https://massivelyop.com MMORPG news and opinions Tue, 07 Mar 2023 16:40:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/08/tamriel-infinium-how-zenimax-should-fix-elder-scrolls-onlines-combat/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/08/tamriel-infinium-how-zenimax-should-fix-elder-scrolls-onlines-combat/#comments Wed, 08 Mar 2023 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=428133 As much as there can be a consensus on anything in MMORPGs, it’s generally — but not universally — agreed that something is rotten in the state of Elder Scrolls Online’s combat. Whenever the subject comes up, which it seems to do quite frequently, certain terms are thrown around. It’s “janky.” It’s “floaty.” It simply […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/03/08/tamriel-infinium-how-zenimax-should-fix-elder-scrolls-onlines-combat/feed/ 59 https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/15/tamriel-infinium-how-elder-scrolls-onlines-quests-go-above-and-beyond-the-mmo-norm/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/15/tamriel-infinium-how-elder-scrolls-onlines-quests-go-above-and-beyond-the-mmo-norm/#comments Wed, 15 Feb 2023 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=424423 There are some MMOs you play because of and some you play in spite of, if you catch my drift. These titles have great qualities and features that make them compelling to play even though you have to wade through some bafflingly bad systems at the same time. I always felt that The Secret World […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/15/tamriel-infinium-how-elder-scrolls-onlines-quests-go-above-and-beyond-the-mmo-norm/feed/ 16 https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/13/tamriel-infinium-18-activities-to-do-at-max-level-in-elder-scrolls-online/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/13/tamriel-infinium-18-activities-to-do-at-max-level-in-elder-scrolls-online/#comments Mon, 13 Feb 2023 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=420782 As they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder, and so it’s been with the past six months between me and Elder Scrolls Online. Sometimes you take a break from an MMO not because you hate it, but because you like it enough to give space to rejuvenate that interest. So I’m back and chronically […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/13/tamriel-infinium-18-activities-to-do-at-max-level-in-elder-scrolls-online/feed/ 11 https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/27/tamriel-infinium-elder-scrolls-onlines-necrom-is-more-fanservice-but-i-dont-hate-it/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/27/tamriel-infinium-elder-scrolls-onlines-necrom-is-more-fanservice-but-i-dont-hate-it/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2023 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=423910 In my last column covering Elder Scrolls Online, I came to two conclusions based on the very rocky year of 2022 for the game: First, that ZeniMax needed to inject some serious excitement into its MMO, and second, that ESO had to stop playing it quite as safe as it has been. Dependable is nice, […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/27/tamriel-infinium-elder-scrolls-onlines-necrom-is-more-fanservice-but-i-dont-hate-it/feed/ 20 https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/07/tamriel-infinium-elder-scrolls-online-faces-an-uphill-battle-in-2023/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/07/tamriel-infinium-elder-scrolls-online-faces-an-uphill-battle-in-2023/#comments Sat, 07 Jan 2023 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=420824 Let me tell you, it is a strange time to be returning to Elder Scrolls Online. After a strong stint in the game last spring, I took a break around High Isle’s release and didn’t boot it up for the remainder of the year. ESO is very on-again, off-again with me, and I don’t think […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/01/07/tamriel-infinium-elder-scrolls-online-faces-an-uphill-battle-in-2023/feed/ 42 https://massivelyop.com/2022/06/28/tamriel-infinium-was-eso-one-tamriel-actually-a-bad-idea/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/06/28/tamriel-infinium-was-eso-one-tamriel-actually-a-bad-idea/#comments Tue, 28 Jun 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=393995 Before you come into this column with boxing gloves on looking for the daft writer who dared to pose the above question, please hear me out because this is not a topic chosen lightly. On paper, Elder Scrolls Online has so much of what I want in an MMORPG. It’s got a healthy population, fun […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/06/28/tamriel-infinium-was-eso-one-tamriel-actually-a-bad-idea/feed/ 73 https://massivelyop.com/2022/06/14/tamriel-infinium-big-name-voice-actors-you-didnt-know-were-in-elder-scrolls-online/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/06/14/tamriel-infinium-big-name-voice-actors-you-didnt-know-were-in-elder-scrolls-online/#comments