+1 THIS^

Only thing I really care about is getting a "free" mount.

Then that would be a $20 free mount.

I didn't say anything about NPCs not reacting to it... that came from you Now you really are doing the straw man thing.

To address that point though: in every TES game, yes, people react to you based on your race (to a greater or lesser extent; but since Morrowind at least, all dialogue can be filtered based on race). And that is universal in the real world, and plausible too. I would bet that's true in ESO even for different races WITHIN a faction. After all, if you look at the snippits and quotations in the online map http://elderscrollsonline.com/en/map/tamriel , you'll see that there are PLENTY of tensions among the races within each alliance. I would expect that to be reflected in in-game dialog, just as it has been in every single player TES game... so I see no reason to expect there wouldn't be something like that for other races as well. Not in every conversation, but here and there.

But, let's say you're right and it isn't. Which is more implausible: a perfectly pure region with no ethnic diversity, or a mixed region where the ethnic diversity is ignored? Both are implausible and anti-immersive, but to me, the second is more plausible than the first.

In TES, even in this fantasy world, race is not nationality.

But the problem is that it's already too late to fix. Hundreds of people will have already paid for their copies that were advertised as having all of these perks. They legally CAN'T change it now... unless you really think that they'll refund everyone who has already paid to assuage the people who haven't put down a dime yet?

Hear hear!

Although I still fully plan to pre-order the game, this has left a bad taste in my mouth and I haven't been able to bring myself to hit that "confirm purchase" button.

Your definition of free might be a little inaccurate.

Lore wise I have no problem with these inclusions. But the way this is implemented is utter [censored]. So, unless I order a special edition, I not only can't play an entire race, I will not be able to play as any race in any faction either? Unless these are things that are unlocked later in the game, this is easily the worst paygate I have seen implemented.

I can guess why they did it this way, so that there would be limited numbers of Imperials and other races in the home factions, but that should be something incredibly hard to EARN in game, not something you buy your way into. The more I am familiarized with MMOs the more I am disgusted with the business practices MMO players have allowed to flourish. As it stands, maybe you can earn these bonuses as it is, I don't know, but I do feel pretty strongly that these are some of the most unbalanced preorder/special edition bonuses I have ever seen.

Officially dehyped.

Ok someone please clarify something for me. As I understand from now on we can play any race in any alliance. Did they do that just becouse some guys couldnt play with their frends togather? It is worth destroing lore which they have been building for more than year?

Uh, the "any alliance, any race" thing is a PRE-ORDER bonus. The only exclusive content for the CE is the Imperial race.

This poll is really close. Almost 50% of the people are unhappy with this decision by Bethesda.

Unfortunately the only thing Bethesda actually cares about is what percentage of that 50% are actually going to refuse to pre-order or purchase the standard or collectors edition. (They don't care if they offend you..just get your money)

As of yesterday I was 100% planning on buying this game, and taking part in my first MMO. As of right now, I'm unsure. Funny how my opinion of Blizzard just went up. Not even they sold a staple class as a collectors edition exclusive. Maybe I'll purchase the Diablo: Reaper of Souls CE (being released a few days before TESO) instead.

Kind of sad, that I've had nothing but joy from the TES series since Morrowind, and that all changes today.

And if I don't pre-order and get this "bonus" *cough* content *cough*, how will I ever receive this amazing "bonus"? an added DLC? cash shop?

Totally agreed on the message of this post. I've been pointing this out as well. Although my hype level hasn't changed and I will play the game for sure

Perhaps such ability will unlock one you get your first character to 50. same could be possible with the Imperial race too.

Then it's not exclusive to the CE and pre ordering? Also, the xp rings. Getting them at level 50 will be meaningless. They're giving gameplay advantages for extra money! I'm fine with people wanting the game bad enough to not care, but how anyone can honestly say it's anything other than what it is frustrates me.

xp boosts have been in CE editions for a very long time, and do not give you advantage in battle. I can't remember the last CE that did not have some sort of item that boosted experience gain.

No where do they say the Imperials are exclusive to the CE, just that you get to start with them.

