Summerset Chapter Topic, Chapter 2's Spoilery Discussion Options

[monkeyemoness]

Since ZOS placed a more lenient NDA on Summerset--restricting it entirely to the main quest past the first one--I figure it's okay to talk about what goes on in the land of the Altmer.

I couldn't save many screenshots because my antivirus program blocked the PTS from making screenshots, but I managed to save these two:

Jo'zira's favorite spot so far.
Many colors!

I took these in the southeastern corner of the island. Though I deeply detest how cowardly the Altmer's architecture designed, it's almost made up by how vibrant the rest of the island is, even the creatures!

Though the flora is mostly the same across the entire island, there's no shortage of different environments to explore. And holy hell, the island is actually pretty big! I was worried there wouldn't be enough of a tropical feel like Auridon (though its beaches did invoke that somewhat) but man, it was unfounded.

I haven't actually done many quests, mostly I just stuck to exploring and activating the Psijiic skill line. I also looked at jewelry crafting. It sure is...well, crafting I guess? People on the official forums have been saying that the nodes are really rare but I haven't had much trouble finding them, even on Summerset. I think the hardest part will be getting the new traits, especially at first.

Anyways, that's most of what I have to say right now. I'd say I'm pleasantly surprised, but tbh? This is pretty much my experience with ESO. The architecture is bad, but everything else is great. (No spoilers of that kind until May 1!)

This post has been edited by monkeyemoness: Apr 21 2018, 12:38 AM

[ghastley]

I was surprised to find pewter and platinum nodes today, even without having the chapter. I can't do anything with the material, of course. I was expecting it would behave like the other metal ores, and only be available when you could use it, but I suppose it's the 50% at playing level.

[monkeyemoness]

Jerric got his entire crew certified in jewelry crafting, though only a few of them plan to actually use the skill. Using the Alinor inn room and their mail box furnishing storage, they were able to build up a small stock of pewter from the certification quest without the craft bag interfering. The certification quest takes you from 0 to 2 in the skill line, which is high enough to pick up the first Keen Eye passive. The jewelers are going to try raising their skill level without increasing their passive levels to avoid the huge pain of juggling different tier materials that they don’t need for anything but writs.

I'm doing exactly the same thing. One thing that I like is that with a self-replenishing supply of Pewter, you'll also build up Dust to refine later with all the extraction passives so you have a chance at the best temper grains. Only downside is that you'll only get the dust for traits through the writs and possibly deconstruction. (Also I love Darnand's witch outfit)

I was surprised to find pewter and platinum nodes today, even without having the chapter. I can't do anything with the material, of course. I was expecting it would behave like the other metal ores, and only be available when you could use it, but I suppose it's the 50% at playing level.

Yeah, they said those would be available to anyone, new traited rings and necklaces included iirc. Even if one can't use them, people without the Chapter can still profit from Jewelry Crafting in some way.

==

Anyways, one thing I really like about Summerset is that they kept the Delve design philosophy from Morrowind. The delves are a lot more complex and non-linear, and also borrow from Craglorn in that they seem to incorporate quests outside of the local one and the daily associated with it. I also love how some of them are basically part of the overland, like one that overlooks the southern canyon and another that is connected to what would otherwise be a useless but pretty pass. Lots of open air. I loved that about Craglorn's delves, too.

Some Morrowind spoilers, particularly the Balmora questline.