Travelers Guide to Tamriel

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Written By: Crazmadsci

Ethereal Army

1st Edition

Travelers Guide to Tamriel

Written by Crazmadsci

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Introduction to Travelers Guide to

Tamriel

Welcome to the first major installment to the Travelers Guide to Tamriel, a fan created guide series that will supplement your adventures throughout Tamriel. Over the course of these pages, you will find…

Chapters:

1) Introduction to the Elder Scrolls Online 2) Character Creation: Classes, Races, and

Factions 3) Class and Skill Trees 4) Adventuring 101 5) Equipment 6) Crafting Basics 7) New Player Guide

Although not a complete collection of information on the game, this collection is to provide knowledge and tools, which can give veteran and new players thought processes and information all the way to end game. Although this guide is predominately written by crazmadsci and the community of Ethereal Army. Links to other resources, guides, images, and YouTube videos will be provided to highlight some of the incredible work from other community members.

All information new, old, and current can also be found on my twitch stream twitch.tv/crazmadsci.

Disclaimer: All information about the game such as lore come from the Elder Scrolls Online and not from the other Elder Scrolls Games. Any information used from additional resources will be spotlighted and referenced to highlight their hard work as well.

Information will be constantly added and focused based on popular demand. The links below will be constantly improved and added. If you see something missing feel free to keep checking!


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About the Author

Hi, my name is Crazmadsci my friends call me Craz. I have been a longtime fan of the Elder Scrolls game series starting with the Elder Scrolls Oblivion. I am currently working on playing through the other games as well.

I have been a long time gamer starting with my first PC game being LoreRunner the Legend Returns and console Mario Kart N64.

I predominately enjoy Fantasy and Adventure games. Anything with a great story and I am there. I have started playing the Elder Scrolls Online on the PC and have been playing ever since. I have become addicted due to the incredible crafting system and am honored to be the Guild leader to Ethereal Army.

By profession, I just graduated with a degree in Chemistry and am not pursuing my career in Teaching. Not only do I end up teaching in the class room I am now bringing it to my hobbies such as streaming and playing ESO.

I am also very blessed to meet some of my closest ever-gaming friends from my twitch stream, www.twitch.tv/crazmadsci. You can commonly find me fueling my healing addiction doing end game PvE.

Feel Free to Contact me if you ever find any mistakes or would wish to help fill in the blanks of my guide.

Email: [email protected]

Twitch: www.twitch.tv/crazmadsci

Play Station Network: crazmadsci

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.twitch.tv/crazmadsci


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Ethereal Army

Ethereal Army is first and foremost a social supportive gaming community that currently plays exclusively for Elder Scrolls Online. This community currently runs coordinated PVE, PVP, and social events with specialized crafters to assist with outfitting our troops. We fight for High King Emeric of the Daggerfall Covenant and all of our guild events are through the Daggerfall Covenant of the North America server. Current guild events are in Eastern Standard Time, however membership consists of players from all over the world.

Our goal at Ethereal Army is to facilitate your enjoyment of the game in the content you wish to play. We hope to help you find groups to do content with, outfit you in preparation for battle, and gather with other members to relax and have fun. Currently membership includes casual players to active daily members. The ages of our players range from 11 to 62 years old.

Our community in ESO offers a close, tight-knit community that is comprised of members willing to assist, run content, and outfit each other. We consist of mature, kind, and welcoming people that respect each

other and members in the community. Our guild is ran by several volunteers who have gone above and beyond for no other reason than wanting a close community to enjoy being a member of.

Ethereal Army is also a gaming community for Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited for all platforms: PC, PS4, and Xbox1. If people are ever interested in joining, feel free to come and join our troops. Anyone is welcome to join, as long as you continue to respect your fellow player and make some lifelong friends.

Website: http://etherealarmy.guildlaunch.com/

http://etherealarmy.guildlaunch.com/


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Dedicated To My incredible members of Ethereal Army. Thank you for understanding my random rants, strange noises and terrible singing as I was writing this on Guild Teamspeak. You guys have put up with a lot and I hope to provide this information to our members so we can continue to kick butt and have incredible laughs in the future.

Special Thanks To

This book would have never been formed if it were not due to the massive support of all my viewers on twitch, the ESO sub-reddit community, guild members of Ethereal Army, and my fellow streamers on Twitch.

People who directly helped me with content in the book:

Content Assistance:

Nightwolfmenace http://www.twitch.tv/nightwolfmenace

eGSpyderByte: http://www.twitch.tv/egspyderbyte

ThousandBorn

http://www.twitch.tv/thousandborn

Azortharion_ESO

http://www.twitch.tv/azortharion_eso

Tk_assassin_89

Killer Blossem

Icons and Image Help:

SirMrE & Dominoid

Editing my Bad Grammar:

Vengeful_Fiend

Perelas

Also for anyone I might have missed. Thank you so much for your help everyone.

http://www.twitch.tv/nightwolfmenace

http://www.twitch.tv/egspyderbyte

http://www.twitch.tv/thousandborn

http://www.twitch.tv/azortharion_eso


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A Letter to the Readers

First of all, let me thank each and everyone of you for taking the time to read or glance at what I have compiled for you. Whether you are an experienced player, brand new, or even thinking about playing the Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited, I hope you can find my version of the Travelers Guide to Tamriel useful.

Many of you may ask, “Why in the World would you go through the trouble of creating this?” So let me first explain that I, like most of you, am a lifelong gamer and fan. I am not a professional writer or always 100% correct. When I first started playing ESO during the PC beta, there were many days and fruitless google searches for the information to the game that was not yet released or scattered throughout dozens of websites. I have found myself, without realizing it, creating a binder of information for my own personal use. It was not long before my guild members, friends, and twitch viewers began asking for the reference material I was using.

Therefore, as a response and attempt to help my fellow companions on their own adventures and saving myself from going hoarse, answering the same question for the ten thousandth time on my stream, I began writing.

As I began writing I was driven deeper into the lore, the mechanics, and community then ever before. Although this has taken countless hours, I have had an absolute blast doing it and know this is only the beginning.

Contained in these pages are some of the nuggets of information I wish I had when this game was released in April 2014.

Another thing to note is that the Elder Scrolls community is the absolute best and that there are many more community members who have worked just as hard, if not harder, to produce information specific to what they are specialized in. These community members, in many categories, are absolute experts. This is why I have created “Shoutouts to the Community” sections where I spotlight these youtubers, streamers, blogs, websites, or forum communities that deserve to be referenced. Please go and give these people your love and support.

You, as readers, will find everything ranging from Lore, Skill Lines, and a perspective as to the mechanics that govern how to play the game. Although highly extensive, this guide will be constantly be growing to meet the dynamic evolving game for which I have fallen in love with.

You will not find builds on how to precisely play the game or the answer to the ever-repeated questions, “What is the best class? What race/class/role does the most damage?” etc. The answer to these questions is…. there is no answer. Over the course of the last year the popular play styles, argument for the best, and how to play your character, have drastically changed. Because there is no answer, you as a player should play how you want, the way you want.

Feel free to share with your friends, guild mates, and social media. This recourse is free to the public and will hopefully lead to some in-depth and incredible conversations. However, if any of you appreciate the hard


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work, feel free to come say so on my twitch stream or donate, http://www.twitch.tv/crazmadsci. Any money donated to the stream will go to improving the stream and giveaways to my always-supporting community.

Looking for updates on what has been edited and added to the guide? Sign up for my Listserv email newsletter by emailing me at [email protected] with the subject line ListServ.

This is absolutely way too much information to read at one time? I absolutely agree. Because of that, I am currently also working with the community at Tamriel Foundry and will be publishing the information as pages in the future on tamrielfoundry.com. I am hoping to put these pages up as fast as possible, however, I am not a programmer and have to work with others to get it set up.

Thank you again for your support. Also, if you see mistakes, have addition questions, or want to help contribute, feel free to email me as well.

http://www.twitch.tv/crazmadsci

mailto:[email protected]


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Table of Contents Introduction to Travelers Guide to Tamriel........................................................................ 1

About the Author ..................................... 2

Ethereal Army ........................................... 3

Dedicated To ............................................. 4

Special Thanks To .................................... 4

Chapter 1: Introduction to Elder Scrolls Online............................................................ 9

Timeline of Elder Scrolls Online Related to the other TES Games ........................... 1

Payment Models of ESO .......................... 2

Commonly Asked Questions: .................. 5

Chapter 2: Character Creation .................... 6

Consider your Role ................................... 7

Deciding on a Faction .............................. 7

Aldmeri Dominion ............................... 8

The Daggerfall Covenant...................... 9

Ebonheart Pact .................................... 11

Races: High Elves (Altmer) ........................ 13

Wood Elves (Bosmer) ............................. 15

Khajiit ...................................................... 17

Dark Elves (Dunmer) ............................. 19

Nord ......................................................... 21

Argonians ................................................ 23

Bretons .................................................... 25

Redguards ................................................ 27

Orcs .......................................................... 29

Imperial ................................................... 31

Racial Bonuses Comparisons: ................ 33

Player Classes .............................................. 35

Dragonknight .......................................... 35

Sorcerer .................................................... 36

Nightblade ............................................... 37

Templar .................................................... 38

Commonly Asked Questions ..................... 39

Chapter 3: Class and Skill Trees ................ 41

Classes ....................................................... 42

Templar ................................................ 42

Dragonknight ...................................... 45

Nightblade ............................................ 60

Sorcerer ................................................ 69

Weapons .................................................. 75

One Hand and Shield Error! Bookmark not defined.

Two Handed ........................................ 81

Duel Wield ........................................... 83

Bow ....................................................... 85

Destruction Staff ................................. 87

Restoration Staff .................................. 90

Armor ....... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Light Armor ........ Error! Bookmark not defined.

Medium Armor .. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Heavy Armor ...... Error! Bookmark not defined.

World ....... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Legerdmain ......... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Soul Magic ........... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Werewolf ............. Error! Bookmark not defined.


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Vampire Error! Bookmark not defined.

Guild ......... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Fighters Guild Mages Guild Undaunted .......... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Alliance War ........... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Assault ... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Support . Error! Bookmark not defined.

Emperor Error! Bookmark not defined.

Chapter 4: Adventuring .............................. 92

Questing: .................................................. 93

Exploration: ............................................. 93

Fast Travel System (Wayshrines) ............. 95

Experience: ................................................. 98

Mundus Stones ........................................ 95

Adventures Must have Items ..................... 100

Soul Gems ............................................ 100

Lockpicks............................................ 100

Potions ............................................... 101

Provisions ........................................... 101

Gold Gain .............................................. 102

Inventory Mangement ............................... 104

Chapter 5: Equipment .................................. 105

Crafted Sets .............. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Chapter 6: Combat/ UI . Error! Bookmark not defined.

Chapter 7: Crafting ...................................... 121

Chapter 8: Grouping and Guilds .............. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Chapter 9: Getting Started New Player Guide 136

Chapter 10: Questing and Achievements .. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Aldmeri Dominion ..... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Khenarthi’s Roost Quests ............. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Daggerfall Covenant Error! Bookmark not defined.

Achievements: ......... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Stros M’Kai Error! Bookmark not defined.

Achievements ...... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Betnikh ..... Error! Bookmark not defined.


Glenumbra Error! Bookmark not defined.


Ebonheart Pact ........ Error! Bookmark not defined.

Bleakrock Isle Error! Bookmark not defined.

Achievements .......... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Discover Bleakrock’s Locales ........ Error! Bookmark not defined.

Skyshards .. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Quests ....... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Stonefalls Quests ......... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Quests ....... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Davon’s Watch .... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Starved Plain ........ Error! Bookmark not defined.


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Delves: ....... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Inner Sea Armature .... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Chapter 1: Introduction to Elder Scrolls Online

The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) is a massively multiplayer online role-playing video game released for PC April 4, 2014 and console PS4 and Xbox1 June 9, 2015 by Zenimax Online Studios.

Effective March 17, 2015, the Elder Scrolls Online payment system converted from Pay to Play to a buy to play model. This made it so a monthly subscription fee is not required but optional and changed the title to the Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited.

Special Note: Do not worry if you purchase Elder Scrolls Online in stores that does not mention Tamriel Unlimited. Sometimes stores sell old package copies of the game but will work. Also the same rule goes with Game Time cards as well.

Even though it is part of the Elder Scrolls Series of commonly known titles: Arena,


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Daggerfall, Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim, The Elder Scrolls Online is the 1st Chronologically and takes place over the entire continent of Tamriel, representing pieces of all 8 provenances of Tamriel.

Timeline of Elder Scrolls Online Related to the other

TES Games

Of the Elder Scrolls Series titles mentioned previously, TES Skyrim is one of the most well known and compared to that of the Elder Scrolls Online. Knowing this common comparison, ESO is approximately 1000 years before Skyrim, in the 2nd Era.

Skyrim Related Frequency Asked Questions:

Will you be able to be Dragonborn?

No you will not be able to be Dragonborn in this game. There are no shouts that you can use in the game. However, Dragonborn are referenced in the game of Elder Scrolls Online.

Will you be able to kill dragons? Will you encounter dragons while adventuring in Tamriel?

There are no dragons that you will randomly encounter on your adventures. However, you will encounter some dragon-themed bosses in the game.

Will I be able to have player housing?

Player housing is currently not available in game or on the immediate plans of development for Zenimax Online Studios. However, may be developed sometime in the future.

Community Shout Out: ShoddyCast

If you are interested in a good overview youtube video on the perspective timeline to ESO to the other Elder Scrolls games to check out ShoddyCast who has an incredible lore series to the Elder Scrolls Series.

