MMORPGs do not go well with leisure planning, especially when you have a family like MeinMMO editor Jürgen Horn. You play differently and usually less intensely. But right now, The Elder Scrolls Online suits me very well, especially with the upcoming expansion High Isle, which has been heavily criticized.
Who is writing here? I have been a father to a little son since 2019 and since then I have had to adjust my gaming habits. Simply gaming through the nights is no longer possible, and complex games are less likely to be an option. Instead, games that offer a lot of fun in a short time are in demand. MMORPGs are generally no longer an option, but that’s not the case with ESO.
Because the upcoming chapter High Isle, which is currently criticized by many fans, will likely be a real hit for me. What many don’t like fits perfectly with my changed gaming situation.
3 reasons why High Isle will be great for ESO for people like me
What is the problem with High Isle? Initial reactions to the reveal of the new setting and the content of High Isle were mixed. Many players criticized the Bretons as boring or complained that the upcoming changes would make the game too simple.
But what hardcore ESO players do not like, suits me (and people in a similar situation) perfectly.
The setting and story bring a pleasant deceleration
The last three expansions brought a steady escalation. First, there were dragons in Elsweyr (in your homeland! Dragons!). Then, there was a gigantic vampiric conspiracy in Skyrim. And then the last chapter even literally sent us to “Hell,” where a corporeal Daedra prince wanted to take us down.
How could that be surpassed? By turning a Daedra prince into a vampire and binding him to a dragon? Hopefully not!
Or one could take a break from the gigantism and downshift a few gears. You don’t need a bombastic threat from super monsters to tell an exciting story. And that seems to be exactly what High Isle promises.
Here, it’s all about intrigues and power struggles among noble houses. The dangers and challenges arise from very mundane scenarios and promise many interesting elements.
Because completely normal mortal villains are often much more tangible and multi-dimensional than immortal vampire lords, dragons, or even Daedra lords. Just think of nasty guys like King Geoffrey or Tywin Lannister from Game of Thrones. They were ordinary but powerful people who were very dangerous in their lust for power.
I am therefore really looking forward to a whimsical setting full of intrigues and noble feuds, just like I loved in Game of Thrones.
For me, it also has the advantage that the story can be enjoyed at a slower pace. The world is not in immediate danger, I do not have to complete all quests on the first day, and I can portion my gaming time ideally.
The new card game is perfect for taking a break
The news that there will be a cool card game as a “game within a game” made me very curious. Because I love mini-games! In Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, I always take time for a round of Orlog and never miss a drinking contest.
And in The Witcher 3, Gwent was sometimes the main activity for me during a whole gaming evening. And just because I loved Gwent so much, I am really looking forward to the new card game “Tales of Glory” in High Isle.
I totally loved the Elder Scrolls card game Legends until it was unfortunately shut down. But I can imagine that some elements will find new life in ESO.
I see myself already spending an entire evening without completing any quests or dailies. Instead, I’ll be hanging out in the tavern all night playing cards with shady Khajiit.
The game will be less complex and thus more beginner-friendly (again)
My last argument for High Isle is also one that many fans criticize about the new chapter. There will be achievements across the entire account, and there will be significant changes in the combat system.
So anyone who has invested time in numerous twinks and their achievements will kind of be at a loss. Because in the future, the achievements of all your account’s characters will be shared. However, what irritates and angers hardcore players suits me as a casual player extremely well. Because I only have 2 twinks, and they haven’t done much. Now, they will all benefit from all of my achievements.
Even better, I find that the combat system will be less complex. After weeks of absence, I always struggle to grasp the gameplay and the mechanics behind it to play my character optimally. But I do not want to spend my limited free time sifting through numerous stats and their effects. Otherwise, the gaming evening will be over before I’ve accomplished much.
With a simpler system that the developers promise, I will have more fun in my limited time. And that suits me very well.
But this is just my opinion as a player with little time. What do you think about it? Let me know in the comments!
My colleague Melli does not share the same excitement about High Isle, but she also finds the new card game super.
