Should I install for Nostalgia's sake?

DeusFurore · January 9

So, back in 2014, in the before times of the long, long-ago, I beta tested ESO. I played for a bit when it went live. I think I still have a few characters, if my memory serves, I had a few lvl 50s, and I seem to remember I rolled a Khajit on Elsewheyr just before I quit playing.

The thing is, I can't remember why I stopped playing the game. I guess that's how life is, you move on from things, pick up new things, and drop others. I was messing around on YouTube and saw a video about ESO from a YouTuber named RenFail. It picked a part in my brain that was dormant, but as the days have turned into weeks, that part has woken up and caused me to log back into these forums and see if there's anything that will satisfy that itch I have for something Elder Scrolls related. One can only wait so long for ESVI...

So, understanding how MMOs, and the playerbases work, is there anything worth reinstalling just for nostalgia's sake? I know there's always room to be negative about the game you play, and positive about the game that you don't play - familiarity breeds contempt, after all. But, putting that aside, does the game run okay? Are there issues with linking Steam accounts and downloading it there? I won't be purchasing any currency, DLC, or time... for now. I will definitely want to swim a bit in the shallow end of the pool before venturing deeper - not even sure I remember how to swim, come to think of it.

Always appreciate the thoughtful comments down below. Cheers.

LunaFlora · January 9

the game runs good for me.
There should be no issue logging back into your old account. You can also use the launcher from ESO website store if you had issues with Steam.

if you quit playing in 2019, Elsweyr's release year, then there are several dlc zones you might enjoy for nostalgia for Elder Scrolls?
i know you say you will not be purchasing dlc now, but still feels like it could be good to know.

- Western Skyrim, Solitude, Morthal, and has blackreach underneath it!
Greymoor gets added to base game later this year so Western Skyrim will be free soonish.
- The Reach, Markarth more blackreach.
- Blackwood, has a Deadlands story similar to Oblivion.
- Deadlands.
- Apocrypha.
- West Weald.

in 2025 we got a free system,
Subclassing which allows you to use other class skill lines though limited to one each. So you could be a Sorcerer with Daedric Summoning, Ardent Flame from Dragonknight, and Green Balance from Warden.
We also got Mount Swimming!

in 2024 we got Scribing (became free in 2025), it is like spellcrafting from Elder Scrolls Oblivion. there are skills called Grimoires that you can customise with scripts.
Such as Burst Soul from the Soul Magic skill line that casts an Area of Effect from you, you could make it for example Heal, deal Frost or Bleed damage, or have it Pull an enemy towards you.

in 2023 we got the Arcanist class in the Necrom chapter, now also in the crown store.
it uses Apocrypha magic.
Some example of skills: it has a Tentacle punch, a Book that shoots out a magic green beam, an ultimate that makes a Watcher attack for you.

2023 also gave us the infinite Archive, in Apocrypha but free, an infinite arena with bosses from other content like story quests, dungeons, and trials.

Blackwood in 2021 introduced Companions, characters you can unlock via quests that follow you around and fight with you. More companions released with High isle, Necrom, and 2 in the crown store. The store companions are free with ESO Plus.

High isle in 2022 introduced a card game called Tales of Tribute.

Greymoor in 2020 introduced the Antiquities system which lets you dig up Treasure, furnishings, outfit styles, Mythic armor sets.
my favourite Mythic is the Oakensoul ring from High isle, it restricts you to one skill bar, but gives lots of useful buffs for combat.

i probably missed some things, every quarterly update adds lots. i hope you can enjoy the game, hope my comment can help somewhat.

Veinblood1965 · January 9

LunaFlora wrote: »

the game runs good for me.
There should be no issue logging back into your old account. You can also use the launcher from ESO website store if you had issues with Steam.

if you quit playing in 2019, Elsweyr's release year, then there are several dlc zones you might enjoy for nostalgia for Elder Scrolls?
i know you say you will not be purchasing dlc now, but still feels like it could be good to know.

- Western Skyrim, Solitude, Morthal, and has blackreach underneath it!
Greymoor gets added to base game later this year so Western Skyrim will be free soonish.
- The Reach, Markarth more blackreach.
- Blackwood, has a Deadlands story similar to Oblivion.
- Deadlands.
- Apocrypha.
- West Weald.

in 2025 we got a free system,
Subclassing which allows you to use other class skill lines though limited to one each. So you could be a Sorcerer with Daedric Summoning, Ardent Flame from Dragonknight, and Green Balance from Warden.
We also got Mount Swimming!

in 2024 we got Scribing (became free in 2025), it is like spellcrafting from Elder Scrolls Oblivion. there are skills called Grimoires that you can customise with scripts.
Such as Burst Soul from the Soul Magic skill line that casts an Area of Effect from you, you could make it for example Heal, deal Frost or Bleed damage, or have it Pull an enemy towards you.

in 2023 we got the Arcanist class in the Necrom chapter, now also in the crown store.
it uses Apocrypha magic.
Some example of skills: it has a Tentacle punch, a Book that shoots out a magic green beam, an ultimate that makes a Watcher attack for you.

2023 also gave us the infinite Archive, in Apocrypha but free, an infinite arena with bosses from other content like story quests, dungeons, and trials.

Blackwood in 2021 introduced Companions, characters you can unlock via quests that follow you around and fight with you. More companions released with High isle, Necrom, and 2 in the crown store. The store companions are free with ESO Plus.

High isle in 2022 introduced a card game called Tales of Tribute.

Greymoor in 2020 introduced the Antiquities system which lets you dig up Treasure, furnishings, outfit styles, Mythic armor sets.
my favourite Mythic is the Oakensoul ring from High isle, it restricts you to one skill bar, but gives lots of useful buffs for combat.

i probably missed some things, every quarterly update adds lots. i hope you can enjoy the game, hope my comment can help somewhat.

ESO Forum Mods should copy this and pin it at the top of the forums for those that say there is never anything new(including me sometimes). Nice summary.

Danikat · January 10

Thye game still runs as well as it ever did, and you don't need to buy anything new to play what you've already got so there's nothing to lose by giving it a go except a bit of time.

You almost certainly will need to take some time to re-learn how to play before you jump into anything major, both because it's been a long time since you stopped and because there's been a lot of updates that changed skills and things in that time, but you can do that whilst wandering around checking out the world.

freespirit · January 10

If you have an Elder Scroll's itch that needs scratching it is still the best place to do it.

I tried Skyrim again recently but decided ESO was much better.

My PC is ancient now(2017) but still plays the game with no major issues for me.

As you said you may still have to wait a while for TES6!!