Elder Scrolls SKYRIM

[Ketaru]

Re: Elder Scrolls SKYRIM

Agreed, but it's more about the lack of options thing regarding the storyline. I mean I like that all sides in the conflict are pretty gray, but not being able to make some different decisions along the way detracts from the experience.

I feel that way too, but I think choices to mold the story can only go so far before you're suddenly a God writing history. You can influence whether the Empire or the Stormcloaks triumph. And, as the Dragonborn, you're certainly an important person whose influence cannot be discounted. But I think it's just supposed to reflect reality in the game that you cannot get exactly what you want, down to a tee. In a way, it makes me feel more like part of the world of Skyrim when there are some forces beyond my control, especially when it comes to the politics.

Personally, that's trouble I'm having right now with the decision to join the Imperial army or not. It sounds silly since the point is to roleplay, but I always like to see a little bit of myself in characters that I make. And, as of now, there really is no option to just remain neutral and see how the Civil War pans out. At least, as far as I've gotten in the game at the moment. I'm definitely leaning Empire, which is probably supposed to be uncharacteristic of Nord. All of this is ignoring, of course, that if I were a citizen of Skyrim, I'd probably just be a lowly shopkeeper.

It's too bad. As a previous response pointed out, creating a sort of craftsman-type character is a terrible choice, even if the skills make themselves available to do it. Much like the whole Bard idea kind of fell flat (with skills focusing on things like Restoration, Illusion, One Handed Weapons, Light Armor, and Speech), it would be kind of cool to make a character renown for being a well-to-do traveling merchant. For now, I'm just that guy who favors Light Armor and am a recent student of the College of Winterhold. I would love it if there were that kind of option. But for now, people just seem to recognize you as a fighter, a mage, or a rogue.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Elder Scrolls SKYRIM

I think the ambiguity of choice is a card in TES's favor. There's more going on in this one game than in all of the Mass Effect trilogy. We're talking thousands of NPCs versus a central cast with minor story flavoring. Sure its neat that little choices flavor the main story arch, but its relatively minor events, its cool they can die or even be replaced, but it doesn't change the core story in the slightest.

ME actually punishes ambiguity, however, when it should be as much of an option. You go back and forth on Paragon and Renegade choices and you never get enough moral points to go forther in either direction. its stupid that they went with something so rigid.

Compare this to Adam Jensen in DXHR - Everything about him is ambiguous. He's a decent guy with a checkered past. Any choice you're given isn't too far removed from what he might actually do, be it good or bad. People complain the story doesn't match up with their choices, but then, all the core characters are just as ambiguous as he is. Sarif and Taggert aren't inherently evil men, but their motives can be taken to extremes that could do evil. There aren't really any "good" choices, only polite or bad ones.

[Raydeus]

Re: Elder Scrolls SKYRIM

I feel that way too, but I think choices to mold the story can only go so far before you're suddenly a God writing history. You can influence whether the Empire or the Stormcloaks triumph. And, as the Dragonborn, you're certainly an important person whose influence cannot be discounted. But I think it's just supposed to reflect reality in the game that you cannot get exactly what you want, down to a tee. In a way, it makes me feel more like part of the world of Skyrim when there are some forces beyond my control, especially when it comes to the politics.

Well, TES has always had the player character work as a catalyst rather, always working for someone else and championing for X deity or Y character. So in that sense Skyrim follows tradition. However considering the last time a real Dragonborn appeared (Tiber Septim) he reunified Tamriel and became king I was hoping for a more central role this time around. But alas, it doesn't seem like it's going to happen.



Fallout games on the other hand give you more influence over the world, be it that you choose to do things your way or support a faction. Ironically, in Fallout you are always the chosen one to do as you wish with the world for the most part, even if you are just a human. For instance in Fallout 3 you can nuke a city, and in New Vegas you can kill pretty much anyone, and take over the Strip if you want. Which is why as much as I love Skyrim I can't wait for Fallout 4.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Elder Scrolls SKYRIM

Well, TES has always had the player character work as a catalyst rather, always working for someone else and championing for X deity or Y character. So in that sense Skyrim follows tradition. However considering the last time a real Dragonborn appeared (Tiber Septim) he reunified Skyrim and became king I was hoping for a more central role this time around. But alas, it doesn't seem like it's going to happen.

I don't think the Dragonborn's story is exactly done yet. The civil war of Skyrim and the return of Alduin were just the end of existing prophecy and the whole of Tamriel is ripe for an attack. Not by dragons exactly, but their former masters most likely. What more important of a role than have the dragonborn drive away an invasion?

Also remember the Champion of Cyrodil that ended the Oblivion crisis went on to become the new incarnation of Sheagorath and Morrowind's Champion had other important roles.

Just got the Tavern clothes and Savior's Hide, the sexiest getups in all of skyrim, I'm done for the night.

[cidbahamut]

Re: Elder Scrolls SKYRIM

spoilered for awesome

[Raydeus]

Re: Elder Scrolls SKYRIM

I'm going to mpk you Cid!!

