How to play ESO Offline?

[copykakashi]

Is it possible to play ESO offline? meaning if i have 2 laptops can i play the game through LAN server with my friends? Or do i have no choice but to go online and play with people i don't know?

I don't have free internet connection and i don't like logging into servers and share game experience with strangers

so is it possible to create a private server and play without the internet? Thanks

[Abel]

Since ESO is an MMORPG, you will need to connect to the internet, yes. I don't think that there will be an option to host a private server (in fact, I'm pretty sure there won't be).

[Pilaf The Defiler]

Although it will be highly customizable and more than completable by a single player wishing for a solo experience, at least the devs promise. They simply confer more benefits to teamwork as any online game does - slightly better loot, etc.

[copykakashi]

How does it work exactly? If me and my friends log in to the server to play do we play against AI NPC or do we compete/fight with/against other human players who also logged into the same server?

[Enodoc]

How does it work exactly? If me and my friends log in to the server to play do we play against AI NPC or do we compete/fight with/against other human players who also logged into the same server?

That depends on what zone you are in. If you are in your Alliance zones, you are in the zones of PvE (Player versus Environment). In these zones, you and your friends fight against AI enemies, and you also have the option of joining up with other human players if you want to. There will be other 'friendly' human players in these zones, but you can completely ignore them if you so desire (although sometimes they may try to talk to you).
If you are in zones within Cyrodiil, you are in the zones of PvP (Player versus Player). In these zones, you fight against some AI enemies, but also against enemy human players. You again have the option of joining up with or ignoring other friendly human players, but you have the added difficulty of being attacked by enemy human players as well.
There may be some places within both PvE and PvP zones where you will need to join up with other friendly players to complete an objective, but if you and your friends can form a group of the necessary size by yourselves, you may be able to do these without involving strangers in your teams.

The first time I played an MMO, I also had reservations over playing with strangers. I pretty much ignored the other players until I reached a point where I actually needed to group up to complete an objective, at which point I nervously joined a group, completed the objectives with them, realised it wasn't so bad, and then we went our own ways and I didn't see those particular people again.

[Yaije]

How does it work exactly? If me and my friends log in to the server to play do we play against AI NPC or do we compete/fight with/against other human players who also logged into the same server?

Um... lets ignore the technical answer and go with the simple.

Think of logging in as loading a save. You log into the server, get dropped wherever you were last and go about playing around in the game world. You'd be able to fight AI controlled npc's as well as players in some cases. Very few MMO's these days are built with the sole intention of throwing players against one another.

Spoiler:

I can only think of Eve Online that was built with it in mind that has been up and running the past 5 years

Since ESO is an MMORPG, you will need to connect to the internet, yes. I don't think that there will be an option to host a private server (in fact, I'm pretty sure there won't be).

QFT.... but I would say it wouldn't be a legal or supported option instead. If you really want a multiplayer Elderscroll game on a private server I'd instead get oblivion or skyrim instead of ESO maybe (but that's my opinion based on next to no knowledge on how things work out over time as you play ESO)

[Mr.Argonian]

Well.... the game is called The Elder Scrolls: Online. Sooooooo I don't think you could play offline.

[DikaSmausha]

Is it possible to play ESO offline?

ESO stands for Elder Scrolls Online, not Elder Scrolls Offline. Jokes aside, you cannot play this through LAN.

[AKB]

so is it possible to create a private server and play without the internet? Thanks :)

Private servers for certain MMOs do spring up from time to time (illegally, from all examples I can think of, but I don't think anyone would care for dead games). However, it would extremely awesome if this was an option. I'd want one, and surely the UESP as a whole would want to set one up.

[Yaije]

Private servers for active MMO's are usually illegal or treading into some legal matters or other. Dead games wouldn't matter so long a there aren't any active servers for it (SWG for example right now)

[Jun Satou]

The only type of 'online-offline' title I recall playing isn't a MMORPG (Metal Gear Online, played in practise; 1P for screenshots), so I'm not entirely sure how it would work, betting my best guess and going with, different servers limit the number of players so everyone isn't cramping inside your cavern/dungeon, allowing you to travel through areas and getting on with what you want to, then if you seek player on player action (oops) you go to the main cities and 'arenas' perhaps. If there is still a low number of people then you go to the larger servers on the specific server-based activity, vise versa.

If this is anything server-crowded-based-activity themed, then if you want single player, go to a 'Cyrodil castle siege' (example) server and stay away from Cyrodil.

[Yaije]

only 3 servers in ESO. One for xboxone, one for PS4, and one for all the PC/mac/linux players (assuming the game is compatible with the computer).

No separate servers for different styles of gameplay.

[Enodoc]

only 3 servers in ESO. One for xboxone, one for PS4, and one for all the PC/mac/linux players (assuming the game is compatible with the computer).
No separate servers for different styles of gameplay.

But you can jump between server channels at will, and that may be able to get you away from other people. The startup questionnaire should also put you into your initial channels based on styles of gameplay.
So yes, only 3 megaservers, but they haven't said the channels won't end up separating themselves out by styles of gameplay.

[Musicman247]

There won't be three servers, there will be three groups of servers. I know all the PR calls them Megaservers, but its just regular servers all linked together in a way that will let you play with your friends no matter what server they log onto.

That said, the three groups will be separate from each other. Xbox players won't be able to play with PS3 or PC players, same for the PS3 and PC/Macs.

[Marelo]

I'm not really sure what the practical difference would be between the two. Usually when people are concerned about MMO servers it's centered on the ability to play with certain people. So, the entire point of the "megaserver" thing is that there are no such boundaries within a platform, which is exactly what they're claiming.

[Jun Satou]

only 3 servers in ESO. One for xboxone, one for PS4, and one for all the PC/mac/linux players (assuming the game is compatible with the computer).

No separate servers for different styles of gameplay.

But just as the person said below you, there has to be some sort of channel for server filtering...

If there is going to be just one.big.server for each single console user, good luck everyone looking at the other side of the dungeon.