Next ESO Chapter will be more grounded and realistic

Aliyavana

"Our content plans will be to back off major plots with "end of the world invasion" themes for a bit to tell a traditional "Elder Scrolls" story of political intrigue and factional infighting, concentrating on one of ESO’s playable races that has not yet had a full cultural and historical deep dive. For more info, you’ll have to wait for our traditional January reveal show." https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/post/61335

It sounds like ESO understands our wants. It made no sense for 5 world ending plots to be happening all at the same time and I am excited! I hope it is Breton or Redguard related, or even both! Whoever wrote the Pre-Ridda'tha Khajiiti and Reachmen pantheons I hope also touches on Breton and Redguard religion, perhaps going back to obscure dieties like Ebonarm and others. I look foward to this upcoming chapter.

Vevvev

Finally!

SirAxen

I'm not sure I want super grounded and realistic in my high fantasy game, but yea, I'm stoked it won't be another Daedric theme all the same.

Vevvev

SirAxen wrote: »

I'm not sure I want super grounded and realistic in my high fantasy game, but yea, I'm stoked it won't be another Daedric theme all the same.

Well if we look at Wrothgar it didn't need world ending invasions and stuff to tell a good story. I'm hoping for a return to good stories like that.

Also which race are they doing a deep dive on? Have a feeling it'd be the Bretons but all their zones are taken up. The Redguards maybe?

SirAxen

Vevvev wrote: »

SirAxen wrote: »

I'm not sure I want super grounded and realistic in my high fantasy game, but yea, I'm stoked it won't be another Daedric theme all the same.

Well if we look at Wrothgar it didn't need world ending invasions and stuff to tell a good story. I'm hoping for a return to good stories like that.

Also which race are they doing a deep dive on? Have a feeling it'd be the Bretons but all their zones are taken up. The Redguards maybe?

My money is on Redguard.

Vevvev

Would make sense.... Large zone below the Alik'r and I'm sure ZOS could have a blast with the Crowns vs Forebears thing going on in Redguard society.

Aliyavana

I really hope they do not do another princess plot. Elsweyr had Khamira, Dark Heart had Svana, and Fargrave had a technically a princess in all but station

jaws343

With the potential Akatosh stuff and the political intrigue, I think it may be the Imperials. Blackwood was as much, if not more, about Argonians than it was Imperials.

AcadianPaladin

I've never enjoyed the 'you are The Chosen One to Save the World' questlines, much preferring less grand themes - the Wilderking/queen questline in Greenshade comes to mind as a fave.

Fabulous letter by Matt about the progress, challenges and priorities of ZoS moving forward. It does sort of remind me how much I love this game.

Vevvev

Aliyavana wrote: »

I really hope they do not do another princess plot. Elsweyr had Khamira, Dark Heart had Svana, and Fargrave had a technically a princess in all but station

Yeah, it's a bit overused. And making it focused on a prince wouldn't be all that better because it'd be the same plot but with a different gender in the lead.

krachall

That's good news. None of my favorite storylines in the game had world-ending plots.

I'd also like to see them tone back some of the cosmetic stuff. I'm all for cool mounts but I don't want to see a nuclear explosion, volcanic eruption, and literal tearing of the earth because the guy next to me summoned his mount.

richieh99

I was slightly disappointed with this year's chapter, although I still enjoyed it for the most part. I'm personally not a huge fan of swamps or similar landscapes. I also found the story to be, although interesting, too similar to those of past chapters. The Deadlands was cool, I enjoyed that more than Blackwood. I'm really excited to see ESO change its focus a little.

I'd love to see more developed quests for specific towns and key locations. One of the most memorable side quests I have experienced was back in the Morrowind Chapter. Balmora was not only interesting, but I felt like the series of quests associated with that specific location were so much more developed and meaningful than some of the side quests in Blackwood. I'm not trying to speak harshly of this year, I still loved the side quests in Blackwood, just not as much as I have in previous zones.

I know not everyone enjoyed the companion system. However, for me it is perfect. I feel less 'lonely' exploring the zones with one of them with me. Probably sounds odd to say that in an MMO. I play very casually and very slowly, so they fit in perfectly with my playstyle. I hope in years to come we get a few more. Oh! and please, please, please make the rapport system quicker! I'm still 'coridal' with them.

The dev team are amazing here, it is honestly the only game I find myself able to put hours and hours towards. Even if I don't play much for a few weeks, I always come back without fail. I'm really happy to see ZOS continue to invest in the game, especially given how expensive hardware has become. It leaves me extremely optimistic for the future of the game.

LalMirchi

Excellent news

BlissfulDeluge

AWESOME!

The world-ending doom and gloom is too overdone, and I am looking forward to seeing something more grounded. I'm holding my breath for something Breton-related.

Maybe finally we'll get an in-game lorebook containing the full text of the Rights Charter!

Inari Telvanni

Excellent!

DarcyMardin

Good news. I’ll be happy with a little less doom, gloom, dark caverns, and fiery landscapes. Bright colors, please! I loved Summerset.

Tenthirty2

This is great news and would be a refreshing change!
The whole saving-the-world yet AGAIN theme is feeling a bit old and threadbare.
Less fire and brimstone and maybe more Razum-dar?

Marcusorion1

Thanks for the update - appreciate the news

Understandably world supplies and peoples' health must be taken into consideration for expectations in 2022.
So we can expect less content but of fine quality. Possibly why we miss a new item for ESO Plus for December ?
( the previously advertised "monthly item" has been edited to "free items" on the ESO Plus perks page - not a big deal , but would have been nice to be informed officially of the change ).

