Best alliance for story and zones? in 2020

SocialAssassin · January 2020

What's the best alliance and story zones to play in ESO 2020? And why? Be as detailed as possible please.
P.S. I used to have a Reddit post that explained the difference between the 3? Unfortunately, I can't seem to locate it anymore?

VaranisArano · January 2020

They've all got their strong points.

If you enjoy a story with strong recurring characters who go through a lot of growth with you as their sidekick, Aldmeri Dominion is fantastic.

If you enjoy a more episodic storyline with your character as the central hero, Ebonheart Pact does that well.

If you want a mix of the two, Daggerfall Covenant features both relatable NPCs while keeping your character in the driver's seat.

For myself, the Pact was my first faction storyline and its still my favorite. None of the other faction questlines match EP's focus on the war as they mainly cover the internal divisions of each alliance. EP's quests did an excellent job of getting me to care about the Three Banners War, firing me up to fight for Pact, and truly engaging with the NPCs I met along the way. Highlights included the saga of the Earth-turner family that spans from starter island to the final zone and the gut-punch of the Dominion's misdeeds in Shadowfen. No other faction's story made me feel as strongly as the Pact.

Of course, YMMV. Each faction story has things it does well, things it does poorly, and things that are going to come down to personal taste.

bmnoble · January 2020

Why would it be any different to the Best alliance for story and zones in 2019/2018/2017/2016/2015/2014?

The base games stories have not changed and in the DLC content for the most part your alliance is rarely mentioned.

All you have to decide on is which order you want to do the Alliance's quest lines, just pick the faction that interests you most and enjoy yourself does not need to be any more complicated than that, if you enjoy the game you will get around to the others eventually as well.

The only thing I would recommend is doing all three Alliance quest lines before doing the Coldharbour quests, that way you will know who all the NPC's are that you encounter and they will recognize you/be friendly regardless of you faction.

caperb · January 2020

Daggerfall Covenant

Smurfs don't have very interesting zone questlines and none of them are a follow up of the previous, but rivenspire has the best questline in the base game!

SocialAssassin · January 2020

bmnoble wrote: »

Why would it be any different to the Best alliance for story and zones in 2019/2018/2017/2016/2015/2014?

The base games stories have not changed and in the DLC content for the most part your alliance is rarely mentioned.

All you have to decide on is which order you want to do the Alliance's quest lines, just pick the faction that interests you most and enjoy yourself does not need to be any more complicated than that, if you enjoy the game you will get around to the others eventually as well.

The only thing I would recommend is doing all three Alliance quest lines before doing the Coldharbour quests, that way you will know who all the NPC's are that you encounter and they will recognize you/be friendly regardless of you faction.

And what if you never played ESO online before? How would you know the differences between alliances without posts like this?

Aliyavana · January 2020

Aldmeri Dominion

Daggerfall has an undead theme for most of its zones so its meh. Additionally, the breton zones feel like generic fantasy and rivenspire is the only amazing breton zone

bmnoble · January 2020

SocialAssassin wrote: »

bmnoble wrote: »

Why would it be any different to the Best alliance for story and zones in 2019/2018/2017/2016/2015/2014?

The base games stories have not changed and in the DLC content for the most part your alliance is rarely mentioned.

All you have to decide on is which order you want to do the Alliance's quest lines, just pick the faction that interests you most and enjoy yourself does not need to be any more complicated than that, if you enjoy the game you will get around to the others eventually as well.

The only thing I would recommend is doing all three Alliance quest lines before doing the Coldharbour quests, that way you will know who all the NPC's are that you encounter and they will recognize you/be friendly regardless of you faction.

And what if you never played ESO online before? How would you know the differences between alliances without posts like this?

In that case I would hope someone does some basic research to decide if the game interests them before deciding to spend money buying the game but that is just me.

And I do mean basic you choose your Alliance at the character creation screen, so I would assume most people playing the game would spend at least a few minutes online looking into which Alliance they want their first character to be in.

gepe87 · January 2020

Aldmeri Dominion

I'm not playing in AD side anymore but I have to admit it has the most coesive storyline: you really see the core and formation of the alliance.

