Back in the days when DLC was called expansions and a better Skyrim was called Morrowind, Bethesda’s post-launch offerings were the stuff of legend. Experimenting with completely different settings, characters, powers, and player species while even inserting a bit of good old-fashioned linear storytelling, Tribunal and Bloodmoon were the perfect counterpoint to Morrowind’s main campaign.
The Golden Age of Expansions
The expansions for Morrowind, namely Tribunal and Bloodmoon, were groundbreaking in their own right. Tribunal took players to the city of Mournhold, a place teeming with political intrigue and new quests that diverged from the open-world exploration of the main game. Bloodmoon, on the other hand, transported players to the icy island of Solstheim, introducing werewolves and a Nordic culture that felt fresh and exciting. These expansions were not just add-ons; they were almost entirely new games that built upon the rich lore and mechanics of Morrowind.
Oblivion, the next installment in the Elder Scrolls series, also had its share of expansions. While some were more hit and miss, the Shivering Isles expansion stood out. It introduced players to the realm of Sheogorath, the Daedric Prince of Madness. The Shivering Isles was a land divided into Mania and Dementia, each with its own unique aesthetic and challenges. This expansion kept the tradition of offering substantial new content that felt both familiar and innovative.
Skyrim and Dawnguard: A New Era
Fast forward to Skyrim, and the expectations were sky-high. Skyrim’s first major expansion, Dawnguard, aimed to capture the magic of its predecessors. However, the initial reception was mixed. The vampire theme, while intriguing, felt somewhat overdone, and the recycled assets seen in the trailer didn’t inspire much confidence. The $20 price point and one-month Xbox exclusivity were also points of contention among fans.
Despite these concerns, Dawnguard did have its merits. It introduced the Dawnguard faction, a group dedicated to hunting vampires, and offered players the choice to either join them or become a vampire lord themselves. This dual-path storyline added replayability and depth to the game. The expansion also brought new locations, such as the Soul Cairn, a hauntingly beautiful realm filled with undead creatures and hidden secrets.
Moreover, Dawnguard expanded the game’s mechanics by introducing new abilities and weapons. The crossbow, for instance, became a favorite among players for its power and precision. Vampire lords gained unique powers like transforming into a swarm of bats or summoning gargoyles, adding a new layer of strategy to combat.
While Dawnguard may not have reached the legendary status of Tribunal or Bloodmoon, it still provided a substantial amount of content that enriched the Skyrim experience. And for those who were not entirely satisfied, there was always the Steam Workshop. The modding community for Skyrim is one of the most active and creative in the gaming world. Mods ranging from graphical enhancements to entirely new questlines have kept Skyrim fresh and engaging for years.
In conclusion, while the era of traditional expansions may have evolved into the age of DLCs and microtransactions, the spirit of adding meaningful content to games lives on. Bethesda’s legacy of creating expansive, immersive worlds continues to inspire both developers and players alike. Whether through official expansions like Dawnguard or community-created mods, the journey through Tamriel is far from over.
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