I hope to someday talk to this Bosmer; he sounds quite interesting.
We may never know, considering the rate at which the single player games release.
Something gives me the idea you use that technique from time to time!
That would be an interesting detail to learn. What we see of him in Artaeum, he clearly thinks he's above everyone and doesn't need to pay attention to any trifling rules or regulations, so he could have been thinking of himself along those lines already, if not as clearly or specifically as we later see.
We may never know, considering the rate at which the single player games release.
It's truly a pity. And also a risk that people might feel underwhelmed, since after waiting for 15+ years, you just expect it to be absolutely grand. So even if it would be a good game, on the same level as Skyrim or even Morrowind, I'm not sure whether those expectations that inflated over the years could ever be realistically reached.
Something gives me the idea you use that technique from time to time!
At times (only works if you're intimidating enough, though - otherwise the whole thing might backfire and you get even more annoying visitors, for example the city guard). Imagine you're just brushing your Bosmer and then some moron knocks at the door and wants to discuss the Tribunal Temple with you! That poor little fellow needs his hair care. I mean, Tel Galen is already rather remote, but still... You wouldn't believe what shows up at the doorstep here every now and then.
That would be an interesting detail to learn. What we see of him in Artaeum, he clearly thinks he's above everyone and doesn't need to pay attention to any trifling rules or regulations, so he could have been thinking of himself along those lines already, if not as clearly or specifically as we later see.
I think it's not linked to his excellence or any godhood plans; he generally has the mindset that rules don't matter and are restricting (to merkind, to science, to development, to reach goals,...). It really sounded more like a general life philosophy to me, the way he worded it; a belief in and wish for ultimate freedom (of course, he's the rebel, the Lightbringer, freeing himself from the shackles of his superior). Not only for himself, but for everyone.
As for the aspect of power: He was a teen boy or young adult at most, of course that's something that fascinated himThat biography I linked does confirm him being about Vanny's age. Or at leasts it says he was a novice back when Vanny arrived. Not sure which age span that would exactly be, but he certainly wasn't very old (I'd still guess a little older than Vanny, since Vanny was just 11, but still, not a big difference).
The way things get overly hyped these days, I'd say disappointment is to be expected. I really have few expectations about the game; I'm just interested in playing another Elder Scrolls title.
Honestly, I'm surprised to learn that just anyone can come up and knock on your door.
Do you dislike discussing the Tribunal Temple on principle, or just when you're interrupted taking care of your Bosmer's hair?
Maybe, but I still got the impression he put himself above everyone else (except perhaps Vanny, in those years). Beyond the regular Altmer arrogance, that is. I know he wanted Vanny to be as unrestricted by rules as he was, but I don't know if he would have thought everyone should be.
The way things get overly hyped these days, I'd say disappointment is to be expected. I really have few expectations about the game; I'm just interested in playing another Elder Scrolls title.
By now I'm honestly not even impatient anymore. Would I love to see another TES game? Of course. But after that long time, my stance on it has somehow changed to "Whenever it drops, it drops". I'm a little wary about the writing, though, to be honest. I hope they'll be more daring in a single player game, but who knows.
Do you dislike discussing the Tribunal Temple on principle, or just when you're interrupted taking care of your Bosmer's hair?
I don't mind discussions about the Tribunal. In fact I sometimes even enjoy them. Priests are so easy to shock. But I truly dislike being interrupted in my usual schedule.
Maybe, but I still got the impression he put himself above everyone else (except perhaps Vanny, in those years). Beyond the regular Altmer arrogance, that is. I know he wanted Vanny to be as unrestricted by rules as he was, but I don't know if he would have thought everyone should be.
He certainly saw himself as a born leader. But I also think his vision for the world was, how to word it, less law-abiding than societies normally look like
This is also a funny text - it's all Mannimarco's fault!
https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Guild_Memo_on_Soul-Trapping
"The fact that soul-trapping is now common knowledge among Tamriel's magery, to the point where so-called "Mystics" sell soul gems of various sizes in every market and bazaar, is a problem that can be laid squarely at the feet of the iniquitous Mannimarco and his Order of the Black Worm. It is all part of his program to make necromancy seem commonplace and almost harmless."
I wonder. They'll still have to keep ratings in mind, so I guess some of the writing will depend on that. I never pay attention to ratings on games, but they are there and do guide some content choices if a game developer wants to avoid certain ratings.
But hopefully they can provide good stories with impactful choices in them, since they won't have to worry about everyone ending up with the same world state.
I just thought you'd have methods in place to discourage random visitors. But then, I guess if you did that, you wouldn't be able to keep your basement rooms filled.
"The only lines you draw are in your own mind." (I think that's how he said it.) Yes, there is that, but would he want everyone following that credo, or just a select few?
