The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall CompUSA Expansion

The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall CompUSA Expansion
Publication Information
Developer	Kurt Kuhlmann
Publisher	Bethesda Softworks
Game engine	XnGine
Release date	NA September 20, 1996
Genre	Action role-playing
Modes	Single-player
Rating	ACB: MA 15+ ESRB: M (17+) ELSPA: 11+ (1996-2003) PEGI: 16+ (2003—) OFLC: M (16+) USK: 16+
Platform	MS-DOS 6.0+
Website	ElderScrolls.Bethesda.net/
Game Information
Setting	Iliac Bay (Hammerfell, High Rock) Aetherius (Mantellan Crux)
Time Period	3E 405 – 3E 417

For this expansion's parent game, see The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall.

The CompUSA Expansion, or CompUSA Patch, for The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall was released alongside the game itself on September 20, 1996 selectively within copies purchased from CompUSA computer hardware retailers. It was the first of two planned expansions. However, the latter expansion's development derailed from Daggerfall, and became An Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire.

The CompUSA Expansion was released for free by Bethesda, and is currently hosted on a mirror by the Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages. According to Michael Kirkbride, the Expansion was developed by Kurt Kuhlmann immediately after he joined Bethesda as a junior designer. While less expansive compared to later The Elder Scrolls expansions, such as The Elder Scrolls III: Tribunal or The Elder Scrolls V: Dragonborn, the CompUSA Expansion introduced 16 new side quests for the Agent when looking for work in the various political and military factions of the Iliac Bay.

Description

The reasons for creating an exclusive expansion are unknown. However, CompUSA was a popular retail dealer, peaking at more than 229 locations nationwide in the United States; it may be possible Bethesda tried to encourage sales and popularity at these locations through a "special edition" of Daggerfall.

The CompUSA Expansion was developed at the end of Daggerfall's development cycle. The first edition of the CompUSA package included a special black-and-gold disc, labeled "Featuring a CompUSA Exclusive," "FREE! Additional Artifacts and Quests," and the sprite art of Chrysamere. Kuhlmann added 16 new quests for the game's various guilds, including two choice-based storylines for the Fighters and Mages Guilds.

Currently, the Expansion is not included in standard copies of Daggerfall provided by Bethesda, hosted on Bethesda's website, nor was available in the freeware release of Daggerfall on Bethesda's former game launcher. The reasons are currently unknown.

History

Out of the 16 CompUSA quests, only one of them was officially implemented in the latest patch for Daggerfall: "The Lord's Safehouse." It was added to implement a syntax change in the quest's code.

In the Patch's original release, the quest's script file, S0000500.QRC/QBN, spawned Spellsword enemies coded as "_guards_" every two minutes, up to 20 times with a 50% success rate. In the latest patch, v1.07.213, this syntax is changed: instead, another Spellsword enemy variable has been added, "_F.01_," though it functions the same. Whether or not this was a required internal change is unknown, however, it should be noted that both variables exist alongside each other, and _F.01_ was only added in post.

To ensure the quests are updated as they should be, the CompUSA Expansion should be installed after version 1.07.213 to prevent the patched quest from reverting to its pre-patched version. Daggerfall on Steam is already patched to the latest version of the game, including the latest version of "The Lord's Safehouse," meaning installing the CompUSA patch is drag-and-drop, and nothing should be overwritten.

Features

This list includes all appropriate quests from the CompUSA patch, including those that didn't make it by the latest version. Relevant information regarding the quests that were patched in is provided below.

Fighters Guild

CompUSA copies added a three-part questline dealing with Queen Akorithi of Sentinel and Lord K'avar. Only The Lord's Safehouse is included in current releases of Daggerfall, and thus is inaccessible without A Deceptive Escort.

• A Deceptive Escort – Decide whether you wish to protect a spy of Sentinel, and assist either Lord K'avar or Queen Akorithi.
• The Lord's Safehouse – If assisting K'avar, help him escape from Sentinel's dungeons and further his plan for the throne.
• Capture or Kill – If assisting Akorithi, K'avar has escaped the dungeons and threatens Sentinel. Find K'avar and ensure his arrest or execution.
• A Giant Issue – Hunt down a giant that has kidnapped a local merchant.
• The Noble's Pet – Help a citizen find his runaway tiger.
• A Standard Protection Job – Avenge a dead man who was killed by assassins.

Mages Guild

CompUSA copies added a three-part questline dealing with the mage Baltham Greyman, a renegade practicing unsanctioned magic. None of the Mages Guild quests are in current releases of Daggerfall.

• The Former Student – Find the rogue mage and befriend, or execute him.
• Wonders Beyond Imagining – If helping Greyman, find an item in Direnni Tower.
• The Magical Hoard – After scouring Direnni Tower, help Greyman find a lost artifact. Give, or steal it, from him.
• A Question of Azimuthal Vectors – Help a mage with research.
• The Stuck Lock – A merchant needs a magical chest opened.

Thieves Guild

None of the Thieves Guild quests are in current releases of Daggerfall.

• Antique Ivory – Steal an antique ivory item from a residence in town.
• Drugs Delivery – Deliver a drug package to a local in town.

Knightly Orders

The Lost Artifact is not included in any current releases of Daggerfall.

• The Lost Artifact – Destroy a Lich, and embark on a quest to find the legendary artifact, Chrysamere.

Temples

None of the Temple quests are in current releases of Daggerfall.

• Hunt for Undead – Find an undead, and kill it.
• The Relic – Retrieve a sacred relic stolen by a Lich.

External Links

• Alternative Download (Hosted on the Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages)