I just have this problem with TES series and it's almost game breaking for me.

DocDova

OK, I once said it already But as I am rebuilding a new character, I am replaying a quest which reminded me of this again. It might appear trivial to most it's obvious, Otherwise It would been rectified by now. I am currently doing 'The seal of three' quest and my next objective is 'Pray at Almalexia's alter'.

That's the problem, I am a firm monotheist, I don't pray to anyone But God Almighty or Allah (in Arabic), Game has far too many instances like this. That's why once I suggested for having a Faith system in next elder scrolls game and if possible in ESO also. When I did this quest previously, I wasn't a member here, SO was unaware how to convey my problem.

I don't do stuff which I won't in real life i.e. stealing/murdering and praying to anyone but God would be something I consider worst thing I can do. It's not just this instance, many dialogue options I have to chose to progress through the game also ascribe divinity to these in game deities.

It's not that I am just complaining, I also offer my assistance. I have studied comparative religion, fairly thorough for day to day life. I can point out stuff which would be offending to strict monotheistic religions i.e Islam or Judaism. It's not that hard, One just can't ascribe anything divine to anyone But one True God. If ZOS wish to help the issue, I would be more than happy to offer my assistance in this regards.

For example, Simply changing some words would solve problem to firm monotheists. Instead of 'Pray at Almalexia's alter', 'Go to Almalexia's alter' or 'Talk to Almalexia at her alter' would eliminate the problem entirely for this particular instance.

This is a sincere thread for actual problem firm monotheist like me face, My offer of assistance is sincere. Please keep it clean and If you can't understand issue at hand, don't try to trivialize it here.

Hurbster

With respect, it's not real.

HeathenDeacon

so just to be clear, you believe any company that sells a product purely for entertainment that you are in no way required to buy should cater to your specific religious beliefs?

personman_145

I have more proof for the gods of elder scrolls than I ever had for others. I've actually seen these gods, spoken with them, and even done quests for them.

Axoinus

If you are not stealing or mudering, you are missing out on a lot of great content. Same is true for ESO..

phermitgb

I actually do sympathize with your dilemma. I personally find the achievement for "robbing" passing merchants in each zone relatively...inappropriate for most of my characters (I actually have specifically built a "jackass" character solely so that I can experience all the borderline evil/immoral quest choices)

but the point is, I understand where you're coming from - but the existence of ESO AS AN MMO sort of requires you to have 2 minds

1 mind is the character you're playing
1 mind is the fact that you're playing a video game, with traditional video game conventions

yes, if you stay loyal to your character vision, you will functionally be "punished" by certain game conditions, namely, achievement points, or possibly some quest outcomes (f'ing mages guild finale)

but, like at least one person mentioned above, NONE OF THIS IS "REAL". Now, if you have a personal moral/ethical/religious compunction about events you play out in video games, that is something you have to deal with on your own

if it were me...if you feel that your every actions should convey your faith even in a fictional environment, then you MUST convey your faith even within the context of a video game, and be punished/redeemed accordingly. Or you can choose to see it as an...opportunity.

this is as much a place to DEMONSTRATE your faith as it is a place to have your faith be tested...I suppose it's up to you.

as a man of faith myself, I can tell you that I *personally* differentiate between the characters and choices I make in THIS game between the choices and motivations I have in REAL LIFE...but in the end, it's up to you to decide how your choices HERE reflect your actual commitment to...whatever you''re committed to.

Linaleah

in case its a genuine problem for you, OP. YOU are not praying to anyone. your character is. you are not living in Tamriel. you are not an elf, or breton, or redguard, or orc, etc. you are not running around, murdering wildlife and humanoids indiscriminately. so there is no conflict. becasue you are not your character.

Bobby_V_Rockit

Odin is the only real God anyway, he promised to get rid of all the ice giants... I dont see any ice giants around, do you?

TastesAllColors

Every soul gem only works because it is filled with a living soul that is imprisoned inside it. They suffer. There is even a note about what it feels like from their perspective.

We are all monsters.