That is a good one; I've come across that several times, but didn't pay it as much heed as I should have (that was before I was very interested in Vanny and Mannimarco--iniquitous Mannimarco).
I like this line, too: What our old mentor Iachesis would have to say about this pernicious development I hate to think.
It got me to thinking about his relationship with Iachesis, and how in that autobiography you linked, he was gutted that the person he most admired--Iachesis--didn't deal with Mannimarco as he should have.
So now I have another question for the Great Mage to add to our list: what are his thoughts about what happened to Iachesis? (The whole Summerset arc that Vanny wasn't part of). They didn't seem to part on the best of terms, after all. Unless at some point between the island disappearing and the Summerset chapter, Vanny contacted his mentor.
I wonder. They'll still have to keep ratings in mind, so I guess some of the writing will depend on that. I never pay attention to ratings on games, but they are there and do guide some content choices if a game developer wants to avoid certain ratings.
I think the TES games are usually M-rated anyway, in most countries (where I live, it's culturally a little different, I guess, as Morrowind and Oblivion had a 12+ rating here, and Skyrim was 16+ because of the kill cam and beheadings). ESO seems to be mostly M-rated, and 16+ here. Anyway, if the next game's writing is on the same level as the writing of the last few singleplayer TES games, I'd be happy.
I also think the official ratings are less of a problem, it's more like everything someone might find offensive you lead to a "scandal" nowadays. And that's a problem when it comes to writing fiction.
But hopefully they can provide good stories with impactful choices in them, since they won't have to worry about everyone ending up with the same world state.
Yes, I hope it will be possible to side with a faction (or even different factions) and change story outcomes at a bigger scale than it's possible in a multiplayer game.
I like this line, too: What our old mentor Iachesis would have to say about this pernicious development I hate to think.
It got me to thinking about his relationship with Iachesis, and how in that autobiography you linked, he was gutted that the person he most admired--Iachesis--didn't deal with Mannimarco as he should have.
I'd be sceptical about anything he says. Would anything other that claiming admiration be appropriate in that text?
So now I have another question for the Great Mage to add to our list: what are his thoughts about what happened to Iachesis? (The whole Summerset arc that Vanny wasn't part of). They didn't seem to part on the best of terms, after all. Unless at some point between the island disappearing and the Summerset chapter, Vanny contacted his mentor.
I don't think he would have been able to, and I also doubt that Iachesis would have been interested in talking to Vanny again? Is it even generally known that Iachesis died? If so, I think it's possible that Vanny regrets - not leaving, but that their last conversation was probably not a very friendly one. But he probably blocks those feelings just as he blocks all others, especially those about things he might regret.
True, and I agree. I think you mentioned in another thread something about people not being able to separate what the author writes from who the author is or what they believe (or maybe it was JemaderofCaerSailis--and I think I just misspelled that name). Maybe that's why we got so many "moral of the story" endings in Solstice--a kind of defense against imagined criticism or freak-outs about certain subjects.
I also hope that whatever form of outsider/former prisoner we end up being in the next Elder Scrolls game, we have a better memory than the Vestige does!
That's what I really miss in ESO. Take the Dark Brotherhood, for example. In Skyrim you could join them, or you could choose to systematically destroy their Skyrim presence. I suppose you could also just never do the initial quest that led you to them, and then remain in blissful ignorance of them your whole dragonborn life. In ESO, you can either join them and follow their murder habit, or not take the quest and forever have that npc whispering to you in outlaw refuges. There's no other path possible. I mean, I'd even take a quest where you could tell that npc, "You got the wrong person," and then they'd stop hassling me, even if that cut me off from ever joining the Brotherhood, just to make it seem like there's a real choice there.
(Of course, I know they'd never implement a quest that would cut you off from any content).
Like children, really. "He did it!" "Nuh-uh, it's his fault!" We need to send them to their rooms.
Probably not, but then he could have just not mentioned the admiration.
I don't know how well-known Iachesis' death is, but considering Artaeum is back, at least for now, you'd think there might be some Psijics who would fill Vanny in. Unless he created such a huge breach with his leaving and creating the Mages Guild that no Psijic wants to hear from him every again. Well, regardless whether he knows it now, he will after we ask him our question! If we catch him enough off guard, we might get a genuine emotional reaction from him.
And while we're on the subject of Vanny (really, are we ever on any other subject?)
When he referenced Telenger, he called him "the great mage" (lowercase), and it actually made me go, "Whoa there, little guy, there's only one Great Mage." It made me wonder if people calling Telenger great mage made Vanny double down on his own Great Mage talk. I know Vanny and Telenger have some sort of rivalry or barbed friendship or something (thinking back to their encounter on Stirk in the main quest).
