The Unofficial Ulfric Fangirl Thread : V - Skyrim

» Fri Aug 24, 2012 4:41 pm

Also: I'm thinking of adopting http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2012/038/5/f/ulfric_stormcloak_by_tori_34-d4oz062.png as my go-to response to anything posted in a Stormcloaks vs. Imperials thread. I think it sums things up quite nicely.

An excellent idea. I've given up on those threads now.
Poster: "I support the Empire, the Stormcloaks are racists."
Me or someone else: explains why this isn't true, at least, why they are no worse than Nords in general.
Next poster: "The Stormcloaks are racists!"
Me or someone else, sighing: explains why this isn't true.
Next poster: "The Stormcloaks are racists!"
Me or someone else, sighing and rolling eyes: explains why this isn't true.
Next poster: "The Stormcloaks are racists!"
Me or someone else: :wallbash:

» Sat Aug 25, 2012 12:05 am

Anyone notice that at one point while you're waiting for the execution to start, Ulfric turns and stares intently at the player? Kind of interesting.

Those of you who have the CK: Is he really supposed to revert to "make it quick, I'm a busy man" after you just helped him win Skyrim? Because... :down:

» Fri Aug 24, 2012 7:57 pm

Anyone notice that at one point while you're waiting for the execution to start, Ulfric turns and stares intently at the player? Kind of interesting.

Yeah, I noticed on my 2nd playthrough (I looked around more on that one.). :wub:

Sploosh! My heart melted. Wait...no...I mean...yeah, I noticed and $***...what?

Damn, too much estrogen...I'm gonna' go look at some porm or something. :ohmy:

» Sat Aug 25, 2012 4:10 am

Yeah, I noticed on my 2nd playthrough (I looked around more on that one.). :wub:

Sploosh! My heart melted. Wait...no...I mean...yeah, I noticed and $***...what?

Damn, too much estrogen...I'm gonna' go look at some porm or something. :ohmy:

LOL Don't let us interrupt your "me" time. :biggrin:

I just thought it was interesting as I wonder what he was thinking. It's not like he would have the ability that Arngeir or dragons have, to see the dragonborn as a dragon. Though maybe enough thu'um training to sense something.

» Sat Aug 25, 2012 4:06 am

I just thought it was interesting as I wonder what he was thinking

Yeah, it was curious. Almost, like he wanted to say, "Wait for it." :lol:

» Fri Aug 24, 2012 6:53 pm

LOL Don't let us interrupt your "me" time. :biggrin:

I just thought it was interesting as I wonder what he was thinking. It's not like he would have the ability that Arngeir or dragons have, to see the dragonborn as a dragon. Though maybe enough thu'um training to sense something.

He's obviously thinking "wow, she's hot!" :banana:

No, seriously, I think he's wondering who the f*** you are and why the f*** the Empire is executing you (I can just imagining him thinking something about "that's typical Imperial justice").

» Sat Aug 25, 2012 5:32 am

Here we go:

I highly recommend zooming out when looking at these pictures, especially the first two, if your screen is bigger than, say, 10.1"

http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w384/Auroratiger/Skyrim/Vilketuseltavtal.jpg (Or is he just jealous because Tullius got to see the side boob?)
http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w384/Auroratiger/Skyrim/Jaggjordesgottjagkunde.jpg

http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w384/Auroratiger/Skyrim/PvgfrnSolitude3.jpg "Is that an Imperial Camp over there?" "Who cares, I'm looking at you now."
http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w384/Auroratiger/Skyrim/Ulfricthemudcrabs.jpg

These last two don't feature Ulfric himself, but are connected to him. For the first one, you have to imagining him standing just outside the picture, saying something about being busy...
http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w384/Auroratiger/Skyrim/Sigynvickar.jpg

And then there was that night around 27 or so years ago when two friends had a little too much to drink (both have tried to forget what happened after that, which was much easier for one of them than the other). Many years later she showed up in Helgen, http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w384/Auroratiger/Skyrim/DottertillUoR3.jpg
(No, I've never actually played this character - I'm a Character Creation addict and was just messing around, using http://www.truancyfactory.com/mods/skyrim/skyrim_characters.html. I must say Rikke was rather good-looking in her youth. You don't want to know what Ulfric looks like without his beard, though. :down:

)

» Sat Aug 25, 2012 5:14 am

wonder if someone has RP'd as Ulfric's daughter, or son and that explains the capture..hmmm

» Sat Aug 25, 2012 8:57 am

wonder if someone has RP'd as Ulfric's daughter, or son and that explains the capture..hmmm

I know I've read here somewhere about someone who RP'd as Ulfric's son. Can't remember who, though... I imagined the daughter I created to be unknown to Ulfric himself - maybe she doesn't even know herself who her father is. That she's Rikke's daughter is kind of obvious though, so maybe Ulfric puts two and two together quite soon. She would have a really hard time doing the civil war, as it will end with one of her parents dead - ok, she wouldn't know that in the beginning, but still. Would be a good RP story of course, quite tragic.