Elder Scrolls Lore: ESO in Perspective

https://youtu.be/cAV1F7DAlnU

https://youtu.be/cAV1F7DAlnU


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Payment Models of ESO

In order to play Elder Scrolls Online, players are required to have a constant internet connection and create an account for the Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited.

Different purchasable versions of the game contain all the same content but may upgrade player experience, available classes, what race/faction you can play with, or potential availability of DLC, as it is released in the future.

Standard Edition (PC, PS4, Xbox1)

Cost: $60.00

Includes the Base version of Elder Scrolls Online.

The Elder Scrolls Online Imperial Edition (PC, PS4, Xbox1)

Cost: $80.00

Includes the base version of the game from the Standard edition plus the Imperial upgrade.

Unlocks:

Imperial Horse Pledge of Mara Imperial Race

Nibenay Mudcrab vanity pet

The Elder Scrolls Online Imperial Edition Upgrade from Standard Edition (PC, PS4, Xbox1)

Cost: $20.00 or 2100 Crowns

Unlocks the features for the Imperial Edition

Adventurers Pack Cost: Pre-order Bonus or 1900 Crown Bundle

Unlocks: Treasure Map Containers: Pact, Covenant,

Dominion, and Coldharbour Bantam Guar

Capability to Play Any Race any Faction

ESO Plus Membership Although the mandatory subscription free for ESO is no longer required. An optional subscription to the game is provided for additional in game bonuses. Cost: Approximately a $15.00 value

Bonus: 1500 Crowns 10% Bonus Experience

Gold Inspiration (XP for crafting)

10% reduction in research timers for Crafting

Access to all DLC when released


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The Last Year in Review April 2014- 2015

Update 1 Version: 1.1.2 Patch Notes Released: May 22, 2014 Highlights: Craglorn, the first 4-man adventure zone specifically designed for veteran ranks. Contains two end game raids called “Trials” Aetherian Archive and Hel Ra Citadel. This also included weekly PvE Raid leaderboards giving legendary loot to the top 100 teams. Death recap, you can now see what killed you and how and what ability they were using and how much it hit you with.

Underdog Bonus Cyrodiil: get more

alliance points for fighting in lower population campaigns and get more alliance points.

Update 2 Version: 1.2.3

Patch Notes

Released: June 26. 2014

Highlights:

Crypt of Hearts: Veteran Dungeon originally scaled to veteran 12.

Field of View Slider: slide between 1st and 3rd person POV

Pick up random weapons and armor around the world

Update 3 Version: v1.3.3

Patch Notes

Released: August 4, 2014

Highlights:

Armor Dye: Unlockable armor dyes are available through completing achievements for customization of your characters

Guild Improvements:

Rank Improvements, can have up to 10 ranks

Guild Heraldry: Unlocks at 10 members. Designable tabards to personalize and represent your guild

Guild Traders: Guild based Auction Houses that can be hired for a week at a time.

Guild Bank Gold: Can now deposit and withdrawl guild bank.

Difficult Mode: For raids Aetherian Archieve and Hel Ra Citadel

http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/100211/patch-notes-v1-1-2


http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/124010/patch-notes-v1-3-3#latest


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Update 4 Version: 1.4.3 Patch Notes Released: September 15, 2014

Highlights:

Upper Craglorn expansion: Sanctum Ophidia and Dragonstar Arena end game Raids. Nirnhoned Crafting Trait: Item obtained by finishing Craglorn main story. Stones from crafted nodes only in upper Craglorn Group Improvements Veteran Ranks v12-14 Fully charged attacks restore attribute: Melee (Stamina) & Staffs (Magicka)


Patch Notes

Released: November 3, 2014

Highlights:

Veteran City of Ash: Vet Dungeon v14 Improved Facial Animation Dungeon Scaling: Group and Veteran Content scaled to party leader Undaunted Enclaves: Daily Dungeon Pledges Crafting Motif: Dwemer Crafted Set: Twice Born Star Chat Bubbles


Patch Notes

Released: March 3, 2015

Highlights:

Justice System Champion System Massive Game Rebalance Animation update Provisioing Revamp Collection System New beginning tutorial

http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/131752/patch-notes-v1-4-3#latest




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Commonly Asked Questions:

Are there any advantages to pre-order the game for console before June 9th 2015?

Yes, the pre-order bonus comes with the Adventures Pact Bundle. If you miss pre-ordering the game, you can still buy the Adventurers Pack for 1900 crowns, approximately a $19.00 value. However, you can purchase the adventurers pack through the crown store.

Will the Console Game be Different than the PC version?

No, everything available on the PC version will also be released on the console version. However, mentioned in ESO live May 22, 2015, major updates will be released on PC first before console.

Special Note: Text Communication in the ESO console version is highly limited and integrated voice chat built into the Xbox1 and PS4 will be used to communicate in the player community for console.

Will there be a Player Test Server (PTS) for Console?

No, There will not be a Player Test Server for console platforms. All testing for major content releases will be on the PC version of the game. Players will need to have a PC version of the game to test major content updates.

What is the Crown Store?

The Crown Store is a vanity store that sells consumables such as repair kits, soul gems, potions and food, bundle upgrades, Imperial edition and Adventurers Pack. Costumes, mounts, and vanity pets are also sold in the Crown Store. Also crafting motifs are sold in the crown store but can also be found throughout Tamriel, to learn how to craft all styles.

Can I purchase Crowns with In Game Gold?

No, you can only obtain crowns either through optional ESO plus membership or purchasing crowns directly through the Zenimax Store.

Can I use my PSN or Xbox Points to purchase Crowns?

Currently the only way to purchase crowns is through the Zenimax Online store. Point systems for console have not been mentioned by ZOS on if Crowns will ever be sold there.

Is the Crown Store A Pay to Win Situation?

No. Currently everything purchasable in the crown store is bound to your account and you cannot sell for in game gold. Also there is no gear or feature that would currently give you an advantage for spending crowns over the player who just has a copy of the game.


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Chapter 2: Character

Creation

Welcome to the section all of you have been daydreaming about, the development of your new best friend. Over the course of your travels in Tamriel, you will be spending hundreds of hours looking at your character and having them as your representation to the community of Tamriel.

This chapter of the guide will go in-depth for some of the categories such as Faction, Race and Class. We will hint at grouping and roles in this chapter but they will be discussed in depth in chapter 3.

Player will have to make important decisions such as choosing your race, class, and potential role, which you want to play. Some examples of roles are healing, tanking, and damage dealers (DPS). Sometimes players must even consider whether they will utilize stamina or magicka-based builds.


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Consider your Role There are several good things to know

when choosing a race and class. The first thing you should do when deciding that you want to be, is figure out what play style you wish to spend your time on. Once that happens you can start to eliminate choices that do not fit your play style. Any racial passives which only help by granting bonuses to leveling a weapon or armor type provide only short-term gains and will not aid you during end game play. Do not worry, your character choice can always change as you figure out what play style you really enjoy playing.

One of the most important racial bonuses people should start looking at when choosing a race, are bonuses to magicka, stamina, and health and in some cases, regeneration of those while in combat. I find that these passives are highly valuable because there is no situation in the game, including the champion system, where you can increase your overall attributes for your character no matter the situation.

*Note*: There are passives such as those in the undaunted skill line that can increase magicka, stamina, and health, based on the number of different armor types you are wearing. Also, while leveling and spending champion points, your attribute pools will increase in value naturally.

Typically, melee-build characters should look for races that support stamina-based play styles where casters should look for magicka. Suggested things to try would be a Redguard (king of stamina) for those melee builds, Nightblade, Templar (for DPS or tank spec), or Dragonknight. For casters who want

to do magicka-based DPS, I would highly recommend the Dunmer or the Altmer, due to the bonuses they receive to fire or destruction abilities. Common classes for those are Sorcerers, Dragonknights and Templars.

Deciding on a Faction Another important decision is which

faction you should play. There are three factions: the Aldmeri Dominion, Ebonheart Pact, and Daggerfall Covenant.

These factions are groups of people with similar goals, causes, or philosophy for which they are fighting to be the main ruling faction for the Empire. Each alliance has a chosen leader for which the players of the community fight for every day in Cyrodiil PvP to bring their faction glory.

Players will be given the choice for each character they create and the faction that they choose will determine who they will be able to group with in the game since players can only group with their own faction.

Each faction has three races, from which, you can choose to play with. However if you buy the Adventurers Pack/Explorers Pack, players will be able play any race with any faction.

** Note: If you make a friend in another faction, you will both have to be in the same faction in order to group.**

Let’s first go over the lore for the factions and how they formed.

**Special Note: Players who purchase the Imperial edition can play the imperial race on any faction. **


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Aldmeri Dominion

Provenances: Summerset Isle, Valenwood, and Elsweyr

Associated Races:

Altmer (High Elf)

Bosmer (Wood Elf)

Khajiit

Leader: Queen Ayrenn

Background:

“Three allies whose people rarely agree on anything. Three races as diverse as any within the world. Three states at war for their very lives, but unable to reconcile their differences in moments of piece. More than allies, but less than friends. And that must change.

Our Dominion is beset on many sides. The Ebonheart Pact and the Daggerfall Covenant attack us from the outside, but we have other enemies, more deadly and more dangerous to our alliance than those external foes.

If our wartime bonds are to remain strong, we must forge relationships and alliances in peace. Our Bosmeri hunters must provide food for our civilians as well as our soldiers. Our Khajiiti traders must provide goods as well as weapons. And our Aldmeri wizards must spend their magicka wisely to win the peace as well as the war.

Our first step is to join together in celebration as one of our alliance members, the Bosmer, renews their divine pact with a joining between their two spiritual leaders, the Silvenar and the Green Lady. Let all members of the Aldmeri Dominion recognize this wedding and participate in the revels that follow.

Our best wishes to the Silvenar, the Green Lady, and the Bosmeri people. May this new generation know strength in peace as well as war. ”

- Aicantar of Shimmerene “An Unusual Alliance”


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The Daggerfall Covenant

Provenances: High Rock and Hammerfell

Associated Races:

Breton

Redguard

Orc

Leader: High King Emeric

Background:

“The Daggerfall Covenant is a contract between the peoples of northwest Tamriel - Bretons, Redguards, and Orcs - that forms an alliance of mutual defense, with a vision of establishing peace and order across Tamriel. Indeed, the kings of Covenant take the Remans as their model, claiming to be the spiritual heirs of the Second Empire.

The Daggerfall Covenant was born in 2E 542, when the kings of High Rock allied to repulse an invasion by a horde of Reachmen under the command of Durcorach, “the Black Drake.” Howling out of the eastern mountains, the Reach barbarians razed Evermore, besieged Wayrest, sacked Camlorn, and marched as far as the gates of Daggerfall before the Bretons finally stopped them. In the wake of Durcorach’s defeat, the kings of Daggerfall, Wayrest, Camlorn, Evermore, and Shornhelm swore the so-called ‘first’ Daggerfall Covenant, a solemn oath to defend each other’s kingdoms and stand as one against all foreign foes.

High Rock prospered as the Bretons rebuilt, especially after 2E 561, when miners near Wayrest made the biggest orichalcum strike in recorded history. Emeric, Earl of the domain of Cumberland, the site of the mines, proposed to use the resulting wealth to enhance Wayrest’s fleet and improve trade throughout High Rock. King Gardner of Wayrest granted his approval, but before the fleet was completed, the dreaded Knahaten Flu swept through Wayrest and killed the entire Gardner royal household. Earl Emeric was elevated to the throne and House Cumberland became the second royal dynasty of Wayrest.


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The new King Emeric of Wayrest had been courting the daughter of King Ranser of Shornhelm, but in 2E 566 he married Princess Maraya of Sentinel. This nearly brought down the first Covenant when Ranser, who felt betrayed, launched a surprise attack on Wayrest. The kings of Camlorn, Evermore, and Daggerfall all sided with Wayrest, and Emeric’s superior diplomacy brought the armies of Sentinel into the fray to protect Emeric’s queen.

Furthermore, Emeric reached out to a great clan of Orcs in Wrothgar and offered them Orsinium in return for aid. Shornhelm was defeated and the Covenat was reborn: not as a mere Breton defensive pact, but as a new, multinational alliance.

The conclave that negotiated the alliance lasted for months, with argument and debate at every turn. The final result was the child of King Emeric’s vision, made manifest in dozens of compromises and carefully negotiated provisions. Freedom of trade was guaranteed throughout the region, and over the objections of the nobles of Rivenspire and the Crown Redguards of Alik’r, the Orcs were accepted as full members of the alliance. Eventually, all the city-states of northwest Tamriel swore fealty to the Covenant’s Royal Council, presided over by High King Emeric. As the architect of the alliance, he claimed supreme leadership.

So this is the modern Daggerfall Covenant, an alliance of the Redguards of northern Hammerfall, under King Fahara’jad, the Orcs of the mountainous northeast, under King Kurog of Orsinium, with the Breton King Emeric of High Rock residing from his palace in Wayrest. At its best, it is a noble alliance of honorable and chivalrous peoples, representing all the best aspects of the First and Second Empires. And from this solid foundation perhaps a third, even mightier Emire shall arise, providing all the peoples of Tamriel the benefits of mutual respect, vigorous trade, and reverence for the Divines.”

