(Updated) Favorite DLC year in terms of main quest storytelling?

Tariq9898 · January 17

It’s nice to see this thread get revived!! Let’s keep it going!! 😃

@ZOS_Kevin

BardokRedSnow · January 17

2019 - Northern and Southern Elsweyr

LunaFlora wrote: »

did everyone who voted in this poll:
1. play through all these stories?
2. consider all of them before voting?
3. not simply vote for their first dlc zone?
4. not vote primarily because of nostalgia for previous games?

Yep, my first dlc was wrothgar but I couldn't vote for it because Elsweyr made me like the khajiit more when I previously loathed khajiit in the series, was badass and a spectacle like Morrowind, and had good writing like Wrothgar. Morrowind had good writing also but it was mostly in the side quests, the main quest itself, while good, was pretty simple. Not a lot of emotional investment aside from my nostalgia.

Solstice to me was bogged down by that damn wall and the event. Most of what I enjoyed about it was in the second half, although the choices in dialogue actually affecting the quest was great. One of my side quests was bugged though where I could side with the aldmeris eye of the queen or the queen's brother. Her brother showed up at the end regardless of me killing him.

If I ignore bugs tho and look at it objectively, the main quest is a rehash of the game's main quest with recycled characters because its an anniversary. They did well with it, better than expected but imo it doesn't have anything on Elsweyr, the dragons characterization and voice acting, the lore introduced or making me like Abnur Tharn.... Even making him my favorite of our group of five companions, after myself of course lol.

Even making me mourn for him. That was quite a feat.

That's why I personally voted the way I did.

Whizzinglane · January 18

2017 - Morrowind and Clockwork City
2018 - Summerset and Artaeum
2019 - Northern and Southern Elsweyr
2020 - Western Skyrim and The Reach
2021 - Blackwood, The Deadlands and Fargrave
2022 - High Isle and Galen.

I will start with year 2021: Oblivion the game becomes alive in The Deadlands most deliciously for me. I like Blackwood thematically, not the desolate aspect of it, however. I love the castles and knightly offering. Fargrave is truly cool.

Years: 2017-2019 are tied for me, for each DLC offered during those years, provided (and still does) pure enjoyment for me. Frank Herbert’s Dune is referenced in Elsweyr. I love Arrakis and it is alive and well in Elsweyr for me.

Summerset is idyllic--a breath of fresh air! I love the quests and the beauty of it.

2022 High Isle and Galen:
The Knight meets the Druid!

I truly enjoy both, particularly, the idea of a tourney, jousting on horseback, a knight's life and the Knight-Errant title; the druidic life, the focus on nature and spiritual/magical presence thereof, ah this two parts DLC: High Isle and Galen are endearingly esteemed and cherished by me.

As ESO moves onward to the next decade, I sincerely hope these DLCs serve as inspirations for the writing team.

spartaxoxo · January 18

2018 - Summerset and Artaeum

LunaFlora wrote: »

did everyone who voted in this poll:
1. play through all these stories?
2. consider all of them before voting?
3. not simply vote for their first dlc zone?
4. not vote primarily because of nostalgia for previous games?

My current ranks for the dlc main storylines are

1. Daedric Triad (Morrowind, CWC, Summerset)
2. Elsweyr
3. Wrothgar
4. Greymoor
5. Thieves Guild
6. Murkmire
7. Solstice
8. Dark Brotherhood
9. Secrets of Apocrypha (Necrom and West Weald)
10. High Isle
10. Blackwood

tomofhyrule · January 18

2015 - Wrothgar

LunaFlora wrote: »

did everyone who voted in this poll:
1. play through all these stories?
2. consider all of them before voting?
3. not simply vote for their first dlc zone?
4. not vote primarily because of nostalgia for previous games?

Yes, yes, yes, and yes.

I'm sorry, but Wrothgar absolutely blows everything else out of the water considering the writing. That was the only story that kept me excited the whole time.

Morrowind-Summerset was very good as well. After that was when the writing seemed to get lazier and lazier. I wanted to like Elsweyr so bad, but the only character who didn't frustrate me by existing was Tharn. Greymoor did suffer a bit because I'm personally not into vampires, but the Reach was glorious and inspired me to make a Reachman character and I bought the Stone Eagle Aerie on the strength of the Reach as a zone alone. Blackwood suffered because Eveli was insufferable the entire time, but at least she took a baskseat in the Deadlands where Lyranth was much less irritating. High Isle was an abomination where there was only one brain cell in the entire plotline, and none of the main characters had it, but again the Q4 zone saved the day with the best voice acting in the entire game. And a lot of the 2023-2024 arc survived on the strength of Sharp-as-Night and, later, Zerith-var's Companion questlines.

I don't think the reason people prefer the earlier stories is generally what you suggest. After all, we could also ask if you've played any of the older stories recently and aren't just blinded by the return of fanservicey characters and the age of the other storylines.

ArchangelIsraphel · January 18

2020 - Western Skyrim and The Reach

I like how the visual of this poll shows the exact point at witch the storytelling took a nosedive.

I only voted Skyrim because of Fennorian, by the way. By far one of my favorite NPC's, loved the whole quest line because of Robbie's VA performance (was already a fan of him in Final Fantasy XV and Palia) it is genuinely my favorite.

However, everything that came before Skyrim was also absolutely outstanding. I really miss that kind of quality storytelling. Going back to the older expansions, and even base game, the difference is stark. So much more depth, and VA I never get tired of listening to, with prose that's written with elegance.

Cerbolt · January 18

2019 - Northern and Southern Elsweyr

My favourite is Elsweyr, because who doesn't like Khajiit, dragons, necromancers and Cadwell.

I liked all the expansions up until greymoor, everything after that just isn't as good. I also started playing in 2016 some time so my first expansion was Morrowind.