Playing ESO without ever buying DLC

GC8V

So, I have the core ESO Tamriel Unlimited, without any DLC and never will buy any DLC. Is it still worth playing? Are there be people around to play the Vanilla content and will all the gear I collect be obsolete?

Also how long for me to complete ESO without any DLC (the main contents).

LostScot

Short answer: Yes. There is a tonne of content to work your way through before you even need to think about the PvP zone (Cyrodiil, part of the base game) or either of the DLC packs currently available. In my opinion the DLC is not essential to enjoy what this game is all about.

If you're only playing for an hour a day for say 5 days a week and you're being thorough with content perusal and exploration then you can easily get 6 months at the minimum out of this game. A more dedicated gameplay style (i.e. 3 hours a day, 7 days a week) and you'll likely have exhausted single-player content in 3 months.

Reevster

What the heck in "Vanilla content" I must have missed that content .

Ragnarock1982

Yes, yes, yes. I'm playing vanilla with no intention of buying dlc's... at least not yet.

1 thing to remember, this isn't destiny and the developers so far haven't ripped us off. Still bitter about destiny. All my hard lost because I refused to spend another 40 quid on dlc!

JD2013

There's likely 300 plus hours of content without DLC. Much more if you want to PVP. You can just carry on doing that forever theoretically.

Some of the sets are obsolete, and some always will be made so as DLC comes with new gear sets.

There's 21 PVE zones in base game (with Silver and Gold) and dungeon pledges are infinitely repeatable (unless it's White-Gold Tower or IC prison which requires the DLC.)

Heindrich

Yes it's worth it. There is an absurd amount of content in the base game. I mean absurd in a good way. It literally took me a year to quest all the way to endgame... ok I slacked a lot playing trader more than questing, and took a 3 month break... but there's a LOT to do.

SirAndy

The only problem will be getting good VR16 gear and even worse VR16 mats to craft your own.


Without the two current DLCs you're pretty much stuck with crafting VR14 gear, unless you have millions of gold you can dump into buying mats and runes.

Mashille

Before any DLC I had around 850 hours into the game.

So yeah, I guess it's got a little content.

Dubhliam

This is exactly the reason why ZOS makes new gear BoP.

Sure, you can play the game without ever taking out your wallet.

But don't come complaining to the forum that you can't get a new set because it is BoP and only available if you bought a DLC.

Heck, even a minimum (one month ESO+) will grant you all the DLC sets in that one month if you get your mind set to it.

GC8V

is there any quality of life feature gated behind the DLC?

GC8V

but is there raid in this game? If so, is there still ppl doing raids for the base game?

Miszou

SirAndy wrote: »

The only problem will be getting good VR16 gear and even worse VR16 mats to craft your own.

Without the two current DLCs you're pretty much stuck with crafting VR14 gear, unless you have millions of gold you can dump into buying mats and runes.

I've been playing for 3+ months and I've only just hit VR5, so I don't think this is anything to worry about...

Enjoy the game - there's tons of content, and if you're still playing when finding top-level items becomes a problem, then maybe you'll feel it's worth the DLC. But as I said, I've been playing for months and I'm not even close to finishing half of it...

Solid_Metal

i spend 500 - 600 hours into the game and not even finish all of the content yet....

short answer : yes, its still very worth playing

GC8V

Solid_Metal wrote: »

i waste 500 - 600 hours into the game and not even finish all of the content yet....

short answer : yes, its still very worth playing

Waste of time but worth. Interesting

Solid_Metal

GC8V wrote: »

Solid_Metal wrote: »

i waste 500 - 600 hours into the game and not even finish all of the content yet....

short answer : yes, its still very worth playing

Waste of time but worth. Interesting

well i probably should change it into more appropriate word lol, i meant spend

Ra'Shtar

If you are not willing to buy any DLC's EVER and you still want to raid i suggest you to find a new game.

KingYogi415

I heard this game called neopets is free.

might be more your' style!

failkiwib16_ESO

At the moment only DLC trial/raid is a solo trial.

There is plenty of solo questing and pvp, there is even pve going on in the pvp area.
-We have 3 12-mans trials, 1 4mans trial.. 3 alliences to quest through, Craglorn which is a large area for group pve, Cyrodiil which is for pve and pvp. Lots of 4mans group dungeons for pve, where many of them have a veteran version where the stories continue.

The max lvl crafting materials are expensive as hell, jewelry is also expensive, however there is plenty of stuff in vanilla version of the game, that you can use for trading purposes and get gold that way.

@Reevster - vanilla is usually an expression for base game. In this case it's meant as ESO without IC and Wrothgar DLC, but for singleplayer games like Skyrim it's meant as Skyrim with no mods (modifications to adjust skills and graphics) and DLC.

