Favourite race lore-wise

Syldras

Dunmer

UGotBenched91 wrote: »

ESO lacks race diversity. Orcs sounds like humans when they talk and have the same hair styles as humans and they have no distinct identity of their own other than their appearance skin and teeth wise.

They are mer, so they look like a subtype of mer. According to their myths, they had been ordinary Aldmer who were cursed when Boethia turned Trinimac to Malacath. Also, they have had contact to other mer and men since the 1st era, serving as mercenaries and smiths. So a cultural influence over the centuries isn't unlikely. You may think what you wish, but according to the TES lore isn't not unlogic that they aren't that different in appearance to other races.

As for "no distinct identity": You know about their clan system? Polygamy and how a stronghold is structured? Their religion? Creation myth? The Code of Malacath? Do you really think that's worthless because they speak normally instead of grunting, and have common hairstyles?

Eifleber

Dunmer

Syldras wrote: »

UGotBenched91 wrote: »

ESO lacks race diversity. Orcs sounds like humans when they talk and have the same hair styles as humans and they have no distinct identity of their own other than their appearance skin and teeth wise.

They are mer, so they look like a subtype of mer. According to their myths, they had been ordinary Aldmer who were cursed when Boethia turned Trinimac to Malacath. Also, they have had contact to other mer and men since the 1st era, serving as mercenaries and smiths. So a cultural influence over the centuries isn't unlikely. You may think what you wish, but according to the TES lore isn't not unlogic that they aren't that different in appearance to other races.

As for "no distinct identity": You know about their clan system? Polygamy and how a stronghold is structured? Their religion? Creation myth? The Code of Malacath? Do you really think that's worthless because they speak normally instead of grunting, and have common hairstyles?

You are (mostly) talking about lore, he is talking about apperance.

In ESO all races share the same basic body and animations, hard to deny that (but that's not what this thread is about).

*

Syldras

Dunmer

Michae wrote: »

I love Dunmer culture, it's so alien and different, not really that much based on irl stuff as the others.

Feudal Japan, China and India with a bit of ancient Mesopotamian for the Ashlanders Plus mushrooms. And a few fantasy aspects mixed in, of course.

MerguezMan wrote: »

Absolutely NOT. Aldmers shaped current civilization.
Altmers are Aldmers that remained in Summerset isles and imbued with magic.
Bosmers are Aldmers that compromised with Hircine while living in the woods.
Dunmers are Aldmers that got cursed on VVardenfell during the war with Dwemers and because of the current Tribunal.

While I agree about the Aldmer: Dunmer were not Aldmer (anymore) when turned to Dunmer by Azura, they were Chimer. They split up from Aldmer society for religious reasons, formed a new identity under a new name, and migrated to Morrowind, led by their prophet Veloth.

RaddlemanNumber7 wrote: »

Imperials are the main event, the centre of the world, god's anointed, the universal heroes, the peace makers, the home I always come back to. They give me a sense of mission. They want to make the whole world a better place for everyone to live in, and I know they will.

...under their rule. Which of course everyone will agree to, and there won't be any disagreements. Ever.

Eifleber wrote: »

You are (mostly) talking about lore, he is talking about apperance.

He wrote "they have no distinct identity of their own other than their appearance skin and teeth wise". Maybe I understand "identity" wrong, but for me, it's not mainly defined by appearance?

Tyrobag

Dunmer

Argonians are a close second.

UGotBenched91

Argonian

tomofhyrule wrote: »

UGotBenched91 wrote: »

Syldras wrote: »

UGotBenched91 wrote: »

I want and wish I could vote for Orcs but sadly IMO the elder scrolls series butchers Orc lore and Orcs themselves.

Who defines how Orcs should be? The Orc racial police?

The TES Orsimer are their own thing, and I think the lore about them is quite interesting. It's a different take than usual. Same goes for the Bosmer. I actually like that. It's better than if it was always the same story.

....yep you caught me. The orc racial police. Wow.

No bud I’m referring to interpretation of Orcs based off of other lore and games o have played. Hence the IMO before my statement. ESO lacks race diversity. Orcs sounds like humans when they talk and have the same hair styles as humans and they have no distinct identity of their own other than their appearance skin and teeth wise.

