Thank you, Zenimax!

SnuggleMePlease

Now, I know that contacting ZoS to do anything other than whine, ***, moan, or complain isn't a very popular act at the moment, but I feel that, as many *** things that they do, they also do a few good deeds. So, just try to bear with me.

I just wanted to say a big thank you to Zenimax Online Studios for representing the LGBTQ community within ESO. While questing during this past week, I was pleasantly surprised more than once when I stumbled upon gay and lesbian quest-givers. I was honestly so surprised at first that I thought I had heard something wrong. Previous Elder Scrolls games have shown that the world of Tamriel, at the very least, tolerates homosexuality in certain regions. However, I feel that this is the most overt representation of gays and lesbians in an Elder Scrolls game to date.

While I thank Zenimax, I also want them to keep things realistic. In reality, people have differing opinions, and I want to see how different cultures and peoples react to and interpret homosexuality. I have only been working my way through the AD quests, and the general sense I have gotten so far is that Bosmer and Khajiit tend to be very accepting of homosexuality whereas Altmer tend not to discuss it. With that being said, I would like for there to be one or two races where homosexuality isn't an accepted cultural practice because it adds to the realism of the game--and this is coming from a homosexual individual.

Living in a hetero-normative society where you're rarely represented is tiresome. A lot of the time, you find yourself unable to relate to characters in terms of sexuality. So, something like this can really be a breath of fresh air. In conclusion, I just wanted to say a quick thank you to Zenimax for remaining true to the spirit of Tamriel.

If any, which LGBTQ quest-givers have you come across? How do you feel various races and cultures interpret homosexuality? What are your personal opinions on homosexuality in Tamriel? Thanks for your time and consideration.

Cheers,
Snuggle

Magdalina

Wow...well that's a first
To be honest, without trying to offend you, I wish they also had SOME straight couples at least. No, I don't mind homosexual ones but I got a very firm impression pretty much ALL inhabitants of Tamriel are either gay or lesbian, which must be why there're no kids in this game. Like I got that feeling 9/10 "we're a couple" questgivers are that...it was amusing and gave me some great laughs but to be honest I think it's a bit too much

Alucardo

There's one in Bangkorai where you have to save a guys husband. The Orc guards in Daggerfall are also obviously bisexual/gay (http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/240300/whats-with-all-the-orc-guards-in-daggerfall/p1)

SnuggleMePlease

@Magdalina Honestly, I didn't get that impression at all. I felt that there was a good balance of straight couples versus homosexual couples. Maybe it is because the homosexual couples seemed more memorable to you. Don't worry. I'm not offended in the slightest.

@Alucardo You make me want to go Daggerfall just so I can feel flattered when I commit crime.

Magdalina

SnuggleMePlease wrote: »

Magdalina Honestly, I didn't get that impression at all. I felt that there was a good balance of straight couples versus homosexual couples. Maybe it is because the homosexual couples seemed more memorable to you. Don't worry. I'm not offended in the slightest.

That might be it but they seem just SO many O: On top of my head, a couple in AD where one of them turned into werewolf(they ended up happily living ever after as two werewolves), a bosmer guy whose husband died and he makes you collect flowers for the grave(a sad one indeed), countless random females whose wives have gone missing(those quest were not memorable enough to remember the details), slightly less males in similar situations, also if you talk to NPCs plenty of merchants are homosexual, and those guards @Alucardo mentioned...didn't know that one xD
...there're so much more but it's been a while since I quested so I really can't remember

Thorn416

Magdalina wrote: »

Wow...well that's a first
To be honest, without trying to offend you, I wish they also had SOME straight couples at least. No, I don't mind homosexual ones but I got a very firm impression pretty much ALL inhabitants of Tamriel are either gay or lesbian, which must be why there're no kids in this game. Like I got that feeling 9/10 "we're a couple" questgivers are that...it was amusing and gave me some great laughs but to be honest I think it's a bit too much

I bet you complain about there not being a Straight Pride Parade too lmao

ADarklore

Magdalina wrote: »

To be honest, without trying to offend you, I wish they also had SOME straight couples at least.

I find this pretty telling... because it seems that heterosexual couples are not memorable to you because you encounter them every day and in your mind their is nothing special to add it to your memory... but clearly you don't encounter gay couples every day so when you do they stand out.

During questing... I'm constantly running across quests to find a woman's husband or husband's wife, girlfriend/boyfriend, etc... that always need my help. I rarely find quests to help a gay couple by comparison.

ADarklore

Alucardo wrote: »

There's one in Bangkorai where you have to save a guys husband. The Orc guards in Daggerfall are also obviously bisexual/gay (http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/240300/whats-with-all-the-orc-guards-in-daggerfall/p1)

Or the male 'couple' in the Fighter's Guild hall in Elden Root to the left as you walk in the entrance. Read the paper sitting there then talk to the Imperial... he tells you about them being "occupied" when the Caravan leaves.

JD2013

There's a quest I came across last night in Orsinium. I cleared Coldperch Cavern and picked up the quest there, and had to take an item back to the Mage's Guild in the city.

There's an Argonian Mage there by the name of Deechee-Noo who you have to go and fetch some items for to complete the quest, and well - let me tell you . . . She's one lusty Argonian for all sexes!

Made me laugh out loud.

TheShadowScout

SnuggleMePlease wrote: »

Honestly, I didn't get that impression at all. I felt that there was a good balance of straight couples versus homosexual couples. Maybe it is because the homosexual couples seemed more memorable to you...

