Expansion coming in 2017? (Random thoughts)

Elsonso

WuffyCerulei wrote: »

I feel that Vvardenfell will be the same kind of DLC as Wrothgar: BIG. Compared to Hew's Bane and the Gold Coast, Wrothgar is the most immersive and fun of em all. With the sheer size of Vvardenfell, there's a lot to offer in it.

Well, to be honest, with any other studio, I would think that they would be using TES 3 Morrowind as the bar over which they must go. The DLC will be measured against the whole game, which is a burden, but also an opportunity. I would expect the studio to go all out to make sure that comparison was good.

With ZOS, not sure if we will get "good enough", "better than average", or "outstanding". Not holding my breath for the last, but fingers crossed for "better than average".

JD2013

Publius_Scipio wrote: »

JD2013 wrote: »

Publius_Scipio wrote: »

Korah_Eaglecry wrote: »

Its great that Vvardenfell will be added at some point...But I cant say that its introduction is any indication of a "proper expansion". Its just another zone that we knew we were going to eventually get when we first learned of Elder Scrolls Online. We've all known places like Vvardenfell and Western Skyrim would eventually find its way into the game as the only direction ZOS can take is to add to the map.

But theres been at least 2 other Zones we've also known about since Year 1 of the game that we have yet to see as well. Mirkmire and Clockwork City. We've known about those 2 Zones since we knew of Imperial City and Wrothgar. Their lack of appearance was never an indicator that we'd get an expansion and I havent seen anything in articles or press releases that would make me think expansions were the direction ZOS was headed. Especially considering the current climate of MMOs demands that Developers aim for quick out the door DLCs over long haul Expansions. Even games like Star Trek Online, which does an expansion every other year, still releases back to back content over the course of those 2 years.

Rumor amongst players is that Murkmire was scrapped for whatever reason, the two dungeons were salvaged and added as the Shadows of the Hist DLC.

Apparently one of the Devs said at an ESO event that it's being reworked into a single player zone as opposed to Adventure Zone.

That's interesting. I was under the impression the whole idea of "adventure zone" fizzled out with Craglorn (pre One Tamriel) long ago. Now we all know that going forward new zones are molded in the same way as Wrothgar. It's possible Murkmire was in development for a long time, put on the shelf for a while, and now they took it off and are reworking it for final release. It's quite possible.

I just hope Murkmire ends up being very unique, because we already have Shadowfen. Which DLC/zone will be the one that continues the main "prophet get your soul back" storyline of ESO?

We have our soul back the next storylines were teased.

SPOILERS!

One at the end of Wrothgar:

Where Varen appeared and warned us that a great war is coming between the Daedric Princes that shall begin when the gates of Sotha Sil's lost city (Clockwork City) are reopened.

And one at the end of the Gold Coast from a quest called "The Sweetroll Killer":

Naryu mentions (if you picked her side) at the end of the quest to come and find her on Vvardenfell, and the killer of the quest belongs to a group called the Fate-Bearers, and the killer said of Naryu "Her fate is the worst of all. Her daughter causes the world to burn. Or she could. The future is a fluid thing." Also, I believe the Fate-Bearers are from Vvardenfell.

Whether these two strands of plot are tied together remains to be seen.

WhiteCoatSyndrome

I don't care if it's a DLC or an expansion, so long as we get a BIG chunk of Tamriel to explore this time.

Though if it is a proper expansion I expect more than just Vvardenfell--it's big, but even if they unleash the whole thing at once it's not THAT big.

Elsonso

WhiteCoatSyndrome wrote: »

I don't care if it's a DLC or an expansion, so long as we get a BIG chunk of Tamriel to explore this time.

Though if it is a proper expansion I expect more than just Vvardenfell--it's big, but even if they unleash the whole thing at once it's not THAT big.