I actually think its interesting to not have Orcs be the 'default chaotic evil' race. It does set the TES universe apart. I think if you break it down, they have a more overlap with the standard fantasy Dwarven races as the mountain-dwelling craftsmen who keep to themselves and are thought of as barbarians instead of the standard fantasy goblin kin.

They were just enemies in Arena and Daggerfall, but even in Daggerfall they were a bit more developed with a language and Gortwog was one of the major players. By Morrowind they were a playable race.

Granted the other races see them as just monsters, but they've got a well developed society in lore.

But yeah, I do think the VAs should make them speak differently - after all, with those tusks we can't exactly close our mouths. But the same can be said for some of the other races as well - the Argonians (males especially) in Skyrim sounded way too humanoid.

Oh yeah they don’t have to be evil or anything like that just ESO seems to lack a lot of race identity. It would be nice to see some of the races be able to have a sense of their own culture. One game I’ve played in the past each race wears the same armor differently. It’s a nice touch to show that cultures wouldn’t wear the same armors the same way.

Lol them tusks though.

mairwen85

Breton

UGotBenched91 wrote: »

tomofhyrule wrote: »

UGotBenched91 wrote: »

Syldras wrote: »

UGotBenched91 wrote: »

I want and wish I could vote for Orcs but sadly IMO the elder scrolls series butchers Orc lore and Orcs themselves.

Who defines how Orcs should be? The Orc racial police?

The TES Orsimer are their own thing, and I think the lore about them is quite interesting. It's a different take than usual. Same goes for the Bosmer. I actually like that. It's better than if it was always the same story.

....yep you caught me. The orc racial police. Wow.

No bud I’m referring to interpretation of Orcs based off of other lore and games o have played. Hence the IMO before my statement. ESO lacks race diversity. Orcs sounds like humans when they talk and have the same hair styles as humans and they have no distinct identity of their own other than their appearance skin and teeth wise.

I actually think its interesting to not have Orcs be the 'default chaotic evil' race. It does set the TES universe apart. I think if you break it down, they have a more overlap with the standard fantasy Dwarven races as the mountain-dwelling craftsmen who keep to themselves and are thought of as barbarians instead of the standard fantasy goblin kin.

They were just enemies in Arena and Daggerfall, but even in Daggerfall they were a bit more developed with a language and Gortwog was one of the major players. By Morrowind they were a playable race.

Granted the other races see them as just monsters, but they've got a well developed society in lore.

But yeah, I do think the VAs should make them speak differently - after all, with those tusks we can't exactly close our mouths. But the same can be said for some of the other races as well - the Argonians (males especially) in Skyrim sounded way too humanoid.

Oh yeah they don’t have to be evil or anything like that just ESO seems to lack a lot of race identity. It would be nice to see some of the races be able to have a sense of their own culture. One game I’ve played in the past each race wears the same armor differently. It’s a nice touch to show that cultures wouldn’t wear the same armors the same way.

Lol them tusks though.

So unique belief systems, art, literature, cultural references, architecture, clothing, language, mythology, societal structure, craftsmanship... because when wearing the same armour, they put their legs in one at a time and don't put their shirts on back-to-front, all other aspects of their history, and identity means nothing?

Culture != wearing your underpants as a hat

Syldras

Dunmer

Funny thing is, while there are some differences in details, historically, many objects (be it tools, armor or whatever) weren't that different in their (rough) design, even if the cultures who made them lived on the opposite sides of the Earth. Sometimes a problem is approached in a different way by different cultures, but often they come to quite similar conclusions even if they had no contact to eachother and therefore no cultural exchange. And if there is cultural exchange due to migration or travellers, of course there are even more similarities.

RaddlemanNumber7

Imperial

Syldras wrote: »

RaddlemanNumber7 wrote: »

Imperials are the main event, the centre of the world, god's anointed, the universal heroes, the peace makers, the home I always come back to. They give me a sense of mission. They want to make the whole world a better place for everyone to live in, and I know they will.

...under their rule. Which of course everyone will agree to, and there won't be any disagreements. Ever.

Did you not play Oblivion, or just forget?