Yes. Well, actually I was even a little disappointed when Greymoor was released, because I imagined there might be a possibility of siding with the vampires. Might sound naive from today's perspective, but that was the year after Elsweyr, and until that point I had the impression that ESO became more complex and creative from year to year. In hindsight, sadly, the time between Morrowind, CWC and Summerset seemed to have been the peak. There were stories after that that I enjoyed, and there were new systems I liked, but to me personally, 2017 and 2018 have been the best years.
I don't know how well-known Iachesis' death is, but considering Artaeum is back, at least for now, you'd think there might be some Psijics who would fill Vanny in. Unless he created such a huge breach with his leaving and creating the Mages Guild that no Psijic wants to hear from him every again. Well, regardless whether he knows it now, he will after we ask him our question! If we catch him enough off guard, we might get a genuine emotional reaction from him.
I feel a little sorry for him, knowing that there are several people now who want to make him cry
When he referenced Telenger, he called him "the great mage" (lowercase), and it actually made me go, "Whoa there, little guy, there's only one Great Mage." It made me wonder if people calling Telenger great mage made Vanny double down on his own Great Mage talk. I know Vanny and Telenger have some sort of rivalry or barbed friendship or something (thinking back to their encounter on Stirk in the main quest).
Didn't they outright insult each other on Stirk? It's been a while.
I would really like an option in the UI to disable quest arrows of quests I know I'll never want to do. LotRO has a system where you can filter out quests per character and per account, so you aren't bothered by them popping up. And then, if you ever change your mind, you can go back in and remove them from the filter. I would really like something like that in ESO.
Well, they're both mages, so they prolonged their lives, I assume. In that mysterious way mages do. So would that slow everything? Mental decline as well as physical? What is the usual span for an Altmer?
Anyway, I'm thinking their age-prolonging also prolonged their immaturity.
Since you're one of the foremost people wanting to do that, you can't now start feeling sorry for him! Ah, but I go back and forth between wanting to make sure Vanny is safe forever, and trying to shake some kind of emotional response from him.
True. And sometimes we talk about Dwemer artifacts!
Since you're one of the foremost people wanting to do that, you can't now start feeling sorry for him! Ah, but I go back and forth between wanting to make sure Vanny is safe forever, and trying to shake some kind of emotional response from him.
Well, as a Master Wizard of Great House Telvanni, I'm a very curious person, of course, and I truly believe that sometimes, to gain knowledge, sacrifices are necessary (especially if they're not to my disadvantage).
As an inhabitant of planet Earth, I truly feel sorry for Vanny. Genuinely.
True. And sometimes we talk about Dwemer artifacts!
And sometimes also about Azandar. I came across a rather sad quote this evening:
"I'm reminded, for some damnable reason, of my parents today. It might be hyperbole to say they regretted having me. But it might not. Luckily they have my older brother to carry on the family name."
Also, I sometimes spy (not very well) on suspicious persons of note.
That's rather heartbreaking. Poor guy. Well, at least he has you to adventure with and keep his life interesting. Did you induct him into House Telvanni? He'd probably do well within the ranks.
When he introduces the five companions (all the while pretending he wasn't one of them) I went up to Mannimarco and took a good look at him, something I'd never done before. He looks old. And scarred. There are two very prominent scars on his face, and his right cheek even looks like a chunk was taken out of it at some point. He also walks a little bit hunched over, and uses his staff kind of as a walking cane. Whatever his plans were at that point, he's clearly in need of body upgrade. I think he'd probably be satisfied with Wormblood's younger body and not worry too much about getting his own back.
Also, when I had the chance to ask the prophet to fill me in on the details of the five companions, he was perfectly willing to give me the background and roles of the others, but when I asked about Mannimarco, his response was, "Foremost necromancer and traitor!" I mean, sure, but that couldn't have been why he was invited into the group, right? How did he make himself part of that "noble" band of adventurers?
Varen: emperor desperately wanting to be seen as legitimate
Lyris: warrior and personal bodyguard to Varen
Sai Sahan: descended from sword saints and security/protection for the whole group
Abnur Tharn: battlemage and political counsel
Mannimarco: necromancer and traitor
That's rather heartbreaking. Poor guy. Well, at least he has you to adventure with and keep his life interesting. Did you induct him into House Telvanni? He'd probably do well within the ranks.
He would. Maybe my main will induct him through marriage one day, if the romance system isn't absolutely horrible. Would spare him all the menial tasks the lower ranks have to go through.
When he introduces the five companions (all the while pretending he wasn't one of them) I went up to Mannimarco and took a good look at him, something I'd never done before. He looks old. And scarred. There are two very prominent scars on his face, and his right cheek even looks like a chunk was taken out of it at some point. He also walks a little bit hunched over, and uses his staff kind of as a walking cane. Whatever his plans were at that point, he's clearly in need of body upgrade. I think he'd probably be satisfied with Wormblood's younger body and not worry too much about getting his own back.