-Guide to the Daggerfall Covenant lorebook


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Ebonheart Pact

Provenances: Skyrim, Morrowind, and Black Marsh

Associated Races:

Nord Argonian

Dunmer (Dark Elf)

Leader: Jorunn the Skald-King

Background:

“The Ebonheart Pact has forged an unlikely alliance between the far-flung nations of Morrowind, Skyrim, and Black Marsh, bringing together the Dark Elves, Nords, and free Argonians for their mutual defense. Thanks to the size of its allied nations and the distances involved, the Pact remains relatively free of inner strife and discord. The Nords and Dark Elves have so much of their own territory to deal with that they have little time to spare for meddling in each other’s affairs.

The Ebonheart Pact came about in 2E 572 in response to the Second Akaviri Invasion of northern Tamriel. The Nords, Dark Elves, and free Argonians joined forces to save the rest of Tamriel from slaughter and subjugation. Forged in war, the alliance brought a sudden new power to the continent. At first, few believed the Dark Elves would be able to maintain an alliance with their ancient blood enemies and former slaves, but after a troubled decade, the Pact remains strong and intact.

A Great Moot Governs the Pact. This Council of Equals from each of their member races is not only known for hot tempers and loud voices, but also for mutual respect and an amazing will to hold the Pact together against all odds. Only as equals can the allies hope to mollify the pride of the Nords and the Dark Elves, while addressing the injuries suffered by the once-enslaved Argonians.


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Serving as an integral, perhaps even critical, part of the alliance, the Dark Elves of Morrowind are aloof, proud, and profoundly strange. They work hard to conceal their disdain for their “inferior” allies, but the current crisis requires the strong arms of Nords and wily resourcefulness of Argonians to keep rival alliances at bay. Wizardly craft and a deep well of experience serve the Dark Elves well, providing the Pact with the vital ability to react and adapt- something neither the Aldmeri Dominion nor the Daggerfall Covenant can claim to do as well. The Pact fields superior warriors and sorcerers. And they possess an asset that no other race can match. Three living gods- Almalexia, Vivec, and Sotha Sil-abide among them.

The Nords of Eastern Skyrim are fearless and aggressive, industrious and enterprising. They excel at war and prosper in trade, and they are without equal as explorers and trailblazers. Strong, stubborn, and hardy, they customarily solve problems through combat. Nords cheerfully rush into battle with a ferocity that frightens and appalls their enemies. They accept and even revel in their role as shock troops for the Ebonheart Pact. Nords are direct, not subtle: they champion simple solutions in the meetings of the Great Moot, though they are often outvoted by shrewd Argonians and sagacious Dark Elves. On the field of battle, however, they have no equals. Pact generals tend to be Nords, as are most of the soldiers in the field. The Nords don’t mind. This means they also get the first choice in the spoils of war.

By their decisive intervention against the Akaviri, the Argonians of Black Marsh won their freedom from the Dark Elf

enslavement, and the lessons they learned have made them a valuable member of the Pact. Reserved and alien, their expressionless faces and flat intonations make it difficult for other races to interpret their true motives. Nevertheless, the Argonians possess a cool intelligence. Slow to trust and hard to know, their natural agility makes them as comfortable employing magic as they are using stealth and steel. Years of defending their borders have made them experts in waging war against stronger, more traditionally organized armies. Equally at home on land or in water, they serve as scouts and skirmishers for Pact forces. Other aspects of Argonian culture are nearly incomprehensive to outsiders, including their social hierarchy and collective decision-making. Their representatives present strange proposals without explanation, but their allies have learned that there’s always a reason for everything they do.

Today, the young Joruun the Skald King serves as the acting High King of the Moot, but not all in the alliance support him. As the members of the Pact struggle to maintain and solidify their alliance, they must also deal with internal threats to each of their nations. Unsolved, these threats could destroy them before they ever face the Dominion or Covenant in open battle.”

- Guide to the Ebonheart Pact


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Races: High Elves (Altmer)

Faction: Aldmeri Dominion

Physiology: Some of the tallest of the humanoid races. Skin pale with a golden glow. Slender, prominently pointed ears and almond shaped eyes. Altmer typically have a smaller build than humans, generally not as strong. They are among the most intelligent and magically inclined races.

Racial Bonuses:

Background:

“The High Elves, the reclusive Altmer of the Summerset Isles, often make the argument that civilization in Tamriel was brought here by the Aldmeri of Old Ehlnofey. Insofar as Elves of Summerset consciously strive to maintain the heritage of their Merethic ancestors, their traditions are certainly closer to those of pre-First Era society than any other.

This is not to say that, in the thousands of years since the arrival of the first Aldmeri, the culture of the High Elves has not deviated and ramified in many ways, because it has. It is simply that, by viewing modern Aldmeri culture with the eye of a historian, we can perceive the outlines of its origins.

The High Elves strive for a simple elegance in their designs, in which flowing lines reflect graceful forms from the natural world. More-or-less abstract birds, flowers, and sea shells are common mxotifs, rendered in rich but muted colors. Armor will be tooled or embossed to represent scales or feathers, and even heavy cuirasses and helmets may sport styled wings or beaks.

Metallic items are often accented with a translucent greenish material called “glass.” This is a sort of jade-like obsidian that Elven smiths have learned to work by secretive processes known only to the Altmer. Though rigid enough to take a superb edge when cool, glass can be made malleable enough to assume almost any form, and the High Elves use it extensively on ornamental arms and armor. “

Racial Motifs 1: The High Elves by Doctor Alfidia Lupus, Imperial Ethnographer for Potenate Savirien-Chorak from 2E 418 to 431 lorebook

Notable: Altmer:

Mannimarco

Queen Aryenn


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Altmer Crafting:

Armor:

Weapons:


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Wood Elves (Bosmer)


Physiology: Bosmer are the smallest race in Tamriel and range in skin color from light brown to pale tan to light green. Bosmer are cousins of the Dunmer and Altmer. The Wood Elf lineage is less noble than that of the Altmer but have adapted to Tamriel.

Racial Bonuses:

Background:

“Next we complete our study of the Elves with the Bosmer of Valenwood. Though less influential in the world at large than their cousins the High Elves and the Dark Elves, the Wood Elves outnumber all other Mer in Tamriel, being relatively fecund (for Elves) and more, shall we say, amorously-inclined.

It’s commonplace to point out that the Wood Elves favor natural motifs, but as I learned, there’s more to it than that. Their reverence for Y’ffre and the story of the Earth Bones is reflected in the stylized fashion in which these natural motifs are represented. The Bosmer believe that all nature was in chaos before Y’ffre gave all plants, animals, and people their names, which defined the permanent form each species would take. Thus, each species is depicted by a particular, idealized motif, which represents the ur-form it was given by Y’ffre.

This is reflected in the designs that appear everywhere on Wood Elven arts, crafts, and clothing. These designs are drawn from a large repertoire, as there is a design for each species of plat and animal in the Bosmer’s world, but the use and depiction of these designs is culturally prescribed, and there is very little room for variation. Unorthodox usage of these stylized pictograms is considered improper, and just plain ‘wrong.’…”

Racial Motifs 3: The Wood Elves, by Doctor Alfidia Lupus

Notable Bosmer:

Aeradan - Camoran King of the Wood Elves


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Bosmer Crafting:


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Khajiit


Physiology: Khajiit are one of the beast races that inhabit Tamriel, primarily their home province of Elsweyr. They are known for their natural agility and stealthily feline abilities. They also commonly refer to themselves in the third person.

Racial Bonuses:

Background:

“…There are superficial similarities between the motifs and designs of the Khajiit and the Redguards, perhaps because they both inhabit hot, arid environments, but where the Redguards favor long, flowing curves, the Cat-Folk are devoted to circular and crescent form moon-shapes. The Shapes of Masser and Secunda in all their phases appear everywhere on Khajiiti clothing and ornaments. The falcate silver of the crescent moon also brings to mind the Khajiiti claws that spring from pads in their hands and feet, a subtle but ever-present threat to softer folk…”

Racial Motifs 7: The Khajiit, by Doctor Alfidia Lupus

Notable Khajiit:

Razum-Dar


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Khajitt crafted Items:


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Dark Elves (Dunmer)

Faction: Ebonheart Pact

Physiology: Most Dunmer have red eyes with skin tones varying from green tint to a common gray or light blue hue. Dunmer are commonly known to be strong, intelligent, and quick. Both male and female Dunmer have heights similar to most of the human races. Meaning, they are taller than the Bosmer and shorter than the Altmer.

Racial Bonuses:

Background:

“The Dark Elves, originated in the Summerset Isles before their migration to Morrowind. Their culture can thus be considered an offshoot of the Aldmeri, though in many ways that of the Dunmer is a reaction to that of Summerset rather than an extension.

Elegance is as much a goal for the Dark Elves as it is for the High Elves, but beyond that their styles could not be more different. Morrowind is a far harsher environment than fair Summerset, and that rigor is reflected in Dunmeri designs. The Dark Elves also draw on nature for their inspiration, but in place of avian and floral motifs, Dunmeri artifice draws on the curved and spiky forms of the carapaces of the giant insects that inhabit Morrowind. Elegant these are, but also fearsome, a constant reminder that the Dunmer daily fight for their very existence.

Ebony is the favored metal for Dark Elven heavy armor, but even in their light armors and shields, steel and steel alloys are often lacquered in dark tones to appear ebony-like. Clothing, armor included, is often accented by flaring extensions at shoulder, crest or hip, with overlapping geometric designs that may have been borrowed from Dwarven culture, though Divayth bristled at the idea of any Dwemeri influence on the Dunmer.”

Racial Motifs 2: The Dark Elves, by Doctor Alfidia Lupus

Notable Dunmer:

General Yeveth Noramil

Tanval Indoril


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Dunmer Crafting:


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Nord


Physiology: The Nords are a race of men who typically are as light-skinned, fair-haired, and imposing in size and build. Along with the Redguards and Orcs, the Nords are on average more muscular and larger of size than the other races of Nirn. They are known to have an innate resistance to the freezing cold as well as a fierce and uncompromising mindset in the face of adversity; physiological and psychological traits that are likely a consequence of countless generations having successfully endured the harsh, overcast northern climates of Atmora and Skyrim.

Racial Bonuses:

Background:

“The Nords, the first human culture on Tamriel to successfully resist, and even displace, Elven hegemony on the continent.

Not unlike the Bosmer, the Nords rely heavily on stylized, often interlocking natural motifs in their architecture, crafts, and clothing. However, where the Wood Elves’ designs are mainly floral, the Nords emphasize animals, in particular the eight “totem” animals of the old Atmoran religion: wolf, hawk, whale, snake, moth, fox and so forth. They also allow for much more variation of design, to the point where some of the animal motifs are so abstract they are difficult to recognize. Indeed, areas of trim are often filled with interlocking geometric designs that evoke nothing natural at all.

Nord design varies in other ways from that of the Elves as well, in general relying on simple, heavy yet dynamic forms where Elven work would be slender, elegant, and understand. Nothing the Nords make is understated, ever…”

Racial Motifs 4: The Nords, by Doctor Alfidia Lupus

Notable Nord:

Jorunn the Skald-King


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Nord Crafting:


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Argonians


Physiology: Argonians start out in life as eggs. How Argonians go through maturity is rather debated and poorly understood. Argonians have gills on their necks and are covered in scales. This gives the Argonians the ability to breathe underwater. Argonians have a wide variety of cranial features such as fins, feathers, ridges, spines, spikes, or horns. Female Argonians have been known to pierce their cranial features.

Racial Bonuses:

Background:

The Argonians are possessed of a cool intellect, and are well versed in the magical arts, stealth, and the use of blades. They are also guerilla warfare experts, long accustomed to defending their borders from invaders. They often serve as the scouts and skirmishers for the forces of the Pact.

-elderscrolls.wikia.com/Argonians

“… Everywhere I looked I saw Argonian hangings, sculptures, and fetishes, all made from natural materials such as shells, bone, and feathers, glowing with bright spiral and geometric designs. If these objects were representative of what the Argonians used in their home regions, then snakeskin, tortoise shell, jagged teeth, turquoise and jade, all of which we would consider exotic materials, must be common place in Black Marsh….”

Racial Motifs 9: The Argonians, by Doctor Alfidia Lupus

Notable Argonians:

Sees-All Colors


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Argonian Crafting:


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Bretons

Faction: Daggerfall Covenant

Physiology: Bretons are sometimes called “Manmeri” as a result of interbreeding with the Aldmeri-Nedic peoples and Aldmeri-Atmorn, which means “man-elf.” Although their Aldmeri ancestry is shadowed by their appearance, they still inherit the magical affinity of their elven blood. Their physical features resemble their Nedic ancestors, including their pale skin tone and the obvious physical resemblance to Imperials/Nords, but some still inherit the frail, sharp appearance of the elves, along with the arrogance, and some have slight point to their ears.

Racial Bonuses:

Background:

“The Bretons were the last major group of humans on Tamriel to free themselves from their Elven overlords, and in many ways their long vassalage to the Direnni defines their culture. They are fiercely autonomous; each kingdom in High Rock jealous of its individual sovereignty, but Breton society retains a feudal structure that hearkens back to the rank-obsessed Direnni Hegemony. The Bretons are nearly as fractious as their cousins the Nords, but their long tutelage under the Elves makes them open to the magical arts, rather than suspicious of them.

How is it reflected in their arts and crafts? Let’s look at Breton armor, for example. The gleaming heavy armor of the Breton knight is as tough and practical as that of a Nord housecarl, but its pleasing form exhibits a subtle sophistication that is reminiscent of Eleven elegance. One sees the same influence in Breton weaponry, which is beautiful yet undeniable deadly…”

Racial Motifs 5: The Bretons, by Doctor Alfidia Lupus

Notable Breton:

King Emeric


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Breton Crafting:


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Redguards


Physiology: The Redguard’s innate agility and prolific level of endurance, allows them to excel in any activity that demands sustained effort, most notably combat. They are likewise blessed with a very hardy constitution that allows them to resist poison and disease.

