Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

[Guirec730]

I loved playing stealth with bows. It was almost like the old magic of the first Thief game was back again.

Exactly. I loved sneaking up on ghosts. The very concept is hilarious. "Oh! Think your pretty omniscient, you opacity-lacking bedsheet? YOU DIE NOW." Bam, arrow in the brain, critical X 6.

[Darth]

That was how I played it. Elf with a bow.

[SamuelMarston]

I would be a night vision cat man with a bow.

I don't suppose a patch ever came out for the 360 that tweaked the level scale? I know there was a slider you could use the season the difficulty to taste, but once I got going in that game, nothing could stop me.

Well, except for accidentally blowing up my horse and then suddenly EVERYONE in the freaking kingdom was going all Green Peace on me.

[Guirec730]

I don't think they ever tweaked it, but I played offline exclusively at that point.

I accidentally stole a horse once, and everyone, including main plot characters, gave me the stinkeye inbetween sentences. It was really funny because they looked schizo in conversation.

[INMATEofARKHAM]

Too Human is never harder than when you're 49 or 50, and you haven't found the gear for that level yet.

Thats likely true but most of the time you level up too quickly to find it all and are constantly behind.

That said, Oblivion is one of my favorite games ever (albeit, with massive mods [<3 PC]), so more out of Bethesda is enough to make me have a nerdgasm. Can't wait.

what mods do you run with on the PC? (or which do you recommend the most?)

[EightBall]

I never beat this game. I played it so much and became the Head of the Mages Guild, and the Theives Guild, and the Fighter Arena and Dark Brotherhood and Lord of the Elves and everything else, but then when I finlly went to do the main quests everybody was so damn powerful it was nearly impossible.

that was one of the things I hated about the game. You start off knowing fire bolt, and have to face wild boars who are tough. Then you level up and learn fire bolt 2, and you are like "bring on the boars" only now there are no boars, only dire wolves. So they kick you around until you level up and learn fire storm, and you are like "bring on the dire wolves" and now there are only cougars! So you level up and learn fire meteor only now the cougars are gone and there are only bears. So you level up and learn destructive fire mastery of the gods only now the bears have been replaced by enchanted ogres. I could never get the feeling that I was powerful. The game was really fun but since EVERYTHING levels up simultaneously you could never feel powerful like in Diablo or Too Human,

If everything is that much more powerful than you (assuming you weren't on full difficulty) then you were levelling wrong, it helps to only increase attributes that you use and to max out combat abilities ASAP

[Sw0ll_MC25]

Read Darth's post with a hint of sarcasm

[The Skoomaeater]

I like the levelling system in Oblivion (and Morrowind). It never made sense to me as a kid how in other games if I bat 50 enemies over the head with a sword, I get better at magic. (WTF?)

That said it does smack of being a bit backwards that it is beneficial not to level up and wait until you can pick the maximum attribute bonuses.

However, the most important issue, and I'm surprised and disappointed at you all for not mentioning it, is when will an Elder Scrolls game let us collect Moon Sugar, refine it into Skooma and therefore become the biggest drug baron in all Tamriel?!

I mean I can harvest souls from NPC's for god's sake surely that is worse then getting them hooked on illicit narcotics for fun and profit?

[INMATEofARKHAM]

However, the most important issue, and I'm surprised and disappointed at you all for not mentioning it, is when will an Elder Scrolls game let us collect Moon Sugar, refine it into Skooma and therefore become the biggest drug baron in all Tamriel?!

And now I know where your username came from... LMAO

[The Skoomaeater]

I'm thinking about changing my GT back, HashBandicoot x doesn't seem quite as good now. Grass is always greener I guess.

If you are interested in the lore, read about the Khajiit and their relationship with Skooma and Moon Sugar I found it quite amusing. I particularly like the idea of a whole nation of cat people high on their version of cat-nip. Seriously I'm in fits of laughter writing this it just tickles me for some reason.

[Guirec730]

Was that one in-game? Pretty sure I read that. Funny stuff.

[TheRallyKiller]

Please dear Nine, let Bethesda remember a little game called Morrowind and recall its lost positive aspects to help them make this new title.

