I don't understand how the new scribing system works.

Dax_Draconis · June 6

I did the quest to unlock the scribing system but didn't really learn much about it from doing that. Is there a simple and quick guide to help me understand this new system? I looked at the alcast guide and my eyes glazed over from too much information. That and I just want to play the game.

Is there a very quick and simple guide somewhere to help me understand this? It seems complex.

EdjeSwift · June 6

The quick and dirty:

Get ink to scribe.
Get Grimoires(buy them)
Get Scripts to Scribe to skills from Grimoire(From dailies/script chase/purchase)
Go to Scribing Altar and scribe skills.

That's it. Each set of scripts is set up to a certain facet of each scribed skill, you can play with it at the altar without using ink.

EdjeSwift · June 6

By clicking the Usable checkbox in the top right at the Scribing Altar you can see which scripts can go to which skill since not all scripts are compatible with all skills.

As you can see here from Shield Throw and the Focus, it has a choice of 7 scripts:

While Smash has 8 scripts available for focus:

Dax_Draconis · June 6

So, from reading other posts in the forum, I need to farm for the ink, correct?

Where do I buy Grimoires and scripts?

What is a script chase and how do I initiate that quest?

EdjeSwift · June 6

Grimoires are bought from the vendor in the Scholarium, one time per character, cheaper on alts.

Scripts can be purchased or farmed, purchased from a rotating inventory at the Scholarium vendor or IA vendor or farmed via dailies as detailed in the upgrades section for various luminaries.

Script Chase is what they call running around the various mages guilds in the base game for free scripts and the 50 scrap collection for the signature class skill. Not a quest, just a collection.

Dax_Draconis · June 6

So it is like enchanting? Needing different runes to create a glyph?

EdjeSwift · June 6

Kind of.

Each script gives a different benefit, but only requires to be unlocked once per character. So think of it like getting Oko unlocked but not needing the rune.

Dax_Draconis · June 6

I think I get it. Thank you for taking the time to help.

Erickson9610 · June 6

Scribing is basically just a bunch of new skills which can have their effects swapped out. Take one of the new skills (also known as Grimoires), swap out different effects using Scripts (one to determine what the base action of the skill does, one to determine the secondary effect, and one to apply some buff or debuff on the affected target), and then slot that skill on your skills bar like any other skill.

The scribed skill will be found in the skill line for which it is associated (For instance: Vault, which is a Bow Grimoire, is found in the Bow skill line once scribed, and requires an equipped bow to use, just like the rest of the Bow skills).

Dax_Draconis · June 6

So, the Grimoires are the skills and the scripts are the morphs?

Erickson9610 · June 6

Dax_Draconis wrote: »

So, the Grimoires are the skills and the scripts are the morphs?

In a way, yes. Scripts determine what the Grimoires do.

EdjeSwift · June 6

Dax_Draconis wrote: »

So, the Grimoires are the skills and the scripts are the morphs?

Kind of, except much more detailed, like you can make your skill heal instead of do damage. Taunt or immobilize, the possibilities are vast.

Dax_Draconis · June 6

Can you have different versions of the same Grimoires, or do you have to change the one with new scripts?

Necrotech_Master · June 6

Dax_Draconis wrote: »

Can you have different versions of the same Grimoires, or do you have to change the one with new scripts?

you have 1 copy of each skill at a time, you would have to use more ink to modify the skill to change the scripts applied to it

i dont know how this would work for saved builds in the armory though

Dax_Draconis · June 6

I was about to ask about the armory and how these work with it. So, I am guessing I can't have 2 different bow Grimoires for 2 different builds? They would have to be the same one?

EdjeSwift · June 6

When you change a script it reflects the change in the skill in your skillbook. There is an archive where you may be able to load older scripts but I haven't played with it enough.

Look at it like Jabs, you have either Base jabs or Magicka/Stam jabs, can't have both.

Necrotech_Master · June 6

im assuming the armory would save your current version of the skill with what scripts it had, im assuming this would allow you to freely change between different versions of a single scribed skill (for free) based on how the armory system already works

normally changing scripts on a skill costs ink

Dax_Draconis · June 6

Ok I think I understand the basics. You all have been very helpful. Thank you!

Erickson9610 · June 6

Dax_Draconis wrote: »

I was about to ask about the armory and how these work with it. So, I am guessing I can't have 2 different bow Grimoires for 2 different builds? They would have to be the same one?