Did they really change that? I can remember he had one scar back then (on his cheek I think it was), but it wasn't extreme scarring, he didn't look particulaly old to me. But that was, of course, years ago.
I just hope that Wormblood won't look as creepy as Ithelia.
Also, when I had the chance to ask the prophet to fill me in on the details of the five companions, he was perfectly willing to give me the background and roles of the others, but when I asked about Mannimarco, his response was, "Foremost necromancer and traitor!" I mean, sure, but that couldn't have been why he was invited into the group, right? How did he make himself part of that "noble" band of adventurers?
Varen: emperor desperately wanting to be seen as legitimate
Lyris: warrior and personal bodyguard to Varen
Sai Sahan: descended from sword saints and security/protection for the whole group
Abnur Tharn: battlemage and political counsel
Mannimarco: necromancer and traitor
Maybe there was a quota they had to meet. As an evil wizard and aspiring necromancer poet, I approve!
Oh, he saw that? Not my finest moment. *sigh* I need a vacation.
I wonder if whatever romance system they implemented would include marriage, or if it would be just flirting and statements of affection. Or even if it could be on an individual basis. Some of the companions I think would like to get married, but it might not suit others. Though, realistically, I'm sure if marriage is part of it, it'll be whatever the player wants.
I also wonder if a Dunmer house system could be introduced that would allow us to join a specific house and rise through the ranks. But, it probably wouldn't be deep or complex enough to accurately represent the house system, and I don't actually know if you can rise through all of them like you can Telvanni.
Well, this was the first time I had really looked up close at him. I don't know how long he's had that appearance. I was kind of surprised by it.
What we did see of Wormblood in our one chat with him didn't look all glossy like Ithelia, though he was masked and it was just a projection.
Of course you do!
It does make me wonder if they knew he was a necromancer all along and were ok with it until his betrayal. How much did Mannimarco hide his necromancer ways in general as he went about Tamriel, doing whatever it was he did post-Artaeum and pre-Planemeld?
I wonder if whatever romance system they implemented would include marriage, or if it would be just flirting and statements of affection. Or even if it could be on an individual basis. Some of the companions I think would like to get married, but it might not suit others. Though, realistically, I'm sure if marriage is part of it, it'll be whatever the player wants.
There's a lot of questions and honestly, I don't know. It's not even clear whether it would be limited to one companion per player character - then, some players might complain because they changed their mind about which companion to choose or because they want to see the romance dialogues for all companions without having to create several alts for that. But if they do not limit it, maybe others would complain it doesn't feel meaningful enough or arbitrary to them. We'll see what ZOS goes for. I truly believe we will see it, within the next few years probably, I'm just not sure whether I'll like what we'll get, in terms of writing. Oh, and I really hope there won't be specific achievements attached to it. Even while I know I'll never reach 100% anyway (and I don't care to) I really wouldn't want to see romance reduced to a task done to receive something for completing it. Of course, I fully expect there to be achievements, because they use achievements to track all kinds of things now.
I also wonder if a Dunmer house system could be introduced that would allow us to join a specific house and rise through the ranks. But, it probably wouldn't be deep or complex enough to accurately represent the house system, and I don't actually know if you can rise through all of them like you can Telvanni.
You can, just the tasks would differ a lotAnd yes, I'd love to see that in game. Actually I was astonished they didn't have it when they released the Morrowind chapter.
What we did see of Wormblood in our one chat with him didn't look all glossy like Ithelia, though he was masked and it was just a projection.
The mask concerns me. What if he looks horrible if he takes it off, and has glowy eyes in addition to that - or even worse, Ithelia's fish-eyed lifeless stare?! I know in that case I'll just have to destroy that body and force Mannimarco into a different one. Or maybe kidnap him and throw him into a basement cell for exorcism (maybe there's even a use for the useless Breton then, although he also doesn't look agreeable; but maybe, as a temporary vessel,...).
It does make me wonder if they knew he was a necromancer all along and were ok with it until his betrayal. How much did Mannimarco hide his necromancer ways in general as he went about Tamriel, doing whatever it was he did post-Artaeum and pre-Planemeld?
Maybe it was like during my school days, where I, at least after the first few years, could take my "I do what I want" stance rather far since I was one of their best students so they just couldn't get rid of me - or didn't want to, because "prestige". I was the one raising the school's grade point average, I was the one who won communal competitions for the school. That basically earned me the right to spend my last 4 years of school - all day, every day, openly - drawing during lessons. Of course I still listened and participated, and took notes, but with drawing tools and a sketch book next to what ever the lessons were about. There was something triumphant about not hearing "Put that away and concentrate!" from the teachers, but "What are you drawing today?" or "That looks really impressive."