Magdalina

Just out of curiosity, why are you so set on no DLC? I mean I'd understand if you said DLCs so far have simply been not your cup of cake, but "never will buy any DLC"?

To answer your question, there's plenty of content outside of DLCs, it's the vast majority of the game, including endgame, you will be missing on certain (good) sets and higher tier mats though. Technically you can buy those with gold from other players who do have DLC access(aside from BoP sets) though.
Assuming you aren't interested in the questing, you'll be missing out on (so far) 2 dungeons(nonvet and vet modes with a ton of BoP sets there, some of them pretty good), some PvP in IC/Sewers, TV stones which give you access to certain sets and stuff(most of which is BOE though so buyable with gold from guildtraders), Wrothgar BoP sets and a viable way to gather v16 mats(which are also buyable with gold but are quite costly). And the coming Trial in TG DLC. You can definitely play the game without all of that if you really desire to.

Julianos

Without DLCs you can't accsess the latest items from DLC content or some of the best crafting stations, you can't farm v15-16 mats which means you will be poor economically cuz you cant farm and sell valuable stuff also you have to buy those mats and they pretty expensive oh and you can't do profession writ daily quests cuz you have to deliver them to wrothgar.

Pyr0xyrecuprotite

GC8V wrote: »

is there any quality of life feature gated behind the DLC?

Very little of importance is fully gated behind the DLC:
1. Molag Kena monster helm (and Lord Warden helm of course), if you want both pieces of this set. (Shoulder pieces are obtainable from undaunted chests by doing other dungeons).
2. Maelstrom Arena special weapons - altho these are not useful in many builds and near impossible to get even if you do have access to the DLC (it's just so hard to complete for most players).
3. Several bind on pickup sets from Wrothgar and IC are interesting in certain niche builds, but it is def. possible to have other viable builds without them.
4. top level Crafting writs require access to Wrothgar, but you can level up crafting without doing them.

Otherwise:
4. Willpower/Agility/Endurance set items can be obtained in group dungeons, or bought from other players.
5. vr15/16 mats are available (but rare) in Cyrodiil or by deconstructing vr15/16 gear drops, but the prices have dropped so much already that this is hardly an issue except for vr15 solvents and vr16 potency runestones.
6. There are plenty of crafters around who can craft Julianos or other set items for you (for a fee). Yes, you will never be a true master crafter without access to the DLC, but it takes more than a year to learn all the traits anyway, so don't worry about it, just play the rest of the game.
7. Old Orsimer motifs and style mats are only available in wrothgar (and Xivkyn in Imperial City), but are such a grind to get that most people just buy them anyway - and only if they are completionist fanatics.

The main issue is that there is quite a lot of fun and good gameplay content in the DLC. Not an issue if you have not completed the base game content yet - there is TONS of gameplay to explore before you need think about buying the DLC.
Keep in mind that "end-game" content consists of things like PvP (no DLC needed for Cyrodiil), Trials (all non-DLC except the solo trial and the new one in Thieves Guild), vet dungeons (only 2 are in DLC), and various grinds (eg. public dungeons) and daily repeatables in wrothgar and IC sewers (DLC required).

TheShadowScout

GC8V wrote: »

So, I have the core ESO Tamriel Unlimited, without any DLC and never will buy any DLC. Is it still worth playing? Are there be people around to play the Vanilla content and will all the gear I collect be obsolete?

It is worth playing, and while a lot of the gear you will find will eventually be outdated, you can also find top tier stuff in non-DLC regions (cyrodil had levelled loot drops after all). And dungeons. And some sets are always sold in guild stores. So, gear-wise, no sweat.
Endgame wise, you will have cyrodil for PvP, dungeon pledges, and craglorn if you like to do groupey stuff without ever paying for any DLC. You might be missing out on some things, might lack a bit of easy expee gains from diung wrothgar and so on, but in the end you'll get there nonetheless.

Pyr0xyrecuprotite wrote: »

The main issue is that there is quite a lot of fun and good gameplay content in the DLC. Not an issue if you have not completed the base game content yet - there is TONS of gameplay to explore before you need think about buying the DLC.

^THIS!^

But for starters, no need to worry about the DLC. Play until you are starting to feel completely bored outta your skull with playing different configuration alts through all of the non DLC regions. Then you can think about the ole "to DLC or not to DLC, that is the question" thing...

Solid_Metal

Axorn wrote: »

and you can't do profession writ daily quests cuz you have to deliver them to wrothgar.

eh really?, i didn't know that, i hit max on my alchemy and provision when orsinium already released.

so if they didnt buy the orsinium, their max writ just [snip] up then?