I think it depends what people are used to. In our world, most are still used to "straight" being the status quo, and anything not quite straight being "don't ask, don't tell" except in spaciel flamboyant cases who made it their identity to catch peoples attention.
Thus they overlook all "straight" stuff as "background noise", and are far more likely to remember those instances when that is pierced by a (to their sensitivities) jarring note.

I would suggest any who feel that homosexual couples are the majority in ESO going through the quests again with your eyes open. The homosexual couplings -are still- a minority. The others just get less attention.

Who cares about the nord married to a dunmer whose family you help, who cares about the ghosts of that couple whose fate you learn, who cares about that spurned lover trying to get back at his ex, who cares about the dunmer couple slaveholders who get in trouble with dark spirits, who cares about the duke and his wife, who cares about the price and his wife, who cares about the families you pass by when you quest?
They hardly register, just faces in the background.

But [Takei voice]"Ohhh, myyyyy"[/Takei voice] that elf grieving for his lover, that "bearded lady" among the performers, that captain married to another woman, take note, sooo ***!

Personally I really like how the plotes in ESO take a "so what?" approach to these topics.

Personally I always love to see any game dare to take those steps.

But then, I would...
Greetings from the "B" camp of LGBTQ.

Aimora

JD2013 wrote: »

There's a quest I came across last night in Orsinium. I cleared Coldperch Cavern and picked up the quest there, and had to take an item back to the Mage's Guild in the city.

There's an Argonian Mage there by the name of Deechee-Noo who you have to go and fetch some items for to complete the quest, and well - let me tell you . . . She's one lusty Argonian for all sexes!

Made me laugh out loud.

Haha she is very popular indeed

Sheezabeast

There's a lesbian NPC merchant in Belkarth that sells wood items, a little stereotypical there but ya they tried

WolfingHour

Magdalina wrote: »

SnuggleMePlease wrote: »

Magdalina Honestly, I didn't get that impression at all. I felt that there was a good balance of straight couples versus homosexual couples. Maybe it is because the homosexual couples seemed more memorable to you. Don't worry. I'm not offended in the slightest.

That might be it but they seem just SO many O: On top of my head, a couple in AD where one of them turned into werewolf(they ended up happily living ever after as two werewolves), a bosmer guy whose husband died and he makes you collect flowers for the grave(a sad one indeed), countless random females whose wives have gone missing(those quest were not memorable enough to remember the details), slightly less males in similar situations, also if you talk to NPCs plenty of merchants are homosexual, and those guards @Alucardo mentioned...didn't know that one xD
...there're so much more but it's been a while since I quested so I really can't remember

The flowers quest is in greenshade. Third AD zone if you disregard noob island.

Yup. Tamriel is really busting through the seams with LGBT characters. One massive gay parade.

WolfingHour

Aimora wrote: »

JD2013 wrote: »

There's a quest I came across last night in Orsinium. I cleared Coldperch Cavern and picked up the quest there, and had to take an item back to the Mage's Guild in the city.

There's an Argonian Mage there by the name of Deechee-Noo who you have to go and fetch some items for to complete the quest, and well - let me tell you . . . She's one lusty Argonian for all sexes!

Made me laugh out loud.

Haha she is very popular indeed

Not to mention she made you get the frozen eggs just because she loves them. Had nothing to do with the ritual.

Loved that NPC.

MrDerrikk

I really loved the mix of different everything in ESO, even if it was a bit surprising at first (I was brought up in a conservative Christian home, even though I've since taken up a much more open mindset). So long as they don't take on the extreme views of things that some people have, I'm very happy with all the different things they have in it like this

mcilroy

Zenimax tring to keep everyone happy, do you think next to add will be something like ceremony of eternal bonding from FFXIV personal thought it was a bit much but if people like it then fair play.

MrDerrikk

mcilroy wrote: »

Zenimax tring to keep everyone happy, do you think next to add will be something like ceremony of eternal bonding from FFXIV personal thought it was a bit much but if people like it then fair play.

They have the Rings of Mara that can be used between anyone and anything?

Young_Archiebold

Yea I gotta admit, for a game who's story is pretty much based on racism and faction wars its pretty damn progressive.

ProfessorKittyhawk

Don't forget Jakarn in DC being bisexual. If you're a guy he says something about "If I found a handsome guy locked away in a cell I'd wanna help him out too" and how he still calls you good looking.

I just recently did the quest where you help the guy with his werewolf husband. Such a sweet quest.

I do hope we see a bit more of this in the future. Its great to see these kind of relationships in a game like this, since it's so rarely seen or done. And the fact that the characters aren't your stereotypical portrayal of LGBTQ characters in popular media says a lot too. Shows we are just like everyone else.

elias.stormneb18_ESO

Magdalina wrote: »

SnuggleMePlease wrote: »

Magdalina Honestly, I didn't get that impression at all. I felt that there was a good balance of straight couples versus homosexual couples. Maybe it is because the homosexual couples seemed more memorable to you. Don't worry. I'm not offended in the slightest.

That might be it but they seem just SO many O: On top of my head, a couple in AD where one of them turned into werewolf(they ended up happily living ever after as two werewolves), a bosmer guy whose husband died and he makes you collect flowers for the grave(a sad one indeed), countless random females whose wives have gone missing(those quest were not memorable enough to remember the details), slightly less males in similar situations, also if you talk to NPCs plenty of merchants are homosexual, and those guards @Alucardo mentioned...didn't know that one xD
...there're so much more but it's been a while since I quested so I really can't remember

Oh come on, the VAST majority is still heterosexual, I mean it's pretty much 9/1 in this case. There are only like ten Homosexual couples in the game (not counting generic non-talkative NPCs). We need MORE Gays in Tamriel!!