High Chancellor Ocato, Grandmaster Jauffre, Count Andel Indarys of Cheydinhal, Lord Rugdumph gro-Shurgak - leaders but not Imperials. They all seemed to think the 3rd Empire had something good going for it. Perhaps it was the 433 years of relative peace that Tamriel had enjoyed during the 3rd Era.

No Imperials are saying, "love me or you will get obliterated by that moonlet I left hanging over your heads"

UGotBenched91

Argonian

mairwen85 wrote: »

UGotBenched91 wrote: »

tomofhyrule wrote: »

UGotBenched91 wrote: »

Syldras wrote: »

UGotBenched91 wrote: »

I want and wish I could vote for Orcs but sadly IMO the elder scrolls series butchers Orc lore and Orcs themselves.

Who defines how Orcs should be? The Orc racial police?

The TES Orsimer are their own thing, and I think the lore about them is quite interesting. It's a different take than usual. Same goes for the Bosmer. I actually like that. It's better than if it was always the same story.

....yep you caught me. The orc racial police. Wow.

No bud I’m referring to interpretation of Orcs based off of other lore and games o have played. Hence the IMO before my statement. ESO lacks race diversity. Orcs sounds like humans when they talk and have the same hair styles as humans and they have no distinct identity of their own other than their appearance skin and teeth wise.

I actually think its interesting to not have Orcs be the 'default chaotic evil' race. It does set the TES universe apart. I think if you break it down, they have a more overlap with the standard fantasy Dwarven races as the mountain-dwelling craftsmen who keep to themselves and are thought of as barbarians instead of the standard fantasy goblin kin.

They were just enemies in Arena and Daggerfall, but even in Daggerfall they were a bit more developed with a language and Gortwog was one of the major players. By Morrowind they were a playable race.

Granted the other races see them as just monsters, but they've got a well developed society in lore.

But yeah, I do think the VAs should make them speak differently - after all, with those tusks we can't exactly close our mouths. But the same can be said for some of the other races as well - the Argonians (males especially) in Skyrim sounded way too humanoid.

Oh yeah they don’t have to be evil or anything like that just ESO seems to lack a lot of race identity. It would be nice to see some of the races be able to have a sense of their own culture. One game I’ve played in the past each race wears the same armor differently. It’s a nice touch to show that cultures wouldn’t wear the same armors the same way.

Lol them tusks though.

So unique belief systems, art, literature, cultural references, architecture, clothing, language, mythology, societal structure, craftsmanship... because when wearing the same armour, they put their legs in one at a time and don't put their shirts on back-to-front, all other aspects of their history, and identity means nothing?

Culture != wearing your underpants as a hat

...I honestly don’t even understand your response? Can’t tell if your trying to be rude or funny. Just stating what I like that another game does.

You ESO players are very sensitive when any criticism is mentioned outside game balance. I still love you though.

mairwen85

Breton

RaddlemanNumber7 wrote: »

Syldras wrote: »

RaddlemanNumber7 wrote: »

Imperials are the main event, the centre of the world, god's anointed, the universal heroes, the peace makers, the home I always come back to. They give me a sense of mission. They want to make the whole world a better place for everyone to live in, and I know they will.

...under their rule. Which of course everyone will agree to, and there won't be any disagreements. Ever.

Did you not play Oblivion, or just forget?

High Chancellor Ocato, Grandmaster Jauffre, Count Andel Indarys of Cheydinhal, Lord Rugdumph gro-Shurgak - leaders but not Imperials. They all seemed to think the 3rd Empire had something good going for it. Perhaps it was the 433 years of relative peace that Tamriel had enjoyed during the 3rd Era.

No Imperials are saying, "love me or you will get obliterated by that moonlet I left hanging over your heads"

Oddly Imperials have a culture built on a strange parallelism of dichotomy: cosmopolitanism and equal amounts bigotry. They have extremely harsh views on other races (especially elven races) but seek to annex and absorb them into imperial society. Maybe that's just arrogance instilled from time of Tiber Septim? They are primarily a service based people and the economy is mainly built around mercantilism with agricultural concerns being put with peoples of other races who have joined the empire. But they are also a very fickle people; I mean look at how many cults and orders have risen to relative power within their hierarchy and nobility, and the amount of power grabs and over-reaches at dominion over non-imperial lands. Even instilling a veneration of Tiber Septim as a god. The apotheosis was a cultural one, a way of sticking it to the elves and saying that one of them was equal to the divines. They don't take by force, you are right, they take by politics and passive aggressive sycophancy. Still fascinating though and well implemented into TES universe as a mix of colonialism, imperialism, and a splash of *** feudalism.

