Do you realise it now? That Tamriel is a living world modelled after our own?

Aeradon · June 2014

Tamriel is a world conjured by the developers, modelled after the real world with a touch of fantasy.

More often than not do we get a game where it is bound by morality, well maybe it applies more to the previous generation of games. The games that teaches or forces you to be good, to save damsels, save worlds, make no sacrifices.

Tamriel has never been that game. Tamriel has been weird, forces you to make decisions that you never want to, decisions that are neither good nor bad, decisions that you've been taught by the other games "to pick the least negative impact". The great thing is that aside consequences, it makes you wonder what are your core values, what are your desires, and what is this character you are building. It allows you to relate to real world decisions.

Example:

Do I send Valaste away for 2 skill points? Or do I want the crappy staff and lousy gold?
"Do I sell out my company for more cash and get away with it? Or do I do the right thing and stay loyal to my *** boss that pays me the same?"
*Valaste may really love the butterflies and better off being less nerdy, I know.*

Then there's the VR content. Cadwell sent you to an alternate reality whereby you might start out differently, despite the fact that you chose to start out within a specific alliance and joined a cause that you might've researched months upon. I joined the Covenant for the cause of economics, for the poor Orcs that seek recognition, for the Redguards that seek honour. I played a Khajiit that despise my own race's weakness to be deceived by the reappearance of the two moons; of whom raised by the Nords but couldn't see the cause of their war and left with nothing but a Nordic name. I can assure you I was pissed when I realised that I'm sent to Auridon to serve the snobbish elves.

But think about this.

Have you ever believed in something and joined a cause that you deem right? The community of which you believed to be like minded turns out to member extremists that did something you completely disagree with? That's the real world. We have countries that wage wars with it's people pleading to stop. We have religions that we believe with all our hearts, and yet those who took it the wrong way. We have education systems that produces scholars, as well as drop outs. We have scholars that finds no jobs, as well as drop outs that has a remarkable success.

The Covenant may be made good in our continent, yet there are still thugs masked as soldiers who raided innocent families in the name of the alliance. The Pact is honourable, yet some of their general's approaches are too radical. The Dominion seeks to lead the inferior men with their superior breed, yet not all Mer are as bright as they should be. These are the things that Cadwell and Meridia wants us to see. They want us to know that despite strengths and weaknesses, despite pros and cons, regardless of the cause, the damage of a war will be done, there are always scumbags in the community, the world is random as such.

I reserve my other examples as they may be controversial and might provoke flame wars. But I do want to know, how many of us realised this and could relate to the game? What made you relate to the game and what else have you seen as a nice touch by the developers?

Hypertionb14_ESO · June 2014

Flame wars burn down the old trees allowing new ones to grow from the ashes..

my -0.1 cents

Adramelach · June 2014

I had no difficulty with the concept of the end-game, that of seeing "through another's eyes". The metaphysical issues (time travel? alternate reality?) are handled easily enough through literal deus ex machina: a god waved her hands, so sure, it can all be as it is explained, and you're "living an alternate reality" and so forth. Once you pull gods into the picture and divine power and will, well, "logic" kind of goes out the window, and you just roll with it.

However, unfortunately, it's so damn difficult to progress for me, after not having much trouble with 1-50, that I've lost passion for it. It's a shame, as I would have enjoyed the alternate trips through the other alliances, but when it's this difficult to slog through the content, it's just not entertaining for me.

Aeradon · June 2014

Adramelach wrote: »

I had no difficulty with the concept of the end-game, that of seeing "through another's eyes". The metaphysical issues (time travel? alternate reality?) are handled easily enough through literal deus ex machina: a god waved her hands, so sure, it can all be as it is explained, and you're "living an alternate reality" and so forth. Once you pull gods into the picture and divine power and will, well, "logic" kind of goes out the window, and you just roll with it.

However, unfortunately, it's so damn difficult to progress for me, after not having much trouble with 1-50, that I've lost passion for it. It's a shame, as I would have enjoyed the alternate trips through the other alliances, but when it's this difficult to slog through the content, it's just not entertaining for me.

