While Twitch streaming and YouTube viewing may be the new hotness for some video game content, there’s something to be said for the simplicity and convenience of a pure audio podcast. Personally, I like to listen during my commute, which is not very conducive to the viewing of videos of any kind. Interestingly, after a sharp initial decline, podcasts for the Elder Scrolls Online have been popping up all over the place in the last few years.
In this week’s edition of Tamriel Infinium, I’m running down an alphabetical list of my favorite ESO podcasts currently available. Fire up your speakers and let’s dig in.
Elder Scrolls Lorecast
Solo host Robots is somewhat new to the Elder Scrolls podcasting world, but not to the podcasting world at large. Robots has been producing audio content for the Fallout games for some time, but has recently expanded his Robots Radio podcast network to include a series dealing with the lore of the Elder Scrolls franchise.
I find the show to be very interesting, well-presented, and of high audio quality. Each episode of the Elder Scrolls Lorecast focuses on one lore topic, with special episodes also including guest interviews with members from the Elder Scrolls Online community. Lore topics are well researched, concise, and easily digestible with episode lengths fluctuating between about 30 and 60 minutes.
My favorite thing about the Elder Scrolls Lorecast is the relatability of the host. Robots includes enough humor to seem approachable without distracting from the main content of the show. The Elder Scrolls Lorecast is ad-supported with an optional Patreon subscription that removes all ads and includes extra content at the end of each episode.
Loreseekers
The Loreseekers podcast is hosted by real-life best buds Jordan Butts (Jibbs) and Kash. While the show is just over a year old, it’s not the first time that Jibbs and Kash have produced content together. They have both played various MMO’s and have produced shows for Star Wars the Old Republic, WildStar, and general PC gaming. These experiences allowed them to hit the ground running with the Loreseekers show, the name for which describes their never-ending quest for the understanding of Tamrielic lore.
However, despite the singularly-focused title, Jibbs and Kash have branched out to include many other segments dealing with news, newbie tips, gear explanation, and dungeon walk-throughs in addition to the ever-popular lore section. Unique to this show is a dramatic reading (think old-style radio program) of a continuing fan fiction story that appears at the end of every episode. As if that isn’t enough, the Loreseekers also run their own ESO multi-platform guild that includes in-game events and trial runs. The Loreseekers show is free for listeners and runs about 60 minutes per episode. Financial support can be offered via a merch shop that includes rotating Elder Scrolls-themed shirts and slogans.
Tales of Tamriel
While many of the shows on this list are fairly new, Tales of Tamriel has stood the test of time, releasing over 200 episodes. Through various iterations of The Elder Scrolls Online and various co-hosts, the show has traditionally focused on, quite simply, the hosts telling the “tales” of what they’ve done in the game. Until recently, the show was hosted almost exclusively by Aggelos, founder of the Dungeon Crawler Network. Lately though, Aggelos has stepped aside to make room for Arkhaniir and new co-hosts LotusofDoom and Promethean99.
In addition to the weekly play-session recaps, the show also focuses on ESO news and occasional readings from the texts contained within the game. To the delight of longtime fans of the show, one constant is the hosts’ ability to derail into an unplanned side conversation that sometimes proves to be the most intriguing part of the episode. Highlights of Tales of Tamriel include the hosts’ banter and constant goading of Arkhaniir about his disdain for both the Altmer and guar. The show is free but includes a Patreon option for listeners who want to download the show early. It runs between 80 and 120 minutes.
UESPodcast
If you’ve ever been stuck in an Elder Scrolls game, you’re probably familiar with the Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages, or UESP. That’s because whenever you do an internet search for an Elder Scrolls character, location, or quest, one of the first results is bound to be a UESP wiki page. As of January, the loremasters over at UESP also produce a podcast!
As you might expect, the UESPodcast focuses on all aspects of the Elder Scrolls franchise, from Morrowind and Blades to The Elder Scrolls Online and everything in between. The show is hosted by Pylawn and includes various members of the UESP community on each episode. Topics vary but usually consist of any news from the Elder Scrolls and UESP communities, a “what have we been playing” section, and topic deep-dives. The most recent episode features an interesting interview with Bethesda executive producer Todd Howard. While the audio quality of the show is a bit hit and miss, if they can continue to use their community clout to put together this type of content, it’ll be interesting to see how far this podcast can go! UESPodcast is free to listen to, with episodes running between 70 and 100 minutes.
Written in Uncertainty
If you think you’ve got a good handle on Tamrielic lore, it’s time to start listening to the Written in Uncertainty podcast. Though he shies away from it, host Aramithius has earned the moniker “the professor” from members of the ESO community for his lecture-style presentations dealing with complex aspects of Elder Scrolls lore. Aramithius has tackled such daunting topics as the Enantiomorph, CHIM, and Mythopoeia. If you don’t know what any of those words mean, maybe this show is for you!
Of course, not all concepts are so foreign. Written in Uncertainty also tackles fun questions like what happened to the Dwemer? and where do men come from in the Elder Scrolls universe? Due to the difficulty of the subject material, I’d suggest listening to this show without distractions, as it may take more brain power than usual to keep up with Aramithius’ train of thought. Written in Uncertainty is free to enjoy but includes a Patreon option for listeners who want early access. A typical episode runs between 30 and 60 minutes in length.
Traverse the troubled land of Tamriel in the Elder Scrolls Online! Larry Everett and Ben Griggs will be your guides here in Tamriel Infinium on Wednesdays as we explore together the world created by ZeniMax and Bethesda in one of the biggest MMOs in the genre. Larry and Ben welcome questions and topic ideas!
