Freedom to explore?

Danikat · March 2015

I know the game is split into different maps, and each has a level range, but how strictly is that enforced?

For example if they wanted to could a VR14 character go back to their alliances starter island? And on the other side if they knew where to go could a level 3 character leave the first map and head into the higher level maps? Obviously they'd die as soon as an enemy saw them, but could they reach that point? Or is there a level check on even entering the map?

I'm asking partially out of curiosity, but mainly because I'm wondering about things like skyshards and finding all the quests. I'd like to just explore at first and see what I actually find, only resorting to a guide if I can't find the last ones. But I don't want to find I've missed ones on maps I now can't access, so if there's any kind of locking in place I'll want to plan ahead.

WraithAzraiel · March 2015

You can go pretty much anywhere in your Alliance's areas sub50. Surviving them is a different story. But don't expect to be able to go to Stonefalls or the Rift if you're a level 3 Dominion character, those areas are reserved for those doing Cadwell's Silver.

Islyn · March 2015

Once you complete the main Silver (Cadwell's almanac) objectives you return to him to be granted access to the 'Gold' area (v6-10).

You can always return to any previous area.

On my current character (DC) I only did all the 'Silver' main objectives, reserving all of Gold (EP) and all side quests for xp toward CP and I advise you do the same. :-)

Also - I grinded a bit (last 10-15% of each lvl) and also via seeking Nirncrux fought a lot of v13 welwas and wasps which I am now v12 and half - so I can save quests for CP

If you are EU server DC v3-9 I can show you better places to grind than spellscar. Hit me up in game @Islyn

Elder_III · March 2015

You can go into any map that is part of your alliance as soon as you finish creating your character/tutorial.

Kragorn · March 2015

Elder_III wrote: »

You can go into any map that is part of your alliance as soon as you finish creating your character/tutorial.

Indeed, I usually take a new level 4 emerging from Coldharbour on a 'world tour' to collect all the over-world Skyshards to build up a small pool of Skill Points early on.

However I think I recall there are a couple of zones which aren't open until you complete a quest chain.

The Rift for example is accessed on foot from Stonefalls but needs the quest-chain in the NW to be completed before the border is opened and I don't recall any land route that can get you to Eastmarch other than from The Rift: I don't remember clearly as now I use Travel To Player to get past these blockages.

driosketch · March 2015

Kragorn wrote: »

Elder_III wrote: »

You can go into any map that is part of your alliance as soon as you finish creating your character/tutorial.

Indeed, I usually take a new level 4 emerging from Coldharbour on a 'world tour' to collect all the over-world Skyshards to build up a small pool of Skill Points early on.

However I think I recall there are a couple of zones which aren't open until you complete a quest chain.

The Rift for example is accessed on foot from Stonefalls but needs the quest-chain in the NW to be completed before the border is opened and I don't recall any land route that can get you to Eastmarch other than from The Rift: I don't remember clearly as now I use Travel To Player to get past these blockages.

This is actually false. You can get to The Rift from Stonefalls on foot without completing any quest. What you want to do is go right, around the north side of the fort. There is an S path that takes you under the bridge and up the other side to the path that leads to Skyrim.

snowmanflvb14_ESO · March 2015

remember though to go into cyrodill you must be lvl 10+ and to go into craglorn vr1+

Danikat · March 2015

Thanks everyone.

I was a bit concerned because a friend had told me some MMOs lock you out of low level zones after you've reached a certain level, to stop people coming in and 1-shotting everything. After that I realised I'd seen mostly level 3-8 on Stros M'Kai and then a handful of level 14's, always 14, not 13 or 15 or 16. I started thinking maybe level 15 is the lock-out point and they were coming back to get skyshards etc. they missed before it was too late.

Good to know I don't need to worry.

Kragorn · March 2015

driosketch wrote: »

Kragorn wrote: »

Elder_III wrote: »

You can go into any map that is part of your alliance as soon as you finish creating your character/tutorial.

Indeed, I usually take a new level 4 emerging from Coldharbour on a 'world tour' to collect all the over-world Skyshards to build up a small pool of Skill Points early on.

However I think I recall there are a couple of zones which aren't open until you complete a quest chain.

The Rift for example is accessed on foot from Stonefalls but needs the quest-chain in the NW to be completed before the border is opened and I don't recall any land route that can get you to Eastmarch other than from The Rift: I don't remember clearly as now I use Travel To Player to get past these blockages.

This is actually false. You can get to The Rift from Stonefalls on foot without completing any quest. What you want to do is go right, around the north side of the fort. There is an S path that takes you under the bridge and up the other side to the path that leads to Skyrim.

Well you learn something everyday. I spent some time way back trying to find a way past the fort, never did.

For a long time I never knew how to get to Alik'r Desert without completing the Rivenspire quest line.

@Danikat, if you're playing a Khajiit or Wood Elf then sneaking will help you a small bit I've done it on most races at 4 or so. As far as I can remember there are only a couple of Skyshards that you can't actually manage to activate as there are mobs nearby that'll one-shot you unless you're lucky to find players leveling there and killing the mobs; one is in south Bangkorai .. and I'll risk showing my ignorance again and suggest you need to do a quest-line to unlock the southern part of that zone .. I forget where the other is.

Also poke your nose into Delves, you'll often find other players clearing out and and you can tag along to get the Shard (Sneak isn't likely to get you there as the reduction of detection radius bonuses don't kick in to make a difference till you've leveled the Racial quite a bit.

There are 9 over-world shards, 6 in solo Delves and one in the Group Delve in each zone (16 in all), so that's 3 Skill Points per zone plus hopefully one or two more if you do manage a few Delves en route.

UrQuan · March 2015

Kragorn wrote: »

For a long time I never knew how to get to Alik'r Desert without completing the Rivenspire quest line.

OK, I'm curious: how do you get there? I've only ever done it by completing the questline or by teleporting to a friend.