» Fri Aug 24, 2012 11:41 pm

If it's just a matter of Brightness/Contrast I can adjust any of your pics in Photoshop. If it's directional that's a bit more tricky. :tongue:

No, I was talking about the "line of light" through what should probably be an unbroken shadow on the bed. IIRC there's something in the CK instructional files about that and how to fix it by adjusting settings on the light markers.

» Fri Aug 24, 2012 9:20 pm

Anyone notice that at one point while you're waiting for the execution to start, Ulfric turns and stares intently at the player? Kind of interesting.

Those of you who have the CK: Is he really supposed to revert to "make it quick, I'm a busy man" after you just helped him win Skyrim? Because... :down:

Haven't checked the CK but, yep, based on numerous playthroughs I can tell you that this is his standard unmodded response whenever you try to talk to him and there's nothing scripted going on. The Ulfric mod I've been using changes it to a less off-putting "Hmm?" once you get past a certain point in the Stormcloak questline.

I think the staring thing in Helgen may just be normal NPC behavior, if there's no scripted behavior or other random events causing them to do otherwise most NPCs seem to look at the PC by default any time you get within a certain distance. But I will happily go with the idea that Ulfric is interested in me personally, perhaps sensing something of my impending awesomeness as well as thinking, "Damn, if we all weren't about to die, I'd totally hit that."

My own personal bizarre little RP headcanon for the opening is that my character DID in fact die in Helgen - the axe actually came down as Alduin burst back into the timeline. However it was at that precise moment that she received the blessing of Akatosh. The combination of that plus Alduin's return caused a temporal anomaly resulting in her simultaneous death AND survival/rebirth as Dragonborn. She and Ulfric are the only two people who are aware that they experienced and/or witnessed two mutually exclusive versions of the same event.

» Sat Aug 25, 2012 7:39 am

Haven't checked the CK but, yep, based on numerous playthroughs I can tell you that this is his standard unmodded response whenever you try to talk to him and there's nothing scripted going on. The Ulfric mod I've been using changes it to a less off-putting "Hmm?" once you get past a certain point in the Stormcloak questline.

I don't think he says it until after you've finished the questline. I always thought that was so weird, he's much nicer before you do all those things to help him win the war than afterwards (of course, someone could always argue that he's nice only to make the PC help him, but still...).

My own personal bizarre little RP headcanon for the opening is that my character DID in fact die in Helgen - the axe actually came down as Alduin burst back into the timeline. However it was at that precise moment that she received the blessing of Akatosh. The combination of that plus Alduin's return caused a temporal anomaly resulting in her simultaneous death AND survival/rebirth as Dragonborn. She and Ulfric are the only two people who are aware that they experienced and/or witnessed two mutually exclusive versions of the same event.

Ok, that's pretty bizarre.

Speaking of Helgen, that whole scene is full of unexpected events. I've been through Helgen, I don't know, 10-12 times at least (CC addict, as I said, and I take most characters at least halfway through the keep to be able to get a good look at them). Once, and only once, I've heard that shout effect, and once and only once I swear I saw Ralof (or at least a man in Stormcloak uniform) run up to the headsman just after Alduin's first attack and knock him over (the headsman, not Alduin

). Normally, the headsman just falls down, and next thing you see before everything blurs out is Hadvar with his sword ready.
And if you linger long enough outside the keep, Alduin will land in front of you and say hello in dragon, i e burn you to death.

» Sat Aug 25, 2012 7:21 am

I don't think he says it until after you've finished the questline. I always thought that was so weird, he's much nicer before you do all those things to help him win the war than afterwards (of course, someone could always argue that he's nice only to make the PC help him, but still...).

Yeah, that's pretty much what I remember. So much of what happens when you encounter him before that is scripted, though, because you're almost always there on CW business of one kind or another and he is reacting to whatever is going on with that instead of just a random "interruption" to his day. I'm not sure any more how he responds if you hang around and engage him after all the scripted stuff is out of the way, or go talk to him regularly without ever starting the CW stuff.

