Two new MMOs: Neverwinter Online and Elder Scrolls Online

If there's any doubt that the next generation of MMOs has finally arrived, these two up-coming titles should dispel it. Both of them carry themes from the action-oriented combat of Tera Online and Guild Wars 2, further developing them in hopefully what will turn out to be exciting new directions.

Both are currently in beta.

Though NWO is named after the same city as Neverwinter Nights, the only similarity the MMO shares with the series is the setting. As mentioned above, its gameplay is action-oriented, using a soft-targeting mouse-over system more or less identical to Tera Online's, though with a limited number of skill slots. Classes, abilities, and the leveling system are based in spirit on those from D&D. Confirmed classes are the fighter, the rogue, the wizard, and the cleric (with more to be added post-release). Within any particular class there should be a lot of customization available, although it seems for beta purposes players are currently restricted to pre-set archetypes. Each class also has a damage-avoidance ability reminiscent of the dodge from GW2, though this varies from class to class (fighters have a block, rogues have stealth, wizards have a short ranged teleport, etc.).

The Foundry tool will allow players to make and publish their own content.

It will be completely free to play, with monetization through microtransactions that supposedly won't be "play-to-win."

ESO, of course, tries to meld the best of Elder Scrolls with the best of MMOs. There are be classes, skills are set in a way very similar to GW2's (limited to 6), there will be a dodge ability available to all classes (again, very much like GW2), and progression is level-based rather than purely skill point-based. But every class can use every weapon and every type of armor. Objects can be picked up and tossed about like in the single player ES games. There will be trait progression similar to that in other ES games. You can play purely in first person perspective if you wish, and combat will (hopefully) maintain an essentially ES feel (even with the GW2 style ability selection and dodge). The world will be rich with places to explore. There's plenty of reason to be skeptical, but hopefully it'll live up to its


There's no way to buy yourself into ESO betas; the only option is to sign up and hope for the best. However, NWO beta access can be purchased for a minimum of $60 (along with other goodies). Even though I am hesitant to pay for something that I'll be able to play eventually for free, I might just cave in and pony up the cash.

Besides, how can I live without my unique direwolf companion and robe of useless junk?



Anyone looking forward to/thoroughly indifferent towards these titles?

(Any seething hatred at Bethesda for what they're doing to their venerable series?)

my bellend is swelling with the anticipation of the first round of ESO beta invites..end of this month.
I had an 'excellent' chance of getting into the beta according to the sign up page when I signed up...I better get in.

So you're one of the ES fans who's excited about ESO?

I'm looking forward to it as well. I think the key to getting an "excellent" rating was to add guild membership information to the application.

Neverwinter is pretty good. It plays rather like something between an MMO and an ARPG. They weren't kidding when they said that, like, half the game is instanced. However, the half that's non-instanced includes places like cities and similar hubs, so most combat occurs in instances. So there's a bit of a feeling of an ARPG's dungeons connected to hubs, though instances are far more linear than you'd expect in an ARPG. Also like in an ARPG, you usually fight more than one enemy at a time even when soloing. The soft targeting system also contributes to this ARPG feel, though of course this is not unique to Neverwinter. Finally, healing is rather ARPG-esque as well: health does not recover by itself, but is recovered either by healing abilities (only on the Devout Cleric class right now), healing potions (which are on a CD), or from checkpoints marked by campfires that are scattered throughout instances and are at outposts in non-instanced combat areas.

Yeah, I am. I really enjoyed Skyrim, although some hardcore ES fans didn't (omgomgomg oblivion is betta), it looks like the gameplay will still be centered around exploration so yeah I'm looking forward to it.