Tue, 14 Jun 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=392080 When Elder Scrolls Online players dived into the High Isle expansion this past week, among the many new delights was the addition of Billy Boyd (Lord of the Rings) as one of the principle voice actors. Is it surreal to hear Middle-earth’s Pippin in Tamriel? Perhaps, but it’s not an unusual occurrence to hear a […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/06/14/tamriel-infinium-big-name-voice-actors-you-didnt-know-were-in-elder-scrolls-online/feed/ 27 https://massivelyop.com/2022/06/01/tamriel-infinium-the-elder-scroll-onlines-high-isle-brings-new-story-new-lands-and-a-new-card-game-to-tamriel/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/06/01/tamriel-infinium-the-elder-scroll-onlines-high-isle-brings-new-story-new-lands-and-a-new-card-game-to-tamriel/#comments Wed, 01 Jun 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=390315 It’s spring. The birds are chirping, the pollen is flying, and a young person’s thoughts turn to another major chapter release for The Elder Scrolls Online. The yearly ZeniMax release has become as steady and predictable as a city made of clockwork. Ahem, I said, “a city made of clockwork.” *Taps mic* Is this thing […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/06/01/tamriel-infinium-the-elder-scroll-onlines-high-isle-brings-new-story-new-lands-and-a-new-card-game-to-tamriel/feed/ 7 https://massivelyop.com/2022/05/17/tamriel-infinium-elder-scrolls-online-has-a-real-enthusiasm-problem/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/05/17/tamriel-infinium-elder-scrolls-online-has-a-real-enthusiasm-problem/#comments Tue, 17 May 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=388306 Looking around the MMORPG community, you may not even be aware that Elder Scrolls Online has less than a month until its newest expansion, High Isle, comes out on the PC. Heck, looking around the ESO community might not even give you that impression. Oh, I’m sure there are some who’ve marked their calendars and […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/05/17/tamriel-infinium-elder-scrolls-online-has-a-real-enthusiasm-problem/feed/ 103 https://massivelyop.com/2022/04/22/tamriel-infinium-a-look-back-at-elder-scrolls-onlines-blackwood/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/04/22/tamriel-infinium-a-look-back-at-elder-scrolls-onlines-blackwood/#comments Fri, 22 Apr 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=384021 Now that we’re firmly entrenched in the year of High Isle and the legacy of the Bretons, it almost seems archaic to jump back to 2021 and look at Elder Scrolls Online’s last expansion. But that’s how I roll, constantly a year late and a platinum short. The reason for this column is that as […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/04/22/tamriel-infinium-a-look-back-at-elder-scrolls-onlines-blackwood/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/15/tamriel-infinium-is-elder-scrolls-online-a-pretty-or-ugly-game/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/15/tamriel-infinium-is-elder-scrolls-online-a-pretty-or-ugly-game/#comments Tue, 15 Mar 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=376761 I’ve been loosely following the general discussion of Elder Scrolls Online over the years, and one thread that I’ve seen picked up and toyed with from time to time is the topic of the game’s visuals – namely, whether or not ESO’s graphics are any good. And what’s fascinating about these discussions to me is […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/15/tamriel-infinium-is-elder-scrolls-online-a-pretty-or-ugly-game/feed/ 41 https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/01/tamriel-infinium-six-takeaways-from-elder-scrolls-onlines-high-isle-announcement/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/01/tamriel-infinium-six-takeaways-from-elder-scrolls-onlines-high-isle-announcement/#comments Tue, 01 Feb 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=373106 I love me a good MMO roadmap, especially when it’s about a game that you are enthusiastically playing. Elder Scrolls Online wrapped up its Blackwood saga last year, and all of us were excited to see what ZeniMax had in store for 2022. Thanks to last week’s livestream reveal, we know it’s all about those […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/01/tamriel-infinium-six-takeaways-from-elder-scrolls-onlines-high-isle-announcement/feed/ 35 https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/26/tamriel-infinium-a-look-back-at-elder-scrolls-onlines-greymoor/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/26/tamriel-infinium-a-look-back-at-elder-scrolls-onlines-greymoor/#comments Wed, 26 Jan 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=371981 When Skyrim came out in 2011, everyone knew it was going to be big — but even within the already