The Redguards skin tone can range from light brown to nearly black and their hair texture ranges from thick and wavy to tightly curled and wiry. Redguards are also largely average in height, well muscled and sturdy, much like the Nords and the Orcs.

Racial Bonuses:

Background:

“…The Redguards’ ancient home of Yokuda and their current province of Hammerfell are (or were, in the case of Yokuda) deserts. To stay cool, and for protection from the elements, Redguard clothing tends to be light, long and flowing, and these flowing curves are carried into their artisanal designs. Their robes and armor are often accented by flared curves at joints and on headgear. Even their swords tend to be curved.

In contrast, their architecture appears rather heavy, though on close inspection this is mainly for the purpose of insulation from the desert’s extremes of temperature. Zirumir showed me the chapel’s clever system of louvered ventilation ducts in the clerestory, designed to catch the slightest breeze and funnel it down into the nave…”

Racial Motifs 6: The Redguards, by Doctor Alfidia Lupus


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Redguard Crafting:


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Orcs


Physiology: With skin tones ranging from light green to dark brown, a heavily muscular frame, and a considerable stature, the Orsimer stand apart amongst Mer and Men. They are also the only race to display tusks and protruding bone ridges. Born without the magical affinity, the Orcs have developed a strong warrior culture that makes them highly valuable in hand-to-hand combat.

Racial Bonuses:

Background:

“Strange to think that a fold as brutish as the Orcs seem to be could design and create such sophistication! Of course, they’re known across Tamriel as fine armorers, but I’d always assumed that was due to their great strength rather than skill. A glance at their arms and armor were enough to show me how wrong my assumption had been. Though never ornate or over-embellished, their metalwork, though even similar and more utilitarian than the Nords’ displaces a deep understand of the laws of proportion, symmetry, and harmonic congruity. An Orcish ward may be a weapon of violence, but to contemplate the dynamic sweep of its blade, visually balance by its heavy but shapely hilt. Obviously molded to flow into the hand of its wielder- why, it’s almost restful and reassuring…”

Racial Motifs 8: The Orcs, by Doctor Alfidia Lupus


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Orc Crafting


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Imperial

Faction: Neutral (Cyrodiil)

Physiology: Imperials can be differentiated from Bretons and Nords by their fair to swarthy skin, as opposed to the typically fairer complexion of Bretons and Nords. Imperial skin tone is not as dark as that of Redguards. Imperials also have slightly sharper faces than other races of men. They are descended from the Native Nedic and Cyro-Nordic peoples that were enslaved by the Ayleids.

Racial Bonuses:

Background:

Imperials, like any race, have had their share of both internal and external conflicts in their native homeland. Due to relatively frequent invasions from various Elven civilizations and simply Cyrodiil's sheer size, unification of the region as a whole was proven a difficult task.

The earliest known Empire in Cyrodiil was the Empire of the Ayleids, which had ruled since before recorded history. The Fall of White-Gold Tower in 1E 243 is the year generally associated with the end of Ayleid rule over humans in Cyrodil. Following this came the Alessian Empire, created by the former human slaves of the Ayleids, including Alessia. The Empire, alongside the monotheistic religion that had grown to prominence during the same time, the Alessian Order, eventually collapsed in a war known as the War of Righteousness.1


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Imperial Crafting:


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Racial Bonuses Comparisons: Now for the long awaited analysis of the racial bonuses! Pulling together all the racial bonuses

and ranking each category from largest benefit to the lowest, all races have benefits to experience gain to either armor or a weapon. All other passives are shown below as a comparison to each other by category.

Max Magicka Max Stamina Max Health 1) 4/7/10%- Altmer,

Breton 2) 3/6/9% Dunmer*

(combined from 2 passives)

1) 4/7/10%-Redguard & Imperial

2) 3/6/9% Bosmer 3) 2/4/6% Orc &

Dunmer

1) 4/8/12%- Imperial 2) 2/4/6%- Orc 3) 1/2/3%- Argonian &

Nord

Magicka Recovery in Combat Stamina Recovery in Combat Health Recovery in Combat 1) 3/6/9%- Altmer,

1) 21%: Bosmer 2) 3/6/9%-Redguard

Restore Stamina when damaging with melee Attacks- Redguard

1) 10/20/30%- Khajiit, Orc, Nord 10% chance to restore health (scale with stamina)-Imperial

Increased Damage (scales by level):

Cold, Fire, Shock: 2/3/4%- Altmer Damage while stealth 3/6/10%: Bosmer & Khajiit Weapon Critical 2/4/6%- Khajiit Charged Attacks 2/4/6%: Orc Spell Damage with Fire 3/5/7%: Dunmer

Resistance (scales by level):

Poision, Disease: Bosmer, Argonian Spell: Breton Fire: Dunmer Reduce all incoming damage 2/4/6%: Nord

Unique Abilities:

Decrease stealth radius 1,2,3 meters: Bosmer & Khajiit Reduce cost of spells 1/2/3%: Breton Reduce cost of sprint; 4/8/12%: Orc Sprint speed increase 3/6/10%: Orc Increased healing received 2/4/6%: Argonian


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Swimming Speed 50% Faster: Argonian Whenever you drink a potion, you gain 6% of your max health, stamina, and magicka:

Argonian

So now you may ask…. So what makes this information useful? Well as you can see there are several unique ways to see that in some situations the choice of one race other the other has significant bonuses.

For example it is shown that the Redguard has a better stamina regeneration than the Bosmer with a 1% higher overall stamina the same recovery in combat but has the opportunity to restore additional stamina while attacking with a melee unit.

The imperial race has a 4x maximum health value over the Argonian and the Nord however both those races have resistances. The nord may have less overall health but can reduce all incoming damage up to 6%.

Balancing the options of racial bonuses to your own play style could lead to an optimum build. Don’t be afraid to play around with it!


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Player Classes Elder Scrolls Online classes:

Dragonknight Sorcerer Nightblade Templar

There are three class skill lines specific to each class. There are five active ability slots and an ultimate per weapon bar. You unlock the second weapon bar at level 15 for a total of 10 active abilities and two ultimate.

Each of the three skill lines provide a unique template from which you can design your character to your play style; heals, tanky, or butt kicking damage dealer. You could even create a character that is a combination of those traits.

You should in no way feel restricted by your class choice and your style of play. In some situations, some classes exhibit stronger tendencies to heal, tank or even sneaky damage deal for those of you who wish to min/max. However the game is intended and designed to be flexible to any style of play.

Now that we have gone over the racial bonuses, it is time to talk about class choice. Players can choose four classes from, Dragonknight, Sorcerer, Templar, and Nightblade. Let us break down the class choices and what they all have to offer and potential approaches you can apply for each character.

Dragonknight “These skillful masters-at-arms use the

ancient Akaviri martial arts tradition of battle-spirit, and wield fearsome magic that pounds, shatters and physically alters the world around them.”

The Dragonknight is the closest thing a player can get to a warrior class. These players apply the skill trees, Ardent Flame, Draconic Power, and Earthen Heart. This fiery class is by far one of the most common choices for it’s damage mitigation usage as end game tanks and crazy high DPS dealers.

Ardent Flame: This class skill tree is the most offensive skill line of the three. The ardent flame harnesses flame damage to deal massive damage over time (DoT) effects, pull enemies in closer, and even provide a few debuff effects.

Draconic Power: Harnesses the power of the dragon with earth grabbing talons, regeneration for health with green dragon blood, and even reflect spells for defensive bonuses. This class is in many ways one of the best skill trees for survivability to continue to fight and take down those enemies.


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Earthen Heart: Is the bread and butter of crowd control and damage mitigation. Not only do you use the power of rock to pound people into the ground and petrify them into statues, you can even bring up a cloud of ash to deal damage and get it into your enemies eyes to reduce their movement speed.

Common Race Choice:

Imperial Orc (DC) Nord (EP)

Dunmer (EP) Redguard (DC) Argonian (EP)

Redguard is a great choice for stamina DK. Dunmer to help make that ardent flame skill tree shine. The rest are typically chosen as great tanks.

Sorcerer “Sorcerers can use conjuration and

destruction spells to hurl lightning bolts and create shock fields, wield dark magic to snare and stun, and summon Daedric combat followers from Oblivion to assist them.”

The sorcerer is the definition of mage or wizard type characters. These classes are commonly used as DPS or healers but have shown up a few times as tanks, using magicka summoned armor. These fun characters can be seen streaking away in PvP or actually summoning pets to fight for them.

Dark Magic: In many cases, is one of the best crowd control skill bars allowing you to imprison and curse enemies. This skill line even allows you to conjure dark crystals to shoot your enemies and stun or even exchange an attribute for other attributes.

Deadric Summoning: Allows conjuration of creatures and minions to fight for you, help deal damage, or take damage. This skill bar also allows you to create wards or summoned armor to protect yourself in battle, making it ideal for those Sorcerer tanks.

Storm Calling: Is one of the most offensive class skill lines using the power of lightning to deal massive amounts of damage. Between streaking away to hide from the massive zergs in Cyrodiil and improving your weapon damage, this skill line provides unique abilities to create a character special to your own design.

Common Race Choices:

Altmer (AD) Breton (DC) Dunmer (EP)


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Nightblade “Nightblades are adventurers and

opportunists with a gift for getting in and out of trouble. Relying variously on stealth, blades, and speed. Nightblades thrive on conflict and misfortune, trusting to their luck and cunning to survive.”

Nightblades are commonly the sneakiest of assassins. Do not anger one or they will stab you in the back. Not only do these players have incredible damage coming out of combat but are commonly found jumping at you during the most unlucky of times in PvP. These characters are typically damage dealing and on occasion you will find a unique healer using the siphoning tree or even a tank.

Assassination: This skill tree allows heavy damage dealing through impaling for executes or ambushing coming into battle. These abilities can let you evade enemies or even mark enemies for your friends to attack.

Shadow: As the skill line describes, this skill line is for those sneaky assassins providing abilities to terrify your enemy, scaring them away, or even blending into the night, and disguise yourself for periods of time.

Siphoning: What is better than sucking the power and soul out of your enemies? Not only can you funnel the health from enemies and help heal your allies. You can also reduce your opponent’s agility,

improve weapon damage, and movement speed.

Common Race Choice:

Bosmer (Wood Elf): (AD) Khajiit: (AD)

Imperial: Imperial Edition Redguard: (DC)


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Templar “These traveling knights call upon the

powers of light and the burning sun to deal massive damage to their enemies while restoring health, magicka, and stamina to their allies.”

Templars are another class that is capable to be a jack-of-all-trades. While you can use holy light to heal your allies, you can also harness the heat of the sun to do fire damage, and you can form light to create spears as well as throw javelins at your enemies. This class is most commonly found as one of the most powerful healers in the game. But these players can also be great tanks and DPS players.

Common Races Choice:

Breton: (DC)

Altmer: (AD)

Dunmer: (EP)

Aedric Spear: This skill line can summon spears and javelins to do incredible amounts of damage. Not only is this class great with powerful passives to improve weapon damage, you can also summon powerful shields or provide support by stunning and providing synergies to restore ally attributes.

Dawn’s Wrath: If summoning spears is not enough you can use fire to deal other amounts of great damage. You can eclipse enemies in light that can reflect back their own damage. Also now known for its famous nickname, the “Jesus Beam” burns enemies with holy fire and is found here as an incredibly fun execute against enemies.

Restoring Light: Famous for powers of healing, this skill line offers a great line of survivability for those solo players while providing one of the strongest burst heals in the game. You even have the power to consecrate the souls of the dead and restore health and stamina from fallen corpses.


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Now for that ever-so-popular question series…. What is the best class? What is the best race/class combination? What class should I play for X role? Will I be able to adapt my choices later in the future? Why do factions matter? Will I be able to play with my friends from other factions? So let’s clear up any confusion you may have and answer these questions while also providing the information and tools you will need to be fully informed to make the decision that could help the process of creating your characters.

Commonly Asked Questions

What is the best Class?

There is no best class to play in the game. During any period of time the popular builds, top players and communities may be playing one specific race/class/role but the game is constantly changing. What may be so called the “best” today will not be that way tomorrow. Play what you want the way that you want.

What is the best race/class combination?

Much like the question above, the combination for race and class do not matter significantly when it comes to enjoyment of the game. Only when it comes to being a competitive min/max player would the decision of class race and role would it make a difference.

Does the choice of race for my class and play style, really matter all that much?

I will not deny that the choice of race and play style, working hand and hand, can make your character stronger. However, players can play well and be competitive with unique combinations of races, classes and play styles.

What are the most common class choices and play styles (tank, healers, and DPS)?

Before I go into the current most popular of choices for who tanks, heals or deals the most damage, it is still entirely possible to be successful to do all three things on each of the classes. Arguably though there are some classes that make it easier to accomplish various roles over other classes, I encourage you to not be discouraged if your class is not listed in the idea role you wish to play. It is still very possible for you to accomplish your goal.

Disclaimer: “Each Class can fulfill each role, but some are easier to play

and gear than others”


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Tanks: The Dragonknight is one of the most common and popular of choices due to its damage mitigation and crowd controlling abilities. The second most common choice of tank is also the Templar due to their survivability capability.

