Since I am not in Beta, I am not violating any NDA, no need for any responses that do. Also I am aware that this is an MMO, it does not automatically make my questions invalid because our play styles differ.

I have played all of Bethesda Software's games over the years, I've been gaming since we got our first computer (a Vic 20), and have had nearly every model of home computer since. My favorite games have always been standalone RPGs, but I have played many MMOs going back to Alpha testing Lords of Empyria (1988). As such, these are my top questions about TESO in relation to how I've always enjoyed playing Bethesda's Games, especially the Fallout and Elder Scrolls series.

1. Exploration - Will I still be able to climb every mountain that I can figure out how to manipulate jumping back and forth on, or will TESO be reliant on set pathing?

2. Minor Factions - I am well aware there are three main factions and that I have to join one, but will I still have the opportunity to join guilds and various other small factions as TES has always allowed?

3. Companions - For those of us that don't mind grouping when we have to but prefer to solo the majority of content, will we still see the number and diversity of companions present in TES series?

4. Customization - What if any system will be present to modify the appearance of our gear (dies, model changes, etc), and is it possible to improve all gear of the same type to the top level, or will we have to use superior materials for the best armor (ie will everyone be running around endgame with the same set of Dragon, Daderic, or Glass armor, it's great for an army to match but since we are adventurers it would kind of break immersion) ?

5. Stealth - In TES, I always play a rogue/ranger style, with my preferred combat style being ranged and sniping, Will I still be able to do this in TESO, or will I be forced to melee everything?

6. Housing - I have heard that there will be no player housing at all upon release, while that would be disappointing, I am wondering if there are plans for any at all. Both TES and Fallout have had housing for a long time, and the housing customization options has been a Bethesda hallmark for years. so please tell me you are going to introduce it at some point.... even the shared quarters as in the Companions in Skyrim (preferably with a chest tied to the character) would be a plus.

7. Lore - This one is probably the one that concerns me the most. Many are screaming about not breaking game lore, but I am trying to figure out how you can have an MMO and not break the lore. For example, all of the best items that exist in lore are Daderic Artifacts..each artifact is unique, so does that mean none of us get the best gear in TESO, or do you break lore and allow everyone to get them?

8. Factions & PVP - The three factions concept also concerns me, in the other games, many groups were neutral, and you could play the entire game and never take sides by just failing to complete the story lines that brought you into one side of the conflict or another. I don't care about being emperor (and since I am not dragon born wouldn't my being emperor break lore for this time period?). (since factions and pvp seem to be closely tied, throwing it under same category) I'm ok with pvp as long as it's not a requirement for advancement and it's not world wide, but most pvp comes in 2 flavors capture x while pwning the opposition, or high level wipes out all low levels and takes their stuff, neither of which I've ever found all that compelling.

Anyhow, those are my questions...

Fell free to answer any of these that I may have missed an official FAQ or DEV response on, but please don't break the NDA.

Thanks.

1. As far as I'm aware, you can climb all the peaks as long as there terrain gradient allows you too, a la Skyrim, FO3.

2. Yes, there are guilds like the Mages' and Fighters' Guild but also a couple of new ones like The Undaunted, Dark Brotherhood and the Thieves' Guild will be added in post launch.

3. You companions will have to be PCs I'm afraid, NPC companions do not exist outside of specific quests.

4. Dyes and changing your visual style of the armour you wear (a la WoW's transmogrification) may be added post launch. Armour types you've had in games like Oblivion such as Glass work differently, are far as we know they are not bound to a specific armour type like heavy or light but instead are bound to their creators' race, like Orcish armour being made by the Orcs, other racial styles can be learnt later on by those not of that race. Will Daedric armour styles still outweigh Elven styles still? We do not really know.

5. Play as you want to play, you can stealth around in heavy armour if you so wish. After level 15 you can wield a bow and also provide back up for the healers if you wish.

6. Like you said, there are no plans of this before or at launch, they might add this in at a latter date. Unfortunately as games typically are like, there's just too many features and functions which could be added but just not enough hours in the game to do it all.

7. We don't know if daedric artefacts like Volendrung will be featured in the game for the players to use or even multiple copies will be done, a few people have thought of a few work abouts, myself included, into how this could be done without ruining it by MMO'ifining this particular part to lore breaking heights. You should be able to see some of those threads by searching for them on this site if you're interesting in knowing about these workworkarounds.

8. Yes, I'm a little upset as well about the being shoehorned into racial factions too. Someone becoming the emperor isn't lore breaking in the slightest, someone who isn't dragonborn and lighting the dragonfires and wearing the amulet of kings is. Emperors who aren't dragonborn usually have a tendency of not sitting on the throne for too long, this particular part of TESO actually works very well to that measure.