Set a millennium before Skyrim, The Elder Scrolls Online is much larger than most of the previous games. This allows nearly all of the beautiful locations of Tamriel to be featured in the game on launch; providing fans of the previous games the free-roaming experience they demand. Most regions of the game’s numerous provinces are available, except a few, notably Winterhold and the Imperial City, which will open later as game expansions or after certain story line conditions are met.

The Imperial province of Cyrodiil is a great place to see the continuity of this game as compared to the original Oblivion. Here, developers have copied wholesale the entire province to match the high expectations of players who are familiar with Oblivion. This wealthy and central province is key to the new game’s story line. Players will be able to engage in PVP battles to control the strongholds around the capital of Cyrodiil, the Imperial City. The Imperial City will actually be locked until players of the strongest alliance are able to conquer enough of these strongholds to become Emperor.

It’s difficult to speak of the story line of this game without mentioning the alliances which feature heavily throughout the numerous provinces and territories of Tamriel. The game boasts three powerful alliances who are vying for control of the Ruby Throne. Daggerfall Covenant, Aldmeri Dominion, and the Ebonhart Pact are the factions that players are able to chose from in order to fight for their place of power in the Imperial City and ultimately to control the empire.