The random "enter/exit" dialogue for most NPCs is so limited, really, unless you have actual quest business it's like there's one standard greeting and one standard exit line and that's it. Not much room for nuances based on changing relationships with a lot of them, if there's a long quest line it will change as you go along but when it's over it's like they go back to being aloof and completely neutral towards you somehow. Kind of like what happens when you finish the TG quests and from that point on all you get from Brynjolf is "we'll talk later, I'm busy."

Ok, that's pretty bizarre. :tongue:

One too many Jack Finney novels.

Lots of temporal anomalies and going back and forth in time and whatnot, which I love. He has one book involving the Titanic where it's discovered that some people who were alive at the time of her sinking had distinct memories of watching her sail into New York harbor, despite the fact that they knew (and also remembered) that she sank in the Atlantic and never made it into port. This led to the theory that there was some kind of temporal anomaly leading to two separate timelines, one in which the ship sank and one in which she didn't. Both events happened and there was a handful of people who could remember both with equal clarity.

Anyway, I go back and forth on whether the dragon's soul is imparted at birth or given by Akatosh at some crucial moment when the need for it arises and if I go with the second idea, that moment at Helgen seems like the perfect time for it to happen.

» Fri Aug 24, 2012 5:49 pm

Yeah, that's pretty much what I remember. So much of what happens when you encounter him before that is scripted, though, because you're almost always there on CW business of one kind or another and he is reacting to whatever is going on with that instead of just a random "interruption" to his day. I'm not sure any more how he responds if you hang around and engage him after all the scripted stuff is out of the way, or go talk to him regularly without ever starting the CW stuff.

The random "enter/exit" dialogue for most NPCs is so limited, really, unless you have actual quest business it's like there's one standard greeting and one standard exit line and that's it. Not much room for nuances based on changing relationships with a lot of them, if there's a long quest line it will change as you go along but when it's over it's like they go back to being aloof and completely neutral towards you somehow. Kind of like what happens when you finish the TG quests and from that point on all you get from Brynjolf is "we'll talk later, I'm busy."

Agreed, it just seems so lazy, why not include at least two or three generic greeting phrases for those NPC's, like they did for Galmar - he has at least four or even five different things to say when you go near him. Another stupid dialogue thing is that Ulfric, Galmar and Jorleif still discuss the events of the war as if it were going on after it's finished. Only that "no word from High Rock"-dialogue is new.

mlnb ,?nb v,l r09 n-. (That was Ulfric's youngest fangirl who wanted to add something. I'm not sure what.)

» Sat Aug 25, 2012 8:31 am

A few more comments (ok, I obviously have too much spare time)...

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/679/menhavedifferentinteres.jpg

I think Galmar leaning forward and tilting his head just as if he was taking a peek is best. Too bad she's not wearing the bearskin mini-skirt...

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/3175/riftenvacation.jpg

OMG, didn't see this until now, love it! Now, this is how I would like to see Ulfric. Just relaxing with a bottle of beer. Or mead. Whatever.

» Sat Aug 25, 2012 7:35 am

Agreed, it just seems so lazy, why not include at least two or three generic greeting phrases for those NPC's, like they did for Galmar - he has at least four or even five different things to say when you go near him. Another stupid dialogue thing is that Ulfric, Galmar and Jorleif still discuss the events of the war as if it were going on after it's finished. Only that "no word from High Rock"-dialogue is new.

What was really funny was that when I followed Ulfric back to Windhelm after the battle of Solitude, he went in the Palace and had... I think it was the Cruel-Sea guy? Anyway he started talking to Ulfric about having a Stormcloak navy and how they could use it to prevent the Empire from getting supplies and more soldiers into Solitude. Then Ulfric and Galmar had a conversation about whether or not the time was right to attack Solitude. And I'm standing there like, lolwut?

mlnb ,?nb v,l r09 n-. (That was Ulfric's youngest fangirl who wanted to add something. I'm not sure what.)

It's baby talk for "mommy has good taste in men."

» Sat Aug 25, 2012 2:47 am

It's baby talk for "mommy has good taste in men."

If she ever comes home with a bearded warlord with a fondness for attacking things with his axe, I might get a little worried, actually.

