It's been a long time coming, but The Elder Scrolls Online has finally made it on to consoles. Chris Schulz chats to Lawrence Schick, a man with a unique role in the online fantasy world.
It's not every day you meet someone called a "loremaster"- but that's exactly what Lawrence Schick's job title is.
"I answer a lot of questions," Shick explains about his role at game studio Zenimax, best known for their massive multiplayer game The Elder Scrolls.
"When possible I respond with, 'Sure, here's how we do that in The Elder Scrolls'."
Schick is to The Elder Scrolls what GRR Martin is to Game of Thrones. Since 2009, he's made sure everything that goes into the game's fantasy world stays true to the "feel and tone" of its 20-year origins. That includes races, languages, characters, clothing - and even pet animals.
Lawrence Schick, lawmaster of the Elder Scrolls online game.
The Elder Scrolls hits consoles this week with Tamriel Unlimited, a prequel to 2011's The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and a next-gen upgrade of last year's The Elder Scrolls Online PC release.
Shick has had the title of "loremaster" for the series since 2009, but his background dates back to 1979 when he was one of the first Dungeons & Dragons game designers. He admits he still plays tabletop D&D in his spare time.
For The Elder Scrolls, Schick has written more than 200 in-game books for the massive online role playing game.
"I write a lot of background setting material for the content designers, and lore books that appear in the game. I review design and art concepts, write text for loading screens, create names and descriptions for in-game store items such as pets, costumes, and mounts, and help fill in the gaps in Tamriel's historical record," he explains.
For those new to the franchise and wondering which version of the game they should play, Schick promises the best experience is on consoles.
"We've listened very closely to our players and made many changes, major and minor, that have improved the game," he says.
"We've completely revised and upgraded the user interface for the console versions. The new interface is clean and easy to use, and intuitive."
A scene from The Elder Scrolls.
Keeping fans happy is also part of his job: Schick knows that The Elder Scrolls' fans are passionate - and if something's not quite right, he'll hear about it.
"The games put freedom and choice in the hands of the players. Elder Scrolls designers recognise what kind of experience the players want to have, what kind of stories they want to tell about themselves, and then give the players the tools to tell those stories in a rich and exciting environment.
He admits he's "proud, impatient, thrilled, anxious" ahead of the console release.
"When you're designing a game setting, you always have to keep in mind that your final collaborators are the players. They will bring their own ideas to the experience, and we have to give them the opportunity to incorporate them. I'm eager to see what they think."
Who: Lawrence Schick, Loremaster at ZeniMax Online Studios What: The Elder Scrolls: Tamriel Unlimited Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Mac Rating: M Release date: Out now
