First-order Break residues sometimes create unusual localized phenomenon, notably they can alter mythopoeic archetypes on, let's call them "susceptible" individuals. Noted individuals display one of at least two known predisposing conditions, specifically Agency Locus Termination (ALT) syndrome (limiting cyclical factor of 8, as if anyone expected any other number), or Facile Obstructive Might (FOM) disorder. In either case, the transformation of the individual can range anywhere between complete morphological overhaul, to a slightly different mustache.

While some scholars believe this to be a function of wholesale kalpic replacement, others agree that it is a more discrete event. Still, there has been more than one penny dreadful series in circulation that use the phenomenon as a plot device, all creating yet-more-horrific scenarios in which a loved one or an important political leader is replaced by a dwemer construct or a lizard man. Imaginative, but operating under entirely false pretense, of course.

"I met Gadris the Dark Elf and Zur the Khajiit. These two mages share a single body, as their souls were melded at this Vile Laboratory when they arrived in Coldharbour. This soul-meld has weakened them. If they remain combined, they will surely die. The Dark Elf mage I was talking to transformed into a Khajiit. I should talk to him and get more details about their strange malady." - The Soul-Meld Mage

It probably won't be that elaborate, but that's a pretty clear precedent already in the game. And of course since Gadris has better racial passives, I always save him. Every. Single. Time.

Pheefs wrote: »

This is a silly fun question & is really two questions in one...

1. How does this work according to Lore?
2. WHAT do we call it?

For example, we stand in front of an enchanted mirror that shows us the reflection we want to see, & an Alteration Mage makes it real.
but what do we call the Mage? Aesthetician?

I've always thought that soul gems of some type. So Molag B took our souls and later we reclaim them....
Perhaps initially this offers a chance to mess around with the light of Meridia to change our appearance.

Anything else tho....lore-wise would seem to be related to thieves guild or Dark Beotherhood stuff as is seems you could do something that benefits from changing your identity.

An explanation for going to sleep as a Breton and waking up a Nord? Strong skoomer

Enodoc wrote: »

Change your Attributes - Shrine of Akatosh/Auriel/Kyne
Change your Skills - Shrine of Stendarr/Stuhn

Logical extrapolation:
Change your Appearance - Shrine of Dibella

Agreed. They could also go the Skyrim route and have some NPC that you talk to. Either one can easily be part of Lore and can be inserted into the game world.

Elder Scrolls is one of those game franchises where they can do the Lore and keep it in the setting of the world. The question is whether they want to be bothered to do that. The cheap and easy route is to go the sterile MMO route and just have some menu that comes up, like how they did mail.

It is more work, and expense, to build in a Lore-based "barbershop" in the game world. There are dialogs that have to be created. In-game resources that may have to be created. The world needs to be edited to insert these things. If there is an NPC, there will be voiced dialog and actors. This is on top of whatever it takes to actually do the "barbershop" changes to the character. I don't assume that character editing and character creation can use the same interface. They may need to create a new one for the "barbershop", even if they look similar.

I will be considerably surprised to see this "barbershop" in the world, especially using an NPC, instead of some Alt or Options menu, because I know that it will cost them more to do that. More work is more expense, and they need to be able to generate enough revenue to cover development.

When there is a lore explanation that compelled those of use who had to hurry through the character creation process to ensure we got our preferred names, then I'll start caring about the lore explanation for the barber shop.

Besides, if my templar can call down a piece of the sun and my DK can reflect meteors, I think replicating minor plastic surgury through alternation magic isn't inconceivable.

Why does everything have to revolve around lore for this game?

I'm already running around tamerial with hundreds of people around, buddy in my party and forced into solo missions without said party. Lore is breaking the MMO portion of this game.

dsalter wrote: »

why not just agree that it's an uncle Sheo cultist altering people to cause confusion and mayhem?

They wouldnt change people into other races. Theyd change them into cheese. Or skeevers. Or cheese skeevers...

Snowstrider wrote: »

Gidorick wrote: »

Jhunn wrote: »

Who cares. MMO.

Lots of us. TES.

How do Crown Store work in lore? How do menus work in lore? How do logging in work? Not Everything has to have a lore reason and most stuff dont.

I am a lore nerd as well but I dont think lore should hold back improvment.

But seriously. Its simple. Barbershops in citys? Magic? But to be honest I think they will just be in the Crown store

Oh... I have issues with the Crown Store @Snowstrider

http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/149494/in-game-crown-store-integration-concept/p1
http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/172089/immersive-crown-store-player-response-to-eso-live-answer/p1

And the way Maps work...
http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/154057/eso-advanced-mapping-concept/p1

The way mounts disappear...
http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/165659/tangible-mounts-advanced-concept/p1
http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/159507/advanced-mounts-overhaul-concept/p1

And I use Harven's quest journal to make my in-game journal look like this:
So whole everything doesn't "need" to be immersive... everything CAN be immersive, or as immersive as a game can be.

khele23eb17_ESO wrote: »

dsalter wrote: »

why not just agree that it's an uncle Sheo cultist altering people to cause confusion and mayhem?

They wouldnt change people into other races. Theyd change them into cheese or skeevers... or cheese skeevers...

that would be Sheo himself, the less than madgod folk of shivering isles would possibly see benifits to it

Umbranox wrote: »

I bet it'll bee Aesthetation, the Beauty School of Magic. I imagine the practice was lost towards the end of the 2nd Era, which is why TES4 characters look the way they do.

*slow claps*

Why do you honestly need an explanation?

A LORE EXPLANATION TO GET YOUR HAIR CUT AND BEARD TRIMMED?

There will be people specializing in those, skills let's call it, so they wouldn't cut your head off while cutting your *** hair, and they will charge you for it. Just like you charge someone for making them a piece of super gold tempered piece of armor. And those same people might also help you fix your scars and tattoos. BIG DEAL.

Xantaria wrote: »

Zorrashi wrote: »

Jhunn wrote: »

Who cares. MMO.

Are you lost? This is the ESO forums, where a significant portion of the playing population consider themselves TES players. We have radical lore junkies, moderate lore enthusiasts, and liberal lore appreciates.

AAAAAAND there are people like me who don't give a single f...about lore and story and skip every quest immediatly and are annoyed by every single NPC talk you can't skip.

Haha, so many people took the bait. Relax guys

Xantaria wrote: »

Zorrashi wrote: »

Jhunn wrote: »

Who cares. MMO.

Are you lost? This is the ESO forums, where a significant portion of the playing population consider themselves TES players. We have radical lore junkies, moderate lore enthusiasts, and liberal lore appreciates.

AAAAAAND there are people like me who don't give a single f...about lore and story and skip every quest immediatly and are annoyed by every single NPC talk you can't skip.

Chill man , the two don't have to be mutually exclusive. This whole thread is basically about how to add a lore friendly spin to a typical "MMO" feature.