DC has some Interesting quests (Rivenspire; Bangkorai) but whole alliance just seems an amalgalm of personal interests.

EP storyline was wasted, they could focus more on Joruun and Almalexia in the whole EP zones and political intrigue (Almalexia stays in Mounhold an Joruun in Eastmarch and Rift) . Their objective for tamriel is too clouded (although is known their focus for freedom to all regions).

Grianasteri · January 2020

Aldmeri Dominion

SocialAssassin wrote: »

What's the best alliance and story zones to play in ESO 2020? And why? Be as detailed as possible please.
P.S. I used to have a Reddit post that explained the difference between the 3? Unfortunately, I can't seem to locate it anymore?

Thats pretty confusing and annoying that the colours dont match the alliances lol!

For me, Aldmeri Dominion is way way out in front in terms of story content, we have Summerset, Gold coast (kinda), and both Elsweyr regions, as well as all the base content. Neither other alliance has that diversity.

Seminolegirl1992 · January 2020

Aldmeri Dominion

AD. The storyline feels very immersive, the recurring characters are memorable and favorites by many. You get to see the formation of the alliance and its beautifully done.

logarifmik · January 2020

Daggerfall Covenant

SocialAssassin wrote: »

What's the best alliance and story zones to play in ESO 2020? And why? Be as detailed as possible please.
P.S. I used to have a Reddit post that explained the difference between the 3? Unfortunately, I can't seem to locate it anymore?

Daggerfall Covenant, and always be. I don't know why, but for me it's really hard to remember any quests from other alliances zones. Except for those tied to well-known recurring characters they are all weak, in my opinion. In DC storyline there are a lot of really interesting characters and memorable stories. Maybe, it's just a baby duck syndrome, though.

TheFM · January 2020

Aldmeri Dominion

All around I enjoyed the AD the most. I loved parts of DC, but after the first two zones it was completely forgettable, EP was just boring to me.

SpacemanSpiff1 · January 2020

i don't understand why the year is important. the alliance stories have been around since launch

bmnoble wrote: »

Why would it be any different to the Best alliance for story and zones in 2019/2018/2017/2016/2015/2014?

The base games stories have not changed and in the DLC content for the most part your alliance is rarely mentioned.

you beat me to it.

SocialAssassin wrote: »

And what if you never played ESO online before? How would you know the differences between alliances without posts like this?

then they probably wont be on the game forums. most people that do play aren't on here.

Coppes · January 2020

Daggerfall Covenant

If I had to give a canonical faction for the Vestige, it would be Covenant.

You have so many recurring characters that effected the story.

vestahls · January 2020

Ebonheart Pact

EP remains the best. It's political without being preachy, and really addresses the war, which none of the other factions do.

By comparison, AD was too whishy washy globalist with heavy handed modern overtones, and even though the DC had Rivenspire, the rest of it was just unremarkable and unmemorable.

Only EP is consistent and good, in my experience.

Nord_Raseri · January 2020

Ebonheart Pact

I enjoyed most of them. Mainly the quests in Auridon, Wilderking in Greenshade, Glenumbra, Rivenspire, Eastmarch, and the Rift.

Starlock · January 2020

Aldmeri Dominion

It depends on the story you want to tell.

That said, if you are going for narrative cohesion across the zones (when played in the correct order), the Aldmeri Dominion does the best job of that.

Rex-Umbra · January 2020

Daggerfall Covenant

DC more dark gritty fantasy. AD felt too fluffy. EP is just bad and ugly except for the snowy zone.

EdoKeledus · January 2020

Daggerfall Covenant

Rivenspire, deal with it

Aptonoth · January 2020

Ebonheart pact. Dagger fell was super boring and generic medical fantasy and a huge let down. Dominion had a loooot of jungle way too much he story story never felt coherent.

Neoealth · January 2020

Well in 2017 the best was AD. But then in 2018 EP stole the title for best faction story! Then in 2019 AD took that title back.

So for 2020 hopefully DC will push ahead for the best story.