massive Elder Scrolls fandom, few had any idea of just how it would blow up into a long-running mainstream gaming phenomenon that spawned memes, various platform editions (including Alexa), and something like 30 million-plus copies […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/26/tamriel-infinium-a-look-back-at-elder-scrolls-onlines-greymoor/feed/ 6 https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/17/the-elder-scrolls-online-teases-2022-release-theme-with-mysterious-clues/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/17/the-elder-scrolls-online-teases-2022-release-theme-with-mysterious-clues/#comments Mon, 17 Jan 2022 19:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=371111 Yesterday, streamers, podcasters, YouTubers, and lowly game journalists began receiving a suspicious package teasing the next year-long theme for The Elder Scrolls Online. The letter appears to have been intended for another (Magus) but was intercepted by someone named Lady Arabelle Davaeux and diverted from its intended destination. The note itself reads: Magus, Our knights […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/17/the-elder-scrolls-online-teases-2022-release-theme-with-mysterious-clues/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/05/tamriel-infinium-how-elder-scrolls-online-made-me-a-believer-in-public-dungeons-again/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/05/tamriel-infinium-how-elder-scrolls-online-made-me-a-believer-in-public-dungeons-again/#comments Wed, 05 Jan 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=369207 Most folks have their own goals and gameplay that they enjoy in MMORPGs. For me in Elder Scrolls Online, it’s gradually bringing a game map to full completion. It’s so satisfying ticking off the boxes from the zone guide and getting to explore all of the nooks and crannies of these realms. Thanks to the […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/05/tamriel-infinium-how-elder-scrolls-online-made-me-a-believer-in-public-dungeons-again/feed/ 9 https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/27/tamriel-infinium-eight-things-i-really-like-as-a-elder-scrolls-online-casual/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/27/tamriel-infinium-eight-things-i-really-like-as-a-elder-scrolls-online-casual/#comments Sat, 27 Nov 2021 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=364396 As some of you have so kindly pointed out, I am by no means an Elder Scrolls Online expert. I’ve been playing off and on for a few years now, quite enjoying my time, but I recognize that there’s a lot to learn about the ins and outs of this well-crafted MMO. That said, you […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/27/tamriel-infinium-eight-things-i-really-like-as-a-elder-scrolls-online-casual/feed/ 39 https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/16/tamriel-infinium-a-very-elder-scrolls-online-wish-list/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/16/tamriel-infinium-a-very-elder-scrolls-online-wish-list/#comments Tue, 16 Nov 2021 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=361884 Wish lists: We all have one for our regular MMORPGs. I mean, how can you not when you’re playing a game for so long? Ideas, desires, and changes come to mind that would improve the gameplay experience, and before long you wish you had a direct pipeline to the developers so they would get on […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/16/tamriel-infinium-a-very-elder-scrolls-online-wish-list/feed/ 21 https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/07/tamriel-infinium-should-elder-scrolls-online-increase-its-landscape-difficulty/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/07/tamriel-infinium-should-elder-scrolls-online-increase-its-landscape-difficulty/#comments Sun, 07 Nov 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=360407 In so many ways, One Tamriel reinvented the Elder Scrolls Online experience by freeing players to pursue their own paths through the game. I myself enjoy hopping between zones and expansions without a greater concern that I won’t be in that level range or that I have to do things in a linear fashion. Let’s […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/07/tamriel-infinium-should-elder-scrolls-online-increase-its-landscape-difficulty/feed/ 84 https://massivelyop.com/2021/10/14/tamriel-infinium-looking-back-at-elder-scrolls-onlines-morrowind/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/10/14/tamriel-infinium-looking-back-at-elder-scrolls-onlines-morrowind/#comments Thu, 14 Oct 2021 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=357713 In 2002, the Elder Scrolls CRPG franchise took its biggest step forward to date with the release of its third game, Morrowind. While Arena and Daggerfall had its fans in the 1990s, Morrowind is where the series really took off. Players fell in love with the open world gameplay as they explored (and modded!) Vvardenfell […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/10/14/tamriel-infinium-looking-back-at-elder-scrolls-onlines-morrowind/feed/ 17 https://massivelyop.com/2021/09/30/tamriel-infinium-anatomy-of-elder-scrolls-onlines-quests/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/09/30/tamriel-infinium-anatomy-of-elder-scrolls-onlines-quests/#comments Thu, 30 Sep 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=355242 An amazing thing happened on my way to the MMO variety store: I got completely sucked back in to Elder Scrolls Online. It did not come at a convenient time, what with New World’s launch and all, but sometimes you can’t help when your interest in an MMORPG ignites. The long and the short of […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/09/30/tamriel-infinium-anatomy-of-elder-scrolls-onlines-quests/feed/ 21 https://massivelyop.com/2021/07/07/tamriel-infinium-companions-are-the-star-of-elder-scrolls-onlines-blackwood/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/07/07/tamriel-infinium-companions-are-the-star-of-elder-scrolls-onlines-blackwood/#comments Wed, 07 Jul 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=343360 The Elder Scrolls Online continues to pump out content at an alarming rate, but the update that most players look forward to the most every year is the annual zone/story release. This year, ZeniMax has taken us on a nostalgia tour of Oblivion with the Blackwood chapter. I don’t know whether it’s because my expectations […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/07/07/tamriel-infinium-companions-are-the-star-of-elder-scrolls-onlines-blackwood/feed/ 15 https://massivelyop.com/2021/06/22/first-impressions-diving-into-oblivion-portals-with-companions-in-elder-scrolls-onlines-blackwood/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/06/22/first-impressions-diving-into-oblivion-portals-with-companions-in-elder-scrolls-onlines-blackwood/#comments Tue, 22 Jun 2021 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=340957 Like clockwork, The Elder Scrolls Online has flung wide the gates of its annual chapter release. This time, in Blackwood, we are headed to southern Cyrodiil, where the remnants of the once great empire meet the borders of the Argonian homeland of Blackmarsh. The Elder Scrolls Online loves to capitalize on nostalgia, and Blackwood is […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/06/22/first-impressions-diving-into-oblivion-portals-with-companions-in-elder-scrolls-onlines-blackwood/feed/ 11 https://massivelyop.com/2021/06/01/tamriel-infinium-elder-scrolls-onlines-rich-lambert-on-blackwood-companions-lore-and-more/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/06/01/tamriel-infinium-elder-scrolls-onlines-rich-lambert-on-blackwood-companions-lore-and-more/#comments Tue, 01 Jun 2021 14:00:22 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=338630 Elder Scrolls Online PC fans are in for a treat today as the MMORPG is dropping its biggest content blast of the year in the form of the Blackwood chapter and update 30. The highlight, of course, is the new map and companion system, but there’s loads more to the updates. We had a chance […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/06/01/tamriel-infinium-elder-scrolls-onlines-rich-lambert-on-blackwood-companions-lore-and-more/feed/ 10 https://massivelyop.com/2021/04/16/tamriel-infinium-previewing-the-elder-scrolls-onlines-blackwood-and-companion-system/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/04/16/tamriel-infinium-previewing-the-elder-scrolls-onlines-blackwood-and-companion-system/#comments Fri, 16 Apr 2021 14:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=331951 While fans of the Elder Scrolls series patiently await any scrap of information pertaining to TES6, players of The Elder Scrolls Online continue to enjoy vast and persistent amounts of content on a highly predictable schedule. Fresh on the heels of the Flames of Ambition dungeon update, ZeniMax Online Studios has begun to release a […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/04/16/tamriel-infinium-previewing-the-elder-scrolls-onlines-blackwood-and-companion-system/feed/ 14 https://massivelyop.com/2021/03/05/tamriel-infinium-previewing-elder-scrolls-onlines-flames-of-ambition-dlc-and-update-29/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/03/05/tamriel-infinium-previewing-elder-scrolls-onlines-flames-of-ambition-dlc-and-update-29/#comments Fri, 05 Mar 2021 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=325800 It’s that time of year again, fans of The Elder Scrolls Online! The new yearlong story is about to kick off with the first quarter dungeon update. This year, the plot centers around the dwelling place of the daedric princes: Oblivion. The first DLC, titled Flames of Ambition, includes two new dungeons and launches alongside […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/03/05/tamriel-infinium-previewing-elder-scrolls-onlines-flames-of-ambition-dlc-and-update-29/feed/ 