When it was announced back in 2012, The Elder Scrolls Online sounded like a dream come true for fans of the fantasy franchise. A multiplayer Skyrim was what many fans thought it would be, taking the complex worldbuilding and engrossing progression of the 2011 hit, and bringing some enticing MMO elements to the table. When The Elder Scrolls Online finally released in 2014, some fans may have been slightly disappointed that it wasn't quite a "multiplayer Skyrim," but it was an MMO that had some real potential.
Fast-forward eight years, and The Elder Scrolls Online has lived up to that potential. Beginning in 2017 with the Morrowind chapter, The Elder Scrolls Online has received five substantial expansions, each one adding new areas, NPCs, questlines, raids, and gear to the game. By all accounts, The Elder Scrolls Online has proven its worth as a modern day MMO, but that hasn't stopped ZeniMax Online Studios from continuing its hard work. The Elder Scrolls Online is about to receive another large-scale expansion. Titled High Isle, this chapter brings players to a vibrant Mediterranean-themed island, where they'll soon be caught up in a dark conspiracy.
The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle's New Areas and Story
Set just off the coast of the Summerset Isle and Hammerfell, players will make their way to the Systres Archipelago, a small collection of islands each filled with lush foliage and Mediterranean-inspired structures, and the home to the Breton race. During the day, the sun shines brightly on the islands' sandy beaches, while at night the islands' many warm lights fill the dark sky.
The largest of the islands is called High Isle, and acts as the central hub for much of the areas' commerce. High Isle is also the location for nearby political discussions. When the player reaches High Isle, one such political debate is occurring, where nearby leaders are trying to reach a peaceful resolution to the Three Banners War.
Peace talks are soon threatened by a mysterious cult known as The Ascendant Order, led by a menacing figure only known as the Ascendant Knight. The player will soon be thrust into the middle of this conflict, tasked with repelling The Ascendant Order so that peace talks can resume.
The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle's New Companions
First introduced in last year's Blackwood expansion, The Elder Scrolls Online now features a companion system. Functioning similarly to a mainline Elder Scrolls game, these companions follow the player as they venture across the island, assisting in combat, and giving their opinion on the story as it unfolds, based on their own unique personality.
The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle is bringing two new companions to the game. The first of which is Ember, a Khajiit who grew up on the streets of High Isle, and quickly learned to become hardened fighter. Ember used her strong determination to become a powerful sorcerer, capable of assisting the player with Destruction magic. Though Ember has evolved a great deal since her childhood, she still retains some cynicism.
Isobel, on the other hand, is a steadfast, stoic warrior, who will always convince those around her to do the right thing. Born and raised on High Isle, Isobel is a proud Breton knight, possessing some impressive close combat skills. Isobel will assist the player with her sword and shield, but may turn against them if they choose to go against what's best for High Isle and its Breton people.
The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle's New Trial
In classic MMO fashion, the next Elder Scrolls Online expansion will also bring a new raid to the game. Called "Trials" in Elder Scrolls Online, this new "Dreadsail Reef" raid sees 12 players attempt to wipe out an entire cove of pirates. With the player taking the fight to the pirates' home turf, they better be ready to bring some sturdy gear and powerful weapons.
Completing the Dreadsail Reef Trial will reward players with some exciting new loot. A total of four new armor sets can be unlocked by playing through this new Trial. The Whorl of the Depths light armor will be a great option for high DPS players, while the Pillager's Profits light armor is designed with healers in mind.
Alternatively, for heavier builds, the Coral Riptide medium armor set should be a good choice, as should the Pearlescent Ward heavy armor set. These four Trial sets join the other 11 brand-new armors heading to Elder Scrolls Online in its High Isle expansion.
The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle's New World Event
The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle is also bringing a new World Event to the game. Titled "Volcanic Vents," this World Event sees smoke vents appearing across the Systres Archipelago, with many in-universe experts believing that they herald an oncoming widespread volcanic eruption.
Much like the Summerset expansion's Abyssal Geyser World Event, players will need to head out to an active volcanic vent, and defeat the enemies in the surrounding area, before plugging up the vent for good. Players should expect to see plenty of lava-based enemies, ranging from magma golems to flame atronachs and everything in between.
The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle's New Collectible Card Game
One of the most exciting, and expansive, additions coming with Elder Scrolls Online:High Isle is its brand-new collectible card game. Named Tales of Tribute, this card game builds off the recent fantasy RPG trend present in titles like The Witcher 3, and gives players a surprisingly complex card game that can be played at a variety of High Isle's taverns.
Tales of Tribute has a few unique qualities that set it apart from its contemporaries. One of its main differences is that having a better deck doesn't necessarily mean the player will win, as both players' decks are combined and shuffled into one large deck, which is then dished out between the two. Theoretically, this means that matches will always be fair, as the deck's quality should always remain equal between the players.
Players will be able to find more cards and upgrade their deck by following the respective Tales of Tribute questline in the High Isle expansion. Winning Tales of Tribute matches will apparently reward players with currency, crafting materials, furniture, cosmetics, and maybe even some rare Transmute Stones and gear.
The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle releases on June 6, 2022, for PC and Mac, and on June 22, 2022, for PlayStation and Xbox consoles.