[kouper]

Please dear Nine, let Bethesda remember a little game called Morrowind and recall its lost positive aspects to help them make this new title.

Honestly, having played morrowind after Oblivion, I didn't like morrowind a whole lot.... I liked the size of the world and the atypical setting. I sometimes liked the lack of auto travel. I liked the extra weapon/armor types and loved being able to equip armor in individual pieces. However a lot of the gameplay aspects bothered me.

[SamuelMarston]

Honestly, having played morrowind after Oblivion, I didn't like morrowind a whole lot.... I liked the size of the world and the atypical setting. I sometimes liked the lack of auto travel. I liked the extra weapon/armor types and loved being able to equip armor in individual pieces. However a lot of the gameplay aspects bothered me.

Having played Daggerfall, Morrowind, and then Oblivion, I feel that the series has always gotten better and better.

Of course that's just my opinion, and we'll see how this next one is. Chances are, I'm really going to like it.

[Guirec730]

Morrowind seemed very cool to me...I put about 5 hours into it before I decided that it just wasn't my thing.

Oblivion's accessibility worked for me...I would go weeks without feeling like playing anything else (something I can't say about Fallout 3, which I can only stomache in three hour-long bursts so far).

[EightBall]

Please dear Nine, let Bethesda remember a little game called Morrowind and recall its lost positive aspects to help them make this new title.

Like the MF'ing werewolves1!!1

[Sw0ll_MC25]

I really enjoyed both morrowind and oblivion. I think morrowind was more open and had a steeper learning curve.
Oblivion felt like it was slightly rushed and quickly put together just for the launch of the 360.
IMO the rush to get oblivion on console caused some hiccups. Also seemed liked Bethesda was ordered to make the game easier for new RPG players.
So in our eyes morrowind > oblivion.

I would really like to hear some details on this new engine for skyrim.

[Guirec730]

I just don't think Bethesda can make an engine that performs properly. Oblivion might have been rushed but it missed the 360 launch by 4 months, and what's Fallout 3's excuse?

I really liked Morrowind's music, though...so relaxing.

[The Skoomaeater]

Morrowind was a much better setting. I felt Oblivion was a bit to Lord of the Rings-y.

Elven armor that looks like the gold armor the Elves wear in the LOTR films, The imperial city reminds me of minas tirith etc etc.

Morrowind on the other hand felt like something completely new and without external influence, entire buildings made up of hollowed out giant crab shells, a ruling caste of usurper demigods, Mournhold and the Clockwork City of Sotha Sil. Morrowind was so much more inventive and immersive.

Sure Oblivion made some excellent gameplay advancements, so lets hope that TES V can recapture the unique feel of the older titles with the refined gameplay of the new.

[Guirec730]

The creators felt the same way, that's why they decided to do something off the wall with Shivering Isles.

I kind of agree...I never really felt enough isolation in Oblivion, either, because I always felt like I was no more than a 2 minute walk from the nearest settlement. Morrowing definitely had more of a "middle of nowhere" feeling to it.

[Sw0ll_MC25]

Found this great post over at nexus:

SKYRIM

Behind the Scenes of Skyrim
Secrets of the Wall
Release Date: 11.11.11
New Engine
Creation Set (Not Confirmed)

Combat

- Overhauled Combat-system.
- Finishing moves, unique to each weapon and enemy you fight.
- Inter-Changeable Dual-Wielding with both weapons and spells. You can have a blade in one hand, and a spell in the other, or a blade in both, or a blade and an axe, or even spells in both!
- Ranged combat has been improved by increasing the damage bows deal significantly. It is possible to one-shot an NPC from stealth but the draw time of bows has also been increased.
- Shield bash

Way of the Voice

"A long practiced spiritual form of Nordic magic, also known as the Tongues, that is based on their worship of the Wind as a personification of Kynareth. Through the use of the Voice the power of a Nord can be formed into a thu'um, or shout - which has a large variety of applications (anything from sharpening blades to a long range weapon). Master Voices (known simply as Tongues) have legendary, and often unbelievable powers, including talking to people of hundreds of miles away or teleportation. The most powerful masters must even be careful whenever they speak, as their voice can cause great destruction and they are commonly gagged."
- This is probably something we'll see in the game. Sounds very interesting. (Not Confirmed)

AI

- New, updated Radiant AI.
- If you drop a sword on the ground near NPCs they will react to that as well, such as a child might try to give you the sword back or two men will fight over it. (Not only swords)
- NPCs will dodge spells.
- When you approach a NPC, they will engage in dialogue with you from a far while continuing to do their task or making gestures or pacing around, depending on what their personality is.
- If you kill a shopkeeper, their family member will inherit the shop and will be angry about you, but still give you missions.
- Enemies don't necessarily charge at the player when they see him this time and some will have unique patterns and tendencies.