Realised that as well, but it does foster relationship with others. There are no longer solo instances and it does help a lot by asking a friend to tag along (:

I'll tag along if you need me. Add me in game @Aeradon.

RylukShouja · June 2014

Adramelach wrote: »

I had no difficulty with the concept of the end-game, that of seeing "through another's eyes". The metaphysical issues (time travel? alternate reality?) are handled easily enough through literal deus ex machina: a god waved her hands, so sure, it can all be as it is explained, and you're "living an alternate reality" and so forth. Once you pull gods into the picture and divine power and will, well, "logic" kind of goes out the window, and you just roll with it.

However, unfortunately, it's so damn difficult to progress for me, after not having much trouble with 1-50, that I've lost passion for it. It's a shame, as I would have enjoyed the alternate trips through the other alliances, but when it's this difficult to slog through the content, it's just not entertaining for me.

Pretty much this. I was fine until VR5 Bankorai, but between the terrible scaling of mobs, generally increased pack sizes, smaller spacing between packs...I've been skipping a lot of the story in favour of just getting the zone done with. Which disappoints me, because I have been enjoying the story so far.

If they were only going to push the hp and damage of mobs up, they should have at least tweaked it taking into account proximity, patrolling mobs, and how 1-50 scaling works compared to VR scaling...a level 45 is much more powerful against level 45 mobs than a VR5 is against VR5 mobs.

Aeradon · June 2014

RylukShouja wrote: »

Adramelach wrote: »

I had no difficulty with the concept of the end-game, that of seeing "through another's eyes". The metaphysical issues (time travel? alternate reality?) are handled easily enough through literal deus ex machina: a god waved her hands, so sure, it can all be as it is explained, and you're "living an alternate reality" and so forth. Once you pull gods into the picture and divine power and will, well, "logic" kind of goes out the window, and you just roll with it.

However, unfortunately, it's so damn difficult to progress for me, after not having much trouble with 1-50, that I've lost passion for it. It's a shame, as I would have enjoyed the alternate trips through the other alliances, but when it's this difficult to slog through the content, it's just not entertaining for me.

Pretty much this. I was fine until VR5 Bankorai, but between the terrible scaling of mobs, generally increased pack sizes, smaller spacing between packs...I've been skipping a lot of the story in favour of just getting the zone done with. Which disappoints me, because I have been enjoying the story so far.

If they were only going to push the hp and damage of mobs up, they should have at least tweaked it taking into account proximity, patrolling mobs, and how 1-50 scaling works compared to VR scaling...a level 45 is much more powerful against level 45 mobs than a VR5 is against VR5 mobs.

I have to agree that the difficulty of the mobs are scaled by the wrong means. They should not just bump up the stats and proximity, would love to see more challenging ways such as mobs coordinating with each other more or even have more skills at expense.

Bromburak · June 2014

Most of the RL comparison and thoughts are based on imprinting and nurture, what actually results in not being free ...

You are not a hero in this game, (so forget about the USA thinking like in movies).
Nirn is only save until Molag Bal recovers from his injuries. The battle of dominance between all Daedric princes and the Oblivion "merge" continues!

Just because you have your soul back, it doesnt make you something better.
You have just started your journey, thats it.

You are weak and not ready for the real threat, thats why Meridia wants you to learn more about your enemies and be prepared for the big one , lore that is not in the game yet.

You have the choice , you can let go and forget about patriotism and all the other self made illusions and problems in this world or you are being more focussed to the fighters and mage guild that deals with the freedom of Tamriel and doesn't really care about the unmatured crap that is going on between the 3 factions.

DireKit · June 2014

Well at least from our perspectives, in the real-world nothing is black and white or 'Good or bad.'

Those concepts are all social constructs like morality that were forged by humans, who in their egotism and self-delusion desired more 'control' and to feel 'better' and raise themselves on some pedestal of perceived superiority.

In reality, none of those concepts actually exist and even if they did, they're meaningless.