13 https://massivelyop.com/2020/08/12/tamriel-infinium-six-more-things-to-love-about-the-elder-scrolls-online/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/08/12/tamriel-infinium-six-more-things-to-love-about-the-elder-scrolls-online/#comments Wed, 12 Aug 2020 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=295536 When I think back to my earliest days of gaming, sitting in front of a tiny TV set with the non-ergonomic 80s beauty of an Atari joystick in hand, I recall the relative simplicity of that time. Back then, we didn’t need to concern ourselves with things like cash grabs, the working conditions of developers, […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/08/12/tamriel-infinium-six-more-things-to-love-about-the-elder-scrolls-online/feed/ 5 https://massivelyop.com/2020/06/12/tamriel-infinium-launch-impressions-of-elder-scrolls-onlines-greymoor-chapter/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/06/12/tamriel-infinium-launch-impressions-of-elder-scrolls-onlines-greymoor-chapter/#comments Fri, 12 Jun 2020 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=286805 As I sat down to take in the most recent content release for the Elder Scrolls Online, Greymoor, I was awash with a sense of anticipation. For gamers, including me, who were introduced to the series with Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim almost nine years ago, this feels a bit like a homecoming. Yet, the more […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/06/12/tamriel-infinium-launch-impressions-of-elder-scrolls-onlines-greymoor-chapter/feed/ 7 https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/21/tamriel-infinium-getting-ready-for-elder-scrolls-onlines-greymoor-chapter/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/21/tamriel-infinium-getting-ready-for-elder-scrolls-onlines-greymoor-chapter/#comments Thu, 21 May 2020 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=283403 Are you ready for Elder Scrolls Online Greymoor chapter release next week? I mean, are you really ready? Here at Massively OP, we’ve got some tips to help you get the most out of your Western Skyrim experience when the chapter releases on May 26th (June 9th for consoles – you folks have a bit […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/21/tamriel-infinium-getting-ready-for-elder-scrolls-onlines-greymoor-chapter/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2020/04/08/tamriel-infinium-exploring-the-revamped-vampires-of-elder-scrolls-onlines-greymoor/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/04/08/tamriel-infinium-exploring-the-revamped-vampires-of-elder-scrolls-onlines-greymoor/#comments Wed, 08 Apr 2020 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=276516 Ever since Molag Bal created the first vampires in Tamriel to spite the aedra Arkay, they have held a unique place in the stories of The Elder Scrolls universe. Some are altruistic, some strive only to create chaos, and some even go as far as to be involved in plots to take over various regions […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/04/08/tamriel-infinium-exploring-the-revamped-vampires-of-elder-scrolls-onlines-greymoor/feed/ 16 https://massivelyop.com/2020/03/30/massivelyops-first-look-at-elder-scrolls-onlines-greymoor-chapter-and-antiquities-system/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/03/30/massivelyops-first-look-at-elder-scrolls-onlines-greymoor-chapter-and-antiquities-system/#comments Mon, 30 Mar 2020 12:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=275353 With the release date of The Elder Scrolls Online’s Greymoor chapter just a few months away, work on the update is progressing even with staff working from home. In fact, ZeniMax Online Studios made a preview available to the media this past week, and the hands-on, fully playable build included glimpses into some iconic Tamrielic […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/03/30/massivelyops-first-look-at-elder-scrolls-onlines-greymoor-chapter-and-antiquities-system/feed/ 10 https://massivelyop.com/2020/03/04/tamriel-infinium-the-lore-behind-the-elder-scrolls-onlines-falmer/ Wed, 04 Mar 2020 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=271166 If you’ve played through the Elder Scrolls series, particularly The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, you’ve no doubt encountered a bleached-skin underground foe more akin to goblins than to men or mer. The Falmer are a strange race that appears as underground cave dwellers, possessing eyes but no sight. They attack under the cover of darkness […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/02/24/tamriel-infinium-first-impressions-of-elder-scrolls-onlines-harrowstorm-and-unhallowed-grave/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/02/24/tamriel-infinium-first-impressions-of-elder-scrolls-onlines-harrowstorm-and-unhallowed-grave/#comments Mon, 24 Feb 2020 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=269014 