Environment

- Very unique Landscape and Dungeons.
- It has been stated that wherever you can see, you can go in Skyrim.
- 5 Major Cities. (Possible Cities are: Haafingar (Solitude), Dawnstar, Markarth Side, Winterhold, Windhelm, Whiterun, Falkreath & Riften)
- Most likely Open Cities. (Not Confirmed)

Plot

TES V takes place 2 Centuries (200 years) after Oblivion. The plot is that you are possibly the last Dragonborn, a group characterized by their ability to hunt dragons. The Septim line was a prominent Dragonborn line protected by the Dragonguards which eventually became the blades. After the death of the Septim line, the Blades were hunted down and killed one by one and now are almost completely gone. The return of the dragons was foretold in the Elder Scrolls and was ushered in by the destruction of the Staff of Chaos, the creation of the Numidium, the events at Red Mountain and the Oblivion Crisis. There is a blade you come across, named Esbern (Voiced by Mark Von Sydow.) that will train and guide you through the game. The last event to unfold before the dragons return was the people of Skyrim turning against each other which is happening at the beginning of the game. Dragons start to appear in greater and greater numbers as the game goes on and will eventually culminate with Alduin possibly coming into the world.

Lore in the time between Oblivion and Skyrim

4E 1 — End of the Oblivion Crisis

• The banishing of Mehrunes Dagon from Tamriel by the Champion of Cyrodiil, Martin Septim, and the avatar of Akatosh ends the Oblivion Crisis. The Septim bloodline ends and the Amulet of Kings is destroyed. The Third Era ends, marking the beginning of the Fourth.
• The Fourth Era begins with no Emperor on the throne of Tamriel. High Chancellor Ocato, the Elder Council, and the Blades try to maintain order. The provinces start to take opportunities on the state of Empire.

4E ?? — The Empire Collapses

• Black Marsh secedes from the Empire; it is soon followed by Elsweyr.

4E ?? — Titus Mede is crowned the new emperor by conquest.
4E ?? — Morrowind is conquered by the Argonians.

• With the absence of Vivec, the Ministry of Truth becomes unstable. Vuhon creates an Ingenium in order to keep the rock stable by using first dozens of dying souls, then a small number of living ones as fuel. Sul fights Vuhon over his wife, who was being used as a living battery causing the Ministry of Truth to crash into Vvardenfell, destroying much of the island and killing many of the people. The Argonians of Black Marsh invade and conquer the crippled Dunmer.

4E 18 — Prince Attrebus Mede is born.
4E 23 — Annaïg Hoïnart is born.
4E 40s — The Infernal City

• Umbriel, a floating city, appears on the coast of Black Marsh, heading toward Morrowind. The city of Lilmoth, Black Marsh, the home of Annaïg, is destroyed in the process.
• Attrebus Mede, on his way to intercept Umbriel, is nearly assassinated by one of his own men in a plot by Letine Arese.
• Sul and Attrebus confront Vuhon in the sky above Umbriel. In an escalating crescendo of violence, Umbriel vanishes.

Graphics

- Dynamic Shadows.
- Snow falls dynamically. (not as a basic texture on the ground.)
- Trees and branches move independently with the wind.
- Water flows.
- Improved Faces & Models. (Both Creatures & Characters)
- Draw Distance greatly increased, allowing for little to no grid pattern or low resolution distant land.

Creatures

- Confirmed creatures: zombies (draughr), skeletons, trolls, giants, ice wraiths, giant spiders, dragons, wolves, horses, Elk, mammoth & saber-toothed cats.
- Random spawns are scaled (stronger enemies appear at higher levels), but weak enemies aren't written out of the system, just become less common.
- A single spawn at lower levels can have enemies spawning in pairs at higher levels.
- Stronger enemies exist in the world at the start of the game, but you're usually given enough warning if you don't want to fight anything too strong.