Chaos2088

It's called roleplay!!!.....

Each to their own and you can have whatever views you want, but the game is not going to change its lore. In the world of elder scrolls the tribune are living gods. If don't like it, don't play it.

Darkstorne

If it makes you feel better, the Three aren’t gods. They are mortals who channel the power of Lorkhan’s heart to steal immortality and great powers. They are pretenders, warping the minds of their followers for their own egotistical gains.

And yes, I know some of you may be thinking “but Lorkhan is a god and one of many!” But in fact... he’s not. He’s a dream, as is all of Tamriel and everything else in this universe, of the Amaranth. So if anyone is a god it’s her, Anu. And there’s only one of her.

But MOST importantly this is all a story and if you don’t like it you’re welcome to not engage with it.

HappyLittleTree

Excuse me Sir, do you have a moment to talk about our lord and savior Sithis?

wolfie1.0.

I personally dont consider any of the "gods" to be true gods atleast 3 are mortals that stole power to become semi immortal and are killed in morrowind (TES 3) and the daedric and aedric gods are more akin to alien super beings...

Ilithyania

Term of Service was signed by you

thats your GOD now

DocDova

I am going to do quest as it is.

ZOS please think seriously over this, In the end it would only make you product more inclusive, more immersive and more widely acceptable among various faith groups. My offer of assistance would always stand in this regard, doesn't matter I am playing the game or not. (not that I am going to leave the game, I mean down the line, even for next game), I have selfish yet noble intentions here.

ToRelax

I don't like it either when my character has to "pray" to one of the deities in the TES universe she wouldn't on her own behalf. It takes away from the roleplaying. But it's also not as if she were forced to worship some lifeless idol, since all of these beings are real within the fantasy world.

aaisoaho

Well, this is a fantasy setting after all. The way I deal with the in-game choices I wouldn't do IRL: I think it as a way of telling/reading a story about my character(s). They are purely fiction and their actions are fiction. If the protagonist is polytheistic, it doesn't make me polytheistic.

I'm against changing the words (like pray -> talk to), because it's a design and an immersion issue. Tamriel is designed to be a completely separe world to ours, they have their own religious systems, their own societies, their own economy. It would wreck the storytelling if you were to change the status of daedric princes/aedras, make them mortal and not divine. The writer doesn't use real world gods just to not to offend the playerbase. (There are christians, muslims, jews, atheists etc. playing the game where their god(s) doesn't exist and ingame there are no debate about which religion is the right one)

Ingame lore is rich with all the aspects and it is one reason why people love the series. The politics, religion, geography - all are designed and written to be coherent and separate from our world. It is clearly fiction. No-one IRL follows the green pact, but many follows it in-game.

I personally think this discussion is too volatile. I just hope that there's not going to be religious debate.

drkfrontiers

You may want to consider in future logging a support ticket for this.

The TOS is pretty clear about making any statements on Religion in a game. Things always go sideways on that topic.

Iluvrien

DocDova wrote: »

OK, I would try to simplify what I am asking here.

I am asking that player have option to chose a faith system or not, For those who like game as it is (probably 99% of gamers) it could be default (As game is), Some like me would want an option for monotheism, Which won't change anything other than the fact that we can't say/do anything which ascribe divinity to in game deities, for example 'Pray at Almalexia's alter' would appear as 'Talk to Almalexia at her alter', where dialogue options like 'You are living God' would appear as 'You are a great guy' (or something like that).

It won't change anything or anyone else, or even change quests. It's just like changing some words (for people who chose them to be in changed form) at certain places.

Trivializing issue with childish questions is like asking person with severe peanut allergy that Why you have this ? Why can't you digest peanuts like everyone else ? It's my problem, So I would look for solutions.

Emphasis mine.

Yes, it will change things and it will change quests.

Her answers to your character are predicated on the nature of the things your character says to her. If you change what your character says from "You are a living God" to "You are a great guy" then the response of the NPC will be different unless in the NPC's own character they hold those two statements as equivalent. Almalexia, for example, is unlikely to do so.