As longtime Elder Scrolls Online players well know, ZeniMax is launching the first chunk of content for the Dark Heart of Skyrim today for PC and Mac (March 10th for consoles). This DLC, called Harrowstorm, kicks off the yearly content cycle and features two new dungeons: Icereach and Unhallowed Grave. As part of a pre-launch […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/02/24/tamriel-infinium-first-impressions-of-elder-scrolls-onlines-harrowstorm-and-unhallowed-grave/feed/ 5 https://massivelyop.com/2020/01/29/tamriel-infinium-the-biggest-surprises-from-elder-scrolls-onlines-dark-heart-of-skyrim-reveal/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/01/29/tamriel-infinium-the-biggest-surprises-from-elder-scrolls-onlines-dark-heart-of-skyrim-reveal/#comments Wed, 29 Jan 2020 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=265684 Earlier this month, The Elder Scrolls Online unveiled its 2020 plans for the Dark Heart of Skyrim at a live community event. Some of the information had been predicted well ahead of time. For example, everybody is now very familiar with the major-release-per-quarter content release cadence. We’ve come to expect two dungeon DLCs, a story […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/01/29/tamriel-infinium-the-biggest-surprises-from-elder-scrolls-onlines-dark-heart-of-skyrim-reveal/feed/ 19 https://massivelyop.com/2020/01/18/tamriel-infinium-elder-scrolls-onlines-rich-lambert-on-the-dark-heart-of-skyrim/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/01/18/tamriel-infinium-elder-scrolls-onlines-rich-lambert-on-the-dark-heart-of-skyrim/#comments Sat, 18 Jan 2020 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=264421 At this week’s live reveal of the Dark Heart of Skyrim for The Elder Scrolls Online, I had the chance to sit down with creative director Rich Lambert to talk about the new chapter, some of the challenges the ESO team has recently faced, and how the devs plan to differentiate the Greymoor chapter from […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/01/18/tamriel-infinium-elder-scrolls-onlines-rich-lambert-on-the-dark-heart-of-skyrim/feed/ 2 https://massivelyop.com/2020/01/08/tamriel-infinium-my-favorite-things-in-the-elder-scrolls-online/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/01/08/tamriel-infinium-my-favorite-things-in-the-elder-scrolls-online/#comments Wed, 08 Jan 2020 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=262208 If you’ve been following the Tamriel Infinium column at least since my own arrival at Massively OP, you may have noticed my propensity for lists. Perhaps it’s an easy way for me to break the narrative apart into smaller, loosely coupled segments, or perhaps it’s just how my mind operates. As we head into the […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/01/08/tamriel-infinium-my-favorite-things-in-the-elder-scrolls-online/feed/ 13 https://massivelyop.com/2019/12/20/tamriel-infinium-a-2019-elder-scrolls-online-retrospective/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/12/20/tamriel-infinium-a-2019-elder-scrolls-online-retrospective/#comments Fri, 20 Dec 2019 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=258774 It’s been a banner year for The Elder Scrolls Online. From events galore to the release of the dragons, so much has happened that it’s easy to forget some of the little details along the way. I thought it might be fun to take a glance back to remind ourselves of some of the major […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/12/20/tamriel-infinium-a-2019-elder-scrolls-online-retrospective/feed/ 4 https://massivelyop.com/2019/11/07/tamriel-infinium-our-biggest-elder-scrolls-online-pet-peeves/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/11/07/tamriel-infinium-our-biggest-elder-scrolls-online-pet-peeves/#comments Thu, 07 Nov 2019 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=252777 This week, fellow Massively OP writer Justin published a post on his personal blog detailing a pet peeve with his favorite MMO. I find it interesting that even with our favorite games, we’re always able to pick out one or two things that we’d like to see fixed. These quibbles are not game-breaking, typically. They’re […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/11/07/tamriel-infinium-our-biggest-elder-scrolls-online-pet-peeves/feed/ 29 https://massivelyop.com/2019/10/24/tamriel-infinium-who-are-elder-scrolls-onlines-dragonguard/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/10/24/tamriel-infinium-who-are-elder-scrolls-onlines-dragonguard/#comments Thu, 24 Oct 2019 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=250378 Players of The Elder Scrolls Online were treated to the release of Dragonhold this week, the conclusion of the year-long “season of the dragon” that has been releasing bit by bit over the course of 2019. One of the plot points introduced with the Elsweyr chapter and continuing with this release revolves