Syldras

Dunmer

I'm not sure if those people are good arguments...

RaddlemanNumber7 wrote: »

High Chancellor Ocato

No one even knows how he suddenly became an Altmer while he was still clearly human in Daggerfall.

RaddlemanNumber7 wrote: »

Count Andel Indarys of Cheydinhal

Hlaalu scum with a rotten son and a wife who died "by accident". Actually even without that son and dead wife, Hlaalu already says it all.

RaddlemanNumber7 wrote: »

Lord Rugdumph gro-Shurgak

A typical upstart who embarrasses himself by pretending to be educated while he's not.

RaddlemanNumber7 wrote: »

leaders but not Imperials.

I wouldn't even call all of them leaders.

RaddlemanNumber7 wrote: »

They all seemed to think the 3rd Empire had something good going for it.

There are always immigrants, in every country. I don't see how that has anything to do with expansion politics or colonialism.

If everyone was happy with the Imperial reign, why would more and more countries try to break free from it? And many have successfully, what you should know if you've played Skyrim.

Syldras

Dunmer

UGotBenched91 wrote: »

You ESO players are very sensitive when any criticism is mentioned outside game balance.

I don't mind criticism at all, but it should be fact based. Claiming there were no cultural differences between the ESO races is absurd. I don't know, maybe you've missed them somehow, but TES games have the most complex lore (generally and for each single race) of every game I've yet played.

UGotBenched91

Argonian

Syldras wrote: »

UGotBenched91 wrote: »

You ESO players are very sensitive when any criticism is mentioned outside game balance.

I don't mind criticism at all, but it should be fact based. Claiming there were no cultural differences between the ESO races is absurd. I don't know, maybe you've missed them somehow, but TES games have the most complex lore (generally and for each single race) of every game I've yet played.

Ah my friend please don’t put words in my mouth. I said it lacks cultural diversity not that there is no cultural differences. A better way to write my opinion ( never claimed anything as fact again you me skipping the IMO) is that there feels like no cultural identity. This is my opinion. I’m glad you enjoy the lore I just wish there were more cultural representation in armor, speech, and mannerisms. Also, please don’t assume I’m referring to grunting Orcs (I’m guessing that was a jab at WOW.)

mairwen85

Breton

UGotBenched91 wrote: »

Syldras wrote: »

UGotBenched91 wrote: »

You ESO players are very sensitive when any criticism is mentioned outside game balance.

I don't mind criticism at all, but it should be fact based. Claiming there were no cultural differences between the ESO races is absurd. I don't know, maybe you've missed them somehow, but TES games have the most complex lore (generally and for each single race) of every game I've yet played.

Ah my friend please don’t put words in my mouth. I said it lacks cultural diversity not that there is no cultural differences. A better way to write my opinion ( never claimed anything as fact again you me skipping the IMO) is that there feels like no cultural identity. This is my opinion. I’m glad you enjoy the lore I just wish there were more cultural representation in armor, speech, and mannerisms. Also, please don’t assume I’m referring to grunting Orcs (I’m guessing that was a jab at WOW.)

That's a valid opinion, of course, but other than the already existing differences in weapon and armour style, appearance, mythology, architecture, and the other points I mentioned (which are all quite apparent imo), how great a diversity do you think should exist? And how do you feel that should be made more apparent? I get that most of it in TES is perhaps under the surface and mostly picked up from lorebooks, dialogue or quest context, and exploration of the individual provinces, so I guess I'm asking in what way such additional racial diversity should manifest. To begin with, I'm assuming with mannerisms, you'd suggest animations that are unique to each race, or stances/poses, etc.

RaddlemanNumber7

Imperial

Syldras wrote: »

I'm not sure if those people are good arguments...

