In mid-April, I took part in a conference with the developers for a first look at the Blackwood chapter, an adventure in the Oblivion Gates saga. At the beginning of May, I was invited back, this time for a private session on the test realm, during which I was able to walk around for about an hour with Jeremy Sera (Lead Content Designer) and Jason Barnes (Zone Lead ). Our journey into the Blackwood began at the Shrine in Leyawiin Outskirts, near the town of the same name recently visited in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. As always, this is an opportunity for the developers to imagine the past of these places filled with history, while we are located well before the events already known to fans. We visited its castle which contains majestic statues of its heroes, where the center of power is located, held by a group composed of an Imperial, an Argonian and a Khajiit, and not by a single king.
Its typical half-timbered houses.
Its neighborhood of craftsmen.
Its port (which in the future does not exist because a large part of the city is flooded).
Returning to the countryside, we come across a strange stone building with a very Daedric appearance, the Doom Crypt Vulpinaz, where it will be possible to recruit Mirri Elendis (one of the new companions).
This place is dark, dangerous, and a little weird too, like it's made up of stuff ripped from different parts of the world. This crypt will have all its interest, used by the cult of the awakened flame to protect something very powerful (to prevent it from leaving, or entering, that is the question). Note that companions must be unlocked for each character on your account because the relationship is very personal to each character. There are two quests for each companion, which allow you to learn more about their past. Once these quests are completed, this unlocks a collectible item that can be used in houses, in order to have his companion at home! Lots of details are given about companions here if you want to learn more.
Zenithar Abbey is a public dungeon that we then visited, a mysterious area, where no section resembles the previous one. The enemies are very varied: wolves, minotaur shamans, goblins, trolls, nereids... Like all public dungeons, there are champions and a group event, balanced for two to three players (companions won't do all the work so it will be hard to go unless).
A nice screenshot of the foggy area:
Next, we visited Gideon, ruled by the Argonians, a city built on top of ancient ruins. The main quest in the area will bring you back here often, luckily the place is pleasant. A nice redesign of this city that was last seen in 1994 in The Elder Scrolls: Arena.
Outside, we met my favorite monster in the area, a big frog called "leap-death" (a quest will lead to saving someone from the frogs, a very heroic action you will agree):
Further, less funny, the marsh dog.
Finally, our adventure ended in an Argonian village where the inhabitants were crushed by an evil warlord from whom they will have to be saved, by remotivating former heroes to take up arms one last time (any resemblance to a super movie). -hero is pure coincidence!) .
Now, by completing in-game activities, sorts of quests called efforts (weekly or daily) are automatically validated (there is no need to accept them), which earns Seals of Wills, and allows you to buy specific objects in a dedicated category of the shop. Among the items offered on the PTS, mounts, outfits, tattoos, and some decorations, all elements normally purchasable with the premium currency of the game, and now accessible with a currency to be won in game.
Unfortunately, I didn't get to see the new zone event trigger (and yet we searched!), when Oblivion Portals appear to lead to one of Merunes' three invasion plans. , kinds of difficult public dungeons with bosses and objectives... If you are interested, I invite you to refer to the article on the official site, which will present them to you better than me. Among the novelties announced that it was also difficult for me to notice, new bosses, equipment, better performance but also support for new consoles and a redesigned tutorial (with a unique scenario on a new island, allowing at the end to choose your starting area among the five of the chapters and the three of the basic game). On this last point, the level is no longer an obstacle to play with friends, regardless of location.
The chapter will be released on June 1 on PC/Mac and June 8 on Xbox and PlayStation consoles. You can still pre-order from the official site and enjoy bonuses including a mount, a pet, and an outfit.
