Who is constructing our houses? Many flaws that need corrected.

katanagirl1 · November 25

The problem isn’t that there are imperfections added to the game for realism for the time period, it’s just that the imperfections are often so grossly exaggerated to the point of ugliness. The walls in the Elsweyr houses just look disgusting. You have to find ways to cover them up. Sure, some very unfortunate people probably lived in conditions like that in a medieval time period but it looks unhealthy to us and is a real turn-off.

Even some base game areas look like this too. I do my daily crafting run around Riften every day, I start at the crafting hall, pick up the equipment writs first, ride through the center of town and pick up the consumables writs, then back to the crafting hall. As I head back to the crafting hall I can see that the sections of stone paving have corners that don’t meet for the center circular section in more than one place, and some sections are buckled up at an angle. I guess that is supposed to be realistic but it is immersion-breaking for me. I agree there would be imperfections but they should not be so obvious when riding on your mount. They didn’t have micrometers and calipers back then but any good craftsman would have more attention to detail at least on a superficial level.

Soarora · November 25

katanagirl1 wrote: »

They didn’t have micrometers and calipers back then but any good craftsman would have more attention to detail at least on a superficial level.

Actually, on this note, I want to also mention that technology in elder scrolls is actually moving backwards. Construction in our current era and older would probably have better tools than construction in third era and beyond. Dwemer probably did have micrometers and calipers, maybe the Ayleids as well. Again, not all construction teams would be able to have such tools if they’re rare but more (in-lore) expensive & older buildings might’ve had more well-equipped construction teams.

Elvenheart · November 25

Soarora wrote: »

katanagirl1 wrote: »

They didn’t have micrometers and calipers back then but any good craftsman would have more attention to detail at least on a superficial level.

Actually, on this note, I want to also mention that technology in elder scrolls is actually moving backwards. Construction in our current era and older would probably have better tools than construction in third era and beyond. Dwemer probably did have micrometers and calipers, maybe the Ayleids as well. Again, not all construction teams would be able to have such tools if they’re rare but more (in-lore) expensive & older buildings might’ve had more well-equipped construction teams.

This inspired me to say…

Welcome to the next expansion (content pass) - The Age of the Dwemer! In the first half of the year, you uncover a mysterious Dwemer plan with many parts that have to be collected in all of the older zones. Assembling the mysterious machine is a community effort that takes six months and reveals a marvelous, mechanical portal device that when activated with enough vitrified oil opens a portal to the past when the Dwemer were at the height of their scientific and mechanical marvels. And this part of the expansion will come with a new class that everyone, err, @tomofhyrule and others I’m sure wants, the Artificer! And once we go back in time, it is revealed that a knowledgeable Dwemer created this device and set it to purposely bring heroes from the future back to the past in their greatest time of need, a war, right before the Dwemer vanished from the face of Nirn. Wait, isn’t this similar to what happened in the most recent Indiana Jones movie?

BardokRedSnow · November 25

The only thing that really bothers me is the doorknob thing i guess but yea overall its a small issue, honestly I think the houses for the most part are stellar, my issue has always been item space available, it doesnt seem like enough for how much the houses cost.

katanagirl1 · November 26

Soarora wrote: »

katanagirl1 wrote: »

They didn’t have micrometers and calipers back then but any good craftsman would have more attention to detail at least on a superficial level.

Actually, on this note, I want to also mention that technology in elder scrolls is actually moving backwards. Construction in our current era and older would probably have better tools than construction in third era and beyond. Dwemer probably did have micrometers and calipers, maybe the Ayleids as well. Again, not all construction teams would be able to have such tools if they’re rare but more (in-lore) expensive & older buildings might’ve had more well-equipped construction teams.

You could always go to Clockwork City and get some calipers too, just hit a few safeboxes, lol.

I thought of another thing, the houses we buy would represent billionaire mansions compared to the modest homes of everyone who is not the 1% of Tamriel. So they should have better craftsmanship than the worn, ragged stuff we see in game.

kind_hero · November 26

Soarora wrote: »

katanagirl1 wrote: »

They didn’t have micrometers and calipers back then but any good craftsman would have more attention to detail at least on a superficial level.