/shakefist

I don't think the Dragonborn's story is exactly done yet. The civil war of Skyrim and the return of Alduin were just the end of existing prophecy and the whole of Tamriel is ripe for an attack. Not by dragons exactly, but their former masters most likely. What more important of a role than have the dragonborn drive away an invasion?

Also remember the Champion of Cyrodil that ended the Oblivion crisis went on to become the new incarnation of Sheagorath and Morrowind's Champion had other important roles.

Just got the Tavern clothes and Savior's Hide, the sexiest getups in all of skyrim, I'm done for the night.

I really hope expansions go up in epic-ness and scope. And that current choice limitations are meant to enable a greater involvement later on.


PS > Becoming Sheogorath was what I would consider the bad ending though. <_<;

---------- Post added at 12:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:07 AM ----------

And today in Skyrim:

And I can't believe I still don't run out of new places to explore.

I just got the waterbreathing enchantment thanks to some lucky wandering around. XD

[Mezlo]

Re: Elder Scrolls SKYRIM

Last night in Skyrim:

So i already cleared the mage school questline and now im working on the elder scroll quest. I'm at the point where I need to gather the blood of 5 different types of creatures. I don't think I can just go and search them out, I'll probably just agther their blood as I come across them in my journeys, since I dont really know where each creature resides... So my next quest I decided on brought me to Riftin. I smacked some women around (because i had to) and stumbled across the theives guild. I didn't think you could do both questlines the mage school and the thieves guild because it's kind of a conflict of interest / morals, but, thats not the case... I'm not really the sneaking around kind of mage, I'm the more, dual wielding fireball inside a house going to blow your ass up type of mage. But, I have been leveling the lockpicking and I'm kind of a thief at heart, so let's do it. So I'm currently in the process of going through the thieves guild.

On another note, what other quest lines are there? Mage school, thieves guild, and then? I havent even really spent much time on the main questline. when i came to the point i needed to gather blood for the elder scroll quest, I went through my current active quest listy, and didnt really see one that looked like the main story. I havent seen any storyline realyl reagrding the war between the 3 nations. I thought I remembered getting a quest to join the army, but I didnt see it as an active quest. I'm thinking the joining the army is part of the main quest?

Anyone else see dragons flying overhead and you try to shoot them down? I can't seem to get them to come fight me, though I've never really connected with a firebolt. I think the dragonrend shout, the one I can get when i finished the elder scrool quest, is the one that will make them land, but would the dragon come fight if I connect with a firebolt?

[cidbahamut]

Re: Elder Scrolls SKYRIM

A lot of stuff gets filed under the miscellaneous category in your log.

Try using lightning bolts instead, they travel instantaneously so you're more likely to connect and get the dragon's attention.

Last night in Skyrim:

Meh, it's not actually all that good of a tale. I sat in a corner summoning Flame Atronachs to take care of the scary illusionist Draugr who was using triple Fus Ro Dah with insane range.

Slightly more interesting: I visited Kynesgrove and one of the folks there mentioned a dragon burial mound and how it made getting good workers for the mine difficult b/c people were scared of it.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Elder Scrolls SKYRIM

Dragons appear at random, but where they can land tends to be scripted. Towns, mounds, certain open areas outside towns or in the overworld or where they can find a perch to land on and breathe at you. If you see a dragon, you might want to move toward a place that encourages them to land.

[cidbahamut]

Re: Elder Scrolls SKYRIM

I find they tend to ignore me more often than not, and instead prefer to roast local villagers before flying out of reach and over a mountain.

[Raydeus]

Re: Elder Scrolls SKYRIM

Then there's the named Dragons you can find at the burial sites marked on Delphine's map (this is before the Elder Scroll event takes place.) More often than not Alduin will be there raising them from the dead.

[Mezlo]

Re: Elder Scrolls SKYRIM

So we need to look in our inventory for Delphine's map? or does it appear marked already on our map?

[Raydeus]

Re: Elder Scrolls SKYRIM

When you meet her as part of the blades storyline the map will be there on the table along with a Dragonborn book (in case you didn't pick it up at Helgen) and other stuff. But there wont be any markers for the burial sites, so you'll have to find the places by checking the map and exploring the marked area.

[Mezlo]

Re: Elder Scrolls SKYRIM

Where do I meet up with the Blades? They are in Whiterun in a bar type area?

[Raydeus]

Re: Elder Scrolls SKYRIM

Have you visited High Hrothgar for the first time? Arngeir will send you after the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller.

You'll just have to follow the trail afterwards.

---------- Post added at 04:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:49 PM ----------

PS > I'm experimenting with modded NPCs, but waiting for the (GE)CK to see what cool options they add to it.

PPS > There's A LOT of people pretty pissed right now because it hasn't been released yet. But I'm still having too much fun with the game to care much about a GECK delay. Not to mention current mods have already improved the game considerably. XD