If they do an expansion, vs discrete DLC, I expect that it will be "off-world" and the bulk of it will take place on some Oblivion plane. This allows them to fill in Tamriel using DLC content, one zone at a time, and do whatever they want for the expansion content in some completely separate space.

ArchMikem

Honestly, I'd prefer to go Elsweyr...

Rune_Relic

lordrichter wrote: »

WhiteCoatSyndrome wrote: »

I don't care if it's a DLC or an expansion, so long as we get a BIG chunk of Tamriel to explore this time.

Though if it is a proper expansion I expect more than just Vvardenfell--it's big, but even if they unleash the whole thing at once it's not THAT big.

If they do an expansion, vs discrete DLC, I expect that it will be "off-world" and the bulk of it will take place on some Oblivion plane. This allows them to fill in Tamriel using DLC content, one zone at a time, and do whatever they want for the expansion content in some completely separate space.

Theres nothing stopping them jumping to different realms to keep everything modular and consistent, yet somewhat isolated too.
BUT...with elder scrolls, there is nothing stopping them jumping across time as well as space.
Where the past of one expansion may give clues about the future of the other....and vice versa.
They could in fact staggers DLC in two (or more) seperate time frames that feed off and cross reference each other.
Give the loremaster something to stick his teeth into

Mr_Apollo

In my opinion, they did great with the Orsinium expansion, it was like, a whole new land to explore, delves, quests, cities, 2 PUBLIC dungeons, and a trial (only missing the private dungeon) I liked it, I spent so much time exploring Wrothgar and had so much fun, the same cant be said about Gold Coast and Hews Bane, where its a maximum of 3 wayshrines, One city (in hews bane, 2 in Gold coast), no dungeons, only 3 delves, 2 world bosses and 3 skyshards, sounds like a starter area (Khenarthis Roost, Bleakrock Island, Bethnik and Stros M'kai) I would love if this new expansion contained what Wrothgar had and give us a whole new land to explore and level, a whole new land to get immersed in.

Enodoc

Ravena wrote: »

And I suppose Sotha Sil deserves something as well. Even in Morrowind, we barely heard of him.

Well, he was kinda dead, so not hearing much from him makes sense


Personally, I am hoping very much that Vvardenfell, Clockwork City, and the Spiral Skein (Mephala's Realm) will all be part of one "Tribunal"-focused DLC/expansion. For those of you who have played other MMOs and gone through their "expansions", how does an expansion differ from a DLC? How is it priced? What happens to the pricing of the base game?

Publius_Scipio wrote: »

I just hope Murkmire ends up being very unique, because we already have Shadowfen. Which DLC/zone will be the one that continues the main "prophet get your soul back" storyline of ESO?

Assuming any of the original Murkmire content remains, it should be pretty unique as it was supposed to introduce the Naga as a new NPC race.

I don't know if any future content will continue the main storyline, but Clockwork City and the Daedra war is definitely the next major storyline that should appear. Although it would certainly be interesting to see whether they do lock it behind completion of the main quest, I don't think that would actually be very likely.

Rex-Umbra

Full expansion if marketed right would be huge for all the old school morrowind nostalgia junkies. Orsinium was epic and they have learned a lot since then along with new systems. I know DB will be in morrowind as well along with hoysing etc should be their chance to fully sandbox it.

JD2013

Enodoc wrote: »

Ravena wrote: »

And I suppose Sotha Sil deserves something as well. Even in Morrowind, we barely heard of him.

Well, he was kinda dead, so not hearing much from him makes sense


Personally, I am hoping very much that Vvardenfell, Clockwork City, and the Spiral Skein (Mephala's Realm) will all be part of one "Tribunal"-focused DLC/expansion. For those of you who have played other MMOs and gone through their "expansions", how does an expansion differ from a DLC? How is it priced? What happens to the pricing of the base game?

Publius_Scipio wrote: »

I just hope Murkmire ends up being very unique, because we already have Shadowfen. Which DLC/zone will be the one that continues the main "prophet get your soul back" storyline of ESO?

