Requirement to own Seasons of the worm cult to buy a style fragment from vendor?!

GibbsieUK · July 13

Just noticed that when in Imperial City Sewers, to buy the Fragment of the Vampire from the merchant, you need to own the Season of the Worm Cult to purchase this. WHY? If it was for a new style fragment that normally has to be collected from Solstice I could understand this, but this lead drops from Kyne's Aegis trial in Western Skyrim. An area I have access to. I am generally a solo player, (so no real chance of trials), so this should be my chance to have got this lead. But it seems if you haven't upgraded you are out of luck.

As an aside, how about the screen reminding you to "Enter code" or "upgrade" to the SotWC, that I have to skip past each time I play, be removed? Its already mentioned on the character select screen, the wayshrine on Solstice is greyed out and mentions upgrading if you hover over it, as well as it being on the first log in screen (along with crowns that appear to have on sale for a while now. I wonder why that is!). I know I can upgrade, but for the 1st time since I purchased ESO, I don't want to upgrade, and I am seriously considering stopping my eso+ subscription. So please stop reminding me to do so (and now trying to force for items you shouldn't need it for).

SeaGtGruff · July 13

The only thing I can think of is that it's just one of five fragments needed for that skill style. I wonder where do the other four fragments come from? The UESP wiki doesn't say. Is it possible that one of the fragments comes from Solstice? If so, could that be why you need access to SotWC? In other words, could it be to "protect" players from spending a lit of TV on something they won't actually be able to use because they can't actually complete the achievement and get the skill style without having access to Solstice?

JeroenB · July 13

As for the second part of your question, that sounds like a bug at your end, with the setting that you've dismissed the screen not being stored locally -- at least I don't get that each launch on PC.

GibbsieUK · July 13

SeaGtGruff wrote: »

The only thing I can think of is that it's just one of five fragments needed for that skill style. I wonder where do the other four fragments come from? The UESP wiki doesn't say. Is it possible that one of the fragments comes from Solstice? If so, could that be why you need access to SotWC? In other words, could it be to "protect" players from spending a lit of TV on something they won't actually be able to use because they can't actually complete the achievement and get the skill style without having access to Solstice?

Hi, No, none of the others are from solstice according to eso-hub.com. 1st one is from Molavar delve in Craglorn. 2nd one from Ratmasters Prowl in Eastmarch. 3rd is from final boss of the Stone Gardens (Greymmor Cavern). the 4th one is from moongrave Fane (N Elsweyr).

JeroenB wrote: »

As for the second part of your question, that sounds like a bug at your end, with the setting that you've dismissed the screen not being stored locally -- at least I don't get that each launch on PC.

Hi, No setting as far as I can tell (xbox EU by the way). First launch game, then (eventually) title screen (A to start). Who are you (GibbsieUK - signed in) Game startup screen (currently ensure fully patched message) A to Play. Then I get the seasons of the worm cult screen. with an enter code button and upgrade button. A to select either one or B to skip. (B to skip, then A to confirm) Then finally onto character select screen. (If I leave the console long enough it goes back far enough that I get the screen again when I go to play again. If I change my mind and decide to upgrade, I know I can and where I can. No need for this screen to remind me each time I log in.

LootAllTheStuff · July 13

Getting the same annoying nag screen on XB-NA. Before release of Season of the Worm it was something else. I think it might well be tied to the same bug that sees all your user settings reset to default every time you load in a character, but there's never been a UI setting for it. It just got broken by something else in the last patch for 46 and hasn't been fixed yet.

At least, I hope it's related to the settings bug and not a deliberate action. It is super annoying.

SeaGtGruff · July 13

I notice that the UESP wiki page for the achievement was created last month (June 2025), suggesting that the achievement was added to the game by the SotWC update. That might be why the fragment can't be purchased unless you have SotWC, even though the fragments themselves are not found in Solstice.

GibbsieUK · July 13

SeaGtGruff wrote: »

I notice that the UESP wiki page for the achievement was created last month (June 2025), suggesting that the achievement was added to the game by the SotWC update. That might be why the fragment can't be purchased unless you have SotWC, even though the fragments themselves are not found in Solstice.

What, so even though the style has no fragments on Solstice, but because it was added to the game on the SotWC update you have to own the overpriced piece of fluff chapter/content pass or whatever you want to call it. Nice ZOS. Nice. As I said, if they had put that one fragment in Solstice, or even all that you needed in that zone I would be fine with it as it would make sense. Wonder what else they'll include on future updates for the Solstice chapter where you need to own it to get even if its nothing to do with that zone? Free daily reward of a pet? (sorry - need to own SotWC). A new home in Greymoor Caverns (sorry, need to own SotWC) A new "Milk that cash cow" emote? (sorry, you need to own SotWC)

Oh well.

LootAllTheStuff wrote: »

At least, I hope it's related to the settings bug and not a deliberate action. It is super annoying.

I think it's deliberate. After all it is mentioned in enough other places about upgrading. There really is no need for that particular screen to exist. I think a lot of people are waiting to get it (not just me) a lot of people have discussed not paying for eso+ as well. Just look how long the crowns have been on offer. I thought that would end with the Zenithar event. I've stopped getting these for a while now, and I doubt I'm alone in that choice. They really want people to buy buy buy.

Maitsukas · July 13

GibbsieUK wrote: »

Just noticed that when in Imperial City Sewers, to buy the Fragment of the Vampire from the merchant, you need to own the Season of the Worm Cult to purchase this. WHY? If it was for a new style fragment that normally has to be collected from Solstice I could understand this, but this lead drops from Kyne's Aegis trial in Western Skyrim. An area I have access to. I am generally a solo player, (so no real chance of trials), so this should be my chance to have got this lead. But it seems if you haven't upgraded you are out of luck.

The Skill Style Fragments have a 100% chance of dropping from their sources (this includes Trial, Dungeon, Delve and World Bosses), so if you try to create a Group Finder listing for nKA, you could get it with randoms.