Is ESO Worth It Without Plus? Yes, Absolutely.

The short answer is yes, Elder Scrolls Online is absolutely still worth playing even without the ESO Plus subscription. While Plus certainly provides some nice benefits like DLC access and infinite crafting storage, there are also many viable ways to enjoy the game without it. The hundreds of hours of story content in the base game zones alone offer tremendous value. With smart inventory management and selective DLC purchases, you can comfortably experience the vast world of Tamriel without ever subscribing.

As an avid ESO player myself, I‘ve put in over 200 hours without Plus over the years. I can confidently say the subscription is not required to have an amazing time in this game. The key is setting expectations upfront for inventory constraints and being strategic with bank space and crafting materials. But with the right strategies, you can enjoy all the adventures ESO has to offer on your own terms.

What is ESO Plus? A Helpful Overview

Let‘s start by reviewing exactly what ESO Plus offers. ESO Plus is an optional $14.99 per month premium subscription that includes:

• Access to all DLC game packs and zones. There are over 15 major DLCs spanning new areas, quests, dungeons, and trials.

• 1650 monthly Crowns to spend in the in-game Crown Store, valued around $15. Crowns are used to buy mounts, homes, pets, and other cosmetics and convenience items.

• The Craft Bag providing unlimited storage for crafting materials like runestones, ingredients, and style items. This is arguably the biggest perk, removing inventory woes.

• Double the bank space from 60 slots to 120 slots for extra storage.

• 10% bonus to Experience and Inspiration gain for faster leveling and crafting progression.

• Double Furnishings and Collectibles storage for player housing.

• Exclusive ability to dye costumes and outfits. Non-subscribers are stuck with default colors.

• Double Transmute Crystal storage capacity, which are used to reconstruct powerful gear.

So in summary, the two biggest benefits are unlimited crafting storage and access to all DLC content. The other bonuses are nice but less game-changing. Still, the quality of life upgrades are very nice perks.

Hundreds of Hours of Content in the Base Game

Now that we‘ve covered what you get with ESO Plus, let‘s talk about what you still get without a subscription. And it‘s a lot more than most players realize.

The base game zones alone encompass over 300 hours of questing content across 23 unique zones spanning 3 factions. You‘ll explore sprawling areas like Glenumbra, Stonefalls, and Shadowfen with tons of delves, world events, and storylines.

Here are just some of the highlights accessible with only the base game:

• 23 diverse zones to explore like Auridon, Greenshade, and Eastmarch
• Over 300 hours of questing content and storylines
• 6 huge public dungeons with group events
• 3 epic Alliance War PvP campaigns
• 12 person Trial against the Celestial Archmage
• Hundreds of unique delves and points of interest
• Complete crafting system with 3 professions
• Robust housing system with apartments and player homes
• Antiquities system allowing you to scry and excavate for treasures

As you can see above, the sheer scope of content available without any DLCs or ESO Plus membership is massive. You‘ll spend hundreds of hours adventuring, questing, and exploring the world of Tamriel with just the base game. It‘s an incredible value that provides endless gameplay.

Craft Bag and DLC Access Are the Biggest Limitations

Realistically though, playing without ESO Plus does impose some inventory management challenges, especially around crafting materials. And you won‘t get access to the DLC zones or quests. Let‘s dig into these key drawbacks in more detail:

No crafting material bag – All of the various crafting materials you collect will quickly eat up inventory and bank space without the unlimited craft bag. You‘ll constantly need to destroy less valuable materials or creatively juggle them across alts and bank spaces. It can become tedious but is manageable.

Less total inventory space – With the default of only 60 bank slots and limited personal inventory, you‘ll be forced to be very selective in what you keep accessible. Consumables, gear, and materials all compete for space. It requires some adjustments but becomes second nature.

No access to DLC zones or quests – All the new zones and story content added in major DLC expansions like Summerset or Elsweyr will be locked behind purchases rather than accessible for free through Plus membership. Not a huge loss, but something to know.

No bonus experience or inspiration – Leveling up and ranking up crafting lines will take slightly longer without the 10% gain bonuses granted by Plus. Not a dealbreaker, but nice to have.

No free monthly Crowns – The roughly $15 worth of Crowns granted per month are helpful for buying cosmetics, upgrades, etc. But you can simply buy Crowns separately on demand if needed.

So while the craft bag limitation is annoying, it‘s certainly not insurmountable. And the DLC access can be purchased over time if desired. Overall, the base game itself still offers a massive amount of quality content.

Viable Strategies to Manage Inventory Space

If you plan to play ESO without a Plus membership, here are some tips and strategies to better manage limited inventory and bank space:

• Reserve bank for expensive materials, consumables, and gear only. Withdraw other materials as needed.

• Create multiple "mule" characters to hold excess materials, furniture, and equipment. Funnel items between alts with mail and bank.

• Only keep minimum quantities of low-level crafting materials, sell any excess to vendors.

• Regularly sell valuable materials like intricate gear traits or rare styles at Guild Traders for profit.

• Deconstruct unneeded gear at crafting benches to recover a portion of the materials.

• Research gear traits you want to learn first, then deconstruct the rest.

• Use gear and abilities that boost inventory space like the Well-Fitted trait or Pack Leader passive.

• Upgrade your personal inventory and bank capacity at Pack Merchants when possible.

• Participate in free ESO Plus trials during limited events for temporary access to the craft bag.

With some forward planning and smart inventory management, you can handle the limited space constraints. It just requires more active effort than the set-it-and-forget-it craft bag provides. Don‘t let the smaller bank scare you away from playing without ESO Plus!

Purchasing Select DLCs á la Carte

One other major consideration with ESO Plus is that you don‘t get access to any of the DLC zones. However, you can optionally purchase the most appealing DLCs individually based on your preferences and budget.

Some of the most popular DLCs include:

• Morrowind – Vvardenfell zone and new Warden class
• Summerset – Summerset Isle zone and Psijic Order skill line
• Elsweyr – Northern Elsweyr zone and Necromancer class
• Orsinium – Orsinium zone and Maelstrom Arena
• Thieves Guild and Dark Brotherhood – New skill lines and quests

I recommend playing the base game first, then purchasing 1-2 of your most wanted DLCs to unlock new zones and skills. The full bundle of 15+ DLCs would cost over $100 normally, but you can buy just the ones you actually want. This lets you selectively access DLC content without the full ESO Plus subscription.

The Verdict: Absolutely Worth Playing Without ESO Plus

Given the insane amount of content in the base game zones, viable inventory management strategies, and á la carte DLC purchases, ESO is unquestionably worth playing even without a Plus membership.

You can easily put hundreds if not thousands of hours into fully clearing zones, completing quests, perfecting builds, decorating homes, and progressing through endgame Veteran content. Plus simply enhances an already great experience.

So don‘t let fear of limited inventory or lack of DLC access scare you away. With the right expectations set, you can enjoy everything this amazing and vast MMORPG has to offer without ever paying a subscription fee. Now get out there and explore the rich lands of Tamriel hero! Glory and adventure await.