That is only slightly better. Either way, they are both incredibly stupid business and design decisions. This has been the worst information I have heard about this game in a long time, so I am not happy. Not at all. I am seriously considering just saying [censored] the game if this is indicative of other paygates. I wasn't going to play or get the game till summer, so now I am locked This is pure hypocrisy in front of us, but that is to be expected from a company, however I sure as hell won't condone it. I am paraphrasing but, "We picked the subscription model so people would get everything up front" my ass. A few cosmetic items is one thing, but these are distinctly NOT cosmetic items at all. This makes each faction have access to all abilities and certain individuals will have exclusive access to an entire race. That is [censored] no matter how I look at it. The poll just proves my point of how MMO gamers and to an extent, other gamers, have let [censored] business practices permeate the genre.

We dont know yet how accessible imperials (and some other pre-order features) will be for ′the rest′ of playerbase. Also, (by the same author) I'm sure the game cost hundreds of millions of dollars seems like another ′fact′ =)

On topic: I am fine with Imperials, and I was bit hesitant on ′any race in any faction′. Still, I voted ′yes′ in the end, and I will be OK with that if it stays pre-order exclusively. My main concern with the latter is potential loss of identity - especially in AvAvA - together with potential imbalance between factions (say, too strong ′migration′ to EH or sthg alike). I hope that the % of pre-orderers will be insignificant or low enough not to make much impact, that is I expect there will be no big change to factions balance (aditionally, the ′pre-order′ effect should decline over time).

I'm not using a strawman - as I made my point very clear from the beginning. You've been challenging my position, so you should be aware of it.

If it's only within a faction, it's even worse - because then NPCs won't change at all if you're not part of a friendly faction.

I've never argued that a perfectly pure region is good - nor have I supported it. I'm saying I think it's fine to play in enemy areas, just as long as you design the game around it. To implement it at the last minute to squeeze a buck out of people, without changing reactions based on race (ALL races) is very, very bad for lore and integrity.

Now, if it turns out they've been secretly recording 3 times the voice responses based on races they never expected to play in enemy faction zones - I'll be wrong and I'll gladly admit that.

But let's just say I don't think that's the case. Do you?

What I find funny is why anyone is actually defending this CE, I mean all it does is help Zenimax, and as much as I want to support them we as consumers are being screwed over by this. Its one thing to be apathetic because you don't plan on buying it, but for all of us who do plan only playing, this CE is detrimental to us. Not only does it contain actual core content that we should be getting right off the bat with a sub price, but most of the stuff included in it isn't even exclusive. They can't make the mount fastest in the game, because that would be pay to win, all races will eventually be able to craft Imperial gear with the right amount of time, the rings are attainable in game(I believe it will be expensive though, can't remember the interview but Paul Sage talked about it) and who gives a [censored] about pets? Its reasonably priced because its actual value is so low.

So. Don't. Buy. It.

Lol? How the [censored] is playing an Altmer in EP territory bonus content when you can already play the EP content as an Altmer in the base game? You just can't do it AS an EP race. Only this fanbase could start squealing like stuck pigs over Collector's Edition and Pre-Order bonuses, I swear to god.

Are you seriously crying about what is likely a 3-5% exp bonus with one other person while grouped with them?

Ignore all of those other games that give bonus items for pre-order or CE that gives you 100% exp potions and stuff. Only this fanbase will cry about every possible thing.

I'm not complaining about it at all, simply pointing out that xp rings is something done in nearly all CEs and has not been an issue.

Carde, are you kidding me man? There are bonuses and then there are exclusive race bonuses with exclusive skill lines and playing in any race as a preorder bonus is just hypocritical in the extreme, when they promises the game would be subscription based so we get everything upfront. I expected cosmetic exclusives behind pay-gates, but not things that could be fundamental to the balance of the entire game. However the big new difference for playing any race in any faction is in PVP, I don't think I need to clarify the significance of that statement to you, but you know, you could not fight for the EP as an Altmer before, now with a preorder, you can. Which is a pretty MASSIVE difference from what was going on before. All the other bonuses are not that bad., but an exclusive race is a terrible way to go about this. This screams of them trying to create pressure on their audience to feel like they need to get the Imperial edition just to be on an even keel with everyone. While it is great for them to sell out that edition, that leaves us SOL.

I see it that they have been listening to our concerns, and for a long, long time people wanted to be whatever race in whatever faction. Now, only people that have been FOLLOWING the game are allowed to do that.