Escapist News Now: Elder Scrolls Online Subscription Model

[thewatergamer]

Funny how the lead designer went on and on about how microtransactions will ruin the game and how a subscription model is best then turn around later and put them in anyway

 

[Sight Unseen]

Considering how many years I played WoW and let them siphon $15 a month from me, I am not the least bit deterred by the idea that Elder Scrolls Online would have a subscription fee. My fondest wish is that they would provide a free trial so I can at least try it out a little before deciding to subscribe or purchase the base game. I know what I like, and I've been burned by far too many games recently to keep throwing money at my computer screen hoping for the best.

I have fallen in love with Skyrim, though, so if the game is "kinda like that, only multiplayer," I would be down for a subscription. I am one of those people who always wished to have a friend tagging along on my Elder Scrolls adventures, and I am really hoping that Elder Scrolls Online can help me with that feeling.

From what I've heard the game will include a free month subscription if you buy the base game. Haven't heard if there will be free trials other than that, though.

And also, the game so far very much looks "like Skyrim, only with other people." A lot of the classic TES gameplay has made a return, including sneaking, first person or third person camera, real time combat (you have to time and aim your attacks and blocks and dodges properly), and the classic Radar bar that highlights landmarks in the direction you're facing. The UI is very much like skyrim and the hotbar is not visible. They want you to take cues from the environment not from the UI. Characters have a high degree of plasticity, meaning they can adapt to different play styles if they want to even though they do choose a certain class at the start. A mage can still fight in full platemail with a warhammer if they want to and still theoretically be viable.

All in all, it looks to me very much like an elder scrolls game first and an MMO second.

Well that's good. I'm still a stickler for trial periods, though. Even if it was only a weekend trial.

Will they allow controller use? I have Skyrim on my PC but I use my Xbox 360 Wireless controller for it. Makes things so much nicer.

Considering that the game will be launching on Xbox One and PS4, I'd be pretty shocked if you couldn't use controllers on PC too, but I haven't heard anything official.

 

[LadyMint]

Considering that the game will be launching on Xbox One and PS4, I'd be pretty shocked if you couldn't use controllers on PC too, but I haven't heard anything official.

All good points. I have a new concern, however. I read in their "Ask Me Anything" articles that players from different alliances can't group together. I have friends who want to play non-Dunmer elves while I want to be an Argonian. It concerns me that we wouldn't be able to level together because of our individual character preferences. Of course there's always alts, but that "first out the gate" character is something I like to stick with for a long time.

 

[Sight Unseen]

Considering that the game will be launching on Xbox One and PS4, I'd be pretty shocked if you couldn't use controllers on PC too, but I haven't heard anything official.

All good points. I have a new concern, however. I read in their "Ask Me Anything" articles that players from different alliances can't group together. I have friends who want to play non-Dunmer elves while I want to be an Argonian. It concerns me that we wouldn't be able to level together because of our individual character preferences. Of course there's always alts, but that "first out the gate" character is something I like to stick with for a long time.

Have they ever confirmed that the race you choose HAS to be associated with the alliance for its race? Maybe they'll let you play as a dark elf who doesn't want to be in the Ebonheart Pact and instead decides to wander over to Elsweyr or something. I'm not sure.

Even if you are locked by your faction, isn't this what WoW does anyway? It's not like it's a new restriction.

 

[LadyMint]

Have they ever confirmed that the race you choose HAS to be associated with the alliance for its race? Maybe they'll let you play as a dark elf who doesn't want to be in the Ebonheart Pact and instead decides to wander over to Elsweyr or something. I'm not sure.

Even if you are locked by your faction, isn't this what WoW does anyway? It's not like it's a new restriction.

I'm pretty sure it's set in stone. If you go to their website, those factions are the divided lines of their PvP, and the faction descriptions list the specific races you choose to become a part of them. Would be nice if they'd let you choose, though. Or defect. My Elder Scrolls characters have always been largely uncaring about whatever the latest war/skirmish/angry fight for land is.

WoW isn't a good comparison for that, IMHO. Traditionally, the Warcraft games had their two very distinct factions. It was only natural that this would translate into their MMO. In the Elder Scrolls games, no matter what race you chose, you were still free to choose quite a few of your alliances. Frankly, it surprises me that they would go this route on the MMO. But I'm not about to flip tables and declare the game unplayable. I'm just disappointed that this might get in the way of myself and my friends playing the races we love and being able to group together as those varied races.

 

[00slash00]

This was surprising to me only because I know that when people were invited for a sneak preview a year or so ago, Jesse Cox said they asked everyone what people would be willing to pay per month, and everyone said zero. That most people aren't willing to pay monthly fees anymore. I really don't know what this game is doing that is so extremely different from other fantasy mmos but I don't care enough about Elder Scrolls to pay a fee. Honestly, I don't even care if it goes free to play. I am so excited for Ever Quest Net by this point, that other mmos are really just serving to hold me over until that game is released