Fantasy syndrome: weapons and armor : V - Skyrim

» Wed May 16, 2012 1:31 pm

Yeah I'm not sure why developers always go over the top, but just about every game I like the look of the low to mid level armors better than the high level stuff. Why not make some high level armors that look more realistic and some others that look like transformer anime, so you can have a choice without being at a disadvantage? When the hell did gigantic spiky shoulder pads become synonymous with the best armor? Personally, I'd rather they just allowed you to pick a look that you like at the beginning of a game and then allow you to upgrade stats as you see fit.

» Wed May 16, 2012 1:10 pm

The complaint is that super spike spam doesn't even look cool. It looks [censored] [censored], unless you're like 10 or something.

This pretty much.

Yes, it's a fantasy game. Yes, I know it's a fantasy. Yes, it has fantasy. But I don't understand how ridiculous armors add to the fantasy world, in my opinion they just detract from it.

» Wed May 16, 2012 4:33 am

The complaint is that super spike spam doesn't even look cool. It looks [censored] [censored], unless you're like 10 or something.

Clearly Daedric and Glass were going to be the best armors in the game, it's been that way in every ES game. I don't see why you're complaining.

» Tue May 15, 2012 9:42 pm

The complaint is that super spike spam doesn't even look cool. It looks [censored] [censored], unless you're like 10 or something.

To the game's credit, the super spike spam is most prevalent on Daedric armor. Armor made for quasi-immortal demons; maybe its in their personal taste to be covered in spikes?

Dragon bone armor could have been toned down a little... but its dragon bones, I'd be slightly disappointed if it didn't contain at least some spikey-ness. (More to just pay homage to the material its made of.) But to each their own tastes.

» Wed May 16, 2012 9:02 am

The complaint is that super spike spam doesn't even look cool. It looks [censored] [censored], unless you're like 10 or something.

I guess that makes me like 10 or something, then.

I'm not interested in playing a medieval combat simulator. I'm not interested in wielding reproductions of earth weapons. That would bore me to tears. I play these games to get away from real life, to live in a fantasy world for a few hours at a time. That includes wearing impractical armor and wielding impractical weapons.

» Wed May 16, 2012 3:22 am

I guess that makes me like 10 or something, then.

I'm not interested in playing a medieval combat simulator. I'm not interested in wielding reproductions of earth weapons. That would bore me to tears. I play these games to get away from real life, to live in a fantasy world for a few hours at a time. That includes wearing impractical armor and wielding impractical weapons.

Yup! Completely fine too. I just wish there'd be more options, so everyone could wear what they want. I love Skyrim's viking-theme, and I want my Nord to look the part too, even if distantly. They did a great job regarding that with iron and steel armor, imo.

» Wed May 16, 2012 4:37 am

Clearly Daedric and Glass were going to be the best armors in the game, it's been that way in every ES game. I don't see why you're complaining.

Glass is pretty cool actually -- slightly ostentatious, but pretty sharp nonetheless.

To the game's credit, the super spike spam is most prevalent on Daedric armor. Armor made for quasi-immortal demons; maybe its in their personal taste to be covered in spikes?

Shrug. I agree in a general thematic sense, but really ... it's across all of fantasty-based games now. Big[censored]ing pauldrons with hugeass spikes. *gnashes teeth*

What I really want is a /hide helm option for my character.

That would be awesome.

Especially because so many perks are associated with matching sets / full suits of armor that must be equipped.

As far as Dragon armor ... it pisses me off because it looks as good as hide. Which is bad. But hide is supposed to look like ass.

» Tue May 15, 2012 10:35 pm

What I would love to see is an expansion or add on that gives you more personalization and customization with your armors. Like being able to tweak daedric or even having a few presets for each type of armor for those that DO prefer that silly [censored] spikes-out-of-my-ass look. I just use Nightingale because it is simple and badass. Same thing happened for me in Oblivion. I ended up just using Shrouded Armor from the Brotherhood because after Steel the armor just starts getting wild. Ebony armor in Skyrim is actually fair game though. If you want some very realistic looking Ebony armor do the quest for Boethia and get the Ebony Mail. Best armor in the game imo.

» Wed May 16, 2012 11:45 am

I'll add that I'm not sure the OP wants them removed or anything drastic. I think he just wants more options at high levels so that he can make his appearance his own.

As someone has pointed out in an Armor Rating thread, you can achieve max armor protection at 567 I believe. You can get this number (or pretty darn close to it) using Steel Plate armor. So in essence you could continue to use Iron Armors as long as you upgrade it to Legendary quality with improvements.

Source info: http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Armor

» Tue May 15, 2012 11:37 pm

Do you not want to look like a badass?

No he does not want to look like a big doofus! :rolleyes:

And i agree, from the days 'o Daggerfall, Morrowind and Oblivion all i basically use is iron and the lighter armors! :rock:

» Wed May 16, 2012 7:56 am

I'm not interested in playing a medieval combat simulator. I'm not interested in wielding reproductions of earth weapons.

That's nice -- neither am I. I don't give a [censored] about realism.

What I do care about is that spike spam looks like [censored]-ass second rate trash design. It's what 10 year olds come up with to make something look "COOL".

There are so many ways they could add a serious demonic theme to Daedric armor without SPIKES.

» Tue May 15, 2012 10:25 pm

That's nice -- neither am I. I don't give a [censored] about realism.

What I do care about is that spike spam looks like [censored]-ass second rate trash design. It's what 10 year olds come up with to make something look "COOL".