Assuming any of the original Murkmire content remains, it should be pretty unique as it was supposed to introduce the Naga as a new NPC race.

I don't know if any future content will continue the main storyline, but Clockwork City and the Daedra war is definitely the next major storyline that should appear. Although it would certainly be interesting to see whether they do lock it behind completion of the main quest, I don't think that would actually be very likely.

Traditionally, an expansion is sold retail boxed and digitally, and is about the same price as a normal AAA title that comes out, but is also larger than DLC. For example, if they bundled Vvardenfell, Clockwork City and Spiral Skein together, that would be an expansion. If they sold them all separately, they are DLC. Smaller. And traditionally (for example with WoW) the box price of the base game goes down and is bundled with previous expansions.

Hellsbunnies

I've been thinking the very same thing, for the very same reasons. One thing that does mystify me though, Why is Update 13 coming out at the start of 2017? Surely it would make more financial sense for it to happen in December, for the Christmas market? Could there be a surprise press release changing UD13's release date with a date change and the announcement of a large land expansion? I wait with baited breath.

JD2013

Hellsbunnies wrote: »

I've been thinking the very same thing, for the very same reasons. One thing that does mystify me though, Why is Update 13 coming out at the start of 2017? Surely it would make more financial sense for it to happen in December, for the Christmas market? Could there be a surprise press release changing UD13's release date with a date change and the announcement of a large land expansion? I wait with baited breath.

The updates this year have come:

Thieves Guild - March
Dark Brotherhood - May
Shadows of the Hist - August
One Tamriel - October

So technically we have had one update per quarter. We have also had Witches Festival and the New Life Festival is coming soon (ish.) So I don't think Update 13 will come before Feb/March next year. I don't think it will come this year at all. We were told we would get 4 updates a year (one per quarter) and that has happened this year.

Enodoc

JD2013 wrote: »

Enodoc wrote: »

Personally, I am hoping very much that Vvardenfell, Clockwork City, and the Spiral Skein (Mephala's Realm) will all be part of one "Tribunal"-focused DLC/expansion. For those of you who have played other MMOs and gone through their "expansions", how does an expansion differ from a DLC? How is it priced? What happens to the pricing of the base game?

Traditionally, an expansion is sold retail boxed and digitally, and is about the same price as a normal AAA title that comes out, but is also larger than DLC. For example, if they bundled Vvardenfell, Clockwork City and Spiral Skein together, that would be an expansion. If they sold them all separately, they are DLC. Smaller. And traditionally (for example with WoW) the box price of the base game goes down and is bundled with previous expansions.

Great, thanks! Functionally, it would be the same as DLC, right? The content of the expansion would only be available to those who purchased the expac or had ESO Plus, and the base game would still function without it?

As for boxed and bundled with previous bits, ESO is almost there already with the Gold Edition, just missing Shadows of the Hist. Maybe that alone means that Vvardenfell won't be soon, or won't be considered an expansion, otherwise they would have probably held off to stick SotH into the Gold Edition too.

Darkstorne

Rex-Umbra wrote: »

Full expansion if marketed right would be huge for all the old school morrowind nostalgia junkies. Orsinium was epic and they have learned a lot since then along with new systems. I know DB will be in morrowind as well along with hoysing etc should be their chance to fully sandbox it.

Yep, the nostalgia could be huge. But they have to correct a lot of the game's flaws if they want to keep TES fans who played Morrowind along for the whole ride.

I guarantee I'll resub for a Vvardenfell release, but I can also guarantee I'll unsub after a week if dungeons are still cookie cutter designs with enemies that respawn after 30 seconds, and quest givers act like I'm the only adventurer around while dozens of other players are running and jumping about around us.