Note that you can only have 1 copy of the same Grimoire on your bar, but you can have multiple Grimoires which belong to the same skill line. For instance, there are two Soul Magic Grimoires, which are two separate skills — and you can slot both skills if you'd like.

In the future, we may get even more Grimoires. So, we may get a second Bow Grimoire that is different from Vault, and it would be possible to slot both Bow Grimoires on the same build.

Legioner995 · June 9

Is it possible to delete a scribe that you did?
I did scribe a spell "Magical Explosion" and it is ridiculously long to cast, it takes 2 seconds to cast it! you can be dead in 2 seconds. I am not sure I like this scribing things. It limit you, you always have to fill in 4 items for the spell, well what if I just want 1 item in there. They are all predetermine spells, you just choosing which one you want to have, you are not inventing any thing here. It is just interesting at the beginning, after a while you would stop using them and get back to the old ones!

TaSheen · June 9

Legioner995 wrote: »

Is it possible to delete a scribe that you did?
I did scribe a spell "Magical Explosion" and it is ridiculously long to cast, it takes 2 seconds to cast it! you can be dead in 2 seconds. I am not sure I like this scribing things. It limit you, you always have to fill in 4 items for the spell, well what if I just want 1 item in there. They are all predetermine spells, you just choosing which one you want to have, you are not inventing any thing here. It is just interesting at the beginning, after a while you would stop using them and get back to the old ones!

I haven't seen anything about getting rid of something you don't want.

Erickson9610 · June 9

Legioner995 wrote: »

Is it possible to delete a scribe that you did?
I did scribe a spell "Magical Explosion" and it is ridiculously long to cast, it takes 2 seconds to cast it! you can be dead in 2 seconds. I am not sure I like this scribing things. It limit you, you always have to fill in 4 items for the spell, well what if I just want 1 item in there. They are all predetermine spells, you just choosing which one you want to have, you are not inventing any thing here. It is just interesting at the beginning, after a while you would stop using them and get back to the old ones!

You cannot delete Scribing spells from your Skills Menu — i.e., there's no way to "deconstruct" those skills for Luminous Ink — but you can change their effects by swapping out the Scripts used. It costs 1 Luminous Ink to swap a single Script, meaning to "start over" with a Grimoire, it would take anywhere from 0 to 3 Luminous Ink, corresponding to how many Scripts are swapped out in your next iteration of the Grimoire.

It is impossible to scribe a Grimoire without all three Scripts, so "starting over" with a Grimoire just means selecting a different combination of the three Script types for that Grimoire.

AzuraFan · June 9

Great information in this thread and it made me realize I had scribing all wrong. I thought scripts/scribes/whatever they're called were used to modify existing skills. Now I understand it a lot better. I haven't progressed very far through the scribing questline (just the first quest and the freebie scribe). I did find the scribed skill in the skills section but I still wasn't sure if I was missing something. I guess it's just a way to get skills that you can customize.

Legioner995 · June 9

Erickson9610 wrote: »

Legioner995 wrote: »

Is it possible to delete a scribe that you did?
I did scribe a spell "Magical Explosion" and it is ridiculously long to cast, it takes 2 seconds to cast it! you can be dead in 2 seconds. I am not sure I like this scribing things. It limit you, you always have to fill in 4 items for the spell, well what if I just want 1 item in there. They are all predetermine spells, you just choosing which one you want to have, you are not inventing any thing here. It is just interesting at the beginning, after a while you would stop using them and get back to the old ones!

You cannot delete Scribing spells from your Skills Menu — i.e., there's no way to "deconstruct" those skills for Luminous Ink — but you can change their effects by swapping out the Scripts used. It costs 1 Luminous Ink to swap a single Script, meaning to "start over" with a Grimoire, it would take anywhere from 0 to 3 Luminous Ink, corresponding to how many Scripts are swapped out in your next iteration of the Grimoire.

It is impossible to scribe a Grimoire without all three Scripts, so "starting over" with a Grimoire just means selecting a different combination of the three Script types for that Grimoire.

Thank you!

Warhawke_80 · June 9

I wasn't really into scribing but if you want some busy work there are worst things in ESO to do...and you get cool effects

Vonnegut2506 · June 9

Scribing hasn't really altered my gameplay significantly, but it has allowed me to make some skills which are fun. I really like shield throw as a single target pull. I am glad I was able to get rid of camo hunter and instead now have my mount run over people to give me the savagery buff. I understand ink is tough to come by and getting all of the parts for the recipes takes waaaayyyy too long, but good job allowing me to make some fun stuff with it.