There are so many ways they could add a serious demonic theme to Daedric armor without SPIKES.

Exactly. Look at the Witch King in LOTR. Demonic enemy but he wasn't that bad over the top with his armor.

» Wed May 16, 2012 8:55 am

Dragonplate was very bland to me and looks pretty weak in comparison to Daedric and other high end armors.

» Wed May 16, 2012 4:58 am

Disclaimer: I love Skyrim, it's the best game I've ever played, I'd say. So this isn't a "OMG DIS GAME SUX" rant.

So, my main gripe with Skyrim: Fantasy syndrome with weapons and armor. The better the armor and the weapon, the more ridiculous and utterly impractical it looks. Does this bother anyone else? Iron armor is my favorite armor, as are the iron weapons..
...
Thoughts? Personally I can't wait for mods to add some more realistic looking armors to the game. Until then, I'm happy with iron.

iknorite? Men end up like metalplated hedgehogs. Women end up with skimpy bikini chainmail. c'est la vie

» Wed May 16, 2012 4:35 am

iknorite? Men end up like metalplated hedgehogs. Women end up with skimpy bikini chainmail. c'est la vie

I'm guessing you haven't really paid attention to the TES games. Women end up like metalplated hedgehogs, too. Just slightly more curvy.

:tongue:

» Wed May 16, 2012 2:05 pm

good point - the armor does seem to get a little silly later on.

my armor stats never really bother me in these games..fallout or skyrim, i use what i think looks the best, or the way i want to look at that time. Stats are secondary - it adds a small level of difficulty when you have weaker equipment than you could have, but its not a game changer in most instances.

what i can see being a problem is the selection of these types of armors, but i cant really vouch for that yet at lvl 9

» Wed May 16, 2012 4:35 am

That's probably because this IS a fantasy game...

This. I feel like Skyrim has a good mix of "normal" looking armor, and more stylistic ones. Daedric armor is supposed to forged from materials found in Oblivion, it should look spiky and evil. Are the spikes practical? Not necessarily from a protection standpoint, but they're supposed to look intimidating and imposing.

» Wed May 16, 2012 6:52 am

Having a look at real armors you get some seriously pimped-up designs without going the 'evil-spikey' route. Etching, enameling and even at times what's almost bas-relief designs have all found their ways on armor. And most of those fancy armors mamaged to remain reasonably practical and effective.

I'd like to have that sort of designs showing up in game.

» Wed May 16, 2012 8:02 am

Since when does a TRUE Nordic Warrior care about how he looks. He equips the most POWERFUL Weapons and Armors and takes his fight to the enemy's throat!

» Wed May 16, 2012 4:46 am

This. I feel like Skyrim has a good mix of "normal" looking armor, and more stylistic ones. Daedric armor is supposed to forged from materials found in Oblivion, it should look spiky and evil. Are the spikes practical? Not necessarily from a protection standpoint, but they're supposed to look intimidating and imposing.

I don't problem is so much the quantity or mix of normal and stylist armor. The problem is that the normal armor is low tier with lackluster stats, while the stylist (AKA Spiky) armor have greatly superior stats.

So at some point, you need to switch to this armor to retain survivability. This applies mostly to top difficulties.

» Tue May 15, 2012 9:44 pm

Disclaimer: I love Skyrim, it's the best game I've ever played, I'd say. So this isn't a "OMG DIS GAME SUX" rant.

So, my main gripe with Skyrim: Fantasy syndrome with weapons and armor. The better the armor and the weapon, the more ridiculous and utterly impractical it looks. Does this bother anyone else? Iron armor is my favorite armor, as are the iron weapons..

After I crafted Daedric armor, I puked a little in my mouth. Then I proceeded to throw it in the river. Then I crafted Dragonbone armor. I laughed and threw it after the Daedric armor. It's a damn shame, because getting those cool difficult-to-craft armors should be a nice thing. The armors I think are awesome are iron, steel, steel plate and Blades armor (heavy armors, most light looks great). The rest are just awful. Dwemer armor? Now I know who the Terminators in Warhammer 40k are: the dwemer.

So yeaaah. At level 32, I still use iron armor. I'd have more than double the armor rating I have with Daedric, but meh.

Thoughts? Personally I can't wait for mods to add some more realistic looking armors to the game. Until then, I'm happy with iron.

Regretfully, I somewhat agree with you there, but my favorite armor is the steel plate armor, and my favorite weapon by far is the Skyforge Steel Sword.

» Wed May 16, 2012 12:23 pm

iknorite? Men end up like metalplated hedgehogs. Women end up with skimpy bikini chainmail. c'est la vie

Wasn't chainmail supposedly in the game as well?!

» Wed May 16, 2012 8:14 am

I like orcish armor

» Wed May 16, 2012 6:26 am

I agree, especially some of the weapons. A few almost look like somthing out of Fable.

» Wed May 16, 2012 4:41 am

Guess I am your opposite OP.

I think daedric and dragonplate is the coolest armors Ive seen in any RPG to date (Been gaming for 15+ years).
"Regular" steel and iron armor is well made in skyrim, but I find them boring and bland.

Fantasy is fantasy. If Sauron came walking in chainmail in LOTR Id laugh my ass off. The highend armors are SUPPOSED to make you look brutal/malevolent/powerful.

So when dragons are flying over your head as you run from vampires casting magic spells after you - you look down at your armor and go "Hey, this isnt very realistic..." ?