Imperial: imperial edition no faction restriction Orc: (DC) Argonian: (EP) Nord: (EP)

All of these classes improve health, however, both the Orc and Imperial have improved magicka and health values. Argonian is unique as a tank due to up to 6% increased on healing received. Nords are interesting tanks due to a 6% reduction in all incoming damage.

Healers: The Templar has been notorious as one of the best healers in the game by having one of the 3 skill lines being for healing. Not only that but one of the only burst heals in game are found on the Templar line. Other great healers are also Sorcerers, creative Nightblade builds, and support Dragonknight heals on the side. Since update 1.6, Dragonknights have become very strong and powerful healers.

Altmer (AD) Breton: (DC) Dunmer-:(EP)

Both the Altmer and Dunmer offer unique bonuses for destructive damage or fire damage with increases to magic. The Altmer is the only one of these three races that has improved regeneration in combat. An interesting additional passive for the Bretons allows for a total of 3% reduction of spell cost

DPS: Every class can successfully DPS in game

So now what? How, in the world, can you make the important decisions to play a character you can really stand behind? Well the answer is simple. Read the lore, descriptions, and breakdowns below, use the process of trial and error, and find what you really enjoy. Maybe the Templars are considered the best healers in the game but you really enjoy the Nightblade. You can become a successful healer as a Nightblade; therefore you should play the way you want. This is an Elder Scrolls Game.


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Chapter 3: Class and Skill Trees

As players level their characters, achieve goals in the Guilds, as well as complete Main Story, they begin to clear content in the world. Players gain an incredible number of available bonuses, passives and skills they can use in their adventures. This chapter contains Skill Lines and Morphs for:

Classes

Templar Dragonknight Nightblade Sorcerer

Weapons:

One Hand and Shield Two Handed Duel Wield Bow Destruction Staff Restoration Staff

World- (Coming)

Legerdemain Soul Magic Werewolf Vampire

Guild- (Coming)

Fighters Guild Mages Guild Undaunted

Alliance War- (Coming)

Assault Support Emperor


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Classes

Templar “These traveling knights call upon the powers of light and the burning sun to deal massive

damage to their enemies while restoring health, magicka, and stamina to their allies.”

Templars are another class that is capable to be a jack-of-all-trades. While you can use holy light to heal your allies, you can also harness the heat of the sun to do fire damage, and you can form light to create spears as well as throw javelins at your enemies. This class is most commonly found as one of the most powerful healers in the game. But these players can also be great tanks and DPS players.

Aedric Spear This skill line can summon spears and javelins to do incredible amounts of damage. Not

only is this class great with powerful passives to improve weapon damage, you can also summon powerful shields or provide support by stunning and providing synergies to restore ally attributes.

Ultimate:


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Active Abilities


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Passsives:


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Dawn’s Wrath If summoning spears is not enough you can use fire to deal other amounts of great damage. You can eclipse enemies in light that can reflect back their own damage. Also now known for its famous nickname, the “Jesus Beam” burns enemies with holy fire and is found here as an incredibly fun execute against enemies.

Ultimate:

Active Abilities:


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Passives:


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Restoring Light Famous for powers of healing, this skill line offers a great line of survivability for those solo players while providing one of the strongest burst heals in the game. You even have the power to consecrate the souls of the dead and restore health and stamina from fallen corpses.

Ultimate:

Active Abiltiies:


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Passives:


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Dragonknight “These skillful masters-at-arms use the ancient Akaviri martial arts tradition of battle-spirit,

and wield fearsome magic that pounds, shatters and physically alters the world around them.”

The Dragonknight is the closest thing a player can get to a warrior class. These players apply the skill trees, Ardent Flame, Draconic Power, and Earthen Heart. This fiery class is by far one of the most common choices for it’s damage mitigation usage as end game tanks and crazy high DPS dealers.

Ardent Flame

This class skill tree is the most offensive skill line of the three. The ardent flame harnesses flame damage to deal massive damage over time (DoT) effects, pull enemies in closer, and even provide a few debuff effects.

Ultimate:


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Active Abilities:


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Passive Ability:


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Draconic Power Harnesses the power of the dragon with earth grabbing talons, regeneration for health with green dragon blood, and even reflect spells for defensive bonuses. This class is in many ways one of the best skill trees for survivability to continue to fight and take down those enemies.

Ultimate:

Active Abilities:


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Passives:


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Earthen Heart It is the bread and butter of crowd control and damage mitigation. Not only do you use the

power of rock to pound people into the ground and petrify them into statues, you can even bring up a cloud of ash to deal damage and get it into your enemy’s eyes to reduce their movement speed.

Ultimate:

Active Abilities:


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Passive Abilities:


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Nightblade “Nightblades are adventurers and opportunists with a gift for getting in and out of trouble.

Relying variously on stealth, blades, and speed. Nightblades thrive on conflict and misfortune, trusting to their luck and cunning to survive.”

Nightblades are commonly the sneakiest of assassins. Do not anger one or they will stab you in the back. Not only do these players have incredible damage coming out of combat but are commonly found jumping at you during the most unlucky of times in PvP. These characters are typically damage dealing and on occasion you will find a unique healer using the siphoning tree or even a tank.

Assassination This skill tree allows heavy damage dealing through impaling for executes or ambushing coming into battle. These abilities can let you evade enemies or even mark enemies for your friends to attack.

Ultimate:


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Active Abilities:


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Passives:

Shadow As the skill line describes, this skill line is for those sneaky assassins providing abilities to terrify your enemy, scaring them away, or even blending into the night, and disguise yourself for periods of time.

Ultimate:


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Active Abilities:


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Passive:


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Siphoning What is better than sucking the power and soul out of your enemies? Not only can you funnel the health from enemies and help heal your allies. You can also reduce your opponent’s agility.

Ultimate:

Active Abilities:


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Passive Abilities:


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Sorcerer “Sorcerers can use conjuration and destruction spells to hurl lightning bolts and create

shock fields, wield dark magic to snare and stun, and summon Daedric combat followers from Oblivion to assist them.”

The sorcerer is the definition of mage or wizard type characters. These classes are commonly used as DPS or healers but have shown up a few times as tanks, using magicka summoned armor. These fun characters can be seen streaking away in PvP or actually summoning pets to fight for them.

Dark Magic In many cases, is one of the best crowd control skill bars allowing you to imprison and curse enemies. This skill line even allows you to conjure dark crystals to shoot your enemies and stun or even exchange an attribute for other attributes.

Ultimate:

Active Abilities:


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Passive Ability:


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Deadric Summoning

Allows conjuration of creatures and minions to fight for you, help deal damage, or take damage. This skill bar also allows you to create wards or summoned armor to protect yourself in battle, making it ideal for those Sorcerer tanks.

Ultimate:

Active Ability:


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Passive Abilities:


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Storm Calling Is one of the most offensive class skill lines using the power of lightning to deal massive amounts of damage. Between streaking away to hide from the massive zergs in Cyrodiil and improving your weapon damage, this skill line provides unique abilities to create a character special to your own design.

Ultimate:

Active Abilities:


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Passive Abilities:


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Weapons One Hand and Shield Abilities:


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Passives:


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Two Handed Active Abilities:


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Passive Abilities:


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Duel Wield


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Passive Abilities:


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Bow Abilities:


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Passives:


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Destruction Staff Abilities:


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Passive Abilities:


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Restoration Staff Abilities


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Passive Abilities:


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Chapter 4: Adventuring 101

Congratulations, you have officially chosen your race, class, and faction! Now with empty bags and a hunger for adventure, you must prepare for the journey ahead. Look no further! This chapter will contain tips & tricks that will help every adventurer prepare for their journey.

In your encounters, players will see the vast expanse of geography that is the continent of Tamriel. From face melting lava, to freezing cold temperatures you must be prepared for any situation. Although treacherous, you will have your breath taken by the astounding sights ranging from the aurora borealis of Bleakrock Isle, to the first trees of Tamriel in Grahtwood of the Valenwood Provenance.

Now that your character is created and you have gotten a taste for the massive array of skill trees in the game, we are now going to discuss the ins and outs of the typical daily happenings of Tamriel. This chapter will include the following topics:

Questing

Exploration

Mundus Stones

Experience

Adventures Must have Items

Gold Gain Inventory Management


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Questing:

Questing is in many cases, one of the best ways to progress your character in the Elder Scrolls Online. Not only do quests provide the information, background, and interesting interactions with the citizens of Tamriel, it is one of the most rewarding ways to level.

Rewards for Questing can include:

Gold Experience Inspiration (XP for Crafting)

o Crafting Writs Only Skill Points

o Achievement Based Quests Alliance Points

o PvP Currency Armor and or Gear

There are several different categories of Quests. They include, Main Story Line, Side quests, Guild Quests, Crafting Writs, and Cyrodiil PvP.

One great thing to know that for all Main Story line quests, a few guild quests, and all quests that have an associated achievement, you will be rewarded a skill point.

Exploration: There are different types

of things you can encounter while on your travels, ranging from Killing world bosses, saving towns, encountering lying Khajiits, or helping travelers light their camping fires. You can also discuss how in the world you can get from one place to the other.

Special Note: Once you explore an area, kill its boss, do the quests associated with it or just run upon it. The icons on your map will turn from Black to White. If you are looking for things to do in a zone see what on your map is not White yet.

Let us go over a few of the basics of what you will find on your map while exploring.


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Basic City Map:

This is the city map of Daggerfall city in Glenumbra. I have labeled most of the basic icons that you will see in the cities across your adventures. If there is ever a icon you do not know what it means, put your cursor over it and the name of the icon will show.

In the map above, you can see that there are a wide variety of icons on the map that can help you navigate the city, however, there are even more found in each zone. By clearing everything on the map, icons will turn from black to white. Many of these exploration icons will give you even extra experience to help progress your character. If you feel you are under leveled, check your map to see if you missed something. Sometimes you even get bonus experience by gaining achievements clearing a world boss or delve.


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Fast Travel System (Wayshrines) Due to the magnitude of size for the map of Tamriel there is a built in Fast travel system set for the game. This fast travel system is called Wayshrines. Each zone for which you can explore will have a series of wayshrines for which you can transport to. If you transport from one wayshrine to another it is absolutely free. However if you are willing adventurers can pay a fee to directly transport to a wayshrine of their choosing.

Fun fact: Beware if you teleport often. The cost of traveling to wayshrines maxes at about 1000g right after you pay to travel. Each second after you travel the cost will go down in price until you reach a base value according to your level.

Want to save some money? Here is a special trick. Open up your party, guild, or social list and travel to a friend. This will travel to the closest wayshrine to your friend and will in many casts save you thousands of Gold.

Mundus Stones Mundus Stones are shrines that will grant a permanent buff to a player. You can see your current Mundus Stone effect under active effects in the game. Depending on the constellation a player chooses to worship, Elder Scrolls Games will grant a specific buff.

Players will only be able to use one active Mundus Stone at a time unless they use the crafted armor set, Twice-Born Star that was released in Patch 1.5 in the game.

Each Mundus stone is found in each of the three factions as well as in Cyrodiil.

Special Note:To increase the buff of the Mundus Stone, players can use the Divine trait on armor, which increases the effect of a Mundus Stone.

Divine Trait: Uses Sapphire in crafting


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List of Mundus and Zone Location:

The Lady: Increase Armor value

Locations:

Aldmeri Dominion: Auridon

Daggerfall Covenant: Glenumbra

Ebonheart Pact: Stonefalls

The Lover: Reduces Damage Taken from Spells

Aldmeri Dominion: Auridon

Daggerfall Covenant: Glenumbra

Ebonheart Pact: Stonefalls

The Lord: Increase Maximum Health

Aldmeri Dominion: Grahtwood

Daggerfall Covenant: Stormhaven

Ebonheart Pact: Deshann

The Mage: Increases Maximum Magicka


Daggerfall Covenant: Stormhaven

Ebonheart Pact: Deshaan

The Tower: Increases Maximum Stamina


Daggerfall Covenant: StormHaven

Ebonheart Pact: Deshaan

The Atronach: Increases Magicka Regeneration

Aldmeri Dominion: Greenshade

Daggerfall Covenant: Rivenspire

Ebonheart Pact: Shadowfen

The Serpent: Increases in-combat Health Recovery




The Shadow: Increases Critical Strike Damage





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The Thief: Increases Critical Strike

Aldmeri Dominion: Malabal Tor

Daggerfall Covenant: Alik’r Desert

Ebonheart Pact: Eastmarch

The Ritual: Increases healing effectiveness by X percent




The Warrior: Increases Weapon Damage




The Apprentice: Increases Spell Penetration

Aldmeri Dominion: Reaper’s March

Daggerfall Covenant: Bangkori

Ebonheart Pact: The Rift

The Steed: Increases Run Speed

Aldmeri Dominion: Reapers March

Daggerfall Covenant: Bangkori

Ebonheart Pact: The Rift


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Experience:

In order to fulfill your dreams of the optimal build, the first step is to unlock all abilities and level your skill lines. As players quest and kill mobs, the experience you gain is stored in several locations.

Character Experience: All experience gain advances the characters level. Why is this important? Well duh, you become stronger and stronger and get to do more challenging and enjoyable content.

Skill Line Experience: Using abilities, wearing different armor types, gaining achievements, and reading lore books are only a few ways to level your skill lines.

Important: Make sure you read every bookshelf. You never know if it is chalk full of knowledge to level one or two of your skills!