Then of course, my activities at that time didn't involve raising the dead, which could be seen as something slightly inappropriate or unsavory by some; so somehow I doubt that Mannimarco could just, habitually, be open about who he is (which might have fueled his activism for necromancers' liberation - necromancy, freely, for everyone!). And especially not in the earlier years just after he had left Artaeum, when he might have been a gifted young man, but certainly not that powerful yet. It's really a good question what he did back then, wandering around - unless he still had family who accepted him back.
In case of the Companions, I'm not completely sure though, to be honest. Maybe him claiming to be the only one who knows that one ritual was enough? Or the Companions might not have been as virtuous as they now claim to be so they didn't care much about Mannimarco's somewhat unusual hobbies anyway.
Oh...ah, I hope he's never that bored. I would prefer to not be in close quarters with him ever again.
The Skyrim romance system wasn't very deep, if I recall. Basically do a quest for the person to get them to be favorable towards you, ask them to marry you, then they're at your house making meals. Then adopt a couple of kids for them to take care of while you're off killing dragons and absorbing shouts. Win-win.
I think it would be a cool addition, really. Maybe we'll get "Season of the Great Houses."
But, yes, what is under the mask? Will we find out in Part 2?
Oh, I freely admit it. Except for Tharn, the others are all kinda drips.
What I'd like to see/read is Mannimarco's account of how he rose through the political ranks. It would probably take liberties with the truth, but it might give us some kind of timeline or idea of what he was doing all those years. I'd really like to get an idea of how open he was about his necromancy and, if he was openly practicing, how he convinced others it was not that big of a deal.
You know, it's funny. If I had taken to drawing during lessons, my teachers would have been more disappointed in me than not. My academic abilities caused them to view me as a role model for others, so if I 'transgressed', it would have been, "You should know better."
The Skyrim romance system wasn't very deep, if I recall. Basically do a quest for the person to get them to be favorable towards you, ask them to marry you, then they're at your house making meals. Then adopt a couple of kids for them to take care of while you're off killing dragons and absorbing shouts. Win-win.
Spouses could also get kidnapped. And you could infect them with vampirism. I think there was even a quest about that.
But, yes, what is under the mask? Will we find out in Part 2?
Well, I hope so unless he's ugly. Who knows, maybe it will just be the usual Mannimarco look again? He's certainly powerful enough to alter his appearance through magic (as in flesh-sculpting or something like that). Now, of course you could ask why he didn't remove those scars he got at some point then, but maybe those didn't bother him (he might have even liked them for different reasons). But having a completely different face - that might be something he dislikes and wants to get fixed.
Oh, I freely admit it. Except for Tharn, the others are all kinda drips.
Indeed. Isn't it somehow funny that those were made the "good main npcs" of the original story?
Although I have to admit, for me it's somehow a general tendency to find "evil" (or at least not completely positive) characters to be the most interesting. Since childhood even. I don't know why or whether that's "normal".
What I'd like to see/read is Mannimarco's account of how he rose through the political ranks. It would probably take liberties with the truth, but it might give us some kind of timeline or idea of what he was doing all those years. I'd really like to get an idea of how open he was about his necromancy and, if he was openly practicing, how he convinced others it was not that big of a deal.
I mean, there are different sources that claim that he's quite charming and charismatic, and has a talent for diplomacy. I'm not surprised that being eloquent opens the doors to all kinds of things, including unusual freedoms - I'm just not sure whether necromancy might be a little too peculiar.
You know, it's funny. If I had taken to drawing during lessons, my teachers would have been more disappointed in me than not. My academic abilities caused them to view me as a role model for others, so if I 'transgressed', it would have been, "You should know better."
They probably knew I wouldn't have cared. People's opinions never bothered me and I showed that attitude openly (the only exception really is if a friend is voicing concerns, someone I respect and whose judgement I trust - then I listen and consider them). If they had somehow irritated me, I could have just chosen to leave. It's not like they were the only school around that location, after all. So I somehow pushed them a bit into a position where they got the feeling they had to appease me. I know it sounds horrible, but it amused me greatly, especially at that age (I've gotten friendlier in temperament when getting older - a bit, at least - but back then... Well, puberty, I guess).
I'll take your word for that, because then I won't ever have to experience it (or be suspicious of any beverage he serves me).
My spouse never was in danger. I didn't know she could be! I mean, occasionally I'd show up at home and someone or something would be attacking, but the wife and kids were always safe inside.
As for vampirism, I wouldn't have played a vampire, so that wouldn't have ever come up for me.
I really would like it, too. Target demographic? Probably not.
