty well I daresay... "classic" fight through each level to unlock the next kind of setup... unlock several puzzles and gates to gain access to endboss... defeat instanced daedric mini-boss at the end of each level to unlock the next, said instance then becoming your new "homebase" for the next level... I could see this happening someday!

UrQuan

Enodoc wrote: »

@UrQuan There's a contraband item in ESO (Scute of the Mock Turtle) which mentions the Weir Gate. The Weir Gate was created to access the Battlespire, so it must exist in this time period.

Ah cool, clearly I haven't done enough thieving, because I definitely haven't come across that one.

TheShadowScout wrote: »

Best info I have been able to find mentiones Battlespire to be created somewhen in the 2nd era - which is right about the time of ESO. Of course, there is the metter of the interregnum... seeing how battlespire in the game was a training center for imperial battlemages, and the empire is right now kinda in shambles... if it does exist, then likely not in its TES:Battlespire form.

Would it make a decent DLC?
Oblivion, yes!
One HUGE dungeon, a quest to conquer it on behalf of, say, Abner Tharn, as base for imperial loyalists intent on throwing out Molag Bals cronies and eventually restoring the empire to imperial glory by finding a worthy (as in, amulet-of-kings compartble dragonborn) emperor, even if that may take centuries (which it will until Talos comes along)? (thus laying the foundations of what battlespire will become in the third era?)
That sort of thing could work pretty well I daresay... "classic" fight through each level to unlock the next kind of setup... unlock several puzzles and gates to gain access to endboss... defeat instanced daedric mini-boss at the end of each level to unlock the next, said instance then becoming your new "homebase" for the next level... I could see this happening someday!

Actually, I really like this idea for how the storyline for a Battlespire DLC could go. Conquering each section of the Battlespire one by one, working with Tharn again for the benefit of those fighting against what the Worm Cult, Clivia, and Legion Zero have done to the Empire.

Legoless

Interesting idea, but the Shadow Legion doesn't use shadow magic. It's just a Battlespire-era name for the Imperial Battlemages.

Enodoc

Legoless wrote: »

Interesting idea, but the Shadow Legion doesn't use shadow magic. It's just a Battlespire-era name for the Imperial Battlemages.

Aye, good point. I don't think we know much about their history though, so the origins of the Shadow Legion could involve Battlemages learning shadow magic.

ProfessorKittyhawk

I really like the idea for this. Sounds fun aND interesting.

Gidorick

I LOVE this idea... I don't care when the battlespire existed, I think it would be perfect for ESO!

and there is already a Bestiary that would see some new monsters:

Notice the MALE version of the spider daedra!

SlappyThePoptart

I don't think i would be a good idea to repeat the whole "Daedra overrun the Battlespire" thing again. ESO is already copying Oblivion lol.
But, they could do some more stuff IN the planes of Oblivion with these, and other Daedra from other games.

UrQuan

SlappyThePoptart wrote: »

I don't think i would be a good idea to repeat the whole "Daedra overrun the Battlespire" thing again. ESO is already copying Oblivion lol.
But, they could do some more stuff IN the planes of Oblivion with these, and other Daedra from other games.

Well, given the very nature of the Battlespire (ie. being kind of in between Mundus and Oblivion) it is inherently more at risk of daedric invasion than anywhere in Tamriel. Having said that, using it as a conduit to get to various parts of Oblivion as you suggest would be an interesting way to go, and perfectly reasonable.

CaptainObvious

If memory serves correctly, in Battlespire you are hunted by Hircine. So I would imagine/assume that Hircine should play the more prominent role.

snorlockb16_ESO

Just to say I played Battlespire when it came out, and kept playing it over and over for about a year. You could kill the unkillable daedra buy shoulder slamming them into walls. I loved the game and would favour some DLC.

AzraelKrieg

Sounds like a good idea actually. Could be geared towards a single player setup as well as group progression so that everyone can run it however they want to. Obviously if players group up to do it, the mobs would be stronger and bosses have different mechanics but the loot at the end could be slightly better than a single player completing it since group co-ordination would be key.

Sentinel

. (double post)

Sentinel

Hmm. I really wouldn't want to re-do the whole plot of Battlespire yet again in ESO, but maybe if it were to come about, it would be for a bit of a different purpose. The battlespire serves as a gateway almost to other oblivion realms, some notable ones being pieces of Nocturnal and Mehrunes Dagon's Realms. So, the Battlespire might be a location predominately, it could be used to access many other areas of Oblivion within a reasonable purpose. Additionally, the battlespire could be home to trials of prospective battlemages, maybe of even varying difficulties and types. It could be a good way to make group content of varying difficulties and progressions. Say, there are maybe 4 trials in total, but to access the next, you must successfully complete the last. If the Battlespire could serve as the purpose it is supposed to, and not another zone in which the "hero" must save the day, yet again(!), then I think it could be a great place. Somehow, I rather doubt it'd have any imperial connection at this time. It'd likely be a private organization that split off from the empire after the potentate.

TheShadowScout

SlappyThePoptart wrote: »

I don't think i would be a good idea to repeat the whole "Daedra overrun the Battlespire" thing again...

Would be done more in a "Daedra own battlespire, let's take it from them, for the empire" kind of thing. Playing through the story how the battlespire hanging between mundus and oblivion came into being for its "imperial battlemage academy" purpose.

But generally I am all for taking inspiration from games too old and technically defunct to be still worth of consideration and reusing their ideas and lore in a different setting for a present-day game. As long as at least there is some new twist to it I guess.