Elder Scrolls Online vs Skyrim Comparison
Elder Scrolls Online is a large game that has tons of content packed into it. So much so that it might be overwhelming to new players. With that in mind, we have compiled a list of useful tips for people starting out so that you can have the best start possible be well on your way to saving Tamriel.
Don't Expect Skyrim
Let's get this out of the way early, ESO is not Skyrim, and by extension it is not like any other single player Elder Scrolls game. It has many similarities, and of course it takes place in the same universe, but you should not come into this expecting the same play styles you found in those games. The freedom you would find in those games is not here in ESO. You won't be running around killing NPCs on a whim or selecting from multiple dialogue choices very often. Exploration has also been toned back quite a bit. You can't freely roam the world either, and you won't suddenly find a Daedric weapon laying around, as that would break the balance of the game.
A major difference is the lack of social RPG element. As stated already, you won't be making personal choices. The story and game itself is much more linear to keep your world in a similar state as the people running around you. Those people are going to be your greatest assets, as some battles are extremely difficult on your own.
The mechanics and structure of the game focus on the fact that there are other people in the world with you. In other words, you aren't the only hero. Because of this, you can do more than before. Becoming a Thane in Skyrim did little to the way you played the game, but becoming the Emperor of Cyrodil? That's another matter entirely.
...But ESO Is Still Very Much Elder Scrolls
Elder Scrolls Online, as the name implies, is a vast, multiplayer game set in Tamriel. It still shares many similar elements found within the single player games, and fans of those will be able to jump in and quickly understand how to play ESO. Combat will feel familiar, but it now has an MMO twist, limiting the amount of skills you can have access to. Weapons and armor also have a familiar feel to them, and the crafting system is just as easy to use as those found in the single player series.
The biggest similarity is the heavy focus on story driven content. ESO features a very deep main story, interesting and lengthy Guild quests and countless side quests that can be completed at your leisure. Players who skip cutscenes and dialogue will be missing out on the best parts of ESO, as the story is a key part to this game and your overall adventures in Tamriel.
Dungeons Are for Groups
Unlike Skyrim, an ESO dungeon is an area that people must group up to complete. For most, the first instance of a dungeon will be at level 15. To enter a dungeon, you must first unlock it, usually done a brief quest. Once this is complete, you can invite friends, or use the Group function in game to find people looking for the same dungeon. Dungeons typically require 4 people, and take at least 15 minutes, if not more to complete. For doing them, you will receive gold and special, powerful items. Unlike a single player game,[1] Dungeons are designed to be run repeatedly, so you can farm items out of them as much as you want.
Combat Has and Hasn't Changed Much Since Skyrim
Fighting your enemies will feel very familiar to Elder Scrolls fans. Basic combat is still the same real-time combat you have come to expect from the series. You can wield whatever weapon you choose, even if it's not the best for your class, and there are still plenty of spells to sling at your foes, even if the systems have become a little more restrictive.
Players are also not locked into one singular role in combat, like many other MMOs. A tank for instance can carry a healing staff to help boost its ability to keep its allies alive. When grouping up, it feels like playing Skyrim with friends. The traditional combat roles of Tank, DPS, Healer are very loose here, and characters can shift between them, or occupy multiple roles at the same time, making combat much more enjoyable.
Simply standing there as the enemy pummels you will result in your death. During combat, enemies flash a red indicator placed on the ground. This will often be a circle, or a line pointing towards you. These are AoE (Area of Effect) attacks and you should roll out of them. If the enemy started charging up an attack and white lines appear around them, this is a move you should block. Doing so will stun your foe, and if you follow up with a Power Attack, they will be further stunned. Finally, if you see an attack charging with red lines, this is a channeled move, so you must bring up your block and then attack with it, stunning them, cancelling the move and allowing you to power attack to further stun them.
However, there are some noticable differences. Unlike Skyrim, having a hotbar of executable moves changes the way you play. Be it leaping across a field to an enemy or teleporting behind them for a powerful strike, ESO introduces many new mechanics that allow the player to excel how they want to, rather than being limited to similstic combat scenarios.
At Level 10, You Can Start Player vs. Player, or PvP
One of the big draws of ESO is the Player vs Player combat. To compete, you must be level 10 and you need to travel to Cyrodiil using the Alliance function in game. Once there, you can run in, swords in hand and try to fight for your chosen Alliance. Special quests can also be started in this zone, rewarding you with points specific to PvP. For more info about this and everything Player vs Player combat entails, check out its dedicated page, PvP.
Guild membership
Rank in Guilds and XP granted by completing Guild quests which require Guild membership. In order to efficiently progress in the Mage or Fighters Guild, it is wise to join ASAP.