Mannimarco's face on Wormblood's body...well, sure. As for his scars, maybe when he was with the companions, he hadn't yet discovered or mastered flesh sculpting. Or, as you said, perhaps they didn't bother him. But it is one thing to accept your face you've had all your life, even with scars, and entirely something else to be suddenly looking at someone else's face with your consciousness attached.
I'm not sure how it works where you are, but here in the public school system, students don't have the liberty to just choose what school they attend. They also can't choose to leave. I never attended any private schools, but considering the price tag they have attached, I would assume the parents/guardians of the students wouldn't have let them be so creative with their schooling, either.
My spouse never was in danger. I didn't know she could be! I mean, occasionally I'd show up at home and someone or something would be attacking, but the wife and kids were always safe inside.
There was one randomized or radiant quest as they called it, where your spouse would be kidnapped by bandits. In some cases, it was a little silly, of course. In one playthrough, my character married Marcurio, the overly self-confident Imperial destruction mage from Riften, and he would probably just have roasted every bandit in the vicinity with one of his lightning spells (those were so effective you couldn't take him on any rescue missions with you because of that).
As for the usual attacks outside of the house - I think the spouse was always indoors, so no danger for them in that situation, but my steward was often outside and... I sometimes feared for them. Especially if it wasn't bandits attacking, but a giant. And especially if my steward was a tiny Bosmer. I often chose Faendal.
As for vampirism, I wouldn't have played a vampire, so that wouldn't have ever come up for me.
I can remember that some of the vampire quest dialogue seemed more "romantic" than anything my character's spouse ever said, which was a little strange. Just checked it, this was it - after a quest to turn a Bosmer npc into a - very dangerous and fearsome - Bosmer vampire:
"You've given me a great gift friend. The night air hums and the shadows are full of color. We are blood bound, but we can never be too careful. Never know who might be watching, right?"
And then all you get from spouses is "Hi, here's your stew, bye!"
I really would like it, too. Target demographic? Probably not.
Morrowind still has a lot of fans even over 2 decades after its release. And I'm sure that ESO's Morrowind chapter was also well-received. They also clearly aimed at nostalgic fans of the singleplayer TES games at some point - until the Greymoor year or maybe Blackwood. But now? Who knows.
Mannimarco's face on Wormblood's body...well, sure. As for his scars, maybe when he was with the companions, he hadn't yet discovered or mastered flesh sculpting. Or, as you said, perhaps they didn't bother him. But it is one thing to accept your face you've had all your life, even with scars, and entirely something else to be suddenly looking at someone else's face with your consciousness attached.
I think he might have even appreciated his scars. Maybe thought they'd make him look more dangerous (or ancient - that might also have been a factor, especially if he truly wanted to make people believe he was Aldmer - not just symbolically or by heritage). And also the aesthetic ideals of the evil wizard and/or necromancer demographic might differ a bit from the mainstream, possibly
I'm not sure how it works where you are, but here in the public school system, students don't have the liberty to just choose what school they attend. They also can't choose to leave. I never attended any private schools, but considering the price tag they have attached, I would assume the parents/guardians of the students wouldn't have let them be so creative with their schooling, either.
Where I live, schools can be chosen freely - there are lots of cases where parents move but let their kid continue to attend their old school, or where students change schools because they (or more often their parents) weren't content with the old one, and some even accepted longer drives to some specific school further away from their home address because of special language profiles, specialized courses or even extracurricular activities. You have to apply for schools and they can reject you, but with good grades, it's not a problem.
Sure, when he serves it to you.
Yeah, the steward was often in peril. And the chickens. I'd get so angry when a giant would come and kill my chickens and cow.
Haha, yeah, the dialogue with the spouse was pretty lacking. Most detail you could get was moving them from one house to another and then asking them how everyone was doing in the new place. But hey, at least in Skyrim you could sleep in your beds!
I could definitely see him cultivating a certain look, for various reasons. In a world like Tamriel, a scarred face could probably give you a certain amount of credibility, too.
That's really interesting! I guess here charter schools might be the most similar to that system, but they aren't as widespread as the public school system, aren't regulated like the public school system, and can be somewhat controversial. Plus, there just weren't any where I lived when I was in high school.
Haha, yeah, the dialogue with the spouse was pretty lacking. Most detail you could get was moving them from one house to another and then asking them how everyone was doing in the new place. But hey, at least in Skyrim you could sleep in your beds!
It's really strange it's not possible in ESO yet. I wouldn't even expect it to have a function; just having the animation would be fine with me, so I could have my character lie down and sleep before logging of, just for the fun of it (although of course they could consider giving some buff when logging in again after having done that).
I could definitely see him cultivating a certain look, for various reasons. In a world like Tamriel, a scarred face could probably give you a certain amount of credibility, too.