RaddlemanNumber7 wrote: »

High Chancellor Ocato

No one even knows how he suddenly became an Altmer while he was still clearly human in Daggerfall.

RaddlemanNumber7 wrote: »

Count Andel Indarys of Cheydinhal

Hlaalu scum with a rotten son and a wife who died "by accident". Actually even without that son and dead wife, Hlaalu already says it all.

RaddlemanNumber7 wrote: »

Lord Rugdumph gro-Shurgak

A typical upstart who embarrasses himself by pretending to be educated while he's not.

RaddlemanNumber7 wrote: »

leaders but not Imperials.

I wouldn't even call all of them leaders.

RaddlemanNumber7 wrote: »

They all seemed to think the 3rd Empire had something good going for it.

There are always immigrants, in every country. I don't see how that has anything to do with expansion politics or colonialism.

If everyone was happy with the Imperial reign, why would more and more countries try to break free from it? And many have successfully, what you should know if you've played Skyrim.

You favour the Thalmor and the Stormcloaks then. Now I see where you're coming from.

Syldras

Dunmer

mairwen85 wrote: »

That's a valid opinion, of course, but other than the already existing differences in weapon and armour style, appearance, mythology, architecture, and the other points I mentioned (which are all quite apparent imo), how great a diversity do you think should exist? And how do you feel that should be made more apparent? I get that most of it in TES is perhaps under the surface and mostly picked up from lorebooks, dialogue or quest context, and exploration of the individual provinces, so I guess I'm asking in what way such additional racial diversity should manifest. To begin with, I'm assuming with mannerisms, you'd suggest animations that are unique to each race, or stances/poses, etc.

I'm somehow afraid this could lead more to cartoony stereotyping ("Look!!! It's so different!! So exotic!!!") than to a realistic representation of diversity.

ESO races have cultural differences, but they're not necessarily all worlds apart, based on their lore. Altmer, Bosmer and Dunmer (as well as Elven cultures that don't exist anymore, like Ayleid, Dwemer and Chimer) are descendants of the Aldmer, so they share some similarities. It's natural if they have the same origin (and actually they already differ a lot despite of this - but not too much, so it still feels plausible).

Also, you've got a lot of travelling through all countries since literally the beginning of Tamrielic historiography (some a bit more, some a bit less, with some restricted areas), so after centuries and millennia, some cultural aspects would have become more or less similar in different cultures.

Actually I'd even say it's the same in rl. Many "foreign" countries seem only exotic and completely different as long as you don't get to know them any closer. At some point, it's obvious that there are more similarities than differences in the core. It's all humans after all, with the same needs, wishes and dreams.

RaddlemanNumber7 wrote: »

You favour the Thalmor and the Stormcloaks then. Now I see where you're coming from.

There's more on Nirn than just tall elves and drunken hairy humans, Imperial.

mairwen85

Breton

Syldras wrote: »

mairwen85 wrote: »

That's a valid opinion, of course, but other than the already existing differences in weapon and armour style, appearance, mythology, architecture, and the other points I mentioned (which are all quite apparent imo), how great a diversity do you think should exist? And how do you feel that should be made more apparent? I get that most of it in TES is perhaps under the surface and mostly picked up from lorebooks, dialogue or quest context, and exploration of the individual provinces, so I guess I'm asking in what way such additional racial diversity should manifest. To begin with, I'm assuming with mannerisms, you'd suggest animations that are unique to each race, or stances/poses, etc.

I'm somehow afraid this could lead more to cartoony stereotyping ("Look!!! It's so different!! So exotic!!!") than to a realistic representation of diversity.

ESO races have cultural differences, but they're not necessarily all worlds apart, based on their lore. Altmer, Bosmer and Dunmer (as well as Elven cultures that don't exist anymore, like Ayleid, Dwemer and Chimer) are descendants of the Aldmer, so they share some similarities. It's natural if they have the same origin (and actually they already differ a lot despite of this - but not too much, so it still feels plausible).

Also, you've got a lot of travelling through all countries since literally the beginning of Tamrielic historiography (some a bit more, some a bit less, with some restricted areas), so after centuries and millennia, some cultural aspects would have become more or less similar in different cultures.