Do as you do, live as you live, be as you will be, and that's all you can really do in the World. Because everything is subjectivity, everything is contradiction, and the nature of existence is pointless Chaos.

Even so, it's very easy to find something positive in all of this.

Chaos is amusing and awesome because it is so pointless and unpredictable.

Even things that humans think they can perceive don't account for a quarter of what actually is. Humans rely far too much on physicality and visually observable phenomenon to define their 'World,' which is a shallow and flawed thought process in our opinions.

"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

Besides, existing is fun. And it's a wonderful gift of coincidence.

Nazon_Katts · June 2014

Realization is just a first small step on the way to descension and the answer to everything always was and will be nothing. Nothing is infinite, nothing is all, nothing is everything all at once and never at all. Everything is and is not.

Remember that when you go down and reach the centre, you won't be there anymore. You will never have left, but will return. There's nothing to realize and just everything to see.

Aeradon · June 2014

@DireKit Awesome, just like the wood elves made themselves believe that eating fallen enemies is a must; high elves feel that their culture and ancestry provided them the pedestal to be supreme. All of these are made up by themselves and determines their perspective of good and bad!

@Nazon_Katts‌ That's deep.. So what you're saying is that, upon realisation and discovery, the truth is we're still the same and nothing will be changed? Nice (:

@Bromburak‌ I like how you interpret it (: Makes me so excited about what they have in store for us!

Paladin_echo1 · June 2014

If this is true, then Zenimax is a racist, but I will save this for another thread.

Aeradon · June 2014

Paladin_echo1 wrote: »

If this is true, then Zenimax is a racist, but I will save this for another thread.

Why is that so? Mind to elaborate?

Bromburak · June 2014

Paladin_echo1 wrote: »

If this is true, then Zenimax is a racist, but I will save this for another thread.

If what is true? Races having conflicts in a game?

Many Altmer and Dunmer have nothing todo with the Breton or Argonian slavery for example and you will find traitors as well. Argonian have no choice after birth when they brought to dark brother hood and being formed as killers just because they are shadow scales.

As a player you always have the choice how to deal with your history and how to deal with now and the future. You can join the mage and fighters guild together with races of all 3 alliances and focus on common mission objectives.

idk · June 2014

Broken and dysfunctional? Now the grouping tool makes sense.

idk · June 2014

Paladin_echo1 wrote: »

If this is true, then Zenimax is a racist, but I will save this for another thread.

^^^
This guy is not going to reply to your questioning his odd comment. He is likely just trolling.

Paladin_echo1 · June 2014

Stamina would be the reason why. And what class has the most race involved stamina moves? The Redguard. Next to the Redguard, there is the Orc. Turn stamina to crap and beat the Redguards down. Their hearts must be as dark as their faces, so lets make life worse for them here. We have to have extra torches around at night with Redguards because they are so dark they suck up the light. And those Orcs smell like "wild animals" too. Give them something they believe is helpful, but in all actuality the power given to them is weaker than magic and ultimately cripples the entire race (In here ultimately making people not want to pick Redguard because of the stats unless they just like them). That definitely mirrors the real world a lot with the lore and the game mechanics. Racist game mechanics hating the Redguard. That is why the high elf is bigger, taller, and packs a mean, magical punch. That's why the other races rate a petty soul gem, because they are petty. Only the ones that support magic are superior and require the grand soul gem.

Aeradon · June 2014

Giles.floydub17_ESO wrote: »

Broken and dysfunctional? Now the grouping tool makes sense.

Haha. Or that searching for someone with the same cause is hard in RL?

Paladin_echo1 wrote: »

Stamina would be the reason why. And what class has the most race involved stamina moves? The Redguard. Next to the Redguard, there is the Orc. Turn stamina to crap and beat the Redguards down. Their hearts must be as dark as their faces, so lets make life worse for them here. We have to have extra torches around at night with Redguards because they are so dark they suck up the light. And those Orcs smell like "wild animals" too. Give them something they believe is helpful, but in all actuality the power given to them is weaker than magic and ultimately cripples the entire race (In here ultimately making people not want to pick Redguard because of the stats unless they just like them). That definitely mirrors the real world a lot with the lore and the game mechanics. Racist game mechanics hating the Redguard. That is why the high elf is bigger, taller, and packs a mean, magical punch. That's why the other races rate a petty soul gem, because they are petty. Only the ones that support magic are superior and require the grand soul gem.