It's almost astonishing he looks rather "normal" for a necromancer cult leader. Just having some scars is no rarity in Tamriel, after all, especially with the war in Cyrodiil, local conflicts, all kinds of threats, etc.
That's really interesting! I guess here charter schools might be the most similar to that system, but they aren't as widespread as the public school system, aren't regulated like the public school system, and can be somewhat controversial. Plus, there just weren't any where I lived when I was in high school.
Public high schools here are all like that. There's a mandatory curriculum that is the same everywhere, so there are standards, but on top of that, schools are free to offer different courses, and specialized schools (focused on sciences, or languages, or arts, or engineering, bi-lingual schools, schools teaching rather unusual foreign languages, etc) are very common. So you'd apply for one that fits the plans you have for your future best or that interests you most or fits your talents.
Edit to add: Actually not just high school. Elementary school consists of the first 4 years, or first 6 years of school in some regions, and after that you'd change to a secondary school (which would probably be something like a combined middle and high school?) which may be specialized. So that choice would take place between about age 11 and 13. Which is a bit early maybe, for some, to have found out about their interests, but it's possible to change to a different school at any time, so it's not that much of a problem either. So there might be students who go from elementary school to a more language-focussed secondary school first because that was their primary interest so far, but then they notice that there's a talent for, let's say, chemistry or biology, and then they might change from their language-focussed secondary school to a science-focussed one if they want to pursue that.
Well I'm not anymore either! I was reassigned. I did warn my replacement about the garden, though, so Gothren should no longer be annoyed by the sight of anyone lurking there.
See, that's what I want it for: just roleplay immersion. After a long day of doing various tasks, some of which might be morally questionable, my character gets to fall into bed for a nice (or possibly disturbed) sleep.
And then, of course, in the early trailers for the game, he is completely unmarred. I know, I know, that wasn't Mannimarco, it was a human cosplaying as him, but if that's so, they should have gone in on the face scar effects!
So, yes, I want to see what's under that mask, because I suspect it was just Mannimarco's model with a mask on, and though I hope not, I need confirmation.
See, that's what I want it for: just roleplay immersion. After a long day of doing various tasks, some of which might be morally questionable, my character gets to fall into bed for a nice (or possibly disturbed) sleep.
Maybe that's the problem: Justice never sleeps, and the wicked never get any rest either. Which leads to the question: Who or what are the beds even for then?
And then, of course, in the early trailers for the game, he is completely unmarred. I know, I know, that wasn't Mannimarco, it was a human cosplaying as him, but if that's so, they should have gone in on the face scar effects!
I can't find it right now, but I think in one of the earliest trailers, the elves also had comically long ears.
So, yes, I want to see what's under that mask, because I suspect it was just Mannimarco's model with a mask on, and though I hope not, I need confirmation.
One thing that definitely did change was the voice actor, at least in the German version. It's a bit of a pity, as the last one played Mannimarco as notably arrogant, dramatic and sardonic, which was awesome. Not saying the new one was bad, also, we haven't heard that much yet, but his way of talking sounds more uniform, with less "dramatic" intonation, so far; and the more emotional portrayal just fit the view I have of Mannimarco better. But who knows what we'll see in Part 2 (Another big mystery: How will Vanny's hair look like the next time we see him?).
Hmm, I don't know. As far as I know he wasn't caught. Maybe Gothren's guards caught someone else spying on him. He seems like the type of mer that would have a lot of people spying on him.
A mystery for the ages.... Realistically, I guess they are just set dressing. Since there's no way to advance time in this game like there is in the single player games, and no benefits accrued from resting in game (not talking about the log-out bonus xp timer), I guess they felt there was no purpose to making the beds allow a sleep animation. Pity.
Longer even than they are in the first ones? It seems like MMO elves always have freakishly long ears.
I did notice the voice was different, and I thought: well, if he's in Wormblood's body, he would have Wormblood's voice, so that tracks as a realistic reason. I wonder if perhaps the original voice actor wasn't available or if the plan was always to have him come back with a different voice.
As for Vanny's hair, it had better be salon-perfect! He's the Great Mage; he finally has Great Hair!
Hmm, I don't know. As far as I know he wasn't caught. Maybe Gothren's guards caught someone else spying on him. He seems like the type of mer that would have a lot of people spying on him.
Even I spy on him at times. How else would I know what I could get him for his next birthday, after all?
A mystery for the ages.... Realistically, I guess they are just set dressing. Since there's no way to advance time in this game like there is in the single player games, and no benefits accrued from resting in game (not talking about the log-out bonus xp timer), I guess they felt there was no purpose to making the beds allow a sleep animation. Pity.
Then again, sitting on a chair in game also doesn't really serve any purpose.
Longer even than they are in the first ones? It seems like MMO elves always have freakishly long ears.