» Fri Aug 24, 2012 5:49 pm

Haven't checked the CK but, yep, based on numerous playthroughs I can tell you that this is his standard unmodded response whenever you try to talk to him and there's nothing scripted going on. The Ulfric mod I've been using changes it to a less off-putting "Hmm?" once you get past a certain point in the Stormcloak questline.

Oh, well. I myself have no problem accepting that Ulfric is a self-absorbed dike. I know, I'm a weird fangirl. lol I just resist attempts to make him less flawed and more cuddly than he actually is. Myself, I like him because he's a good Viking king- which is to say that as many people are going to hate you as be devoted to you. Usually those types of men would show intense brotherly affection for their most loyal fighters. That's why it seems odd to me. But yeah, the Brynjolf syndrome. *sigh*

Speaking of affection among brothers in arms, my biggest pet peeve about Ulfric fandom is the penchant to titter about him and Ralof being secretly in love or something. Way to miss the best thing about male bonding. /soapbox

I think the staring thing in Helgen may just be normal NPC behavior, if there's no scripted behavior or other random events causing them to do otherwise most NPCs seem to look at the PC by default any time you get within a certain distance.

Probably. I just always want to attribute such things to the writers thinking about small details.

My own personal bizarre little RP headcanon for the opening is that my character DID in fact die in Helgen - the axe actually came down as Alduin burst back into the timeline. However it was at that precise moment that she received the blessing of Akatosh. The combination of that plus Alduin's return caused a temporal anomaly resulting in her simultaneous death AND survival/rebirth as Dragonborn. She and Ulfric are the only two people who are aware that they experienced and/or witnessed two mutually exclusive versions of the same event.

Would fit right in with how Tamriel rolls. I haven't thought about it in detail. Offhand I'd say it could occur at the same time Alduin breaks back through the time wound, which would be before Helgen.

» Sat Aug 25, 2012 5:10 am

Oh, well. I myself have no problem accepting that Ulfric is a self-absorbed dike. I know, I'm a weird fangirl. lol I just resist attempts to make him less flawed and more cuddly than he actually is.

One of the main reasons I like Ulfric is that he IS a bit, well, non-cuddly. All white characters are boring.

(My Nord, despite being head over heels in love with him, couldn't help but notice the PR value in the next High King having the Dragonborn as his queen - it would almost be a little too good to be true that he just happened to fall in love, now wouldn't it?)

Would fit right in with how Tamriel rolls. I haven't thought about it in detail. Offhand I'd say it could occur at the same time Alduin breaks back through the time wound, which would be before Helgen.

Ah, you mean around the time the PC is unconscious?

» Fri Aug 24, 2012 7:19 pm

One of the main reasons I like Ulfric is that he IS a bit, well, non-cuddly. All white characters are boring. :smile:

(My Nord, despite being head over heels in love with him, couldn't help but notice the PR value in the next High King having the Dragonborn as his queen - it would almost be a little too good to be true that he just happened to fall in love, now wouldn't it?)

Yes, I think that match only makes sense if the dragonborn is a female Nord (which is why it can never be canon). The down side is that he would miss an opportunity for a marriage alliance. Ulfric's type of kingship being what it is, however, I can't see him wanting to marry a milk drinker or, say, a Breton, just for political purposes.

My own Stormcloak being a mage, I figure their relationship would be very rocky. I also think Ulfric will have a hard time sharing power and could feel threatened by the dragonborn's influence.

Ah, you mean around the time the PC is unconscious? :wink:

I think Alduin's return must come earlier in the timeline, since Torygg is caught in his mist.

» Fri Aug 24, 2012 11:21 pm

One of the main reasons I like Ulfric is that he IS a bit, well, non-cuddly. All white characters are boring. :smile:

(My Nord, despite being head over heels in love with him, couldn't help but notice the PR value in the next High King having the Dragonborn as his queen - it would almost be a little too good to be true that he just happened to fall in love, now wouldn't it?)

Lol, yeah, IMO he's too shrewd not to realize that it would be a very profitable pairing from that standpoint, regardless of the romance (or lack thereof) involved. OTOH he's probably also clever enough to know that putting the Dragonborn in such a potentially powerful position without there being some kind of more personal bond between them is really not a good idea either. Two can play that game after all, and he might find out in the end that HE was the one who got played.

Ah, you mean around the time the PC is unconscious? :wink:

See, I don't put Alduin's reappearance that far back in the narrative, I always figure the the first dragon roar you hear is him right after he emerges back into the world. I know that doesn't give much time for him to get from the TotW to Helgen, but it's not that far and he IS flying. I've called Odahviing from there all the way to the far side of the Reach and he gets there a lot more quickly than I ever expected.