Leveling, Stats & Skills

- No More Class Selection - Your class is now determined by which skills you choose to progress and what weapons/spells you choose to use.
- A variation of level scaling.
- 18 different skills.
- No Major/Minor Skills. (every skill advancement will contribute to leveling up.)
- Advancing a skill from 30-31 will contribute more to a level-up than advancing a skill from 10-11.
- You Gain a perk every level.
- When leveling up, you can pick stamina-, health- or magic boosts.
- A soft level-cap at 50, meaning you can still level-up after this, but it will go extremely slow.
- 5 Magic Schools: Destruction, Alteration, Conjuration, Restoration & Illusion. (Mysticism removed)
- Enchanting/Alchemy/Cooking/Farming/Mining/Woodcutting/Smithing. (Unknown in what way these skills affect the player)

Interface

- HUD-free first-person view.
- Improved third-person view.
- The Main Menu has gotten a more stylized look from Morrowind and Oblivion, and it looks really fresh.
- When opening the inventory/stats/etc menu, you will be faced with a compass-looking circle in the middle of the screen, with four directions. Pointing upwards will make your character look up into the sky, and you will have the Skills in front of you (Above Picture). How the other menus look like when accessed is unknown.

Misc Features

- NPC Children.
- You can Sprint. (Drains Stamina)
- "Random" side-quests, determined by the players accomplishments, whereabouts, and skills.
- Beards for both the Player and NPCs.
- Backwards running speed has been reduced from Oblivion, so that you can no longer outrun NPCs while running backwards.
- 10 playable races to choose from. (Possibly 20 Races total.)
- In-depth character customization that allows to change your character physique, give them a beard, and other more detailed changes to your characters body.
- Randomly generated Faces for Leveled enemies.
- Fast-Travel. It has not been confirmed at what rate Fast Travel will be present. Whether it will be as in Oblivion, where you just point and click to fast-travel, or Morrowind-style, where you have to actually go to a Silt strider or a boat to fast-travel.

Sources:
GameInformer: Behind the scenes of Skyrim (1/10/2011)
GameInformer: February cover revealed (1/6/2011)
GameInformer: Translating the cover (1/6/2011)
PC Gamer: Skyrim will use an entirely new engine (12/12/2010)
GameInformer: Skyrim Teaser Trailer (12/11/2010)
PC Gamer: Skyrim combat leveling and quest details revealed (10/1/2010)

[SuperJay]

Nice, thanks Swoll. Not sure how to interpret the information under "Leveling, Stats, and Skills" but I hope to god they've eliminated the awful system from Oblivion. The whole "don't use your main skills" thing was just ridiculous. Not sure what to think about not having character classes... I like distinct classes and I really liked being able to design your own class. Hopefully you can still create your own items and spells, though.

[Null17]

I don't suppose a patch ever came out for the 360 that tweaked the level scale? I know there was a slider you could use the season the difficulty to taste, but once I got going in that game, nothing could stop me.

There is a slider, I dropped it as far as it would go for speed purposes (I have a backlog of games I need to play and don't need to reload lots of saves). Now Mythic Dawn people die in a single hit.

I've played over fifteen hours (I just started after Christmas, late as I am) and have only JUST gotten the Mysterium Xarxes. I am a Listener in the Dark Brotherhood, a Cat Burgler in the Thieves guild, an early rank in the Fighters Guild, and Grand Champion of the Arena. I didn't do a story quest for over a week. The guild based stuff is incredibly good--I will eventually finish Fighters and Thieves Guilds, maybe Mages. Are there any others?

By the time the game is over, I'll control the Fighters, Mages, Thieves and Assassins for the Glory of Sithis. I'll basically run the entire country, which I think is pretty awesome, that you can do that.

[kouper]

Im stoked for this game.... Not quite sure how I feel about the lore, poor Tamriel.... lol. I like it!

Now to continue downloading more mods for Oblivion...

[Guirec730]

Sounds like things get pretty flabby for Morrowind before Skyrim starts. Yikes.