Actually I'd even say it's the same in rl. Many "foreign" countries seem only exotic and completely different as long as you don't get to know them any closer. At some point, it's obvious that there are more similarities than differences in the core. It's all humans after all, with the same needs, wishes and dreams.

RaddlemanNumber7 wrote: »

You favour the Thalmor and the Stormcloaks then. Now I see where you're coming from.

There's more on Nirn than just tall elves and drunken hairy humans, Imperial.

I don't disagree. I mean there is so much interaction between the various races, there's bound to be some 'borrowing' and appropriation. Just like the real world. The individual races do not exist in individual vacuums but have eras of shared history as much as they have separate.

Varana

Dunmer

Dwemer not counting, I assume:

Dunmer, because of TES3:Morrowind. I've never seen such a unique take on a fantasy culture fleshed out in such detail in a mainstream game.

ESO actually does a pretty good job with Argonians and Khajiit, as well. It doesn't reach Morrowind levels yet, and I don't really like Argonian lore personally, but they've given them much more screentime than ever before, and managed to preserve their somewhat alien nature.

ealdwin

Breton

MerguezMan wrote: »

Absolutely NOT. Aldmers shaped current civilization.

Altmers are Aldmers that remained in Summerset isles and imbued with magic.
Bosmers are Aldmers that compromised with Hircine while living in the woods.
Dunmers are Aldmers that got cursed on VVardenfell during the war with Dwemers and because of the current Tribunal.

Thalmor already existed during the 1st AD (as you can see in ESO), and its council always aimed at manipulations to destroy other cultures in a way or another (in ESO they also try to infiltrate Sanghuyne's ranks).

A few notes:

You are correct in that Aldmeri civilization played the primary role in shaping the current civilization in Tamriel. When exactly Aldmeri civilization became Altmeri civilization is a bit hazy, since there isn't even an agreed upon date for Veloth's departure from the Summerset Isles (Sometime between the Late Middle Merethic Era and the Dawn Era). But, certainly while Altmeri culture has been around for a while, the Aldmer are the source of current civilization.

As far as the Aldmer splinter groups go:

The Bosmer (Boiche, Wood-Sap people) were some of the first Aldmer to leave the Summerset Isles who settled in Valenwood, choosing to live more in harmony with nature, and choose to adapt to the forest rather than trying to tame it. Presumably, this adaptation process involved resorting to shape-shifting. Eventually these elves formed a pact with Yffre (see Green-Pact), and abandoned their shape-shifting ways, and becoming the Bosmer.

The Dunmer were originally the Chimer (Velothi Elves), a group of Aldmer who followed the teachings of Veloth and worshipped the "Good Daedra", such as Boethiah. According to legend, the Aldmer who followed Veloth became Chimer after Boethiah ate and excreted Malacath as dung, and their initial change (into Chimer) was the result of rubbing that dung on their skins. Regardless of the truth in this, the Chimer left the Summerset Isles and settled in Resdayn (modern day Morrowind). The Chimer became the Dunmer after betraying their oath to Azura, and began worshipping the Tribunal. Azura cursed them with the grey skin and red eyes that they have today.

The Orsimer presumably find their origin in the same legend, although as followers of Trinimac, did not find the same transformation as the Chimer, but rather became the Orsimer. At some point afterwards they left the Summerset Isles as followers of Trinimac/Mauloc/Malacath. (There are reports of Orcs existing in High Rock at the time of Aldmeri settlement though, so ???).

The Ayleids (Saliache, Wild Elves) presumably left the Isles to get away from strict Aldmeri culture, since their beliefs are more about just worshipping whoever will give them power, whether that be Aedra or Daedra. (It's worth noting that their departure was either around the same time as or before the departure of the Chimer, as they left around the Middle Merethic era).

As far as the Dwemer and the Falmer go, no one really knows when they left, just that they left. We don't know much about the Falmer, only that they had an impressive civilization in Skyrim. (Thanks alot Nords). The Dwemer are equally mysterious, and when they left is completely unknown, and hard to pinpoint since they bear no resemblance culturally to the other elves, and we can't exactly ask them. (Thanks alot Kagrenac).

