The first DLC or downloadable content for the massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited, Imperial City, will be hitting the market on August 31, reported IGN.
ZeniMax Online announced the DLC during the on-going QuakeCon and added that the DLC will be ready starting next week on the Elder Scrolls Online public test server. Beta testing will also take place next week.
The game developer also presented DLC gears, areas and other important details to fans during its QuakeCon panel. The Imperial City DLC will follow the story of Molag Bal's last-ditch attempt to gain control Tamriel.
The report said the Imperial City will just be the first of a series of DLC ZeniMac Online is planning on releasing for the Elder Scrolls Online every quarter. The next DLC will be called Orsinium, followed by the Thieve's Guild and finally a Dark Brotherhood DLC, it said.
Gamers who have played the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion should be familiar with the Imperial City DLC because the two have similar architecture and layout and players are not expected to encounter any problem navigating through the city. However, the events at Elder Scrolls Online take place 700 years before those of Oblivion.
ZeniMax Creative Director, Rich Lambert said that the Elder Scrolls Online: Imperial City DLC will focus on the close quarters combat aspect of the game to provide gamers who enjoy PvP (player versus player) combat a more exciting experience.
"First and foremost, we wanted to make sure that we expanded on the PvP offering in Elder Scrolls Online," Lambert told PC Gamer. "For Imperial City, we wanted to make sure the focus was on close-quarters combat with a smaller scale. Instead of huge open fields and siege weapons, Imperial City combat will take place in cramped quarters with a lot of overlap between environmental hazards and aggressive enemy players. The hybrid PvE and PvP play areas will offer plenty of opportunities for players to attack other players opportunistically, crashing the party while their targets are occupied with a nest of angry daedra."
The Imperial City also introduces a new currency called Tel Var stones, which a player can accumulate by defeating other players. Tel Var can be used to by special gear sets.
Players can gain all of the Tel Var stones of other players they defeat during PvP. And as players earn more Tel Var stones as they go deeper into the massive three-level sewer dungeons, they will be carrying more of the stones, exposing them to ambush by other players. So you always have to be on guard for attacks from other players.
Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited lead PvP designer Brad Wheeler commented, "This is what is bringing back that sense of adrenaline. You want to look over your shoulder because other players will be trying to hunt you down... This is what gives you the fear. This is hunting season."
Active Elder Scrolls Online Plus members will be able to download the DLC for free. Otherwise, the DLC will cost players $20.