around a mysterious […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/10/24/tamriel-infinium-who-are-elder-scrolls-onlines-dragonguard/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2019/10/09/tamriel-infinium-which-province-will-the-elder-scrolls-online-explore-in-2020/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/10/09/tamriel-infinium-which-province-will-the-elder-scrolls-online-explore-in-2020/#comments Wed, 09 Oct 2019 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=247202 As the Season of the Dragon begins to wrap up for The Elder Scrolls Online, community speculation has begun to turn to what 2020 may hold for our beloved game. Of course, we shouldn’t overlook Dragonhold, the final piece to that particular puzzle, launching in less than two weeks. And maybe it’s not fair to […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/10/09/tamriel-infinium-which-province-will-the-elder-scrolls-online-explore-in-2020/feed/ 17 https://massivelyop.com/2019/09/11/tamriel-infinium-the-elder-scrolls-onlines-economy-needs-a-casual-friendly-option/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/09/11/tamriel-infinium-the-elder-scrolls-onlines-economy-needs-a-casual-friendly-option/#comments Wed, 11 Sep 2019 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=242842 A few years ago, I was introduced to the concept of trading guilds. Trading guilds are unique to the The Elder Scrolls Online as far as I know, at least here in West, and are reputedly needed because there is no universal sales hub within the game through which to sell items to other players. […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/09/11/tamriel-infinium-the-elder-scrolls-onlines-economy-needs-a-casual-friendly-option/feed/ 44 https://massivelyop.com/2019/08/28/tamriel-infinium-things-we-wish-were-in-elder-scrolls-onlines-cash-shop-but-arent/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/08/28/tamriel-infinium-things-we-wish-were-in-elder-scrolls-onlines-cash-shop-but-arent/#comments Wed, 28 Aug 2019 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=240387 Convenience items in the cash shop are nothing new in The Elder Scrolls Online. ZeniMax has been selling experience boosts and mount training accelerators for years. But the recent addition of skill shards and skill lines have had some players claiming pay-to-win. Since I’m not especially bothered by these types of items being proliferated, I […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/08/28/tamriel-infinium-things-we-wish-were-in-elder-scrolls-onlines-cash-shop-but-arent/feed/ 14 https://massivelyop.com/2019/08/12/tamriel-infinium-first-impressions-of-elder-scrolls-onlines-moongrave-fane-dungeon-launching-with-scalebreaker-today/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/08/12/tamriel-infinium-first-impressions-of-elder-scrolls-onlines-moongrave-fane-dungeon-launching-with-scalebreaker-today/#comments Mon, 12 Aug 2019 14:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=238238 Moongrave Fane is the name of an ancient Khajiit temple ruin – and it’s also one of the dungeons releasing with The Elder Scrolls Online’s new Scalebreaker DLC, which just so happens to be launching today. Last week, ZeniMax Online Studios took me on a guided tour of this flame-infused vampire-ridden ruin, and I came […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/08/12/tamriel-infinium-first-impressions-of-elder-scrolls-onlines-moongrave-fane-dungeon-launching-with-scalebreaker-today/feed/ 3 https://massivelyop.com/2019/07/29/tamriel-infinium-everything-we-learned-from-quakecon-2019s-elder-scrolls-online-panel/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/07/29/tamriel-infinium-everything-we-learned-from-quakecon-2019s-elder-scrolls-online-panel/#comments Mon, 29 Jul 2019 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=236148 On Saturday, president of ZeniMax Online Studios Matt Firor and creative director of The Elder Scrolls Online Rich Lambert took the stage at Quakecon 2019 for a panel during which we were treated to both a review of some pivotal moments in ESO’s history and some hints of what to expect in the coming months. […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/07/29/tamriel-infinium-everything-we-learned-from-quakecon-2019s-elder-scrolls-online-panel/feed/ 7 https://massivelyop.com/2019/07/24/tamriel-infinium-what-comes-after-champion-points-in-the-elder-scrolls-online/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/07/24/tamriel-infinium-what-comes-after-champion-points-in-the-elder-scrolls-online/#comments Wed, 24 Jul 2019 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=235043 During the Elsweyr release announcement stream for the Elder Scrolls Online earlier this summer, ZeniMax made an announcement that was somewhat buried within the sparkle and glitz of the new chapter: For the first time since their inclusion into the game, champion points would not be increased with a major update. Champion