• Class, Weapon, & Armor: Max at level 50 and must be worn, used, or put on your ability bar in order to level

• Legerdemain maxes at level 20

• Fighters Guild, Mages Guild, World, Vampire, Werewolf, Assault and Support max at level 10

• Undaunted level 9

Importance? By leveling skill lines you can unlock new abilities to use and passives to improve your character.


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Ability Experience: Using abilities on your active ability bar allow the abilities to level and improve as the player uses it. Abilities improve in two phases of 1 to the end of 4. Once a player levels an ability to the end of 4 the ability is capable of becoming morphed with the expense of a skill point to improve the ability in one of two ways of the players specific choosing. You should even level both morphs of an ability.

Note: This may sound complicated because I mention the end of phase 4 for an ability since it is essentially phase 5, however, you never will see 5 listed in your abilities. Once hitting level 5 you will be able to morph it.

Why so serious? Leveling each ability from stages 1 to 4 and morph allows for not only a stronger ability, but each stage the ability damage, heal, or mitigation increases to adjust to the higher-level enemies.

Note: In order to ensure you have access to all abilities & morphs, start by making sure you are using a variety of skills and armor pieces to level each skill tree and ability.

Fighters Guild: A player can unlock abilities and passives in the fighters guild by destroying dark anchors and killing daedra and undead.

Mages Guild: Leveling mages guild occurs by collecting special lore books scattered throughout Tamriel. Lore books will show by their indicated purple color (shown above).

Undaunted: Completing dungeon achievements and undaunted pledges (starting at level 45)

Legerdemain: Successful pickpocket, lock-picking of chests and doors, selling stolen goods, laundering items.

Soul Magic: Complete chapters in the main story line.

Vampire: Using abilities from the vampire skill line. Levels the same way as Class and Weapon Abilities.

Werewolf: Devour bodies of defeated enemies. Really easy to level in public dungeons of low level zones.


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Adventurer Must-Have Items These are things every adventurer could benefit from by having it in their bag. Make sure you pack accordingly before you go off on adventure!

Soul Gems

Soul Gems are stones of harnessed souls, which are used to resurrect yourself or fallen allies in battle. Soul Gems can also be used to recharge weapon enchantments.

Players can find soul gems on chests, on bodies of fallen bosses, some rewards from the worthy mails in Cyrodiil, and purchasing from Mystics. Soul gems can either be found or purchased as empty or filled gems.

Lockpicks Lockingpicking, is an iconic feature in the Elder Scrolls Games so why not have it in ESO:TU? When questing through Tamriel every player should have lock picks in their inventory at all times. There is absolutely nothing worse than walking up to a chest to only realize that you ran out of lockpicks.

Lockpicks can easily be found while looting around the game. They can also be purchased for 15g at a Merchant found throughout Tamriel.

To successfully pick a lock push down on each pin until they begin to shake and then let go.

Fun Fact: Based on the difficultly of the lock/ chest the timer for which you have to unlock it is changed. If you do not succeed in that period of time there is a small cool down before you can try again. Beware others might be greedy.

Have you ever struggled picking that master chest on PC? See the wiggle of the pin but just forget to let go? Well the console addition of vibration with the Dual Shock 4 also vibrates the controller indicating when to let go when picking a lock, door, or chest. It made the lock picking for the game so easy to use and more realistic. I absolutely loved it.


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Potions For short term again to attributes; health, magicka, or stamina, increased weapon or spell damage, invisibility, detection and more, players can consume potions. Several basic health, magicka and stamina potions can be found throughout your travels to Tamriel, purchased in the crown store, or crafted using the profession Alchemy.

Potions will have a 30 second cool down and can be reduced by using an enchantment on Jewelry.

Keep a few in your inventory and put on your quick slot wheel for quick recovery or improving your damage.

Provisions There are several different types of consumables you can find and use for a timed buff to your character during your travels in Tamriel. Drink will improve the recovery of your character and Food will improve the base stats of the attributes Health, Magicka, and Stamina.

There are four different tiers you can find adventuring.

White: Found on tables in barrels in your travels. These will only provide one stat bonus. These bonuses last for the least amount of time.

Green: Crafted, 1 stat improved version of white.

Blue: Crafted, 2 stats

Purple: Crafted, 3 stats

Be warned that the provisioning professions can have a significant drain on inventory management early on in game.

ReSpec and Reskill Unhappy with your decisions on how you leveled your character and spent your skill points? Have no fear there is an opportunity to constant change your character.

Located in each Capital City of Tamriel for each of the faction there are Shrines for which you can pay gold in tribute to a Divine to respect for 50g per point for either attributes or skill points. Skill points can be respecced either by Morphs only for just every skill point you have ever collected.

Capital Cities:

Aldmeri Dominion:

Elden Root (Grahtwood)

Daggerfall Covenant:

Wayrest (Stormhaven)

Ebonheart Pact

Mournhold (Deshaan)

Fun Fact: Based on the religion of your specific faction the respec shrines are unique in name on who you pay tribute to!

Skill Points:

Stendarr- Daggerfall & Aldmeri Dominion

Stun- Ebonheart Pact

Attribute Points:

Akatosh- Daggerfall

Kyne- Ebonheart Pact

Auriel- Aldmeri Dominion


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Gold Gain Of course no matter how long you play, either in the first few hours or years, later there will be times in the game where players will be in need of more gold. So how do you earn gold? What do you need it for? Let us go over a few of the basics.

What are the massive gold sinks in this game? Common Player Expenses:

Horses Bank Space Bag Upgrades Armor Repairs Wayshrine Teleports Guild Trade Bids Character Respec

These things help the game maintain a decent amount of gold in the game without causing massive inflation.

Players will also commonly find themselves spending gold trading with other players for dropped and crafted armor and weapons, crafted material, potions, food, and motifs, etc.

However, how do players make money in the game? Let me briefly break it down into categories:

PvP Questing & Exploration Gathering Materials Refinement of Crafting Material Crafted Armor/ Weapons Crafting Potions/ Provisions Trading Justice System

Community Shout Out: @mymaserati91

Looking for an updated several page guide on making gold in game in detail? Check

out this incredible website recently released that is broken down into the categories I

have listen above.

ESO Gold Guide

http://esogoldguide.com/

http://esogoldguide.com/


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Horses and Mounts

Do your feet hurt after a long day of travel? Well look no further. You can purchase mounts that can help carry the burden or get you to your location faster!

Where you can, you get a Mount?

Players can purchase mounts in game at a stable by talking to the stable master. The cheapest mount you can purchase in game is 10,000 gold.

You can also get a free Imperial Horse with the purchase of the Imperial edition.

Mounts are also available for sale in the crown store ranging from 900 crowns to 2500 crowns.

What Different Mounts Can You ride?

Current available there are 3 different species of mounts found in the game: Horse, Tiger, and Guar.

How Do Riding Lessons Work?

Every 20 hours players can go to the stablemaster to level their riding skill. Upon talking to the stablemaster you pay 250g to improve one of three categories: Speed, Stamina, or Capacity.

Speed: Increases your movement speed while mounted, up to a maximum of 60%

Stamina: Increases your stamina while mounted, up to a maximum of 60, allowing your mount to sprint longer and take more hits before you become dismounted.

Capacity: Increases your carrying capacity, up to a maximum of 60.

Special Fun fact: Once characters hit 20 upgrades in 1 of the 3 categories a visual change will occur on your mount.

Speed: Straps

Stamina: Armor

Capacity: Saddlebags


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Inventory Management While on your series of adventures players will very quickly learn that there is never enough space in your bags to carry all the things you loot. There are several things players can do to manage the never ending inventory battles. Lets first talk about the obvious… Increasing your inventory. Players have 2 basic categories for inventories. Personal inventory and Bank inventory.

Personal Inventory:

Personal inventory is the amount of space your individual character can carry at one time. Bag space for a character maximizes at 170 inventory slots with a brand new character having 60. Therefore you can grow your inventory 110 slots. There are two ways for which players can increase this. Mount riding lessons for capacity which increase 1 slot per lesson or bag vendors. The cost for bag vendors grows each time you purchase an increase in bag space. Unlike the capacity riding lesson buying bag capacity from a bag vendor will increase 10 slots at a time.

Cost of Bag Vendors:

Upgrade 1: 400g

Upgrade 2: 2000g

Upgrade 3: 5900g

Upgrade 4: 11000g

Upgrade 5: 19200g

Total cost to max: 53,500g

Bank Inventory:

Bank inventory is shared between your entire account and is the only way to transfer items to your other characters if you want to share bound items. The bank inventory can also be used to store crafting materials or items to craft or deconstruct and pull from the bank inventory. Bank inventory will maximize at 240 slots with the basic inventory being 60 slots.

Cost for Bank upgrades:

Upgrade 1: 70 Slots, 1,000g











Upgrade 12: 180 Slots,55,000g







Total Cost to Max: 768,500g


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If increasing your bag space does not improve the problem, let us talk about several ways or tricks that can help.

First and foremost the best word of advice would be to figure out what things you want collect and ignore the rest. Although that is not terms that many players want to hear so let us see some solutions.

Character Mules:

Often times if you are tight on gold and brand new to the game consider making a character or two to just hold your stuff. For example you could create Crazmadsci Provisioning, Craz Armor, etc. Players can easily get items that they may not use as often but still want to hold on to by having a mule toon.

Guild Banks:

Have a few friends who you want to play together with? Why not form a guild. Once a guild reaches 10 members a guild bank of 500 slots is unlocked for which players can deposit and withdrawl if they have guild permissions.

Warning! Know who your friends are. If you give just anyone guild permissions, some sneaky khajiits can steal from you. If a player steals from your guild bank it is entirely the fault of the guild master and guild officers. Zenimax Online Studios unfortunately will not be able to get your stuff back for you.

Crafting Advice:

The biggest drain on inventory space will be for crafters is provisioning. If you are hungry beware it might be a major drain on your inventory.


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Chapter 5: Equipment

Equipment in the game is in many ways the most influential when it comes to creating a character with a specific play style. There is an incredible number of ways for which you as a player can direct your player style.

There are several different types of equipment for which a player can use; Armor, Weapons, Jewelry, Shields, and disguises/costumes.

Disguises, costumes and guild tabards are merely cosmetic and will not be discussed.

Equipment and Gear and be purchased at vendors, crafted, picked up from quests, or found throughout the world.

Many players will “build” their character attempting to improve stats like attributes, critical values, resistances, or damage power.

Basic Terms:

Spell Damage: Affects how much damage or Healing your Magicka-based abilities and weapons cause

Weapon Damage: Affects how much Damage or Healing our Stamina- based abilities and weapons cause

Critical Attacks

The amount of Critical Strike/ Spell Critical required to increase the value by 1% chance to cause a critical hit increases by level.

There is less benefit for using a precise weapon trait on an item lower than your current level.

Critical attacks do 50% greater damage unless modified.

Base Critical Hit chance for all characters is 10%

Spell Critical: Gives your Magicka-based abilities and weapons a chance to do Critical Damage

Weapon Critical: Gives your Physical Attacks a chance to do Critical Damage

Armor Armor is gear for which your player wears and contains 7 pieces and comes in three variations, light, medium and heavy.

Head Shoulder

Chest Belt Pant Shoes Belt

Each armor piece can have up to 3 different bonuses to each piece of gear; Traits, Enchantments, and Set bonuses.

Fun Fact: A shield is treated as an Armor Piece


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Armor will sometimes become bound to your account for which you cannot sell or trade to another player. This type of gear falls under two categories, Bind on Equip (BOE) and Bind on Pickup (BOP). When an item is bound to your account you can only transfer items from one of your character to another through your personal bank system.

Special Note: BOP items are special times that in many cases will require you to do the content yourself in order to obtain that piece of gear. Therefore Ideal end game builds could take you into PvP or even end game Raids.

Armor can provide resistance to both Magicka and Physical attacks and are in two categories Spell Resistance and Physical Resistance. The amount of mitigation from various attacks is based on the type of gear you are wearing.

Physical Resistance: Decrease the amount of Damage you take from Physical Attacks.

Light: grants ¼ of the mitigation of the equivalent piece of Heavy Armor

Medium: Grants ¾ Mitigation of Heavy armor

Spell Resistance: Decreases the amount of damage you take from Magical Attacks.

Spell Resistance is now based on Armor value on a 1 to 1 basis. Passives for armor types may modify this ratio.

Critical Resistance:

Reduces the bonus damage caused by a Critical hit.

Equation: Amount of Critical Resistance required to completely eliminate the unmodified bonus damage from a Critical Hit is:

50 x (character level + Veteran Rank)

Special Note: Any veteran character use Character level of 50 + your veteran rank for the equation to work!

Traits: Traits are qualities for which can influence gear bonuses or player effects. These can be found throughout the world, learned in research for crafting and are sometimes random for gear pickups.

Sturdy: Item takes % less durability damage

Impenetrable: Increases resistance to critical hits

Reinforced: Increases this item’s Armor value by % (Physical Resistance)

Well-Fitted: Reduces the cost of Sprinting

Training: increase skill line experience contribution with this item type.

Infused: Increase armor enchantment effect

Exploration: Increase exploration experience gained

Divines: Increases Mundus Stone effect

Nirnhoned: Increases Spell Resistance and Spell Penetration


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Enchantments

For wearable armor the only available enchantments can be for base attributes, Health, Magicka or Stamina. To craft these enchantments it will always require an additive potency, Essence; Oko- Health, Deni- Stamina, or Makko- Magicka and a quality aspect of youre choosing.

Special Note: Enchantment values treat different armor pieces differently. Large items such as the helm, chest, legs, and shields will receive the full value of the enchantment. However small items, shoulder, belt, shoes, and hands will only receive 60% of the enchantment value.

