Source: Psychic datamine. Supernatural perception. Clairvoyance.
2021 Q1 – Kagrenac’s Contingencies
Dungeon DLC. Prologue quest sends us to a lost workshop of the Great Crafter Kagrenac, where you learn that he anticipated the possibility that his actions at Red Mountain might have consequences, so he created a backup plan, a set of tonal attunement MacGuffins designed to locate and restore any objects or people phased out of Nirn. Turns out, he poofed away more than just the Dwemer! Half of the friggin magicka weapons in Tamriel, and the knowledge to make them, disappeared, too. So we get to hunt these MacGuffins (“scattered throughout Oblivion and other hidden places”) that can reattune the banished objects and people to the frequency of Nirn.
As a result of your actions in the first two DLC dungeons (Apocrypha and Battlespire), Alteration Staves reappear all throughout Nirn. These are tanking staffs designed to be equipped with a shield. But there are more MacGuffins out there that you must find to recover other lost ancient technology, and possibly save the Dwemer!
Weird gimmick of the year: the game won’t drop the new weapons (or let you craft them) until you complete the necessary content to restore them to Nirn (normal mode counts). So you’ve got to do the dungeons or the quest or whatever before you unlock the goodies.
2021 Q2 – Shivering Isles
ESO's first PvP-focused Chapter. We’re going back to Mania and Dementia, two different PvP Battle Royale zones with wonky mad rulesets designed to drive us crazy. The MacGuffin restores the lost ancient Focus, an off-hand Jewelry item used by melee mag DPS Spellswords. Equipping a Focus displays a class-specific glowy animation in your off-hand. Some of the spells are altered slightly by your class, similar to the elemental differences between Destruction staff skills. Bound Sword is the spammable.
2021 Q3 – Shadows of the Jungle
Stealth-oriented dungeon DLC. First dungeon is Falenesti, centered around the Bosmer. Bosmer finally get their stealth bonus back. Second dungeon is Moonshadow, the realm of Azura. Chimer theme. We go to a part of Moonshadow populated by Chimer spirits who ascended to immortality in Azura’s Realm before the curse befell their living descendants.
The MacGuffins restore the Illusion Staff, a weapon loaded with utility, stealth, and CC. Illusion Staff has a Chameleon spell for non-NB stealth, and Calm and Frenzy CC. Designed to function primarily as a healer backbar, QOL tool for TG/DB questing, and PvP buff bar option.
2021 Q4 – Soul Cairn
Zone DLC. At the conclusion of the main quest line, the Ideal Masters reward you with the MacGuffin that restores the lost Conjuration Staff weapon with DPS pet options for all classes and a Banish spell (absurdly OP execute, but executes Daedra and summons only).
But, alas, sad day, they'll never give up the MacGuffin that could restore the dematerialized Dwemer to Nirn. Even though they don't technically have the Dwemer souls, the Ideal Masters are satisfied enough that they will forever control their fate by keeping the MacGuffin for themselves. Get over it, nerds.
How does the future look to you?
Edited by Gnortranermara on January 18, 2020 3:54PM