Go DC!

Xvorg · January 2020

Ebonheart Pact

caperb wrote: »

Smurfs don't have very interesting zone questlines and none of them are a follow up of the previous, but rivenspire has the best questline in the base game!

Amen

As a whole, EP story is the best, but if I ponder all the zones and chose one, I have to go with Rivenspire. Some of the most memorable characters, dialogs. The flashbacks, the side quests (the recruitment quest in Hoarfrost Downs, or the one in which you have to capture the guy in Sanguine Barrows, or the sister of the Captain... I could go all day), the way how landscape changes from east to west

Amazing job

max_only · January 2020

Daggerfall is legitimately the most boring storyline in the game.

Xvorg · January 2020

Ebonheart Pact

Now regarding EP it is the best because:

1- You don't get to know real powerful faction leaders until middle of Deshan. You even meet King Jorunn in the 4th zone and just become a friend to him because you saved his life.
2- That said, EP is the story of a commoner who rises over the ranks. He doesn't start being an important guy. In DC story it takes you a couple hours to meet Emeric... while in AD, you are named Eye of the Queen half your way into Auridon... and that makes little sense.
3- Consistency? Ask Aera Earth-Turner about consistency
4- Powerful enemies? The Brothers of the Strife, Sinmur, Vox with Veloth's judgement and the Lothos plague... the weakest enemy in all the story is Fildgor, brother of Jorunn
5- You meet a powerful CHIMER mage (Mavos) to defeat the brothers of the strife, then you talk to Almalexia herself (though she uses to clean her house) and the very same Saint Veloth, after that you have the chance to chat with the Hist itself, and then you go to Sovngarde to save Jorunn's life, to finally defeat Sinmur and be greeted by the very same Ysgramor. After that, dealing with Molag Bal seems so mundane...

haelene · January 2020

Aldmeri Dominion

I'm surprised at the poll results, actually. I found DC to be the most boring, forgettable story line with the most boring forgettable characters. I actually can't remember anything about it and I've done Caldwell's gold 4 times. Just goes to show how subjective this kind of thing is!

Nomadic_Atmoran · January 2020

Aldmeri Dominion

gepe87 wrote: »

I'm not playing in AD side anymore but I have to admit it has the most coesive storyline: you really see the core and formation of the alliance.

DC has some Interesting quests (Rivenspire; Bangkorai) but whole alliance just seems an amalgalm of personal interests.

EP storyline was wasted, they could focus more on Joruun and Almalexia in the whole EP zones and political intrigue (Almalexia stays in Mounhold an Joruun in Eastmarch and Rift) . Their objective for tamriel is too clouded (although is known their focus for freedom to all regions).

Sometimes I wonder if the AD storyline was the basis for the whole game. It was the core concept that started it. Or maybe it was the final one that they were able to throw all their experience into. DC felt almost like none of the zones had anything to do with the next. Oh youre done with Rivenspire? Well I hear theres trouble in Alikir. EP to an extent as well. Although Bleackrock, Bal Foyen and Stonefalls was a pretty epic way to enter into the storyline. Though it fell apart rather quickly after that.

I think EP disappoints me the most because there was some really good opportunities to tell a story of overcoming not just external threats but internal. But they went with the monster/villian of the week approach for each zone. You could see the hints at possible internal strife with the Argonians and Dunmer in Stonefalls and Shadowfen. But it went no where and in fact in some cases ZOS actively changed interactions so tone it down further.

The whole relationship between the Argonians, Dunmer and Nords should have been further explored there. It was the biggest suspension of disbelief for anyone with a minimal understanding of the lore.

ealdwin · January 2020

Daggerfall Covenant

Nomadic_Atmoran wrote: »

The whole relationship between the Argonians, Dunmer and Nords should have been further explored there. It was the biggest suspension of disbelief for anyone with a minimal understanding of the lore.

This what disappointed me most in some of the EP zones. I remember finding the Argonian village in Stonefalls and was hoping that it might touch on how the history between Argonians and Dunmer, and how relations between the two were in Stonefalls. Nope, it was just yet another Covenant raid and people were unaccounted for after after running away, and I had to go find them. Yay.