Set Bonuses In several cases of the game, there are significant bonuses to wearing matching pieces of gear, commonly referred to as “sets.” These item sets will grant specific bonuses based on the number of pieces for which a player has equipped.

There are two types of item sets in the game, dropped and crafted. For many end game players not using item set bonuses would be debilitating for focusing on that elite build and make their gear specific revolving around a gear set that focuses on a stat they wish to focus on.

Item set bonuses can begin with 1 piece for the Undaunted Sets all the way to 5 pieces.

Players can find these sets questing, dungeoning, fighting in Cyrodiil, or crafting. Typically ideal end game builds will require to play all times of gear in order to farm the pieces they are looking for.

Fun Fact: Set gear does not begin to drop until approximately level 18.

Style Still not enough to make your character individual? You can sometimes choose between 15 different crafted Motifs for which to craft gear.

In some situations specific gear is unique only to a specific armor set or piece of gear. Such as Craglorn sets.

The base 10 crafted styles are listed with their apprioate races. The Legendary Crafted styles, Barbaric, Primal, Ancient Elf, Deadric, and Dwemer are shown below.

Community Shout Out:

ESO Academy & ESOwiki

Want a good idea of the gear out there in game? ESOwiki has a complete listing of all gear and how to find it.

Looking for a specific bonus, check out the ESO Academy database. Fantastic source to find the set perfect for you.

http://esoacademy.com/set-bonus-items/

http://elderscrollsonline.wiki.fextralife.com/Sets

http://elderscrollsonline.wiki.fextralife.com/Sets

http://esoacademy.com/set-bonus-items/


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Light Armor Active Abilities:

Passive abilities:


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Medium Armor Active Ability:

Passive Abilities:


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Heavy Armor Active Ability:

Passive Ability:


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Weapons Weapons for the game work in several of the same ways for that of armor. Based on the style role for which you wish to play different types of weapons can undergo different types of damage.

Two Handed Weapons

With the passive Heavy Weapons

Two Handed swords deal 5% extra damage

Two handed axes deal 894 Physical Damage extra bleeding damage over 6 seconds.

Two handed maces ignore 20% of your targets Armor

One Handed Weapons.

With passive Twin Blade and Blunt in Dual Wield Line.

Each axe equipped gives your weapon attacks a 50% chance to bleed enemies for 837 Physical Damage over 6 seconds.

Each mace equipped allows your weapon attacks to ignore 10% of the enemy’s Armor.

Each sword increases the damage of your weapon attacks by 2.5%

Each Dagger equipped increases your Weapon Critical Rating.

Destruction Staff:

With Passive Tri Focus

Frost attack snares enemy 30% for 3.5 seconds

Shock attack deals 5% splash damage for 2 nearby foes

Fire attack increases critical strike rating with Destruction spells against target by 5%.

Traits Although has some traits similar to armor most are unique and all use different gems to craft with that trait.

Powered: Reduces the cooldown of weapon enchantments

Charged: Increases enchantment charges

Precise: Increase Weapon and Spell Critical

Infused: Increase weapon enchantment effect

Defending: Increases total Armor and Spell Resistance

Training: Increase skill line experience contribution with this item type.

Sharpened: Increase Armor and Spell Penetration

Weighted: Increase Weapon attack Speed

Nirnhoned: Increases Spell resistance and Spell Penetration.

Set Gear Also works and functions the same way as Armor.


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Enchantment There are significantly way more enchantments that players and put on weapons than armor. Below is the list of potential enchantments. To know the runestones for crafting them, check the enchanting section of this guide.

Glyph of Frost: Deals Frost Damage

Glyph of Flame: Deal Fire damage

Glyph of Foulness: Deals Disease Damage

Glyph of Poison: Deals Poison Damage

Glyph of Shock: Deals Shock Damage

Glyph of Rage: Increase your power by X for Y seconds

Glyph of Hardening: Grants a X point damage shield for y seconds

Glyph of Abosrb Magicka: Deals X magic damage and restores Y Magicka.

Glyph of Aborb Health: Deals X magic Damage and restores Y Health.

Glyph of Absorb Stamina: Deals X magic damage and restores Y Stamina

Glyph of Weaking: Reduce target’s Power by X for Y seconds.

Glyph of Crushing: Reduce Target’s Armor by X for Y seconds.

Ability Altering Enchantments

(Master Weapons) These powerful weapons have new ability altering enchantments that can drop and be found in the Dragonstar Arena, Serpent Trial Difficult mode, and Alliance war.

Top 2% of the Leaderboard for each alliance at the end of an Alliance War campaign will receive at least one gold item and the chance to receive an ability-altering weapon.

Veteran 13 will drop from Normal DSA and veteran 14 from Veteran DSA.

Restoration Staff:

Grand Healing- Ability now restores stamina to allies in the area

Two- Handed:

Cleave- This ability deals bonus damage on the initial hit.

One Hand and Shield:

Puncture- This ability heals the caster

Dual Wield

Twin Slashes- This abilities deals additional bleed damage ever tick

Bow-

Poision Arrow- This ability increases your weapon damage when attacking enemies affected by Poision Arrow.

Destruction Staff:

Destructive Touch- This ability deals more damage and costs less.


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Jewelry Jewelry although it has no visible effect on a player can in many cases dictate the direction a player will design their equipment build. This is due to jewelry being the only wearable objects that a player cannot craft on their own that will influence play style.

Jewelry in several cases can be some of the most expensive pieces of gear a player will pay for when building their character.

Pay attention to Jewelry as you pick it up in the game.

Fun Fact: Every Main Story Line quest which starts at every 5 levels will give a blue piece of jewelry and will scale to your level. Therefore if you want two strong pieces of jewelry early on wait to do the level 5 quest until level 10 so you can get two level 10 pieces of jewelry just in game before you do the 1st tier dungeons.

Enchantments: The only way in which players can change their jewelry and cater it to their build is through enchantments. There are a significant number of enchantments a player can put on their jewelry.

Glyph of Increase Physical Harm- Adds Weapon Damage

Glyph of Health Regen: Adds Health Recovery

Glyph of Magicka Regen: Adds Magicka Recovery

Glyph of Bashing: Increase Base Damage

Glyph of Stamina Regen: Adds Stamina Recovery

Glyph of Potion Boost: Increase Potion Effect

Glyph of Increase Magicka Harm: Adds Spell Damage

Glyph of Frost Resist: Adds Frost Resistance

Glyph off Poison Resist: Adds Poison Resistance

Glyph of Decrease Spell Harm: Adds Spell Resistance

Glyph of Decrease Physical Harm: Adds Armor

Glyph of Reduce Feat Cost: Reduce Stamina cost of abilities

Glyph of Disease Resist: Adds Disease Resistance

Glyph of Shielding: Reduce cost of Bash and reduce cost of Blocking

Glyph of Reduce Spell Cost: Reduce Magicka cost of Spells

Glyph of Shock Resist: Adds Shock Resistance

Glyph of Potion Speed: Reduce the cooldown of Potions between this item’s level By X seconds

Glyph of Fire Resist: Adds Fire resistance


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Chapter 6: Crafting

Congratulations, you have made your character and entered Tamriel! However, while questing you look in the mirror and realize you are wearing soul-shriven scraps and chains as clothing! OH NO! You are so embarrassed thinking, “This is the absolute opposite idea of intimidating I had in mind” knowing that you are not at all well suited for your future endeavors. Looking around the towns, you see pieces of ore here, scrap there, and rough wood that you think you could forge into your new gear, but you do not know how. Look no further!

This here is a collection of information that would make you well equipped, stylish, and be proud of your character as you rush into battle. The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited crafting system is one of the most advanced and customizable system I have personally ever seen in any video game.

Fun Facts:

There are 39 different craftable levels, (even 1-50 and all veteran ranks 1-14)

There are 9 researchable traits for each item you can wear or use in the game.

23 unique craftable sets that you can create based on your mastery of the craft found throughout Tamriel

5 qualities levels for items: Normal, Fine, Superior, Epic, and Legendary

That makes 605475 different possibilities for just 1 item you can craft! WOW

There are 306 unique items with trait which you can learn and research to become a master crafter

Wow doesn’t that sound complicated? In order for you to fully understand what you are capable of as a player, let us break it all down into the basics. There are 6 total professions you can level in Tamriel: Blacksmithing, Clothing, Woodworking, Alchemy, Enchanting, and Provisioning.


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Each craft max levels at 50, requiring the use of skill points in order to unlock the capability to craft higher levels for those desired end game characters. Also each profession comes alone with it’s own passive abilities to provide more bang for your buck allowing you to get more legendary material, reduce time required to research traits, and even make it easier to fine materials.

As we discuss crafting I am going to first introduce the 3 primary crafts that make up the gear that you will use while going into battle and then the support professions which elevate the benefits of your gear and your character.

Basics on the Primary Professions: Blacksmithing, Woodworking, Clothing

Each one of these professions carries the same theme for refinement, creation, deconstruction, improvement, and research. Before we go into significant detail, let’s break it down into the basics.

How do I find materials? Every craft requires materials in order to craft the gear, food, and potions you desire to use or sell. However, in the big wide world of Tamriel, how do I find it? Located in harvestable nodes, you can locate ore for blacksmithing, rough wood for woodworking, and water for alchemy etc.

Keep your eyes open to these interactive nodes on your adventures and travels. You will see these nodes and harvest the material with E or X/A for console, which is the default keybind for harvesting. Below is an image of some of the harvestable nodes you will come across in your travels.

Example of harvestable nodes (above) 1) Rough Oak (woodworking) 2) Iron Ore (Blacksmithing) 3) Pure water (alchemy) 4) Mudcrab- drop scraps (Clothing) 5) Runes (Enchanting) 6) Raw Jute (Clothing).

Now the question is…. How do I find these things? If you do not want to just blindly scavenge for materials, there are several approaches you can make.


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1) Keen Eye: Ore, Reagents, Fibrous Plants, Runes and Wood, will be easier to see if you are within 20/30/40 meters of the resource.

This is a passive is found in all skill lines of the professions but provisioning. You as an adventurer will witness a strange glow coming off harvestable resources across the land. This passive, although it uses valuable skill points, is one of the best ways to see the materials you are looking for.

Can’t afford to spend the skill points? No Worry!

2) Turn off the Grass under Video Settings. By turning off the Grass settings under your video settings, you can get rid of pesky graphics of the environment, separating the intractable environment, from those material nodes you are looking for, and the beautiful design of the zone you are located in.

Special note to Consider! As you

gather resources, please make sure you harvest everything in that node. For example, when picking fibrous plants they may sometimes provide worms or crawlers to pick up, if you do not pick up the worms, the plant will not respawn new material. In conclusion, to be polite to your fellow gatherers, please pick up your worms.

Please Pick up Your WORMS!


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Refinement Now that you have collected your materials, you have to know that you can’t just go and make yourself a full set of gear. You must refine the material. In order to refine material, you must locate a crafting station for the material you want to refine.

To locate the crafting station, look on your map and find the icon for the crafting station found in all major cities and sometimes spread out periodically in your journey.

Moving Left to right are the icons that represent the primary crafting locations in

Tamriel: Blacksmithing, Clothing, and Woodworking.

Ok so now you have collected your materials found your crafting station and are ready to refine.

What is required?

10 of a combined material type such as 10 iron ore, 10 raw jute etc.

What do I get from refining?

Refined materials Trait Stones Tempers

Why is it that I used 10 Iron Ore but only got 6 Iron Ingots?

While leveling up your craft, you can improve your chances of extracting more materials and powerful tempers from raw materials.

How can you improve your Refinement probability for tempers?

Put skill points into extraction passives for your crafts.

Metal Extraction Unraveling Wood Extraction

You can get materials and powerful tempers from raw materials.


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Creation The second tab in the station is called Creation. There are 4 categories to choose from to indicate and individualize the items you wish to craft.

Type Based on the item you wish to craft, you can craft either armor or weapons. There are 7 different armor pieces for light, medium, and heavy armor styles. There are also six different woodworking items and seven Blacksmithing weapons. All you simply do is click the arrows left or right to get to the item you wish to craft at that specific station.

Unique Feature: For the light armor chest piece, you can choose either a full robe or just a light jacket.

Special fun fact: Want to sound cool? Order specifically the armor piece you wish to craft! All the armor pieces light, medium, and heavy have their own specific names. Look at the chart!


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Material Depending on which level you wish to craft, specific types of materials must be gathered and used in order to craft it. Each material a player wishes to use, can be found in the zone for which they were that level. (Full table of material and zone locations found in

coming soon). In the figure below, the full list of materials, their levels, and what craft they are used for is shown.

In order to craft higher levels for the material you are using, use the plus symbol and minus to lower the level. The levels for which someone crafts is even in number up until level 50 and each individual veteran rank.


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Style Now this is the piece of the crafting where you can make unique appearances and decide to look like Ironman, Shanty Claws, or even a Storm Trooper (true story). However, in order to craft in the 15 different racial styles you must first learn how to craft those racial styles. Commonly found in drawer, backpacks, desks, urns etc, players can sometimes be gifted with the books of these racial styles called motifs. The most common of these motifs, are the nine base racial choices that come with the game. These motifs can be found anywhere in the game, are of blue quality and you can immediately craft the race for which your character is. These motifs are numbered 1-9: High Elves, Dark Elves, Wood Elves, Nord, Orc, Argonian, Khajiit, Breton, and Redguard.