Looking forward to the January reveal !

LannStone

DarcyMardin wrote: »

Good news. I’ll be happy with a little less doom, gloom, dark caverns, and fiery landscapes. Bright colors, please! I loved Summerset.

Yes, please!

The3sFinest

No world ending scenario is good news. With the Zenithar themed stuff in the new crates, it leads me to think that a Breton storyline, High Rock area is likely.
I mentioned elsewhere that there were hints recently to Sheogorath showing up again soon, seeing as he is Breton, at least here in ESO, it is possible that while it will not be daedric plot to takeover again, he could still play a big part.

BulletMagnetX

It's got to be Redguard. Bretons and Bosmer have no room for expansion in their regions, and the latest crates very much invoke Craglorn and the spellscar of Hammerfell. Unless they take the story abroad into coast islands in some kind of naval story (which would require all kinds of expensively developed new mechanics) then I don't see how Bretons and wood elves could be done, short of having them launch an invasion and colonising parts of Colovia.

Or, I suppose, letting us portal off to Falinesti's esoteric new location.

BlueRaven

“… concentrating on one of ESO’s playable races that has not yet had a full cultural and historical deep dive.”

Redguard?

Gaebriel0410

That sounds great! I've liked every zone so far really, but Rivenspire and Wrothgar are deffo amongst my faves, and those both focused on political intrigue and infighting.

And it's great to know they still aim at giving all playable races historical and cultural deep dives. It's kind of funny as my fave three races are Bretons, Redguards and Wood Elves, in that order, none of which have had dedicated DLC yet (well Redguard had a little bit with the TG zone).

So I rrrrrreally I hope it's Breton stuff (knowing my luck it's probably gonna be Imperials somehow xD) but I'd be down with any of the races that didn't get additional content yet!

BlueRaven

Follow up:

Ten playable races:

Races that had chapters dedicated to them…

Dunmer
Altmer
Kahjit
Nords
Imperials

Races that had major zone dlcs:

Orsimer
Argonians

Had multiple zones dedicated to them in base game:

Bosmer
Nords
Dunmer
Bretons

Bosmers have not been talked about in a while, neither have Bretons, but they got pretty deep dives in the vanilla zones.

Redguards had a full zone dedicated to them, and Hews Bane was a redguard location, but it was not really about redguards. Craglorn was arguably a redguard location, but again not really about redguards.

I am guessing redguards then. (It also doesn’t hurt that one of the main untouched areas on the map is Hammerfell.)

VaranisArano

Varanis Arano is looking forward to having less apocalyptic stakes than daedric princes, godly dragons, and vampire/werewolf armies.

And while I don't expect to fully recapture the delight of doing Orsinium's quest for the first time (because nostalgia is a heck of a thing), I'm looking forward to the new storyline!

spartaxoxo

Well we have some additional hints

The Sys/Hi and Dune code names, as well as Akatosh themed event items next year.

In another thread about the code name someone pointed this out

https://en.m.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:The_Systres

So my guess is that will be time travel themed. I am guessing the political tensions will be between The Redguards and The Bretons over the ownership of all or part of these Islands. Systres - High Rock. Or maybe they will work together to make some rogue group of Nords back off. IDK.

This will also involve time travel somehow like maybe we have to go back in time to learn a secret of a sword singer??? Maybe it'll be connected to Sai Sahan.

Facefister

Aliyavana wrote: »

"Our content plans will be to back off major plots with "end of the world invasion" themes for a bit to tell a traditional "Elder Scrolls" story of political intrigue and factional infighting, concentrating on one of ESO’s playable races that has not yet had a full cultural and historical deep dive. For more info, you’ll have to wait for our traditional January reveal show." https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/post/61335

It sounds like ESO understands our wants. It made no sense for 5 world ending plots to be happening all at the same time and I am excited! I hope it is Breton or Redguard related, or even both! Whoever wrote the Pre-Ridda'tha Khajiiti and Reachmen pantheons I hope also touches on Breton and Redguard religion, perhaps going back to obscure dieties like Ebonarm and others. I look foward to this upcoming chapter.

For one moment, I feared you guys are going the same route as WoW did. Turning us into some chosen, intergalactic heroes. Glad you don't.

whitecrow

This is great to hear!

lillybit

spartaxoxo wrote: »

Well we have some additional hints

The Sys/Hi and Dune code names, as well as Akatosh themed event items next year.

In another thread about the code name someone pointed this out

https://en.m.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:The_Systres

So my guess is that will be time travel themed. I am guessing the political tensions will be between The Redguards and The Bretons over the ownership of all or part of these Islands. Systres - High Rock. Or maybe they will work together to make some rogue group of Nords back off. IDK.

This will also involve time travel somehow like maybe we have to go back in time to learn a secret of a sword singer??? Maybe it'll be connected to Sai Sahan.

Something like this would make a pretty good theme, they could make a really unique and interesting story line around it. Gonna keep my fingers crossed that you're right!

BlueViolet

I'm really pleased to see that they're doing something more grounded and less world ending. I do admit however, I very much enjoyed The Deadlands and stuff; a lot more than Greymoor which I didn't like much at all.
I'm really looking forward to seeing what they're going to be doing.

I also would be happy for more Razum'dar

Raideen

Grounded and more realistic