THE TOP STORY
The high elves need a hand in The Elder Scrolls Online: SUMMERSET
The first chance to explore the Summerset Isles since 1994
The Elder Scrolls Online’s first expansion sent players to Morrowind—giving us a chance to revisit the location of one of Bethesda’s most beloved RPGs, albeit set many hundreds of years before its events took place. For the next expansion, we’re heading to the Summerset Isles, home of the high elves. This will be Elder Scrolls fans’ first chance to explore the Summerset Isles since 1994’s The Elder Scrolls: Arena, which contained the entirety of Tamriel thanks to its procedurally generated overworld. Naturally, that rendition looked, well, like it was made 24 years ago. Zenimax Online Studios claims this updated rendition will offer a detailed landscape featuring tropical lagoons, colorful forests, cliffside vistas, and the “gorgeous manicured cities” of The Elder Scrolls’ most arrogant and condescending of races.
Expect over 30 hours of new story to delve into, with Summerset picking up the ‘meta-plot’ that started in TESO’s Orsinium DLC. A Daedric conspiracy is brewing, and, with a corrupting influence threatening the high elves from within, Queen Ayrenn opens the Summerset Isles’ borders and invites you to come and help sort the whole mess out.
In addition to the story, TESO is adding a new skill line based around the Psijic Order. The secretive group—a sort of precursor to the Mages Guild—has been mentioned in almost every Elder Scrolls game, and
even shows up in Skyrim as part of the College of Winterhold questline. In Summerset, you’ll be able to visit the island of Artaeum, join the Order’s ranks, and unlock new abilities from its teachings. Summerset will also add jewelry crafting, letting you forge rings and amulets, rather than equipping the one you found inside that bear.
If, like me, you’re not up to speed with TESO’s ongoing story, Summerset is designed to cater to new players as well as existing ones. Newcomers will be able to launch straight into Summerset, where you’ll be given a new tutorial and starter area designed to get you up to speed without playing through the base game. Existing players are also free to ship their character over at any time.
Elder Brother
I’m in favor of this flexible approach to MMO expansions. While I didn’t particularly enjoy the base game at launch, TESO appears to have improved a lot over the years. I had fun with the Dark Brotherhood DLC, for instance, which offered a distinct, Elder Scrolls- flavored approach to MMO quest design. Hopefully the expansion will continue to iterate and refine the experience.
Players will set sail to the lands of Summerset when it releases on June 5. Phil Savage