So, by all means, campaign for a change in the wording... but be ready for ZOS to respond by locking your character out of those quests as the NPC tersely responds "I refuse to trust any mortal who denies me".

Good luck.

Androconium

You've made your point.

Sevalaricgirl

I'd say this game is not for you. You usually end up worshipping daedric princes in Elder Scrolls games. ESO is no different. There are many other MMOs that have no religion at all, SWTOR, mostly in WOW, I never encountered it in Black Desert Online, etc.

Do I agree with taking praying at alters out of ESO. No I don't. My vampire prays at her alter all the time. I have a sorc that runs around daedric pets and my elfy girls, Bosmer and Altmer, think the living god Vivec is hotness personified.

Bruccius

DocDova wrote: »

OK, I once said it already But as I am rebuilding a new character, I am replaying a quest which reminded me of this again. It might appear trivial to most it's obvious, Otherwise It would been rectified by now. I am currently doing 'The seal of three' quest and my next objective is 'Pray at Almalexia's alter'.

That's the problem, I am a firm monotheist, I don't pray to anyone But God Almighty or Allah (in Arabic), Game has far too many instances like this. That's why once I suggested for having a Faith system in next elder scrolls game and if possible in ESO also. When I did this quest previously, I wasn't a member here, SO was unaware how to convey my problem.

I don't do stuff which I won't in real life i.e. stealing/murdering and praying to anyone but God would be something I consider worst thing I can do. It's not just this instance, many dialogue options I have to chose to progress through the game also ascribe divinity to these in game deities.

It's not that I am just complaining, I also offer my assistance. I have studied comparative religion, fairly thorough for day to day life. I can point out stuff which would be offending to strict monotheistic religions i.e Islam or Judaism. It's not that hard, One just can't ascribe anything divine to anyone But one True God. If ZOS wish to help the issue, I would be more than happy to offer my assistance in this regards.

For example, Simply changing some words would solve problem to firm monotheists. Instead of 'Pray at Almalexia's alter', 'Go to Almalexia's alter' or 'Talk to Almalexia at her alter' would eliminate the problem entirely for this particular instance.

This is a sincere thread for actual problem firm monotheist like me face, My offer of assistance is sincere. Please keep it clean and If you can't understand issue at hand, don't try to trivialize it here.

If you want to follow a monotheistic religion in TES, you'll have to believe in the All-Maker which the Skaal of Solstheim worship.

But don't go and complain about quests of several deities when it's your choice to follow those questlines. TES is centered around the times before montheistic religions came around; the Greek/Roman Era, to be precise. If you want to be a monotheist, you're going to have a hard time doing so by following quests about the several Gods in TES.

What's also more noticeably different is that, unlike in our world, with all due respect, where God is merely a concept (there is very little evidence to prove the existance of a God), in TES there is actual evidence of the Gods existing. The Eight Divines, as a prime example, sent down the Divine Crusader to clear Cyrodiil of Ayleid tyranny.

I kind of get that it goes against your religion, but then again, isn't killing in the name of factions not against everything religions stand for? Trying to stop Molag Bal is fair enough, but anything outside of that is killing for pretty much nothing but politics, and last time I checked, that's not what religions on our world tried to do.

Magenpie

Imza wrote: »

To everyone EXCEPT the Original Poster:

The fact that this is a thread that is being responded to explains how.....minorities alter the thought processes of the majority.

I dunno about that - I'm munching The Popcorn and watching with interest. Much to my pleasant surprise, I think *most* responses (so far) are polite, reasonable and well-argued, given the strange approach by the OP in playing a well-known fantasy game franchise, with a very deep established lore, clearly set in a world other than our own.

If the OP is actually discussing a broader way of role-playing the game, then in some respects I'm in sympathy. However, the OPs subsequent posts seem to conflate real world theological debate and ideology with a discussion about modern fictional narrative, fun for a Eng Lit class maybe, but not really useful or helpful here. Like many other people, I smell a whiff of troll.

