The Aldmeri Dominion, a recurring area from old Elder Scrolls games, will be returning as a joinable faction in The Elder Scrolls Online, but many questions still surround it, like how is it a faction? How was it formed after the First and Second Dominions? Who's in power? 

Here's your answer, in today's new Ask Us Anything on the TESO team. Elswyr will return, which Khajiit you will be able to become, and why the Bosmers have joined the Dominion. Story is a pretty huge fulcrum for the whole series, and it's nice seeing Bethesda know this and prepare accordingly. 

Julian "Mirai" Williams

The "Ask Me Anything," or "AMA" for short, is all the rage these days. Originating over on Reddit, these crowd-sourced interviews allow players to, in effect, get up-close and personal with the developers of their favorite game by asking that burningly obvious question that's on everyone's mind, yet those silly gaming sites and magazines never seem to ask! What's up with that anyway?

The Elder Scrolls Online has been trying to show just how much the world of Nirn is really under your control, just as much as it always is in the Elder Scrolls games. This handsome Dark Elf above is a mysterious, dark figure in the world, and...well, nobody knows his name. That's not a plot point, either, it's a contest. 

This man is trapped in a cage and needs your help, and starting today, ending on November 21st, everyone will have a shot at naming him, and the winner will get an (unspecified) prize package, as well as the ability to get this man to bear the name you have created. Judges will, obviously, be shooting for creativity and originality, so no "Bob" and no "Sh'awn Smi'ith." Best of luck to all entries!

Julian "Mirai" Williams

If you're anything like me, the idea of The Elder Scrolls Online kind of didn't get you interested. The idea of an online version of a Bethesda game - a type of game I love primarily for simply drinking in the atmosphere of being totally alone in a world of mystery and fantasy - didn't spark much in me. This trailer really undoes that. 

As much as I like Skyrim or Fallout 3 for being isolated and lonely, this is going to be one hell of a gorgeous social online fantasy game, and lord knows I'm in favor of that.

Julian "Mirai" Williams

Have a question about The Elder Scrolls Online? Starting next week the ESO community team will be hosting developer Q&As they are calling ‘Ask Us Anything’. Every other week the team will look at questions from the community to answer in the AUA.

In order to help stem the tide of questions there will be a theme to “most” of the AUAs. They are only picking a handful of questions to answer for each feature, so more than likely any questions not related to the theme will just be ignored. The theme of the first AUA is anything about the Ebonheart Pact, one of the factions in the game including the Nord, Dark Elf, and Argonian races. So if you have any questions about the art, design, lore, or anything specific to the Ebonheart Pact leave a comment on the official ESO Facebook page or email your question to community@elderscrollsonline.com before the AUA next week.

To celebrate the new Q&A feature the team also released a new concept art as well as Twitter and Facebook avatars. The concept art features one of each of the three races from the Ebonheart Pact ready for battle and the four avatars feature the crests for the Pact and the three individual member races.

Matt "Mattsta" Adams

Anyone entering The Elder Scrolls Online is going to be wondering what's happened to locales visited in Tamriel in the last few games, like Skyrim and Morrowind. Bethesda has not forgotten them, either, and has displayed a few screenshots with descriptions on the official site. On one side, a location in Skyrim, and on the other, a working shot of TESO. World consistency is, and has always been, important to Bethesda's world, and they have not forgotten that going into their MMORPG.

Now the real question is...what's changed since then? 

Julian "Mirai" Williams

This has been a what you might call a whirlwind week for The Elder Scrolls Online. 

First, there was a major press embargo lifted, with our very own Jarimor getting some hands-on time with the game which you can read about here. Yesterday, the fine folks at ZeniMax Online Studios launched an all-new website for the game, stocked with concept art, screenshots, videos and more.

Today, they offered an update to that brand-new website in the form of a peek behind-the-scenes how the story of The Elder Scrolls Online comes together, with the honors falling to Loremaster Lawrence Schick. I don't know about you, but I don't know many people that aren't NPCs who carry the title of Loremaster -- so when they speak, I listen!

The Elder Scrolls Online (TESO) has been the subject of intense speculation since its announcement. Not surprising considering the massive interest and devotion generated by a game such as Skyrim.

After being given the tour of the ZeniMax Online Studios in Maryland, I can reveal quite a bit of what to expect from the MMO incarnation of Tamriel.

This piece will focus on the highlights of the game's systems and the features you can expect as development continues toward the planned release sometime next year — for my more focused, personal impressions on playing the game check out this article.

There has been a lot of conjecture about The Elder Scrolls Online (TESO) since it was announced. Would it work as an MMO? Would it feel like an Elder Scrolls game or would it be just another bog-standard MMO with a well-known name?

Speaking to Matt Firor, TESO's Game Director and other devs at ZeniMax Online, they didn't feel that they had completely assuaged concerns with their presentations and messaging so far. 

Walking around ZeniMax and hearing the passion felt by all concerned on the project, there is little doubt the team feels very strongly that they have something special on their hands. 

So confident are the developers in TESO, they decided the best way to get people to understand what's in store for the game is by letting it speak for itself.

I'm happy to say I was among the lucky few to get a solid four hours of gameplay with The Elder Scrolls Online — and it certainly left an impression. The game is still in pre-Alpha stage but there was enough there to get a good feel for the world and its systems, including combat.

The main advantage of limericks is that they are just as goofy and silly as you can get. So if you're goofy and silly enough as an Elder Scrolls fan, you can enter their new contest and snag a concept art piece signed and canvased, plus an Elder Scrolls t-shirt. 

Entry is simple - send an email to Community@elderscrollsonline.com, with the subject Legendary Limerick Contest." Include a name, email address, valid snail mail address, and the limerick itself. Full details about the contest is behind the link to the forums.

Julian "Mirai" Williams