Haha, pretty sure they're not racist and do not mean it that way. Talos is still going to be the ruler, not one of both Redguard and High Elf ancestry.

Nazon_Katts · June 2014

Nothing cannot exist, for if it would, it would be something and cease to be nothing. So nothing is impossible, which just means that everything is possible and nothing is everything. It's creation in itself and just is and is not.

No time, no place, no you, no I, no we, no them, but all there is and is not. Realization, discovery, the perception of change - just blurred reflections of one possibility out of endless others.

So yes, nothing changes.

Aeradon · June 2014

Nazon_Katts wrote: »

Nothing cannot exist, for if it would, it would be something and cease to be nothing. So nothing is impossible, which just means that everything is possible and nothing is everything. It's creation in itself and just is and is not.

No time, no place, no you, no I, no we, no them, but all there is and is not. Realization, discovery, the perception of change - just blurred reflections of one possibility out of endless others.

So yes, nothing changes.

Cool. Do you happen to be a philosophy major?

Nazon_Katts · June 2014

Nope, just always been thinking too much, hunting for an answer, but asking the wrong question to begin with.

AlexDougherty · June 2014

Nazon_Katts wrote: »

Nothing cannot exist, for if it would, it would be something and cease to be nothing.

Ok, a bit long winded but nothing too wrong yet.

So nothing is impossible, which just means that everything is possible and nothing is everything

.

Nothing might be impossible, in the sense that a total absence of everything is impossible.

This doesn't mean everything is possible, or my fifty foot talking tiger would win this arguement for me.

As for Nothing being Everything, words fail me, literally. I could explain why that's wrong, but I would come across like a petulant two year old.

Nazon_Katts · June 2014

AlexDougherty wrote: »

This doesn't mean everything is possible, or my fifty foot talking tiger would win this arguement for me.

On this planet for sure not, in this part of the verse probably not. In other verses and realities? Who knows?

But then, there's over 6 billion realities on this rock of dirt alone in this very moment. I am sure in at least one a fifty foot talking tiger made, makes or will make an appearance. Not even taking into account those that were before and will come after. I believe it's highly improbable to be happening in yours, I'll give you that.

The question is not even wether this part of the verse obeys any rules or if it's just the human mind that needs rules to function properly and thus just projects those rules by ordering what essentially is chaotic, it's rather how many possibilities fit into eternity.

So parsed by the human mind, a certain ruleset in another part of the verse could very well lead to fifty foot talking tigers. Something similar could even exist here, tho it's arguable how probable that may be.

wrlifeboil · June 2014

Bromburak wrote: »

Nirn is only save until Molag Bal recovers from his injuries. The battle of dominance between all Daedric princes and the Oblivion "merge" continues!

You mean like the war in Iraq?

Soliduparrow · June 2014

ESO is just like the current situation in Iraq. A complete disaster.

GrimlockSaves · June 2014

You cannot progress in the story lines and gain access to more content unless you quest and make the tough decisions. You can still level without questing, grinding mobs for example, but it is tedious and boring (but accepted by those who have never tasted something better). Your world will be limited and it will be hard for you to see things from the other factions' perspectives.

In life, unless you decide to leave your comfort zone, make tough decisions and serve other people, you will limit yourself and your happiness. You won't progress passed the familiar, and get stuck, grinding the same routine day after day after day. Your compassion, understanding and open-mindedness will be limited because you will never see things from another person's point of view.

But, if you serve others, leave your comfort zone, get out and adventure and experience all this world has to offer, you will feel true emotion; happiness, sadness, love, fear, devotion, compassion. You will understand others and realize their point of view. You will see how war, hatred and intolerance is the result of too many people who are stuck in their comfort zone; stuck in ideologies that limit human progression.