The Elder Scrolls Online: Presentation of crafting
The Elder Scrolls Online is an MMORPG that will be released later on this year. The game is designed using the theme of the Elder Scrolls action RPG single-player games. While it doesn’t attempt to completely change the classic “rules” of MMOs, TESO does contain significant improvements in key aspects of the game, crafting included.
Crafting essentials
To begin with, TESO will have five crafting skills: Weaponsmith, Armorsmith, Alchemy, Enchanting and Provisioner. These professions will cover all the items that are needed in-game. Every player will have allocated a number of skill points that he can choose how to divide between the crafting skills of his choice. While, players can invest their skill points in multiple crafting skills to become general crafters, they can also choose to use them all for maximizing only one profession and become a Master Crafter. Being a Master Crafter allows the player to create the best items available for the chosen crafting skill.
Crafting in ESO was designed to be more than just a way to make money and some decent items. Crafters will be able to make gear just as good as end-game PvP and PvE loot, but it won’t be easy.
How crafting works
In essence, every crafted item will require two ingredients (materials). From here, things get complicated, not necessarily in a bad way. TESO crafting system wants the players to experiment. That is why additives can be applied on crafted items. An item can have up to three additives, and different combinations will yield different properties for the item. This allows discovering powerful recipes that players can trade/share.
Based on the above mentioned ingredients, the crafting interface will have two ingredient slots (one for the Primary Ingredient and another one for the Secondary Ingredient) and three additive slots.
Even items looted by doing PvP/PvE content can have additives applied on them to further improve their stats. Items such as weapons and armor will also be created in the racial style of the crafter (e.g.: Orc style if the player is an Orc). However, TESO’s devs hinted that there will be a way for players to learn the other racial styles and even apply them to already created items and change their looks.
Depending on the crafting skill they want to use, player will be able to craft in a special location. Armorsmith and Weaponsmith require an anvil and a forge, Provisioners will need a fire or a campfire, Alchemists can only craft in their laboratory and Enchanters will have a special table they can do their crafting on.
Conclusion
Just like other systems in TESO, crafting encourages interaction between players. Progressing as a crafter is also meant to be fun and challenging at the same time, so results will provide satisfaction. Also, the fact that crafters will be able to make items of similar quality with dungeon and PvP loot gives crafting skills a major role in more than just the game’s economy. You can participate in interesting crafting-related discussions as well as other aspects of the game by joining a dedicated TESO forum or fansite.