» Fri Aug 24, 2012 11:42 pm

Yes, I think that match only makes sense if the dragonborn is a female Nord (which is why it can never be canon). The down side is that he would miss an opportunity for a marriage alliance. Ulfric's type of kingship being what it is, however, I can't see him wanting to marry a milk drinker or, say, a Breton, just for political purposes.

I've toyed with the idea of creating a Redguard Dovahkiin who could be politically useful in cementing an alliance with Hammerfell. But I agree that a pominent Nord would be the most likely choice, if the marriage happens not too long after the events of the game, at which time I think his main goal has got to be building up support for himself within a Skyrim that is still very divided over the issues that prompted the war.

I think Alduin's return must come earlier in the timeline, since Torygg is caught in his mist.

Hmm... I always forget about that. Could be that Shor closed the Hall of Valor early in anticipation of Alduin's return - I mean, he's a god, presumably he'd be aware of such things, especially since it looks like the CW touched off by Torygg's death is what fulfills the final part of the prophecy about it. Torygg dies and *boom* the doors are shut because Alduin's imminent return is inevitable at that point. But I dunno.

If Alduin reemerged a lot earlier than the attack on Helgen, then what was he doing in the interim? I guess he could've gone straight to Sovngarde to nom on some souls and get powered up.

» Fri Aug 24, 2012 10:56 pm

Ulfric's dreamy, but he's so serious. http://cdn.derpiboo.ru/media/BAhbBlsHOgZmSSIkMjAxMi8wNi8yMS8wMV8yNF8zOF83NDBfMTMxMjBfXwY6BkVU/13120__safe_pinkie-pie_animated_skyrim_sunshine_ulfric-stormcloak.gif

» Fri Aug 24, 2012 8:35 pm

Not much room for nuances based on changing relationships with a lot of them, if there's a long quest line it will change as you go along but when it's over it's like they go back to being aloof and completely neutral towards you somehow.

Yeah, that's probably my single biggest complaint about this game. I've probably been spoiled by Fable 2 and 3 because the NPCs in that game gossip and they don't miss a thing. I killed some non-hostiles in a friends game to augment a weapon (I can explain if anyone's interested. :tongue:

) and when I came back into mine people still received me favorably, but as the children walked away some of them would mutter, "I know what you did to those people.". :ohmy:

All-in-all it's far from a game-breaker, but it would be much cooler if the comments evolved. :tongue:

mlnb ,?nb v,l r09 n-. (That was Ulfric's youngest fangirl who wanted to add something. I'm not sure what.)

OK, that's pretty cute, you Dork. :tongue:

She even hit the umlaut o - impressive. :lol:

If she ever comes home with a bearded warlord with a fondness for attacking things with his axe, I might get a little worried, actually.

Well, times change - that may come back around. :ph34r:

Speaking of affection among brothers in arms, my biggest pet peeve about Ulfric fandom is the penchant to titter about him and Ralof being secretly in love or something. Way to miss the best thing about male bonding. /soapbox

Yeah, I've seen some of the 'art'. :dry:

Imperial haters just jealous because Ralof is prettier than Rikke. :rofl:

My own Stormcloak being a mage, I figure their relationship would be very rocky. [emphasis added]

Yes, especially since his own Court Mage was embroiled in a serial killing rampage. :lol:

» Sat Aug 25, 2012 9:09 am

I've toyed with the idea of creating a Redguard Dovahkiin who could be politically useful in cementing an alliance with Hammerfell. But I agree that a pominent Nord would be the most likely choice, if the marriage happens not too long after the events of the game, at which time I think his main goal has got to be building up support for himself within a Skyrim that is still very divided over the issues that prompted the war.

I just can't see Ulfric marrying a non-Nord when his whole deal is Nords ruling Skyrim. That would set a bad precedent and open up inheritance questions for any heir. I could see him feeling pressure to marry an imperial Nord, though. After all, a Stormcloak dovahkiin is already in his court, throwing favor his way- he wouldn't need to marry her to have that influence. But ultimately I think he would go with the chance to have his line be made up of thu'um-wielding überNords. :smile:

If Alduin reemerged a lot earlier than the attack on Helgen, then what was he doing in the interim? I guess he could've gone straight to Sovngarde to nom on some souls and get powered up.

Yes, I imagine he'd have been sighted if he was flying around anywhere else. He could have been establishing his base at Skuldafn.