Learn from Destiny if anything - keep the group play to dungeons, PVP, and cities. Make the environments more solo experiences. Ideally, as a TES fan, make the environments ENTIRELY solo experiences, so we don't have any respawns in dungeons, and ZOS can feel free to create beautifully sprawling fields of grass and forests of ancient trees without placing mobs 10 feet apart in all directions...

JD2013

Enodoc wrote: »

JD2013 wrote: »

Enodoc wrote: »

Personally, I am hoping very much that Vvardenfell, Clockwork City, and the Spiral Skein (Mephala's Realm) will all be part of one "Tribunal"-focused DLC/expansion. For those of you who have played other MMOs and gone through their "expansions", how does an expansion differ from a DLC? How is it priced? What happens to the pricing of the base game?

Traditionally, an expansion is sold retail boxed and digitally, and is about the same price as a normal AAA title that comes out, but is also larger than DLC. For example, if they bundled Vvardenfell, Clockwork City and Spiral Skein together, that would be an expansion. If they sold them all separately, they are DLC. Smaller. And traditionally (for example with WoW) the box price of the base game goes down and is bundled with previous expansions.

Great, thanks! Functionally, it would be the same as DLC, right? The content of the expansion would only be available to those who purchased the expac or had ESO Plus, and the base game would still function without it?

As for boxed and bundled with previous bits, ESO is almost there already with the Gold Edition, just missing Shadows of the Hist. Maybe that alone means that Vvardenfell won't be soon, or won't be considered an expansion, otherwise they would have probably held off to stick SotH into the Gold Edition too.

Functionally, yes it would be exactly the same. The base game still would work without it, and the contents, as with the current DLC would only be available to those who purchased it. Be it retail, digital or maybe ESO plus. But I can see them going the WoW route if they ever chose to release expansions, and they would cost extra on top of your sub, as with WoW.

Yes, I do agree with the fact that they are almost there minus Shadows of the Hist, however they could possibly stick to the 4 updates a year and release an expansion independently of that. Especially if they have been working on it for a while.

Abeille

Darkstorne wrote: »

Rex-Umbra wrote: »

Full expansion if marketed right would be huge for all the old school morrowind nostalgia junkies. Orsinium was epic and they have learned a lot since then along with new systems. I know DB will be in morrowind as well along with hoysing etc should be their chance to fully sandbox it.

I guarantee I'll resub for a Vvardenfell release, but I can also guarantee I'll unsub after a week if dungeons are still cookie cutter designs with enemies that respawn after 30 seconds, and quest givers act like I'm the only adventurer around while dozens of other players are running and jumping about around us.

Would a full-fledged expansion pack be included in our subscription, though?

I imagined it would be another purchase.

Browiseth

Hooray, more pandering.

idk

@JD2013

Not to disparage your thoughts, but a reminder that Craglorn was brought to us in sections.

Eweroun

Ravena wrote: »

Loremaster said he's working on something big a few days ago and it has been keeping him busy which is why he hasn't showed up lately, I can only imagine it is Vvanderfell. I'd imagine they are paying extra attention to lore-ing the place up so as not to upset the [rather famously unforgiving] Morrowind die-hard fans. Housing wouldn't require that much out of the loremaster, methinks.

I for one look forward to meeting V-dawg again. Hope he is there.

And I suppose Sotha Sil deserves something as well. Even in Morrowind, we barely heard of him.

Maybe we should ask @SantieClaws to summon the Loremaster again for a little something of info.. ?

JD2013

Eweroun wrote: »

Ravena wrote: »

Loremaster said he's working on something big a few days ago and it has been keeping him busy which is why he hasn't showed up lately, I can only imagine it is Vvanderfell. I'd imagine they are paying extra attention to lore-ing the place up so as not to upset the [rather famously unforgiving] Morrowind die-hard fans. Housing wouldn't require that much out of the loremaster, methinks.

I for one look forward to meeting V-dawg again. Hope he is there.

And I suppose Sotha Sil deserves something as well. Even in Morrowind, we barely heard of him.