points are the […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/07/24/tamriel-infinium-what-comes-after-champion-points-in-the-elder-scrolls-online/feed/ 24 https://massivelyop.com/2019/06/26/tamriel-infinium-getting-the-most-out-of-your-elder-scrolls-online-box-and-sub-in-2019/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/06/26/tamriel-infinium-getting-the-most-out-of-your-elder-scrolls-online-box-and-sub-in-2019/#comments Wed, 26 Jun 2019 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=230812 One of the most confusing things about any game that chooses a hybrid business model is figuring out what you need to buy in order to play the game or to enjoy the game to its fullest capacity. Since it offers both a purchase and subscription option to players, The Elder Scrolls Online is no […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/06/26/tamriel-infinium-getting-the-most-out-of-your-elder-scrolls-online-box-and-sub-in-2019/feed/ 9 https://massivelyop.com/2019/06/12/tamriel-infinium-massivelyops-guide-to-the-best-elder-scrolls-online-podcasts/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/06/12/tamriel-infinium-massivelyops-guide-to-the-best-elder-scrolls-online-podcasts/#comments Wed, 12 Jun 2019 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=228698 While Twitch streaming and YouTube viewing may be the new hotness for some video game content, there’s something to be said for the simplicity and convenience of a pure audio podcast. Personally, I like to listen during my commute, which is not very conducive to the viewing of videos of any kind. Interestingly, after a […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/06/12/tamriel-infinium-massivelyops-guide-to-the-best-elder-scrolls-online-podcasts/feed/ 9 https://massivelyop.com/2019/05/31/tamriel-infinium-keep-playing-elder-scrolls-onlines-elsweyr-the-story-gets-better/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/05/31/tamriel-infinium-keep-playing-elder-scrolls-onlines-elsweyr-the-story-gets-better/#comments Fri, 31 May 2019 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=227287 Like many of you, I have been participating in the early access for Elsweyr for this last week. In fact, I played some of the new Elder Scrolls Online chapter before the push to the live servers, and I gave my impressions of that a few weeks earlier. But now that it’s on the live […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/05/31/tamriel-infinium-keep-playing-elder-scrolls-onlines-elsweyr-the-story-gets-better/feed/ 19 https://massivelyop.com/2019/05/30/tamriel-infinium-massively-ops-guide-to-the-elder-scrolls-onlines-cash-shop/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/05/30/tamriel-infinium-massively-ops-guide-to-the-elder-scrolls-onlines-cash-shop/#comments Thu, 30 May 2019 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=226776 Ah, the crown store: the third leg of the business model (along with buy-to-play and subscription) that’s powered The Elder Scrolls Online to one of the more profitable MMOs currently in existence. Love it or hate it, there are some handy purchases available within it, as well as some that leave us scratching our heads. […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/05/30/tamriel-infinium-massively-ops-guide-to-the-elder-scrolls-onlines-cash-shop/feed/ 18 https://massivelyop.com/2019/05/15/tamriel-infinium-ranking-the-elder-scrolls-onlines-expansions-and-dlc-to-date/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/05/15/tamriel-infinium-ranking-the-elder-scrolls-onlines-expansions-and-dlc-to-date/#comments Wed, 15 May 2019 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=224515 On the cusp of the release of Elder Scrolls Online’s latest chapter expansion, Elsweyr, I thought it might be fun to go back and rank the previous expansions for this ever-growing MMO. This idea does pose a few problems, as technically only two “chapter updates” have been released (Morrowind and Summerset) since ZOS changed its cadence […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/05/15/tamriel-infinium-ranking-the-elder-scrolls-onlines-expansions-and-dlc-to-date/feed/ 14 https://massivelyop.com/2019/05/01/tamriel-infinium-dying-to-know-more-about-necromancers-in-the-elder-scrolls-online/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/05/01/tamriel-infinium-dying-to-know-more-about-necromancers-in-the-elder-scrolls-online/#comments Wed, 01 May 2019 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=222417 One of the most exciting features included in The Elder Scrolls Online’s Elsweyr chapter update is the addition of a new playable class, the Necromancer. But what are Necromancers and why would you ever want to play one? In the world of The Elder Scrolls, while many beliefs about gods and the afterlife differ, there […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/05/01/tamriel-infinium-dying-to-know-more-about-necromancers-in-the-elder-scrolls-online/feed/ 4