ESO 2020 Discussion - The Dark Heart of Skyrim Options

[RaderOfTheLostArk]

Alright, people. We've finally gotten a look at and quite a bit of information about the season-long story for ESO this year: The Dark Heart of Skyrim. This specific thread will be for discussion about it. What do you think about what ZOS had to say regarding this year's content during the live reveal? What confirmed content excites you the most? What are you hoping for or predicting will come out in terms of locations, monsters, dungeons, etc.? So on and so on.

And...discuss!

[RaderOfTheLostArk]

I think they will give us another section of Skyrim in the last quarter of the year like they did with Elsweyr; and since they called this one "Western Skyrim;" I am guessing the DLC they drop will be "Eastern Skyrim." Since we already have Riften and Windhelm; I am pretty sure the DLC that drops in the second half of the year will contain Whiterun. I hope so, it is my absolute favorite town in Skyrim.


** Go back and listen to the Announcement on it; they said they plan to do a full year thing with Skyrim like they did with Elsweyr. That means we will probably have to do the Dungeons to get some rewards that will all be connected like they did with the Lunar Champion House.

If the reward has anything to do with that cave in Blackreach; that might explain why there was only a landing spot = maybe they plan to dole it out in 4ths like they did the Lunar Champion house.

Right, but from what I hear (I'm not sure if it is a rumor, speculation, or actually confirmed by ZOS), the 2nd zone of the year is going to the Reach, which means it will have Markarth. Eastern Skyrim is probably considered to be The Rift and Eastmarch since they are already there. Seems like we won't be getting "Central" Skyrim, which is a shame. The map is already a bit wonky with Windhelm being too far north and Winterhold being pushed too far west.

I consider Eastmarch and the Rift to be "Eastern Skyrim", so they could have a "Central Skyrim", but I really don't believe they want to close the gaps between Alliance territories yet. Each one borders on Cyrodiil, but none of the others, and I believe they'll only fill in those parts right at the end. Since they've introduced Blackreach as part of this chapter, there's a lot more map available underground.

It's still possible they'll expand to Whiterun and the Pale, and leave a narrow gap, like the one between Anequina and Pelletine. After all, the Throat of the World is a decent barrier between the holds. Further north, it's harder to guess. Since Winterhold won't fall into the sea for a long time, that could remain a independent buffer. Maybe the Mages Guild keeps it neutral?

These buffer zones are getting a bit bothersome to me. I get what you mean about that and why ZOS would do that, but it still cuts out some really cool stuff by making tiny strips of key missing landscape. I agree that Snow-Throat/Throat of the World is a sensible barrier, though I wonder how exactly they would make it off-limits. I was trying to find how exactly they blocked off Red Mountain but couldn't quite figure it out.

But I hope they at least give us Whiterun and Helgen. I guess that is still a possibility but I doubt we are going ever going to see Dawnstar and Winterhold. If we ever get those two, I'd wager it would be a zone similar in size and content to Murkmire and Southern Elsweyr.

This post has been edited by RaderOfTheLostArk: Apr 23 2020, 06:10 PM