Actually, on this note, I want to also mention that technology in elder scrolls is actually moving backwards. Construction in our current era and older would probably have better tools than construction in third era and beyond. Dwemer probably did have micrometers and calipers, maybe the Ayleids as well. Again, not all construction teams would be able to have such tools if they’re rare but more (in-lore) expensive & older buildings might’ve had more well-equipped construction teams.

I am not sure it is useful for this topic to normalize the lack of attention and QA for digital products that people purchase with real money. While I have previously said that I don't mind certain imperfections, which also annoy me, it is enough to have the state of housing at it is, no need for players to say, "yeah, it's actually fine", bringing up history or lore. We want the best for this game, and we want that our time and money spent in ESO to be worth the investment, to be fun. It is not much to ask to have assets which are actually puzzle pieces fit, or align properly, especially after you purchased crowns with real money, and are buying those assets from the crown store. "Medieval" or not.

And besides.. when bringing up "medieval".. it depends a lot to which place, culture and time period you are referring to. Also, which kind of architecture... houses built by peasants or cathedrals and castles built by real masons and craftsmen. People were very smart in the 12-14th centuries. They were very creative and resourceful with less advanced tools. Since ancient times, architecture involved sacred geometry, concepts such the golden ratio, proportions, sacred numbers used in shapes etc. So, people everywhere have always been spiritual and concerned about alignment (North-South, stars etc), proportion or shapes, especially in architecture.

Ulvich · November 26

I learned a long time ago to inspect a house before I buy it. I found a lot wrong with Hiddensprings as well which is why I wont buy it.

scrappy1342 · November 26

Elvenheart wrote: »

... a community effort that takes six months and reveals a marvelous, mechanical portal device that when activated with enough vitrified oil opens a portal ...

lost me at vitrified... LOL

this is great though XD keep up the good work

twisttop138 · November 26

Elvenheart wrote: »

Soarora wrote: »

katanagirl1 wrote: »

They didn’t have micrometers and calipers back then but any good craftsman would have more attention to detail at least on a superficial level.

Actually, on this note, I want to also mention that technology in elder scrolls is actually moving backwards. Construction in our current era and older would probably have better tools than construction in third era and beyond. Dwemer probably did have micrometers and calipers, maybe the Ayleids as well. Again, not all construction teams would be able to have such tools if they’re rare but more (in-lore) expensive & older buildings might’ve had more well-equipped construction teams.

This inspired me to say…

Welcome to the next expansion (content pass) - The Age of the Dwemer! In the first half of the year, you uncover a mysterious Dwemer plan with many parts that have to be collected in all of the older zones. Assembling the mysterious machine is a community effort that takes six months and reveals a marvelous, mechanical portal device that when activated with enough vitrified oil opens a portal to the past when the Dwemer were at the height of their scientific and mechanical marvels. And this part of the expansion will come with a new class that everyone, err, @tomofhyrule and others I’m sure wants, the Artificer! And once we go back in time, it is revealed that a knowledgeable Dwemer created this device and set it to purposely bring heroes from the future back to the past in their greatest time of need, a war, right before the Dwemer vanished from the face of Nirn. Wait, isn’t this similar to what happened in the most recent Indiana Jones movie?

Ya know something. I don't know what an artificer is, beyond a crafting skill line in Swtor, but @tomofhyrule has mentioned it so much that if we don't get one I'm gonna be disappointed.

On topic, they just need to have a better QA process for these houses and other things in the game. Doing mental gymnastics about medieval realism for immersion is a fun exercise in this thread for sure, but when it's in the product you paid 100 USD, for it's a little less fun.

Edit to add thoughts.

tomofhyrule · November 26

twisttop138 wrote: »

Elvenheart wrote: »

Soarora wrote: »

katanagirl1 wrote: »

They didn’t have micrometers and calipers back then but any good craftsman would have more attention to detail at least on a superficial level.

Actually, on this note, I want to also mention that technology in elder scrolls is actually moving backwards. Construction in our current era and older would probably have better tools than construction in third era and beyond. Dwemer probably did have micrometers and calipers, maybe the Ayleids as well. Again, not all construction teams would be able to have such tools if they’re rare but more (in-lore) expensive & older buildings might’ve had more well-equipped construction teams.