Yolokin_Swagonborn

Playing without DLC at endgame levels is going to be harder and harder as more gear and more crafting stations are being locked behind paywalls.

SirAndy

Pyr0xyrecuprotite wrote: »

... but the prices have dropped so much already that this is hardly an issue except for vr15 solvents and vr16 potency runestones

I disagree.
Have you tallied up the amount of mats needed to make a full set of VR16 armor and then looked at the prices those mats sell for?

VR16 sets need 10x the amount of mats than a VR15 set needs and those mats sell for 10x the price of VR14 mats ...

Fruitmass

Solid_Metal wrote: »

Axorn wrote: »

and you can't do profession writ daily quests cuz you have to deliver them to wrothgar.

eh really?, i didn't know that, i hit max on my alchemy and provision when orsinium already released.

so if they didnt buy the orsinium, their max writ just [snip] up then?

If you don't have Orsinium then you'll still take your writs to Craglorn, even if your 10/10 in your crafts. You just won't be able to do writs that use or reward the new tier 10 mats. You'll be stuck doing the tier 9 writs instead. You'll also still get the tier 10 mats from Hirelings without the DLC.

Dubhliam

Solid_Metal wrote: »

Axorn wrote: »

and you can't do profession writ daily quests cuz you have to deliver them to wrothgar.

eh really?, i didn't know that, i hit max on my alchemy and provision when orsinium already released.

so if they didnt buy the orsinium, their max writ just [snip] up then?

Not true.

People with max craft without Orsinium DLC deliver their dailies to Craglorn.

Even if you are an ESO+ subscriber and stop subbing, after it expires you will be redirected from Wrothgar back to Craglorn again (if you have old Orsinium writs, you need to abandon them to recieve Craglorn writs).

Whoever said that you cannot complete writs without Orsinium obviously is not a crafter.

MikeB

The DLC (so far) has added little to nothing (imo) to the game but grinding. The only thing you are missing out on is an easier way to grind V15/16 mats.

Artjuh90

Fruitmass wrote: »

Solid_Metal wrote: »

Axorn wrote: »

and you can't do profession writ daily quests cuz you have to deliver them to wrothgar.

eh really?, i didn't know that, i hit max on my alchemy and provision when orsinium already released.

so if they didnt buy the orsinium, their max writ just [snip] up then?

If you don't have Orsinium then you'll still take your writs to Craglorn, even if your 10/10 in your crafts. You just won't be able to do writs that use or reward the new tier 10 mats. You'll be stuck doing the tier 9 writs instead. You'll also still get the tier 10 mats from Hirelings without the DLC.

is it me or are so many people not aware that you can loot ruberite ores/leathers and ansester silk in cyro with max crafting skill xD

Flaminir

SirAndy wrote: »

Pyr0xyrecuprotite wrote: »

... but the prices have dropped so much already that this is hardly an issue except for vr15 solvents and vr16 potency runestones

I disagree.
Have you tallied up the amount of mats needed to make a full set of VR16 armor and then looked at the prices those mats sell for?

VR16 sets need 10x the amount of mats than a VR15 set needs and those mats sell for 10x the price of VR14 mats ...

V16 mat prices are NOT an issue anymore.... and you def don't need any DLC to be able to afford to buy these in guild stores.

For about 200k you can buy the mats for a set of armor.... and depending on your weapons not a lot more for those.

Granted this doesn't include the yellow tempers which is more than double this again.... but for a purple set and a yellow weapon it's not a too crazy gold cost anymore (On PC/EU server).

You don't need to have access to Wrothgar to do top level crafting writs either... just do the others while levelling and once at V16 you'll have a good stock of yellow tempers, and will have been able to sell other stuff that drops from them to make gold to afford the mats. Easy!

Fruitmass

Artjuh90 wrote: »

Fruitmass wrote: »

Solid_Metal wrote: »

Axorn wrote: »

and you can't do profession writ daily quests cuz you have to deliver them to wrothgar.

eh really?, i didn't know that, i hit max on my alchemy and provision when orsinium already released.

so if they didnt buy the orsinium, their max writ just [snip] up then?

If you don't have Orsinium then you'll still take your writs to Craglorn, even if your 10/10 in your crafts. You just won't be able to do writs that use or reward the new tier 10 mats. You'll be stuck doing the tier 9 writs instead. You'll also still get the tier 10 mats from Hirelings without the DLC.

is it me or are so many people not aware that you can loot ruberite ores/leathers and ansester silk in cyro with max crafting skill xD

Aye, there's that. There's also running dungeons and deconing everything.

But my response wasn't about the accessibility of tier 10 mats. The question was asked whether or not a max crafter would still be able to complete writs if they don't have Orsinium. Thus my reply.