Maybe we should ask @SantieClaws to summon the Loremaster again for a little something of info.. ?

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/comment/3486986#Comment_3486986

That was his comment. I think we can discern it is about Naryu. She is from Vvardenfell.

Eweroun

JD2013 wrote: »

nickreb17_ESO wrote: »

isn't it 15th Morrowind anniversary next year on 1st of May? Seems like a good time for an expansion

By George, you're right! It is!

JD2013 wrote: »

nickreb17_ESO wrote: »

isn't it 15th Morrowind anniversary next year on 1st of May? Seems like a good time for an expansion

By George, you're right! It is!

quick, edit it... we don't Zos want to know this... it gives them even more reasons to postphone the release

SantieClaws

Alas khajiit can only summon the Loremaster in certain circumstances.

The moons must align, migrating cliff racers must return from the east, Sheogorath must be down to his last slice of cheese, Queen Elf Lady must be wearing her lucky underpants and khajiit must be very very drunk and have consumed exactly five sweetrolls.

Isn't that right Mr Loremaster yes @Lawrence_Schick ?

Yours with paws
Santie Claws

Elsonso

Rune_Relic wrote: »

Theres nothing stopping them jumping to different realms to keep everything modular and consistent, yet somewhat isolated too.
BUT...with elder scrolls, there is nothing stopping them jumping across time as well as space.
Where the past of one expansion may give clues about the future of the other....and vice versa.
They could in fact staggers DLC in two (or more) seperate time frames that feed off and cross reference each other.
Give the loremaster something to stick his teeth into

It is too easy to tell a bad story when time travel is involved. It is like Star Trek and the transporter, after they realized that the transporter could be used in the solution to almost any problem. Followed to the inevitable conclusion, time travel solves all problems, and many of those problems are probably known as writer's block. Continuing the Star Trek reference, I submit Star Trek IV as an example.

They have 17 Daedric Princes, and 17 planes controlled by them, plus numerous little pockets and eddies, that can provide the setting for expansions. Over the course of Elder Scrolls, we have touched several of these, some as part of the main quest, some as part of side quests. Most famously, Deadlands, Coldharbour, and Shivering Isles.

In any case, an expansion where we visit the realm of some Prince on some heroic quest is much more in the spirit of Elder Scrolls.

Rune_Relic

lordrichter wrote: »

Rune_Relic wrote: »

Theres nothing stopping them jumping to different realms to keep everything modular and consistent, yet somewhat isolated too.
BUT...with elder scrolls, there is nothing stopping them jumping across time as well as space.
Where the past of one expansion may give clues about the future of the other....and vice versa.
They could in fact staggers DLC in two (or more) seperate time frames that feed off and cross reference each other.
Give the loremaster something to stick his teeth into

It is too easy to tell a bad story when time travel is involved. It is like Star Trek and the transporter, after they realized that the transporter could be used in the solution to almost any problem. Followed to the inevitable conclusion, time travel solves all problems, and many of those problems are probably known as writer's block. Continuing the Star Trek reference, I submit Star Trek IV as an example.

They have 17 Daedric Princes, and 17 planes controlled by them, plus numerous little pockets and eddies, that can provide the setting for expansions. Over the course of Elder Scrolls, we have touched several of these, some as part of the main quest, some as part of side quests. Most famously, Deadlands, Coldharbour, and Shivering Isles.

In any case, an expansion where we visit the realm of some Prince on some heroic quest is much more in the spirit of Elder Scrolls.

Exhibit 1.
The warriors champion - craglorn final questline.

I agree its easier to switch space than time.
I just dont see why ZOS would feel tied down.
Especially considering the nature of the scrolls and dragon breaks.

Exhibit 2.
Is the point of the scrolls not about time travel.
Was skyrim even doable without traveling across time ?

Exhibit 3.
The brothers of strife.

