The Elder Scrolls Online has entered a new age after 10 years. The newest content doesn’t act like a chapter, but rather a year-long event. Seasons of the Worm Cult is here, and we got to preview the first part of the adventure by taking a guided tour of the newest location known as Solstice. Not only that, but we got more information on sub-classing, and how it works in-game. So buckle up because it’s time to dust off your sunhats and visit the Mediterranean-esque island of Solstice.
The newest playable zone in ESO Seasons of the Worm Cult is Solstice. It will be the setting throughout the year and is located off the southern coast of Tamriel. It’s a remote island which is largely undiscovered by most travellers. It’s isolation means it is the perfect place for a new evil to emerge. The Worm Cult are rising from within the isolated zone. Solstice is a natural fit for the cult, as the island is largely uncharted, with many secrets hiding within.
A beautiful world
One thing I loved about Solstice is how beautiful it is. Tamriel is filled with so many different locations. Previous stories have taken us all over the world, but Solstice is one of the most stunning. It definitely feels like your wandering around Tuscany, with sun-drenched architecture, colourful fauna, and a vibrant blue ocean surrounding its beaches. While watching the guided preview, I saw these huge shells on the beaches. These are old fossils of ancient creatures, now used to make Argonian structures among other things.
As for its capital, Sunport will act as a hub for players. It has a rich and complex history, born from a war between two Argonian tribes. The Argonian stone has Altmer buildings on top of them, and they stand tall and majestic as you wander through the streets. Yet, despite its beauty, the history of this zone shares a much darker past, one that remains hidden unless you’re willing to look for it. As you travel across Solstice, you’ll find haunted manors and Nordic Enclaves that fill you in on the lore, giving you an understanding of what happened before you arrived.
Beyond the wall
The biggest mystery of Solstice is the Writhing Wall. It is an ever-present structure that is central to Seasons of the Worm Cult. It can be seen from anywhere on Solstice, cutting the island in half. What lies to the east is a mystery, for now. There will be an in-game event later in the year where players will come together to topple the wall, finally allowing us to see what lies beyond. It’s an incredible sight to behold. Bringing this mystery to Seasons of the Worm Cult is exciting, and after the preview I was left wanting to know more.
Part 1 of Seasons of the Worm Cult will see different quests try to do new and fun things. Players will be able to use magic wands to form new bridges and pathways across Solstice. There will be magic suits of armour to use in trap-filled rooms. There’s also a Daedric Carnival where players will be able to experience some weird and wonderful things. While the Stirk Fellowship has brought all the guilds together to battle the Worm Cult, you won’t always be battling to save Tamriel from total destruction. Also, there’s a talking goat!
The preview of Seasons of the Worm Cult showed off a couple of new monsters. One of which was the Voskrona Guardian. It’s an Argonian-made golem crafted by stone which has been reawakened. It also plays a crucial role in the story, guarding sacred places with its true purpose revealed later in the season. The other beast was called a Gaulm; a huge feathered beast that wields magic, spits boulders at you, and does a spin attack that you do not want to be in the way of.
Bethesda want players of all kinds to enjoy Seasons of the Worm Cult. While older players will have a greater understanding of the story and will be able to move into this with no problem at all, newer players need not worry. While the events of the base game have already happened at this point, it doesn’t lock out new content. That being said, Seasons of the Worm Cult will act as a huge payoff for older players. It respects the time veterans of the MMORPG have put in, making their journey to this point matter.
Sub-classing explained
Another huge part of Part 1 and Update 46 is Sub-classing. Now, players can take certain skills from other classes and use them in their own build. It allows long-time players to experiment with their original characters, making up to 21 potential skill lines available. It will be free to every player regardless of whether you’re an ESO Plus subscriber or not, but characters do need to be at level 50 or above. There are three ways to access sub-classing: directly from the sub-classing window, via a quest in the Crown Store, or by walking up to an NPC in the Fifth Zone of every faction’s base.
When in the sub-classing UI, players can hover their cursor over class descriptions to get lore for each class, what they can provide for you, and what they can do. By clicking on skill lines, you’ll also be able to see what is available to you before you purchase into them. There are a few caveats, however. No two skill lines from a different class can be added, and you always have to maintain at least one skill line of your original class.
While progression is a little slower when sub-classing, a new Champion Star is available called Discipline Artisan. With this, you’ll be able to gain experience faster. From what we saw, the possibilities of honing in your skills to what you like rather than what you’re tied to is very exciting. Blending elemental skills with fire, lightning, and ice is finally possible. Crafting the perfect character is no longer a dream, it is reality. I think players are going to have a ton of fun with this.
ESO is changing in a big way with Seasons of the Worm Cult, and the preview managed to give me a great idea of what Solstice has in store. From the new monsters to the stunning architecture and setting of the island, this year is going to be great. Not only are we getting exciting story content, new monsters, and new quests, the sub-classing looks fantastic. The possibilities to enjoy Elder Scrolls Online completely differently feel endless. After 10 years, there is still plenty of life left in Bethesda’s MMORPG.
