Dragon Bones, Elder Scrolls Online’s latest update (Update 17 to be exact) launched yesterday on PC. It comes out in 2 weeks for XBOX and PS4, and brings with it a heaping host of great changes. While the two new dungeons are paid DLC, the bulk of the changes and additions are free for all. Today we’re listing the five best things in ESO’s Update 17…
5 - The New Dungeons and Battlegrounds
It’s worth noting that the Battlegrounds (two brand new ones) are not part of the purchased DLC - that’s strictly the dungeons. The BGs come for free as long as you own Morrowind. (I’m wondering, as an aside, if the next chapter will make Battlegrounds free for all players.) But they’re a refinement of the Battlegrounds ESO already has, and add to the visual differences between all maps. If you’re a fan, these are just yet another nice way to spice things up in the rotation.
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The dungeons are the spotlight of the DLC, but they’re only lower on this list because they must be bought or subscribed to. Let me be clear - they’re awesome content if you love the Dragons and Dwarven lore of Tamriel. Quite different from anything you’ve played before, and with loads of loot to be obtained as well.
4 - Combat Changes
These are small, barely noticeable changes to the naked eye, but the overall impact of things like like improvements to Synergies (the skills you trigger when someone else fires off a skill you can add to, the removal of area-of-effect caps, changes to block costs, changes to cast-time abilities and interrupts, and changes to how Heavy Attacks and the Off Balance mechanic work. All of these things make fights more interesting, and should affect battles in Cyrodiil a bit different as well. Time will tell.
3 - Home Storage
A small, but meaningful step towards making your home in Tamriel actually useful for more than displaying trophies is here with Update 17. You can now acquire various storage boxes (through crafting or the Crown store) to place in your home, and put your belongings inside. You even get one for free when you hit level 18. I’m still waiting on something like farming or animal husbandry, but I’ll take this.
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2 - The Outfit System
Nope, it’s not my number one! The new outfit system is fantastic. It lets you take any of your unlocked styles and apply them in any way you want to your Outift and make your own custom costume. You get the first slot free, but more after that will cost you crowns. Changing your outfit after the first “assignment” of pieces and colors costs in-game gold, putting the system in tune with what’s found in WoW, GW2, and others. It’s wonderful, and you mess with dyes and your outfit at any of the existing dye stations in the world.
1 - The Level Up Guide and Experience
This is my number one new feature of the patch, as it will likely make the largest long-term impact on the health of the game. Leveling up in ESO is pretty complex process. The sort of freedom afforded by the system often overwhelms new players. This not only helps them find “builds” to level with, by suggesting skills that you should use for tanks, heals, or DPS, but it also gives you a more rewarding leveling experience by showcasing what you’re going to earn each new level. The stat points and skill points remain, but other item rewards are added too - new weapons, potions, armor, etc. It makes the act of gaining that next level more meaningful, and guides players who might not be quite as invested to get invested and keep playing more. I dig it a lot, and if I didn’t? It can be turned off quite easily.
These are just a few of the things I love in the new patch. Got some more to add? Let’s hear ‘em.