Elsonso

Rune_Relic wrote: »

lordrichter wrote: »

Rune_Relic wrote: »

Theres nothing stopping them jumping to different realms to keep everything modular and consistent, yet somewhat isolated too.
BUT...with elder scrolls, there is nothing stopping them jumping across time as well as space.
Where the past of one expansion may give clues about the future of the other....and vice versa.
They could in fact staggers DLC in two (or more) seperate time frames that feed off and cross reference each other.
Give the loremaster something to stick his teeth into

It is too easy to tell a bad story when time travel is involved. It is like Star Trek and the transporter, after they realized that the transporter could be used in the solution to almost any problem. Followed to the inevitable conclusion, time travel solves all problems, and many of those problems are probably known as writer's block. Continuing the Star Trek reference, I submit Star Trek IV as an example.

They have 17 Daedric Princes, and 17 planes controlled by them, plus numerous little pockets and eddies, that can provide the setting for expansions. Over the course of Elder Scrolls, we have touched several of these, some as part of the main quest, some as part of side quests. Most famously, Deadlands, Coldharbour, and Shivering Isles.

In any case, an expansion where we visit the realm of some Prince on some heroic quest is much more in the spirit of Elder Scrolls.

Exhibit 1.
The warriors champion - craglorn final questline.

I agree its easier to switch space than time.
I just dont see why ZOS would feel tied down.
Especially considering the nature of the scrolls and dragon breaks.

Exhibit 2.
Is the point of the scrolls not about time travel.
Was skyrim even doable without traveling across time ?

Exhibit 3.
The brothers of strife.

These are all examples of small scale time travel. Skyrim had this with the prep for the fight against Alduin, too. Basing an entire expansion on a time event would definitely be something. Depending on the writer, it could something good, or not.

As for the Scrolls, it is not so much that they are about time travel as much as time is irrelevant to them.

Enodoc

Time. Time is an artificial construct. An arbitrary system based on the idea that events occur in a linear direction at all times. Always forward, never back. Is the concept of time correct? Is time relevant? --Sheogorath

JD2013

Enodoc wrote: »

Time. Time is an artificial construct. An arbitrary system based on the idea that events occur in a linear direction at all times. Always forward, never back. Is the concept of time correct? Is time relevant? --Sheogorath

Bless Uncle Sheo! Always insightful.

WhiteCoatSyndrome

@SantieClaws It won't work Santie. The Loremaster knows I had a light lunch today and is therefore staying away.

lordrichter wrote: »

They have 17 Daedric Princes, and 17 planes controlled by them, plus numerous little pockets and eddies, that can provide the setting for expansions. Over the course of Elder Scrolls, we have touched several of these, some as part of the main quest, some as part of side quests. Most famously, Deadlands, Coldharbour, and Shivering Isles.

Don't forget Thras, Pyandonea, and Akavir* even if there isn't enough left of Yokuda or Atmora to go there. I'd much rather go beat down some Sload than suffer through some trite, gimmicky time-travel plot.


*Yes they said they wouldn't do Akavir until the mainline games did. They also said they wouldn't do lockboxes.

Abeille

Okay, I'm calling it.
ZOS will do to ESO something similar to what ANet did to GW2.

Release Expansion Pack (Vvardenfell) with new class (Warden).
Create 3 tiers of account:
1 - Bought the Expansion Pack.
2 - Only bought the Base Game.
3 - Bought nothing.

The first tier will have access to everything, the second tier will have access to everything but the new class and the expansion content (it will have exactly what we have today) and the third tier will have a bunch of restrictions. Yes, I am predicting that ESO will go F2P in a way, even if it is by offering a very limited version of the game to free accounts. That's because of the lady that is specialized in the F2P transition that is working with ZOS, as we know.

If you are unfamiliar with GW2, the restrictions to free accounts are listed here.

And yes, I think Warden is coming because of the recently datamined skills.

This is just a theory and not at all what I want to happen, please don't hurt me.

Banana

Skyrim 2 would be nice