In the 1st(?) ever trailer, they had WOW elf ears. Why anyone would have ears that long, and which evolutionary purpose that would have, I'm not sure about. It's not like they're hares who can use them for temperature regulation, after all. Or at least I haven't heard anything about that yet.
As for Vanny's hair, it had better be salon-perfect! He's the Great Mage; he finally has Great Hair!
I mean, it did change back from the shorter prologue hair to the old base game hair already (in those projections we saw in Part 1 now). Despite him still wearing the new robe where the old hairstyle leads to severe clipping. Which in the end made me wonder whether it was a deliberate decision or whether there's a mistake somewhere (like they might have forgotten that they changed it in the prologue, or maybe changing it in the prologue was a rather spontaneous decision shortly before release; or maybe they even based the prologue hair on his looks in the Summerset chapter - it's the same style, just white instead of the light brown color it had when he was young - and forgot that he looked differently in the base game? Who knows).
Could you not just...ask him? Or is that a breach of some obscure Telvanni etiquette?
No, it's not consistent at all, is it?
Maybe Phrastus of Elinhir could come up with one of his dubious treatises on mer ears.
Wait...his hair was back to lanky in the projections? I didn't notice that. Maybe his eyeball sockets and dental structure drew my eyes away from his unfortunate hair.
All right. Well...it grew really fast and he wasn't able to keep it stylish because prisoner?
I don't want him to go back to old hair, not now that we've seen how good he looks with new hair. So the minute, and I mean the exact moment we rescue him, we need to have someone fix his hair. Didn't you say Larildur joined the Worm Cult? We could rescue him at the same time and put him to work doing what he does best.
All right. Well...it grew really fast and he wasn't able to keep it stylish because prisoner?
Maybe. I just checked for screenshots of the "Hero's Return" quest (or questline) that I'll probably never see in my life since I'm never logged out for long enough, and there he has shorter hair again. Maybe that's another hobby he spends his freetime with: Magically growing his hair. And cutting it off to regrow it. Must be a wonderful pastime when ever there's not enough time to organize a staged kidnapping.
I don't want him to go back to old hair, not now that we've seen how good he looks with new hair. So the minute, and I mean the exact moment we rescue him, we need to have someone fix his hair. Didn't you say Larildur joined the Worm Cult? We could rescue him at the same time and put him to work doing what he does best.
Sounds like a good plan. Unless Larildur has been corrupted by an evil influence. Then he might be dangerous and ruin Vanny's haircut on purpose which would be a fate worse than death.
Fair point, but I must ask: does he like surprises? Because he doesn't strike me as the type who would.
They do, though. The one that comes immediately to mind is in the Rift, that first town. Shor's Stone. A certain npc is resting in a bed after a quest--recuperating. And I think some random npcs are in beds in that inn, too. So I have seen some beds utilized by npcs, but what I haven't seen is an npc get in or out of a bed. Once they're in a bed, they're in for life.
The Great Mage needs his hobbies! I like to imagine him standing before a mirror, fussing with the exact length of his hair.
Well we definitely won't let him do that! I'm sure I could reason with him. Probably.
They do, though. The one that comes immediately to mind is in the Rift, that first town. Shor's Stone. A certain npc is resting in a bed after a quest--recuperating. And I think some random npcs are in beds in that inn, too. So I have seen some beds utilized by npcs, but what I haven't seen is an npc get in or out of a bed. Once they're in a bed, they're in for life.
That's what I mean. They're probably placed on beds manually and through emotes, but not through a real functionality of the furnishing. So they can't get out or in. It's different with chairs; there are definitely some npcs in taverns who walk around and sit down on different chairs at times (like the Argonian in the St Delyn Inn in Vivec).
Well we definitely won't let him do that! I'm sure I could reason with him. Probably.
Otherwise Vanny might end up looking like his concept art.
Um...I think there might be a misunderstanding of basic emotions at work here. Perhaps the Bosmer could help you interpret these things in future.
Well, I think I've seen npcs lie down on the ground and get up and move around in some place
Now, now, you need to keep your people-snatching sack reserved for cultists, not Great Mages!
Oh, my...that short hair. That awful beard. No. Just no.
Although concept Vanny at least looks amused at something. Maybe his outfit. Those thigh-high boots do wonders for his silhouette!
I like the writing direction that says "of a hurry" and it looks very much like Vanny is going to "ride the lightning" and zip off somewhere any moment.
I like the writing direction that says "of a hurry" and it looks very much like Vanny is going to "ride the lightning" and zip off somewhere any moment.
The full text says "Vanus Galerion, who wasn't in so much of a hurry that he wouldn't pose for a portrait". Source:
https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:The_Improved_Emperor's_Guide_to_Tamriel/Bangkorai
Please also take note of Mannimarco's picture with the caption "repaint - expression too friendly".