The Rare Motifs:

Barbaric: Purple racial book found only in Cadwell's Silver questing zone Primal: Purple racial book found only in Cadwell's Silver questing zone Ancient Elf: Purple racial book found only in Cadwell's Gold questing zone Deadric: Purple racial book found only in Cadwell's Gold questing zone Dwemer: Legendary racial book, however 14 pages can be found in Dwemer Ruins Imperial: A legendary racial motif found anywhere throughout Tamriel

In order to craft in these racial styles after you have learned it, you must have the corresponding racial stone commonly found in drawers, desks, backpacks, etc, as well as off deconstructed items. (A full image of racial style and corresponding stone to come soon).

Fun Fact:

All the items created in the game evolve and gain detail, as you wear different leveled gear. Don't worry if you don't look as intimidating as your friend 30 levels ahead of you. If you are wearing the same racial styles, the items themselves actually change.

Community Shout Out: ESO Fashion

Wish you knew what each armor style looked light for all armor types and tier of gear! Well there is an incredible website that is apart of the ESO community that has put together some great pictures so you can see if certain styles interest you.

http://eso-fashion.com/


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Trait

A crafting trait is a property, which you add to a piece of crafted gear. There are nine different traits that you can add specifically to armor and weapons. These will add special properties to your gear. Trait values are in most cases, based on percentages and improve as the quality of the item is improved. To add a trait to a craftable item, players must have the specific trait stone (gemstones) associated with the trait and have it researched on that character.

Traits are just one of three bonuses you can add to a crafted set of gear: 1) Traits, 2) Enchantment, and 3) Craftable Set bonus. Of the three bonuses enchantments are added after the crafted sets are completed. For craftable sets, continue reading to the research section.


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Now that you know all of this information, here are some tips on having good etiquette for ordering gear from those experienced players. This can save you hours of confusion between yourself and the crafter and also make sure you get specifically what you ask for.

When you are looking for gear crafted make sure you know specifically what you are looking for. These are the things you should know for each item you wish to craft.

Item you want crafted

Level

Style

Trait

Quality, (Improvement discussion)

Crafted set bonus (Equipment discussion)


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Deconstruction

Accidentally make the wrong thing? Looking to extract materials and level your craft? Have too many things you can't use or want to convert to materials, tempers, style stones, and trait stones? Well this tab on the crafting screen is your new best friend! Deconstruction, as imaged above, is the 3rd tab found from the left in woodworking, blacksmithing, and clothing.

Process of Deconstruction:

Select item you wish to deconstruct with E, X/A for console.

Special Note: if you select the wrong item press X, or O/B on console, to clear the selection or press E, X/A on console, on the item you selected in the deconstruction window.

Deconstruct by pressing R

Now you have deconstructed an item! What actually happened? Well first of all, your character is inspired by all this hard work and gains some crafting experience called inspiration!

Inspiration How it works:

You gain more inspiration for leveling your crafts by deconstructing items of higher level and items for which you did not craft yourself.

This is by far the most common and fastest way in which you can level your craft. Items you can deconstruct are easily gained through questing and adventuring across Tamriel. When your bags fill up just come back to town, deconstruct your items, and put the materials in your bank to make things later.


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*Special Note* You can also deconstruct stolen items that have a monetary value. They can be deconstructed for inspiration and material. Stealing items worth 0 gold will not help you with material or experience for crafting.

Materials

When you deconstruct armor, gear, and weapons you have an opportunity to extract some of the material in which you crafted the gear. The amount of materials, style stone, and trait and in some cases, the temper for which it was crafted, will drop for you to use later.

*Special Note*: Unlike farmed materials from resources nodes. The materials gathered from the deconstruction do not need to be refined.


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Improvement

Now you want to improve the quality of the items you wish to craft. The things you will need in order to craft are the items you wish to craft and the material used in order to improve it for each quality of item. Improvement of items can only occur by improving from normal to fine, fine to superior and so on and so forth.

*Special Note* This section will reference all improvement materials as tempers as a short hand. The actual term used for the improvement materials for Blacksmithing: Temper, Clothing: Tannin, and Woodworking: Resin

Lets first learn how to navigate the panel as seen above.

The item: (Sabatons of the Yokeda) will indicate what quality, values for set bonuses, enchantments etc that will be changed when the improvement succeeds.

Improve: Will show you the quality of the item currently chosen.

Chance: Indicates the percent chance that the player has if you attempt to improve the item. To improve your chances of success, you will need to click on the plus symbol to have the % Chance improved. This will take one more of the temper required for the improvement.

Tempers Chart: Highlights the path of change that the item will undergo and the material required to improve the item.


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So what is a Temper? A temper is the crafting material, which is required to improve an item from one quality to the next. Each craft has its own temper and its own improvement step. To show the material, the craft, and what quality of improvement it is used for check out the chart below.

How do I get these materials?

Crafters and explorers can easily collect tempers through many simple ways.

Refinement: The % drop rate improves for tempers as crafters spend points in the extraction passive for each craft (see refinement)

Hirelings: Skill point passive for each craft that will bring and gather resources for you

Deconstruction: The deconstruction of a quality item will sometimes produce 1 temper per item deconstructed. For example, a deconstruction of a green sword will sometimes drop a honing stone.

Crafting Writs: The reward for turning in crafting writs

How do I reduce the amount of tempers required to improve my items?

Crafters can spend skill points to improve the chances of improving items using tempers, tannins, and resins. This will require less overall material needed to improve the overall percent chance of success. The names of the passive you can

spend skill points in for each of the three crafts, are shown below.

Want to see the numbers of how these passives work? Check out this chart to see precisely how much of a material you need to get 100% chance of improvement.


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Research

Congratulations! You are now looking at the 5th and final tab of the crafting menu for one of the three primary crafts. This is, by far, the reason why I love the crafting system for Elder Scrolls Online Tamriel Unlimited. As shown above, you will see this is the process that you will go through as a crafter. You can add a trait to the item in the creation tab.

In order to research an item, players will find the traits on armor and weapons as they quest throughout the world. If a player or crafter thinks it is a useful trait, they will permanently destroy the item in the process but forever learn how to craft that item with that specific trait for all eternity.

There are 9 traits that a player can learn for each item, with 14 items for Cloth and Blacksmithing, and 6 for Woodworking.

Researching takes real time, in real life. Each time a player learns 1 trait for that item, the time it takes to learn the next one doubles. For example, 1 trait takes 6 hours and the 9th trait will take 64 days to learn that item. DO NOT FEAR! There are ways to reduce the time it takes to research the item! Players can reduce the time for research by spending skill points in metallurgy (BS), stitching (Cloth), and Carpentry (WW). Also players can receive a 10% reduction to research time by being an ESO plus member.


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So what do the numbers look like for the trait number by skill line?

Well I'm glad you asked. Below is the chart of the time it takes to research the item by skill point and also includes if you are an ESO plus member.

ESO Plus Research Reduction Time

So what does all this information mean?

First of all, it is good to know that it will take a very long time to learn all the traits for all the items in the game, if you wish to be a master crafter.

Why is it important?

Researching traits in game is highly valuable. Not just for putting 1 trait on the item you are going to craft, but it also allows you to craft unique crafted armor sets found throughout Tamriel. These armor sets will require you to know a specific number of traits per item, based on which armor crafting station you are at.


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Chapter 7: Getting Started New Player Guide

Top 10 Tips for Starting Characters 1) Make sure that 1 ability of every class skill line is on your ability bar to level your class skills while questing, to unlock all future abilities for your class.

This is further explained in the next section on experience gain.

2) Wear at least 1 medium, 1 heavy, and 1 light piece of armor, to unlock the active abilities for each armor type and all passives.

The game is in constant flux and you never know when you need to change a piece of gear.

Since you do not have enough skill points to use any of the passives it does not matter what armor you wear. It might even improve survivability by wearing more pieces of heavy.

3) Start the Fighters Guild, Mages Guild, and Undaunted

Purchase Intimidate and Persuade passives in the Fighters and Mages guild. This will significantly assist you in quests.

You will need all active guilds, in order to be a successful player If you begin questing without starting the guilds, you could miss out on experience gain to

level the guild skill lines.

4) Commit a crime to unlock the Legerdemain skill line

However, be careful when looting objects. You will unintentionally, commit a crime and have a massive debt to society. Guards will kill you on sight.

Therefore, if you open a chest while questing, you level your justice system tree!

5) Buy a horse as fast as you can and take riding lessons

Speed if you intend to PvP and end game raid. Capacity for PvE players It does not matter what horse you buy, as long as you start leveling your riding skills since

the horses are only skins. The stable master can train you in three categories: Stamina, Speed, and Capacity. You can

train 1 level every 20 hours for 250g. Currently horses you buy in game with gold do not matter. No matter the price range, 10K

or 42K, they act only as skins. Save your gold and buy the 10K horse and start leveling your riding skills right away!


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6) Collect as many pieces of armor and glyphs as you can, and deconstruct them all to level your crafts when you go to town.

If you wish to be self-sustaining for crafting, inspiration gain (experience for crafting) is larger for deconstructing something you did not craft vs crafting your own.

If you deconstruct items, you can use the materials to craft items and trade with others to deconstruct.

7) Start researching traits as soon as possible. Important traits first if you can.

Research traits can be learned that can be crafted to weapons and armor you make in the future.

Important traits to keep an eye out of while questing:

o Armor: Training, Infused, Divine, Impenetrable

o Weapons: Precise, Training, Sharpened, Infused

Note: As an example, Exploration trait shown on the right for footman piece found from Dragonstar Arena in Craglorn


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8) You can use your mail as inventory space by mailing items to others and having them return it so you don’t have to keep going to town so often.

In order to mail items to other players simply press the apostrophe (‘) Fill in the mail form and make sure you are sending all your gold to @crazmadsci ……. Just

kidding. Attach items with E, X/A on console, you can have up to 6 stacks of items in a mail at a

time. o Cost of a mail is 10g + 1g per item

Press R to send when ready

9) Farm all raw nodes and materials and sell them to make some quick money since your refinement isn’t leveled yet.

Refinement, in crafting, is the process of taking 10 raw ore, rough wood, or cloth material and producing ingots, sanded wood, and bolts of cloth. While refining, there is a potential drop rate for trait stones, style stones, and temper materials such as legendary materials. Since you are still new to the game, your craft is not leveled very high so, therefore, it is more beneficial to sell the stacks of raw materials to others to make a few extra coins to get that extra bag space.

10) Find a great guild to do content and ask questions or just ask questions in zone.

Guilds are by far, some of the best features in the game allowing you to meet great players and get a sense of the great community.


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Addons: PC Only, Not Applicable On Console

There are plenty of add-ons that can greatly assist you in finding things that can help you level your character, find missing quests, record where you picked up materials etc. The absolute best way for add-on management, updating and finding new addons, I highly suggest the use and installation of Minion- the Premier AddOn Mangament.

http://minion.mmoui.com/

Suggested Addons:

Skyshards: Find the skyshards. 3 skyshards= 1 skill point

http://www.esoui.com/downloads/info128-SkyShards.html

Lorebooks: Assist you in leveling the Mages Guild

http://www.esoui.com/downloads/info288-LoreBooks.html

There are also plenty of other really great add-ons I would highly suggest using and will probably reference in my future guides.

http://minion.mmoui.com/

http://www.esoui.com/downloads/info128-SkyShards.html

http://www.esoui.com/downloads/info288-LoreBooks.html


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Basic MMO & ESO Terminology: AD: Aldmeri Dominion

DC: Daggerfall Covenant

EP: Ebonheart Pact

WTS/ WTB: Willing to sell & want to buy

WTT: Want to Trade

LFG: Looking for Group

LFM: Looking for More

CC: Crowd Control

Aggro: how much attention someone has from the enemies

DOT: Damage over Time

HOT: Heal over time

AOE: Area of Effect

PvP: Player vs Player

PvE: Player vs Environment

PUG: Pick up Group

PST: Whisper


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Basic Social Commands Console

Console players will have a quickslot wheel for which they can put their favorite ESO emotes and social commands on it. Picture of how this works Will be added after console launch.

PC Text Commands:

/say- speak in the local area of a small radius for everyone to read

/yell- just like say command but it is red and angry

/group- speak with members of your group

/zone- speak to everyone within the zone

/guild1 or /g1- speak to the guilds are you are in. Number 1-5 dictate the order of which you joined the guild

/bug – The slash command used to open the bug reporting UI within the in-game Help Portal UI

/chatlog – The slash command to toggle chat logging on or off

/emote or /e or /me – A list of all the slash commands that activate the /emote slash command

/feedback – The slash command used to open the “Feedback” window within the in-game Help Portal UI

/fps – The slash command to toggle the display of current framerate

/help – The slash command used to open the in-game Help Portal UI (defaults to the Knowledgebase window)

/jumptoleader – The slash command to jump to the wayshrine/graveyard closest to the group leader

/logout – A slash command to log off of the current server

/quit -The slash command to exit the game

/reloadui – The slash command to reload the ui so that it loads from source xml and lua files

/stuck – The slash command to claim that you are stuck in geometry/character is out of the world and need server assistance


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Basic UI Short Cuts PC Only

I – Inventory

C – Character screen

G – Guilds

J – Quest journal

K – Skills

L – Alliance War

M – Map

N – Notifications

O – Social menu

P – Group

T – Cycle through Quest

Alt – Open last-used UI menu

Esc – Settings and options

F1 – Help

= - Champion Tree

U – Collectible bags

, - Crown Store

Documents

Travelers Guide to Tamriel