NDA Preparedness - Careful what you post!

Enodoc · April 2018

Hopefully everyone knows by now that the Summerset chapter is scheduled to drop on the PTS tomorrow, and with it, a Non-Disclosure Agreement will be in effect (official post here). Unlike last year however, where the whole of Morrowind was under NDA, this NDA is only covering the Main Quest. While you can freely stream and discuss almost anything within the PTS, quests that are in the Main Storyline beyond "The Queen's Decree" are excluded, and cannot be discussed publicly. Logically, any datamining that includes content from the Main Quest is also excluded, and should not be posted either. If you are not sure whether a quest is part of the Main Story or not, err on the side of caution and don't post about it. You should probably be able to check in-game for the relevant quests though, as if it's anything like Morrowind, there will be an achievement which specifically lists the main quests. If you are worried you may post or stream the Main Quest by accident, your safest course of action would be to not complete the first quest, "The Queen's Decree".

With that in mind however, it should be noted that a few minor aspects of early versions of the Main Quest are already in the public domain - @Chufu posted some placeholder achievements in the post from the orc in London, and if you read the UESP datamining posts by @Arko_Nam_La you will also find some other hints towards the Main Quest plot and locations from content that was present in earlier PTS and Live releases. While that information is itself already out there, it would still be a breach of the NDA to post anywhere confirming that what has been shown previously is actually present in tomorrow's PTS release.

So have fun playing the new questline, and I look forward to discussing the story and lore with everyone once the NDA is lifted on May 1on May 21!

Update: ZOS have set aside a specific forum thread within the PTS section for Main Quest feedback, and the PTS section itself is now locked behind your forum login. While the NDA is in effect, discussion of the Main Quest should be confined to that thread only. It can be found here.

Another Update: The original "May 1" date was apparently a miscommunication. The NDA remains in effect until Summerset launches for Early Access on PC, on May 21.

Sixty5 · April 2018

So I'm not allowed to post about Snape killing Dumbledore?

DoctorESO · April 2018

Also be careful not to post spoilers unless you properly tag them.

Thal_J · April 2018

As @Enodoc mentioned, we can determine very roughly what the main quests will be about due to previous datamining and the now publicly released quest names. It's worth noting that some of these quest names have changed in development, but they're close enough for us to link them together:

(SQ1) For the queen: meeting up with Raz, find an Abyssal Pearl in Shimmerene, go to Artaeum, shown in footage.

(SQ2) Precious pearl: presumably involving something to do with the abyssal pearl on Artaeum, as seen in the trailer.

(SQ3) Mind Games: go to sload mind trap realm, as per datamining.

(SQ4) Resolute: meet with Crystal Tower Sapiarchs, as per datamining.

(SQ5) Sweet Dreams: go to the Dreaming Cave, go to mephala's realm, as per datamining.

(SQ6) Unreliable Narrator: go to Evergloam, as per datamining.

(SQ7) Enemy of My Enemy: go to the court of bedlam ruins, as per datamining.

The last two quests are unknown.

Rohamad_Ali · April 2018

I saw people saying on Twitter they have plans to stream PTS tomorrow . I was sort of confused and didn't respond because maybe they have special permission ? Thanks for clearing this up .

Enodoc · April 2018

Arko_Nam_La wrote: »

As @Enodoc mentioned, we can determine roughly what the main quests will be about due to previous datamining and the now publicly released quest names. It's worth noting that some of these quest names have changed in development, but they're close enough for us to link them together:

Heh, yeah. If you link together the UESP datamining and chufu's screenshot of the Achievement names, that's what you get

Rohamad_Ali wrote: »

I saw people saying on Twitter they have plans to stream PTS tomorrow . I was sort of confused and didn't respond because maybe they have special permission ?

Right. So, most of PTS is fine to stream. The only thing they can't stream is the Main Quest, beyond "The Queen's Decree". It's all somewhere in the PTS announcement post.

Thal_J · April 2018

you're allowed to stream everything but the main quest past "The Queen's Decree" @Rohamad_Ali

Rohamad_Ali · April 2018

Thank you very much @Arko_Nam_La and @Enodoc for this information and keeping us out of trouble

MissBizz · April 2018

Rohamad_Ali wrote: »

Thank you very much @Arko_Nam_La and @Enodoc for this information and keeping us out of trouble

YYYEEEAH. I'm one of those folks that plan on streaming. I hope Zos officially says what quest is the second quest (just the title) so I know where to stop, but my game plan is to hopefully just not finish the first one...

Enodoc · April 2018

Also I'm not sure if anyone recorded any main quest stuff during PAX or wherever else ZOS has been showing off Summerset at conventions before now, but I would say a similar thing applies for any of that content which may already be on Twitch/YouTube etc. If you're discussing that content elsewhere, be careful not to augment it with your own experiences on PTS, and if in doubt, leave it out of the discussion.

