The Elder Scrolls Online is getting a new chapter, Elsweyr, which is quite remarkable. But the true highlight of the expansion lies in the details, says our author Jürgen. One must search for them beneath the surface.
When I was invited by ZeniMax in early March in London to try Elsweyr for the first time, I was already very excited about what would happen. After all, the namesake region is an entirely new area that has never existed in an Elder Scrolls game, apart from a rather rudimentary representation in the ancestor game Arena.
This is what I played: In a good hour, I was allowed to explore the region of Elsweyr on-site and gather a brief impression. I got to know the new Necromancer class and fought my first dragon. But I was much more impressed by the design and the richness of detail of the new region.
The true highlights from Elsweyr
Why Elsweyr is special: The region of Elsweyr is not just a land inhabited by fluffy cat people. Rather, the region is ancient and scattered with the remnants of the venerable Khajiit civilization.
The region of Elsweyr – Something new!
This is the special thing about the region: The architecture pleasantly deviates from the usual fantasy uniformity that often comes across as European medieval in ESO. In Elsweyr, however, the building and clothing style is more inspired by African and Southeast Asian regions.
This alone provides enough motivation to explore this foreign land. After all, the exploration of unknown regions has always been a highlight of every Elder Scrolls game.
I want to know what lies behind the next dune, wish to explore the secrets of a mysterious pagoda on the horizon, and find out how the Khajiit really tick.
Khajiit are not just cat boys and girls
Why Khajiit are so cool: Beastfolk exist in many MMOs, and catfolk are especially popular. But most of the time, they are just cute creatures with cat ears and tails. In ESO, however, the Khajiit are an ancient race that lived on Tamriel even before the old High Elves.
They have a complex religion centered around the moons of Tamriel and have some very bizarre peculiarities. For instance, they often refer to themselves in the third person, do not really consider claims of ownership relevant, and have a curious fondness for intoxicating sweets.
Why Khajiit are not all the same: The craziest part is their reproduction methods. The humanoid catfolk, whom most players know as Khajiit, are just one of the many subspecies of this race. There are also four-legged Khajiit variants that are likewise intelligent, culture-producing beings.
The effects of this can be seen in Elsweyr at every corner. For instance, a massive saber-toothed tiger lounges in the monastery, but it has a distinct name and is presumably a monk of the monastery. It even wears clothes!
Later, I meet a Khajiit who is missing his daughter. His house is filled with the whole family, including various house-cat-like Khajiit casually sitting at the table and slurping soup from their bowls.
Elsweyr is full of quirky characters
These characters will encounter you in the cat land: In addition to the eccentric Khajiit and their strange customs and habits, you will also encounter the “elite” of the quirky NPCs in ESO.
You will meet, among others, the wonderfully cynical battle mage and chief intriguer Abnur Tharn, who already impressed in the base game with wonderfully nasty remarks towards the other NPCs of the main story. His quick wit remains unchanged.
Later, things get even better when you meet Sir Cadwell again after a long search. The crazy soulless one from the main game has this time come dressed entirely in a suit made of various kitchen utensils. As the story unfolds, he plays another significant role, and his delightfully convoluted speaking style is once again voiced by the great John Cleese, at least in the original.
Fan favorite Razum-dar, the master spy of the elven queen, will also make an appearance again, and according to the developers, his plot will be one of the highlights of the addon.
Fans of whimsical stories and characters will thus once again get their money’s worth.
Conclusion – Elsweyr is a vibrant world
Such details make Elsweyr extremely lovable and vibrant. One does not feel that the world is merely a backdrop for grinding and quests. Rather, everything feels coherent. One wants to dive deeper into this foreign world and discover and explore it.
One wants to learn more about the Khajiit, find out what is up with the dragons, and explore every corner of Elsweyr.
That Zenimax has embedded this major expansion into an entire season spanning the full year enhances the experience, as Elsweyr will continue to gain more regions and instances later, maintaining its unique, new flair.
I, Jürgen, am very much looking forward to the release of Elsweyr and the upcoming DLCs.