Edit:

Regarding the Thalmor. In the 1st AD, Thalmor is just a term for the bureaucracy of the AD, and does not have any connection with the Thalmor of the 4th Era. In general, the 1st AD bears very little semblance to the 3rd AD and the Thalmor of the 4th Era. The groups that do are the Veiled Heritance (Elven suprematists who hate Ayrenn & the ideas of her Dominion) and rogue agents acting outside of the Dominion. Presumably, the 4th Era Thalmor used the term "Thalmor" for the same reason they call the Summerset Isles "Alinor": they seek to invoke an image of past Altmeri (and Aldmeri) greatness and to legitimize their organization, and then use that image to legitimize their movement in the eyes of the Altmer populace.

HidesFromSun

Argonian

Argonians and Khajiit I find fascinating. I could, and have, spend hours discussing them

vibeborn

Nord

I know neither skills nor lore of most of the races, I just like Nords in general

Also Khajiits, because I'm a cat person, but that's just a personal opinion.

Jaraal

Bosmer

Bosmer in all the Elder Scrolls games, as well as this one until they trashed the lore and took away their natural stealth.

Athan1

Altmer

Thanks for the analysis, @ealdwin !

I guess my main question is... If you're playing a fantasy game with tons of races and magical creatures... why go plain? Why play a boring human, riding a boring horse, using a mundane sword and a shield? You can do this in literally any medieval video game. Human races are so boring and feel like copy/pasta - only Redguards stick out as more creative and fun but basically no-one uses them (just look at the poll). The Nedes (Nords, Imperials, Bretons), feel and look the same - if they're slim and short with white eyes you can't even tell them apart!

For me, the fun lies in playing as an elf, using magic, and doing things I can't do irl. I do try to stay lore-friendly and refrain from extravagant outfits/skins etc. But gotta spice it up a little!

Eifleber

Dunmer

Athan1 wrote: »

Thanks for the analysis, @ealdwin !

I guess my main question is... If you're playing a fantasy game with tons of races and magical creatures... why go plain? Why play a boring human, riding a boring horse, using a mundane sword and a shield? You can do this in literally any medieval video game. Human races are so boring and feel like copy/pasta - only Redguards stick out as more creative and fun but basically no-one uses them (just look at the poll). The Nedes (Nords, Imperials, Bretons), feel and look the same - if they're slim and short with white eyes you can't even tell them apart!

For me, the fun lies in playing as an elf, using magic, and doing things I can't do irl. I do try to stay lore-friendly and refrain from extravagant outfits/skins etc. But gotta spice it up a little!

I guess there's 3 reasons what people make the characters they do:

1. Stats. Min/max. Which race gives the best boost to your build? Can give you the edge in PvP or give an extra 5% in dps.
2. Looks. Pretty, tough, crazy, whatever. All-glowing pokemon or standard medieval style. Whatever you fancy. Quite important as you have to look at it for the 1000s of hours you play the game.
3. Lore. What kind of civilization do you want to be part of?

Of course all 3 can play a role.

If you take away the lore there's not much difference between the races. ESO may have the most races but compared to other MMOs they all look and play very much the same. Length, pointy ears, pointy teeth .. a tail and animal head? They all have the same bodies and animations use the same weapons, armours, houses and mounts. I really wish there would be more race (and class) specific stuff. They are very hard to distinguish.

Also how many people really care that much about lore? Sure I think it's interesting but it doesn't really influence my gameplay in any way. You don' t even start the game in the land of your race. The game mechanics don't make any distinction either (except racials), it's not that you are treated differently (except for a very occasional NPC's and then it's only in words). It's not even that your own people treat you nicer/better or give you discounts, it's very shallow.

For the rest I also wonder why so many people use helmets as it removes the last thing that makes your character distinguish itself from the others.

And well .. other MMOs also let you play as cow, cat, walking tree or wolf. And you even get different bodies and animations as a bonus. But it just doesn't appeal to everyone to play something that you cannot relate to. Personally the fun part of playing something exotic wears off after a while, especially if it actually doesn't add anything different gameplay-wise.

