Falmer souls, : V

» Tue Dec 13, 2011 2:59 am

As per the topic, why are Falmer souls white? They are elves, they should have black souls.

» Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:06 am

Technical limitations. Really makes it easier to have NPCS = Black, Creatures = White.

Falmer are recognised as creatures.

I honestly think it's just an engine issue (albeit a small one)

» Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:21 am

Their psychology has changed enough for them to be considered a creature, even if they can still be classified as a Mer race.

This is why you don't eat mushrooms.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 9:40 pm

They're considered creatures in Skyrim, not actual man or mer. That is why regular soul gems can be filled with their souls.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 5:46 pm

Falmer forgot the wind from trees and the tastes of bread.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 7:39 pm

And yet Vampires have black souls... seems a tad inconsistent.

And what kind of "creatures" wear armor? it really does not make sense.

» Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:05 am

And yet Vampires have black souls... seems a tad inconsistent.

And what kind of "creatures" wear armor? it really does not make sense.

They're undead enemies.
They're basically zombies, and are therefore creatures.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 1:04 pm

really, are the mechanics of soul trapping EVER explained anywhere in the game? why do you need a black soul gem to trap humanoids anyway? why are they all grand? what determines the worth of a soul? what are you actually trapping? is every enchanter an inhuman monster who imprisons poor confused bears and trolls in gems to be wiped from existence to make your free destro spells gear? and most importantly... WHERE DO THESE DAMN GEMS COME FROM?! i know there is the geode veins, but i seriously doubt people regularly go to blackreach to get the soul gems for the whole world.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 8:06 pm

Vampires are man or mer with an illness, not a different race

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 7:52 pm

And yet Vampires have black souls... seems a tad inconsistent.

And what kind of "creatures" wear armor? it really does not make sense.

Vampires are fully sentient, Falmer have degenerated into primitive creatures.

There's no inconsistency on these grounds.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 6:26 pm

really, are the mechanics of soul trapping EVER explained anywhere in the game?

I think there's a book explaining this in Oblivion, but I could be wrong. Any lore junkies? :spotted owl:

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 10:46 pm

Some developer checked the wrong box in the creation kit! No need to bring into the discussion the lore :poke:

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 4:27 pm

I think there's a book explaining this in Oblivion, but I could be wrong. Any lore junkies? :spotted owl:

What? You guys never visit the Imperial Library?

http://www.imperial-library.info/content/oblivion-souls-black-and-white

Soul Gems are just rocks with the capacity to carry this life force.

» Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:46 am

On the subject of black soul gems, are they supposed to offer extra benefits like they did in other games? I don't see that happening in Skyrim, and the souls they capture are always "grand" souls, not actually "black".

As for the lore bit, IIRC human souls are too precious/complex/whatever to be bound to a normal soul gem, so you need a black one. Why they are black or so special I can't remember.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 12:45 pm

In Oblivion (they didn't appear before) soultraping an man or mer also give you a grand soul, no change in skyrim from that.

Lore wise I think Arkay is involved too, giving some sort of protection to the souls of man and mer that's neutralized by a black soul gem. But I don't remember for sure and could be wrong.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 7:24 pm

Falmer forgot the wind from trees and the tastes of bread.

lol

Yeah I think they should count. They're sophisticated enough to have their own written language and to make clothing and weapons from chaurus chitin.

» Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:20 am

Vampires are fully sentient, Falmer have degenerated into primitive creatures.

There's no inconsistency on these grounds.

You are very wrong on that.

Spoiler

The falmer are actually fully sentient, this you would know if you played much of the game in their dungeons.
They breed those insects like cows, for food and resources.
The use armor and weapons, the later which they even apply brewed poisons to.
They cast spells like any other mer.

They even have a leader and kidnap surfacers to use as slaves in the silent city.
They are no less sentient than the thalmor, and just as brutal.

The Falmer are fully sentient mer, they just happen to be blind junkies with exceptional hearing.
I'll put it down to an error the part of the devs. Either that or they are leading into another "warp" that will re-write the laws of souls.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 7:00 pm

Spoiler

The falmer are actually fully sentient, this you would know if you played much of the game in their dungeons.
They breed those insects like cows, for food and resources.
The use armor and weapons, the later which they even apply brewed poisons to.
They cast spells like any other mer.

They even have a leader and kidnap surfacers to use as slaves in the silent city.
They are no less sentient than the thalmor, and just as brutal.

The Falmer are fully sentient mer, they just happen to be blind junkies with exceptional hearing.
I'll put it down to an error the part of the devs. Either that or they are leading into another "warp" that will re-write the laws of souls.

One word: Mushrooms.

» Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:07 am

One word: Mushrooms.

I'm pretty sure the other Mer eat mushrooms. There are several varieties that are usable in potions, including the glowing ones that are common in the deep caves.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 1:01 pm

really, are the mechanics of soul trapping EVER explained anywhere in the game? why do you need a black soul gem to trap humanoids anyway?

Because Arkay protects the souls of humans from soul trapping to lead them to the afterlife. Black Soul gems are a necromancer invention to work around Arkay protection.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 6:15 pm

I'm pretty sure the other Mer eat mushrooms. There are several varieties that are usable in potions, including the glowing ones that are common in the deep caves.

How can you do what you say if you can't have what you can do?

http://www.imperial-library.info/content/skyrim-falmer-study

» Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:00 am

You are very wrong on that.

Spoiler

The falmer are actually fully sentient, this you would know if you played much of the game in their dungeons.
They breed those insects like cows, for food and resources.
The use armor and weapons, the later which they even apply brewed poisons to.
They cast spells like any other mer.

They even have a leader and kidnap surfacers to use as slaves in the silent city.
They are no less sentient than the thalmor, and just as brutal.

The Falmer are fully sentient mer, they just happen to be blind junkies with exceptional hearing.
I'll put it down to an error the part of the devs. Either that or they are leading into another "warp" that will re-write the laws of souls.

I assure you I have played through the game multiple times, they are equivalent to cavemen in most regards. All their materials and tools are a result of primitive technology gained from things around them. If anything, they are perhaps sentient, but more akin to an intelligent animal than one of the man or mer races.

The only thing inconsistent with their primitive behaviour is the ability to cast spells, which could be attributed to the fact they are inherently magical.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 9:16 pm

Because Arkay protects the souls of humans from soul trapping to lead them to the afterlife. Black Soul gems are a necromancer invention to work around Arkay protection.

Arkay protects both man and mer.
But yeah, it would make sense if there was some lore around Arkay breaking this convent, ever, for any man or mer, there just isn't though.
To make matters worse, even if arkay revoked his protection of the falmer, they should still all be grand souls, but they are not, you can get lesser and common souls from falmer.

» Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:25 am

I personally think that they should be NPCs and have black souls like they should.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 11:26 pm

You are very wrong on that.

Spoiler

The falmer are actually fully sentient, this you would know if you played much of the game in their dungeons.
They breed those insects like cows, for food and resources.
The use armor and weapons, the later which they even apply brewed poisons to.
They cast spells like any other mer.

They even have a leader and kidnap surfacers to use as slaves in the silent city.
They are no less sentient than the thalmor, and just as brutal.

The Falmer are fully sentient mer, they just happen to be blind junkies with exceptional hearing.
I'll put it down to an error the part of the devs. Either that or they are leading into another "warp" that will re-write the laws of souls.

I guess this is similar to Xivilai. IIRC Xivilai are also sentient like Dremora but in the game they are creatures. I guess it was just easier to make them creatures as opposed to NPCs.