Now, EP zones did have some nice cohesion in the transitions between zones, I'll give them that. But I think there was a huge missed opportunity with exploring how they pact is dealing with the historically strained relations between the three races. IMO, they could have dedicated more sidequests to exploring relations instead of the "invasions".

Spaceroamer wrote: »

If I had to give a canonical faction for the Vestige, it would be Covenant.

You have so many recurring characters that effected the story.

This is what I love about the DC questline. Coldharbour feels like it belongs with the DC zones. You've had these characters that you've gotten to know throughout your story and have fought beside join you in the final showdown against Molag Bal. The stakes feel higher because you've gotten to know these characters. After completing the questline on my DC main, I couldn't imagine completing it through another Alliance.

Seraphayel · January 2020

Daggerfall Covenant

Well...

Daggerfall Covenant has Alik‘r Desert and that’s the best zone in the game. There’s that. And I always loved Glenumbra.

I think Glenumbra ties well into Stormhaven and then later into Rivenspire.

Ebonheart is a close second because of how different the zones are.

Aldmeri... just no. Three zones in Valenwood, all looking the same. No, thank you. As if Grahtwood wasn’t enough you get Malabal Tor and Greenshade on top of it. Reaper‘s March is great though and Auridon isn’t too bad unless you hate generic Elven content.

max_only · January 2020

I much prefer the storyline of fighting supremacists, colonists, and slavers of AD and EP than “help me I have bad dream

“ from DC. Rivenspire needs less hype, it wasn’t as good as people claimed and it lead to a huge disappointment. Darien and Count Verandis aren’t my type either.

FrancisCrawford · January 2020

Daggerfall Covenant

max_only wrote: »

I much prefer the storyline of fighting supremacists, colonists, and slavers of AD and EP than “help me I have bad dream “ from DC. Rivenspire needs less hype, it wasn’t as good as people claimed and it lead to a huge disappointment. Darien and Count Verandis aren’t my type either.

DC by a wide margin.

DC for characterization, by a wide margin.
DC for side quest storytelling, by a wide margin.
Each zone has its imaginative set pieces, like the naval battle in the AD or the final fight of the DC chain.
Each zone has its moments in main quest storytelling, like the whole of Rivenspire in the DC (yes, I'm one of the Rivenspire hypers, perhaps even the chief one), or the Alcaire Castle story in the DC, or the Silvenar/Green Lady stories in the AD, or the conclusion of the Reaper's March story in the AD, or the Deshaan story in the EP.

Yes, the dream sequences in Stormhaven are annoying, especially given that there will be more dream sequences in Rivenspire. But the alternate realities through several zones worth of Valenwood are well worse.

For DC characterization, I'd cite (partial list):

Various folks in the main-quest stories I noted above
Darien
Emeric
The whole Spearhead crew, especially Jakarn
Gabriele
Adusa and Gwendis
Minor characters such as many non-Darien officers and nobles in Glenumbra
The priest quest-giver in the Alik'r Desert
The quest-giver in Obsidian Scar

For DC side quests I'd cite above all the general approach of having mysteries to solve, rather than just having to kill invading pirates or orcs or daedra. Also, I liked (very partial list):

The Jakarn quests on Stros M'Kai
Everything in the city of Daggerfall
That complicated mess with the fiancee' at the farm in Rivenspire
Several of the vampire messes in Rivenspire (which actually are exceptions to the mystery-solving design in the DC)
The hilarious recruiting quest series in the town east of Shornhelm (Edit: Hoarfrost Downs)
Crypt of Hearts

The AD can probably match that list, but has way too many "clear this town of daedra" quests for my liking. EP quests literally go down to the "kill ten bats" (not rats) and "recover 12 wine barrels" level.

snoozy · January 2020

Aldmeri Dominion

AD wins for me bc of Raz

DC is cool, love the themes
EP was the weakest for me

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Best alliance for story and zones? in 2020

Best alliance for story and zones? in 2020 212 votes