Can someone please explain the subscription model of The Elder Scrolls Online?

[clop1000]

I am a little bit (to say that will be a gross understatement) confused by the game's subscription model. How does it work? Can someone explain it to me?

Is there a subscription? Or if I buy the game I can play indefinitely without any restrictions?
Is it possible to buy the game without steam? Or do I need to buy only new content? Like a DLC that adds a new continent or bunch of quests?

is it more convenient? Sometimes steam has bad integration with MMO games, or maybe is it just a little bit cheaper?

Is there a premium currency of some sort?

[Danny Fluke]

There is an optional subscription. However, if you buy the game, it is yours to keep and play with no restrictions (barring a violation of the ToS, server maintenance, etc).

As for Steam integration with MMOs, file vaildations can be a little wonky once in a blue moon, but usually works fine. Steam *does* have an additional layer of authentication. Sometimes this authetication does fail, which means you cannot play even when the servers are fine, which has caused some grief before.

You can buy the game on the ESO website if you wish. As for me, Steam is a convenience because that's where my games are.

The subscription is called ESO+. It gives you access to additional XP, a crafting bag that holds all materials freeing up your regular inventory, gives you access to DLCs (previous Chapters, Zones, Dungeons), the ability to dye costumes at your leisure and an amount of Crowns per month that you can use to buy DLC or cosmetics you want.

The premium currency is Crowns, for use in the Crown store. You can use them to buy Cosmetics, Houses, Classes, Services and DLCs. Buying DLC means that you can access them without restriction thereafter.

[Turtleswatter]

https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/guides/esoplusguide

ESO plus is totally optional and offers mainly quality of life benefits as described by Danny. It also gives you access to all the DLCs and old chapters (not the newest one).

But unless you really enjoy the game and are going to put a lot of hours into it I'd advise against subscribing straight off.

[clop1000]

If I have a subscription does it mean that I automatically get access to all DLCs?
Or do I need to buy them separately?

I have read in the DLCs review that people save up 2000 crowns to buy access to all guilds questlines? So each guild costs 500 crowns?
If I have a subscription, do I still need to pay crowns to get quests?

[Turtleswatter]

If you have a subscription you get access to all the DLCs as long as you pay the subscription. But if you stop paying then you lose access.

What people tend to do when they subscribe, is to try out all the DLCs and pick the ones they really like. then they buy those outright with the crown allowance you get with the subscription. That way, if you let the subscription drop, you've still got access to the ones you bought.

Access to the guild storylines (such as fighters, mages and undaunted) are free. I wonder if you're talking about The Dark Brotherhood or the Thieves Guild DLC.

Currently they cost 2k crowns each and there's a bundle for 4k crowns that throws in Orsinium and Imperial City DLC as well as Thieves and DB. You will be able to access these if you subscribe and/or buy them outright.