Some skills, such as Persuade (Mage Guild) and Intimidate (Fighters Guild) are only useful in quests with levels greater than 10. Because of this, it is only useful to allocate Skill Points to these skills after level 10.
Character Creation
Although there is still a lot of freedom available to you in regards to how you play your character, there are two decisions you won't be able to change, your Race and your Class. For this reason, you should plan ahead a little and find out exactly what you want to play before jumping in. There are 4 classes in the game, and 10 races. You can mix and match however you choose, but also consider taking advantage of the racial traits of certain races to better boost the skills your class receives. For instance, the Dunmer make great Dragon Knights thanks to their bonuses to Dual Wielding and Fire. For more details on how to make the best possible character, check out our pages dedicated to the subjects of Races, Classes and Character Creation.
Pick the Right Alliance
The Alliances that you choose in the beginning represent the political group you will be fighting for. The most significant impact the choice will have is where you start the game. Each of the factions will begin in their own starting area. This is something to consider if you wish to play with friends, as all of you will need to be in the same alliance or else you will have to wait until you are several levels into the game before you can group up.
Your choice of Alliance will also affect PvP. The three alliances battle it out in Cyrodiil, constantly trying to gain control of the area, and the throne. Although you will be able to switch alliances much later in the game, you will be locked into your initial choice for some time, so if you don't plan ahead, you may end up having to slay your friends in battle!
Make the Most Out of Questing
Tackling quests in ESO is a very familiar experience for Elder Scrolls fans. You will simply talk to an NPC and complete the required task. Some are short, having you fetch someone from another area, or they could be much deeper, involving clearing out dungeons or rescuing survivors of a bandit attack.
Each quest will reward you with something, typically gold, but occasionally you will receive special items instead. Each one will reward experience also, making them a great way to level up even later in the game. You may stumble upon a random side quest that suddenly has you delving into caves, or maybe you're stealing a bottle of brandy from the town drunk! A list of all quests in the game is being built here, Walkthrough.
Crafting: Collect Everything
Making items in ESO is incredibly easy. All you need to do is approach a station, select what you want and so long as you have the ingredients, you can make an item. For more details about it, make sure to head over to our dedicated Crafting page!
Tied into this is the need to collect every item you find. Elder Scrolls players know this well, and in ESO, there are tons of items to pick up, even if you can't steal a person plate off their table. One of the most things to look out for is resource nodes. This could be ore laying on the ground, or bugs flying around, but whatever it is, make sure to grab it. When you first start your adventure, Gold is tough to come by, but ore and other items of this nature are used in crafting, and crafted items are always worth something. You can use it to make your own low level gear, allowing you to skip purchasing it from a shop, or you can sell it off in bulk, making hundreds of Gold at a time.
The various Urns, Barrels, Crates, Bags, and Chests scattered around the world are all potential sources of crafting components. Though checking them can be tedious, it's also potentially rewarding.
Leveling Up
Leveling up is a simple process. Basically everything you do contributes to your overall experience. Fill the bar entirely and you level up. Each time you level up, you can raise one of your three base stats:
- Health - Increases your total HP.
- Magicka - Raises your total Magika.
- Stamina - Raises your total stamina.
Each level also gives you one skill point. These can be used to unlock new skills. Points can also be used to morph skills. More about that is covered below.
Each Race has their own skills, and each Class also comes with their own individual skills. On top of that, every character, no matter what you play, gains access to basic weapon skills, associated with the different types of weapons. Skills level up over time the same way your overall character level does. They use the same experience, however when skills level up, they don't reward points, instead they reach a new level and will do more damage.
As your skills level up, you will unlock access to more skills within that specific skill tree. Keep in mind, you won't unlock skills in other trees unless you first invest points within at least one skill there. Once a specific skill reaches a certain level, you can Morph it. This requires another skill point to be used, but will allow you to unlock special bonuses for the skill.
When first starting ou, and picking your skills, try to pick ones that will work well together while also making sure to not spread yourself thin. It may seem tempting to try and level up everything, but then you will fall into the trap of being a jack of all trades, master of none. To make the most of your skills, only level up 2 weapon skill trees, 1 class skill tree, and your racial skill tree. Extra points should be spread out sparingly among your remaining skills.
In Closing
While ESO is part of the Elder Scrolls universe, it is both very different and very similar to games like Skyrim. You'll still feel that awe of reaching the highest peak and looking over the vast horizon, but this time you may not have gotten there on your own (or with Lydia). Combat is also excelled when fighting with friends while being more varrying yet not overly complicated. It's a worthy step up in most regards.