This inspired me to say…

Welcome to the next expansion (content pass) - The Age of the Dwemer! In the first half of the year, you uncover a mysterious Dwemer plan with many parts that have to be collected in all of the older zones. Assembling the mysterious machine is a community effort that takes six months and reveals a marvelous, mechanical portal device that when activated with enough vitrified oil opens a portal to the past when the Dwemer were at the height of their scientific and mechanical marvels. And this part of the expansion will come with a new class that everyone, err, @tomofhyrule and others I’m sure wants, the Artificer! And once we go back in time, it is revealed that a knowledgeable Dwemer created this device and set it to purposely bring heroes from the future back to the past in their greatest time of need, a war, right before the Dwemer vanished from the face of Nirn. Wait, isn’t this similar to what happened in the most recent Indiana Jones movie?

Ya know something. I don't know what an artificer is, beyond a crafting skill line in Swtor, but @tomofhyrule has mentioned it so much that if we don't get one I'm gonna be disappointed.

On topic, they just need to have a better QA process for these houses and other things in the game. Doing mental gymnastics about medieval realism for immersion is a fun exercise in this thread for sure, but when it's in the product you paid 100 USD, for it's a little less fun.

Edit to add thoughts.

lol everyone knows me too well.

Seriously, I'm at the point with ESO where I'm probably keeping my wallet closed, but if they give me a Dwemer Artificer I'm jumping on the preorders so fast that their heads will spin.

dcrush · 7:15AM

I recently bought the Gardner house, which was released nine years ago.

While adding an additional floor to the upper level, I kept bumping into something and couldn’t figure out what it was until I realized there’s an invisible platform across the whole area. If you go up past the side of it you can stand on it. It also rains in that part of the house when the weather is stormy. But that’s ok, I guess the roof is just leaky.

Soarora · 8:13AM

kind_hero wrote: »

Soarora wrote: »

katanagirl1 wrote: »

They didn’t have micrometers and calipers back then but any good craftsman would have more attention to detail at least on a superficial level.

Actually, on this note, I want to also mention that technology in elder scrolls is actually moving backwards. Construction in our current era and older would probably have better tools than construction in third era and beyond. Dwemer probably did have micrometers and calipers, maybe the Ayleids as well. Again, not all construction teams would be able to have such tools if they’re rare but more (in-lore) expensive & older buildings might’ve had more well-equipped construction teams.

I am not sure it is useful for this topic to normalize the lack of attention and QA for digital products that people purchase with real money. While I have previously said that I don't mind certain imperfections, which also annoy me, it is enough to have the state of housing at it is, no need for players to say, "yeah, it's actually fine", bringing up history or lore. We want the best for this game, and we want that our time and money spent in ESO to be worth the investment, to be fun. It is not much to ask to have assets which are actually puzzle pieces fit, or align properly, especially after you purchased crowns with real money, and are buying those assets from the crown store. "Medieval" or not.

And besides.. when bringing up "medieval".. it depends a lot to which place, culture and time period you are referring to. Also, which kind of architecture... houses built by peasants or cathedrals and castles built by real masons and craftsmen. People were very smart in the 12-14th centuries. They were very creative and resourceful with less advanced tools. Since ancient times, architecture involved sacred geometry, concepts such the golden ratio, proportions, sacred numbers used in shapes etc. So, people everywhere have always been spiritual and concerned about alignment (North-South, stars etc), proportion or shapes, especially in architecture.

Yes, this is my point. My tangent about in-lore technology is a bit of a silly argument on the same level as saying "this 70+ usd item you paid to gain temporary access to having glaring flaws is okay because it's a medieval setting". TES is not a medieval setting. There's magic and older civilizations (if not the current ones since we're only in the 2nd Era) have advanced tools that IRL medieval people would not have. Even then, like you said, we've been good at building for a long time... and none of this even needs justification about how it "makes immersive sense" because houses are expensive products.

Who purposefully messes up construction to make them more "immersive" anyways? Closest thing I can think of is people using cheats in The Sims to make rugs and furniture slightly unaligned for realism. As far as I know, almost no one does that.