*

Deathlord92

In every single elder scrolls I have played my 2 favourite races have always been bosmer and Breton

Gythral

Usually choose Dunmer & Breton
and have done so over the last 25yrs

Athan1

Altmer

Eifleber wrote: »

Also how many people really care that much about lore? Sure I think it's interesting but it doesn't really influence my gameplay in any way. You don' t even start the game in the land of your race. The game mechanics don't make any distinction either (except racials), it's not that you are treated differently (except for a very occasional NPC's and then it's only in words). It's not even that your own people treat you nicer/better or give you discounts, it's very shallow.

Good point! Differences between races are trivial, game-wise, hence we can even change the race with a token - which kills any realism haha. But I do care about the lore. I picked Altmer without knowing a thing about the game, because they looked cooler and were, well, high elves. I tried different races but they didn't do it for me so I deleted them right away. The Altmer passives, civilisation/lore, and zones completely fit my taste - probably not a coincidence!

At least with Aldmeri Dominion, you get access to all three race zones fairly early. Auridon is still my favourite zone and bought my house there!

Eifleber wrote: »

For the rest I also wonder why so many people use helmets as it removes the last thing that makes your character distinguish itself from the others.

I guess that's why people do it. Everyone likes anonymity. I would enjoy barring other players from knowing my race but my height gives it away!

Elsonso

Imperial

Eifleber wrote: »

If you take away the lore there's not much difference between the races. ESO may have the most races but compared to other MMOs they all look and play very much the same. Length, pointy ears, pointy teeth .. a tail and animal head? They all have the same bodies and animations use the same weapons, armours, houses and mounts. I really wish there would be more race (and class) specific stuff. They are very hard to distinguish.

My feeling is that this is generally an Elder Scrolls thing. In none of the TES games have I ever retained an interest in the racial bonus. It is a starting point. It helps early on in the game, but after a while, it is much less important. The more times through the game, the less important it becomes. Race is not a game changer.

ESO really took that to the extreme. There are some racial benefits in ESO, like the other games, but ZOS has been homogenizing the races. Right now, my feeling is that they are more cosmetic than beneficial, even compared to other TES games.

Athan1 wrote: »

Eifleber wrote: »

For the rest I also wonder why so many people use helmets as it removes the last thing that makes your character distinguish itself from the others.

I guess that's why people do it. Everyone likes anonymity. I would enjoy barring other players from knowing my race but my height gives it away!

ESO is nice because we can wear a helmet and hide it. In the other TES games, we had to leave that slot empty. I frequently left that slot empty. It seems a waste to wear one when about half of the character customization is centered around the head.

As for being anonymous, my personal feeling is that most people in game are like people in real life. They go through the game with almost zero awareness of the players around them. Unless a player stands out with some fancy effect, outfit, pet, or mount, they might as well not even be there.

Eifleber

Dunmer

Elsonso wrote: »

Athan1 wrote: »

Eifleber wrote: »

For the rest I also wonder why so many people use helmets as it removes the last thing that makes your character distinguish itself from the others.

I guess that's why people do it. Everyone likes anonymity. I would enjoy barring other players from knowing my race but my height gives it away!

As for being anonymous, my personal feeling is that most people in game are like people in real life. They go through the game with almost zero awareness of the players around them. Unless a player stands out with some fancy effect, outfit, pet, or mount, they might as well not even be there.

Yea it's a bit weird with 3rd perspon view and zooming out that you never actually see people eye to eye.

I know people hated me for it - but i really liked watching the generated cutscenes in guild wars 1 where you could actually take a good look at people's characters. ^^

Syldras

Dunmer

Eifleber wrote: »

Also how many people really care that much about lore?

I don't think we're such a minority, when I see how many voted "Dunmer" in the poll and explained it with loving Dunmer culture since TES3. Generally, it's an interesting question though. Could make a poll of its own (How many are interested in the lore at all? How many play ESO only because of TES?).

Athan1 wrote: »

I guess that's why people do it. Everyone likes anonymity. I would enjoy barring other players from knowing my race but my height gives it away!

It's up to you, but I don't understand why anonymity is so important in that case? You don't go outside masked like a bankrobber in rl all the time, I guess?