If people were standing on street corners IRL asking me to accept The Divines/The Triumverate/Clavicus Vile/whoever as my own personal saviours, it *might* be a different conversation. I'm extremely thankful they aren't for myriad reasons.

Tabbycat

I'm quite fond of the Daedric Prince Sheogorath. I love his lore, dialogue and mannerisms.

That doesn't mean I worship him. That would be silly. He's just a bunch of pixels on a screen.

If you're struggling, I suggest reaching out to your religious leaders for counseling.

MrGarlic

I'm pretty sure this game is just fiction.

I disassociate myself from reality when I play ESO.

I don't believe the game should be changed to suit any person's 'Real Life' ethics or value system.

It's a game.

Valerien

There are so many quests in the game and so many options you don't have to do anything you don't want to.

If you wont pray to a fictitious god don't. Fail the quest and move on to a different area. If you refuse to kill in game, don't escape the starting area; if you wont steal don't join the thieves guild.

You can do whatever you want in the game.

Feanor

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Enslaved

Not sure about this, tbh.
I fail to see how is in game praying worse than in game mass murdering, stealing or t bagging.
If OP firmly believes there is one god, than that means Almalexia, Vivec, Molag bal etc cannot be gods. If they are not gods, you are not praying to gods but some other beings. Technically, that would mean you are stil praying to only one god, the one you firmly believe in. Afaik, if we talk about the same god, all that was said is that ppl should not have or pray to other gods but him. Since you dont accept other gods, you cannot pray to other gods, duh.

On the other hand, if you do see Sotha Sil or Vivec as gods, you might wanna rethink how firm are your irl beliefs in the first place.

VaranisArano

I understand the OP's point, but as another poster said, When I role play I differentiate between myself, my beliefs as a person, and what my characters believe in a role-playing game.

That sort of differentiation happens when your first D&D character is a cleric of the sun god Pelor. I loved playing that cleric, but I'm under no delusion that Pelor is anything under than a figment of the D&D writers and my D&D groups collective imaginations. When my character prays to Pelor for quest hints, that's really me talking to the DM. If I actually started worahipping Pelor myself, Id be taking role-playing too far, IMO.

Differentiation between myself and my characters works for me. The OP should role play how they are comfortable. However, while a good DM pays attention to things that make their players uncomfortable, a video game can't change things on the fly that easily. I dont have a problem, necessarily, with the OP's request, but I don't know there will be a change, either.

Magenpie

DocDova wrote: »

I feel it would make game more inclusive and immersive. Right now what I do, I keep pressing buttons whenever I am in a dialogue of this sort, I don't enjoy the quest. I don't have problem with NPC proclaiming themselves to be living god or other NPC believing them or even gamers believing them, I have problem with me ascribing/acknowledging this.

For quite a while now - probably since the launch of One Tamriel, I've really *really* wanted an update or chapter based around the various races in-game, giving your character choices more meaning.

So for example, I find it jarring when my Wood Elf, who isn't Dominion (that's my own stupid fault rather than a choice - I basically forgot to check when I initally created her,) still gets called an outsider or whatever, and is Bosmersplained about everything, despite actually being one. I'd love a retuning of the game, making NPC/Quests react in a more nuanced way to the player character, perhaps adding some new early quests involving your character's race background (all optional ofc!)

Perhaps this would also go towards helping your problem - you could at least have responses in place where your character says something like, 'No thanks, I'm a Y'ffre type. Can I help in another way?' or something along similar lines.

Sadly, I think it's very unlikely I'll get my wish.

I do agree the game is quite clumsy when it deals with simple character race/class/faction.

P.S. Sorry to bang on about my stupid Wood Elf, it's just what I'm playing at the moment.

DocDova

Watching a movie and playing a game are different thing at both neurological as well as philosophical level. You are a spectator in movie, But you lead our character in a game. Your character doesn't make his own choice, You make them, If you think you detach yourself from your personality and become something entirely new, then I am afraid it's wrong. It's some version of your own psyche, various projections of it.