Thal_J · April 2018

I believe the first quest ends somewhere inside

Ceporah Tower, on Artaeum, after talking to Psijic Ritemaster Iachesis

, @MissBizz, at least if the abrupt ending of video footage from some summerset gameplay videos is anything to go by.

Rohamad_Ali · April 2018

MissBizz wrote: »

Rohamad_Ali wrote: »

Thank you very much @Arko_Nam_La and @Enodoc for this information and keeping us out of trouble

YYYEEEAH. I'm one of those folks that plan on streaming. I hope Zos officially says what quest is the second quest (just the title) so I know where to stop, but my game plan is to hopefully just not finish the first one...

@MissBizz

Yeah I didn't want to name names but it was you .

MissBizz · April 2018

Rohamad_Ali wrote: »

MissBizz wrote: »

Rohamad_Ali wrote: »

Thank you very much @Arko_Nam_La and @Enodoc for this information and keeping us out of trouble

YYYEEEAH. I'm one of those folks that plan on streaming. I hope Zos officially says what quest is the second quest (just the title) so I know where to stop, but my game plan is to hopefully just not finish the first one...

@MissBizz Yeah I didn't want to name names but it was you .

Yeah no special permissions @Rohamad_Ali , but I read the article that we were allowed to stream all but main quest. So I'll just... not main quest I guess. lmao

Currygaminginc · April 2018

I wonder if the new map is going to be revamped for all zones. It looks like a satellite image now.

Donari · April 2018

For Morrowind there was a PTS forum subsection only the beta players could see and post in. Any idea if we'll have that again? It seems a little moot given the mostly open nature of the test, and I for one intend to avoid the main quest anyway so I don't feel the need of a closed forum for free discussion. Still, I'm wondering

Mureel · April 2018

I wish the PTS was not like it is. *Hides*

MissBizz · April 2018

Donari wrote: »

For Morrowind there was a PTS forum subsection only the beta players could see and post in. Any idea if we'll have that again? It seems a little moot given the mostly open nature of the test, and I for one intend to avoid the main quest anyway so I don't feel the need of a closed forum for free discussion. Still, I'm wondering

@Donari as I understood everyone will be able to the the pts forum as long as you're logged in. Believe Gina mentioned that as a reply in the forum post about the article.

Elsterchen · April 2018

Hmmm, but we may talk about the new skill line's skills, right? Like test them, compare them and discuss their impact on PVE/PVP ... maybe even link tooltips.

They are only leveled through questing or are they off the board because they are initially linked to quests?

Anyone knows?

ZOS_GinaBruno · April 2018

MissBizz wrote: »

Rohamad_Ali wrote: »

Thank you very much @Arko_Nam_La and @Enodoc for this information and keeping us out of trouble

YYYEEEAH. I'm one of those folks that plan on streaming. I hope Zos officially says what quest is the second quest (just the title) so I know where to stop, but my game plan is to hopefully just not finish the first one...

Good question. The name of the second quest is "A Pearl of Great Price." This is where you want to stop if you're streaming the main quest!

Currygaminginc wrote: »

I wonder if the new map is going to be revamped for all zones. It looks like a satellite image now.

That image was just a WIP. It will look like all the other maps currently in-game.

Donari wrote: »

For Morrowind there was a PTS forum subsection only the beta players could see and post in. Any idea if we'll have that again? It seems a little moot given the mostly open nature of the test, and I for one intend to avoid the main quest anyway so I don't feel the need of a closed forum for free discussion. Still, I'm wondering

We're not doing that again, but we are making it so you have to be logged in to view anything in the PTS section of the forums.

Elsterchen wrote: »

Hmmm, but we may talk about the new skill line's skills, right? Like test them, compare them and discuss their impact on PVE/PVP ... maybe even link tooltips.

They are only leveled through questing or are they off the board because they are initially linked to quests?

Anyone knows?

Yup, talking about the skill line is fine!

Elsterchen · April 2018

Thanks gina, ... now please post the patch notes.

Faulgor · April 2018

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Donari wrote: »

For Morrowind there was a PTS forum subsection only the beta players could see and post in. Any idea if we'll have that again? It seems a little moot given the mostly open nature of the test, and I for one intend to avoid the main quest anyway so I don't feel the need of a closed forum for free discussion. Still, I'm wondering

We're not doing that again, but we are making it so you have to be logged in to view anything in the PTS section of the forums.

Does that mean I can't talk about the main quest on the PTS forum, as it is public?
I planned to make a detailed feedback thread again like I did for Morrowind, but if it's off limits this time I'd like to know beforehand.

Thal_J · April 2018

Faulgor wrote: »

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Donari wrote: »

For Morrowind there was a PTS forum subsection only the beta players could see and post in. Any idea if we'll have that again? It seems a little moot given the mostly open nature of the test, and I for one intend to avoid the main quest anyway so I don't feel the need of a closed forum for free discussion. Still, I'm wondering

We're not doing that again, but we are making it so you have to be logged in to view anything in the PTS section of the forums.

