Current Events > Elder Scrolls Online doing a free ESO+ trial right now

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/post/62997

You can access a bunch of paid expansion content free, although the usual benefit is having all the inventory clutter (potion ingredients, crafting material, etc.) put in an infinite-use "craft bag". So, if you already have characters, log into all those and their rocks/pebbles/plants/etc. will be stored safely for future use.

The trial overlaps with the Explorer "event" which gives double XP, harvesting node rewards, etc. If you buy the High Isle expansion (the newest one, which isn't included in the trial), you can also claim the upcoming Firesong DLC free. Dunno if it's any good -- Deadlands was pretty mediocre last year, if you ask me -- but whatever.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/0/8/9/AABhrNAADTNB.jpg

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/3/8/2/AABhrNAADxjG.jpg

(Lead Moderator)
Gasps, eyes widen, leaps back in repulsion

If someone was curious about ESO and wanted to get the most bang for their buck, buying the High Isle edition of the game is technically the best route -- it gives all the main chapters up to that point, plus the necromancer/warden classes. Maybe a few other things I forgot. Still, there's a smattering of DLC stuff that you have to buy with premium currency, so it's not a very fulfilling experience. I traded in-game gold for most of it, haha.

Anyway, ZOS has a ton of crappy business practices, so buying this stuff on sale is always recommended (assuming you want to buy anything anyway).

ESO is a legitimately good MMO

I might try this

The writing in ESO doesn't really do it for me, and the MTX shoved in every orifice are annoying, but there's still some fun to be had trying different builds, exploring areas you haven't been to before (I love hanging out in Wrothgar), finding valuable loot, etc. There's even some PvP stuff, if you're into that stuff.

One of the major faults is the base game, and much of the other areas too for that matter, are piss easy. As long as you can have a decent healing move, you're probably good enough to solo most of the regular content, outside of world bosses (enemies with millions of health usually) and other group content.

I can't believe the drop in quality from ESO Morrowind. The expansions are still alright but they just are not there compared to Morrowind. I saw people talk about being disappointed by the Black Marsh one, and I thought how? Mehrunes Dagon and Argonians? That sounds great! Then I played it and there's so little going on. I barely remember a single thing about that expansion.

Morrowind > Elsewyr > Summerset > Greymoor > Blackwood

I don't want to like Greymoor more than Blackwood, but it does do a decent job of providing lore and stuff about Skyrim we hadn't really seen a whole lot of before. Blackwood just does nothing. Could have been set anywhere.

Yeah, Morrowind is pretty good -- it has a robust feel to it, perhaps thanks to ES3 being a decent blueprint to go off. It's a labor of love in most ways. A lot of the newer content falls short of its standard, though, and from what I hear, both High Isle and its DLC will probably be counted among 'em. Blackwood, while not great to me, is something I grew to enjoy, perhaps due to the year-of event I grinded out last year (first one I'd done since I started playing).

FurryPhilosifer posted...

I don't want to like Greymoor more than Blackwood, but it does do a decent job of providing lore and stuff about Skyrim we hadn't really seen a whole lot of before.

Greymoor was okay, I guess -- pedestrian story and a bit of nostalgia, but nothing mindblowingly good. However, the Markarth (The Reach) DLC was quite enjoyable and probably bested the main chapter by quite a bit. Maybe it's because the storyline witch chick had such a cute accent, haha. Maybe it's because it had characters from Rivenspire in it -- that's my fave base game area and one of the few storylines that isn't complete dreck.

Oh yeah, here's a topic that tells how to best wring free stuff out of the trial:

https://old.reddit.com/r/elderscrollsonline/comments/y3vjhl/reminder_eso_free_trial_instant_freebies_october/

There's a lot of stuff you can get just by visiting dungeons, going to DLC areas, etc. Most of it's ugly or useless (noncombat pets lol), but free is free.

I'm a huge TES fan and ESO is straight up garbage save for the Vvardenfell DLC.

It's an MMO that doesn't feel like it's actually online. There's no sense of community and almost every landscape looks like the same taupe/beige mess.

is there any nice horse armor

ESO does have some sense of community, but update #35 shattered it with damage nerfs. From what I hear, a lot of long-time raiding groups splintered or disbanded entirely, and since they're the ones who'd recruit and teach others, there's a gap now that isn't easily replaced. As for every landscape looking the same, I can't agree with that -- plenty of places have unique looks, from Vvardenfell to Summerset, Elsweyr to Blackwood, etc. Sure, some of those locations may not be everyone's cup of skooma -- Blackwood marshes get tiresome after awhile -- but they're there.

As for horse armor, it now comes free* when you upgrade your horse's stamina, speed, etc. At maximum, your steed (not limited to just horses, mind you) has cool armor, new reins, saddles, etc. The downside is, other than a few generic horses, everything else is sold to you through the MTX shop. The prices are pretty crappy, too -- they charged 5000 crowns for a generic two-seater horse recently. Hooray.

Event ends on the 20th!