Does that mean I can't talk about the main quest on the PTS forum, as it is public?
I planned to make a detailed feedback thread again like I did for Morrowind, but if it's off limits this time I'd like to know beforehand.

presumably you would be able to make that post in two weeks after the NDA is lifted

Serjustin19 · April 2018

HI, have a question. Is it possible for me to do the Main quest first? Then stream after wards? I'm not a huge quest fan, so not to worried about that. I unsure what data mine is. I'm mostly console player. But I do have PC that I built from Scratch and originally played ESO in 2014 before console. Is data mine, like not supposed to show housing and class skills? I haven't streamed pts before. What I'm more interested besides Summer Set Main Quest, I avid PvPer. Love it better than PvE no offense. I'm more interested in Cyrodiil stuff. Is it safe for me to live Stream Cyrodiil? Many thanks

Enodoc · April 2018

Serjustin19 wrote: »

HI, have a question. Is it possible for me to do the Main quest first? Then stream after wards? I'm not a huge quest fan, so not to worried about that. I unsure what data mine is. I'm mostly console player. But I do have PC that I built from Scratch and originally played ESO in 2014 before console. Is data mine, like not supposed to show housing and class skills? I haven't streamed pts before. What I'm more interested besides Summer Set Main Quest, I avid PvPer. Love it better than PvE no offense. I'm more interested in Cyrodiil stuff. Is it safe for me to live Stream Cyrodiil? Many thanks

Hey there! Doing the Main Quest first and streaming something else afterwards would be fine, just don't show any of the quest rewards during the stream. Alternatively, if you're not particularly interested in the Main Quest at all, you don't have to do it at all. "Datamining" refers to extracting data directly from the game files on your PC. Showing player houses, skill lines, trials, dungeons, and so on in-game is also fine, and live-streaming Cyrodiil is fine too.

Thal_J · April 2018

Serjustin19 wrote: »

HI, have a question. Is it possible for me to do the Main quest first? Then stream after wards?

it is possible yes but you may have NPCs commenting on your accomplishments during the main quest while you stream, which you may want to avoid.

I unsure what data mine is. I'm mostly console player. But I do have PC that I built from Scratch and originally played ESO in 2014 before console. Is data mine, like not supposed to show housing and class skills?

Datamining is extracting data from the game files to look through, nothing to do with the NDA if I am catching your drift. In any case, the NDA only affects the main quest, everything else you can show on stream.

Serjustin19 · April 2018

Enodoc wrote: »

Serjustin19 wrote: »

HI, have a question. Is it possible for me to do the Main quest first? Then stream after wards? I'm not a huge quest fan, so not to worried about that. I unsure what data mine is. I'm mostly console player. But I do have PC that I built from Scratch and originally played ESO in 2014 before console. Is data mine, like not supposed to show housing and class skills? I haven't streamed pts before. What I'm more interested besides Summer Set Main Quest, I avid PvPer. Love it better than PvE no offense. I'm more interested in Cyrodiil stuff. Is it safe for me to live Stream Cyrodiil? Many thanks

Hey there! Doing the Main Quest first and streaming something else afterwards would be fine, just don't show any of the quest rewards during the stream. Alternatively, if you're not particularly interested in the Main Quest at all, you don't have to do it at all. "Datamining" refers to extracting data directly from the game files on your PC. Showing player houses, skill lines, trials, dungeons, and so on in-game is also fine, and live-streaming Cyrodiil is fine too.

Hi, thank you for helping me out. It makes sense now. Especially the datamining, I'm guessing it's kind like Mod. I unsure how to make mods lol. But I think I got what you mean.

TheNightflame · April 2018

Are people with footage of cloudrest from the play testing allowed to post their footage now? (please say yes, I want to see the trial in action

) @Alcast

Enodoc · April 2018

TheNightflame wrote: »

Are people with footage of cloudrest from the play testing allowed to post their footage now? (please say yes, I want to see the trial in action )

That will depend on whatever embargo they agreed to while at the play-test event (the details of which I do not know).

Enodoc · April 2018

ZOS have now set aside a specific forum thread within the PTS section for Main Quest feedback, and the PTS section itself is now locked behind your forum login. While the NDA is in effect, discussion of the Main Quest should be confined to that thread only. It can be found here.

Lorhat · April 2018

Are we allowed to write previews of Summerset for online gaming magazines? Of course sticking to the NDA and thus not showing and not mentioning anything past the first main quest.

If possible and needed, where can we get an authorization to post for magazines?

Another question: Can we talk about what happens during the first main quest?

Enodoc · May 2018

Update: The original "May 1" date was apparently a miscommunication. The NDA remains in effect until Summerset launches for Early Access on PC, on May 21.