Some of those people who didn't advance much past their ancestors 40,000 years ago simply are that way because of geography.

Before I go on about it, maybe I should suggest Guns, Germs, and Steel, if you haven't read it.

Some people had a limited network. More importantly, some people based their societies on a handful of crops - crops that had secondary, subtle effects on their way of life. Some tribes in Africa, for example, sustain themselves almost solely off the bark/skin of a certain type of tree. It requires a lot of work stripping it and preparing it - and they can't even store it for long or it will rot. So all they end up doing is working hard and then eating. They can't store their food, they have little down time for recreation, let alone creation of new projects. They didn't have the means to simply reinvent themselves and think of new ways to evolve.

Needless to say, in TES, some civilizations are not this way. They have plenty of time to invent. I guess you could say that a lot of mages make use of this the most. It's probably the most evolved "technology" (if we can call it that) in this world. But I'm surprised we don't at least see a scientist like Da Vinci, making advanced war machines or something.

One thing I've always despised in fantasy settings is their tendency to pass hundreds and even thousands of years without any kinds of change. If you look at human history - humans in our form make appearance in almost all fantasy - human society experiences overall changes every century or two (not necessarily political, but in science, fashion, technology, and HDI). In fantasy worlds there are centuries upon centuries of same guys using same architecture fighting same bad guys with absolutely no improvement. No new magic, no new weapons, sometimes even abandoning technology that is clearly available (no efforts seem to be made to utilize Dwemer tech, and spears are nonexistent). Politics takes decades to make even small moves (the Dominion has been around for 200 years, but became relevant only what 30 years ago)

For over 1,000,000 years, the sharpen rock was the only tool we needed as a species. One million. Years. There were no significant improvements during that time.

Technology is always developed during war times. Since magic is real, it is used during conflicts and there is no need to make a new kind of weapon if chain lightning spells seem to work so well. You would have thought that magic would have progressed but instead teleportation and flying seem to have disappeared. The Mages Guild is gone, but the Psiijic Order seems to be watching the world even though they seem to have disappeared. I don't want to see TES go the way of the Fable games. I don't want to see flint lock rifles and heavy industry appear in the game. Since this is all fantasy anyway, someone could use a Elder Scroll and warp things into whatever reality they want.

If there is a concept such as Magic, as there is in Tamriel, then very little evolution is needed. Especially in terms of medical research and light etc.

Not a bad point..

It's funny though. Something as amazing as magic deters evolution, ironically.

From an outside point of view, it does run on myth. From the inside, however, magic is just as real a fallen log. In fact, magic is so prevalent and pervasive that it is mundane, really. It's because we ourselves live magic-free lives that it appears transcendant to our eyes.

As I've said, Nords frown upon magic though. It is not unreasonable to think of a radical Nord sect which opposes the use of magic altogether and thus is forced to develop some technology. I also think the more inquisitive minds of Tamriel would investigate the Dwemer ruins, just so they could tame their immense power. Add to this, war and
you've got the perfect cocktail for some breakthrough technological advancements.

Thus, I think there's a compeling case for some technology advancemenmts in TES VI.

Except this is not usually the case in fantasy worlds, or Tamriel itself. Dwemer technology has two branches, one is quite obviously steam power, the other is magi-tech. Furthermore, dwemer machines are dotted all over Skyrim and quite a few scholars are actively researching dwemer developments. How many more would who aren't shown? How many more have looked into the dwemer over the past few centuries? Heck, Fallion even met a few in the Outer Realms, and yet there's no fruits of this labour.

I would have liked Tamriel to show some signs of evolution. These needn't be elements which directly affect gameplay and they needn't follow the chronological order of our own world but evolution is natural and interesting, so it would have been nice to see.

Bathrooms would have been logical, especially in Riften where they actually have sewers. Different clothing styles, timekeeping devices, lightning systems, different styles of storage spaces, make-up, theatre, social games etc. etc.

whats the point of comparing TES and evolution? if it got guns/lasers/machines id soon be out.

on the Dwemmer: the thing is the races left cannot compete with there intellegence in lore so making a working machine is going to be incredible difficult also whats to say there ''cores'' are not powered by some sort of magic?

i agree things -could- be brought in but in the grand scheme of things Tamriel to me seems all its wars and skirmishes are literally hampering its ''evolotion'' not to mention there are multiple border disputes etc etc...kinda hard to devolop in Tamriels prediciment.

Population seems to be in check as well. Much of developement of our times is simply trying to deal with the explosive growth of the species. Wars are actually a byproduct of overpopulation as most have been fought over the resources and land needed for a growing population. Tamriel seems to have checks against population growth that are keeping the supply of resources in check with the population.

Heh. That's kind of how I roleplayed my Nord. He was a smith's son, who was already curious about the Dwemer.

I have fun on my own, but it'd be cool if there were quests to tied to that. Like Dwemer smithing shouldn't unlock until you finish some discoveries (kind of like ancient nordic doesn't show until you do something).

I think this is a highly questionable point.

Why then have mills? Just cast a spell and the logs will appear, magically sawed.
Why have weapons? Why have boats, carriages, clothes?

Why eat at all?

If magic is an all providing all inclusive force why have all these tools, activities, endeavours?

Answer:
Because it's not.

Magic is suited to meet specific definite individual needs, not the needs of the mass population. As it grows, naturally, we would see the use of heavy machinery and some new technology would have to be developed in order to cope with themany fold increase in the forementioned needs.

simple: not everyone can wield/use magic or has access to it also some people can use it to different degree's it also takes energy to maintain so for example you cannot ''embalm'' someone with magic as the energy required to sustain the effect would eventually diminish etc etc.

Why doesn't the world change? Cause the fans of the series want sword and magic medieval games...

This always comes up....but when you look back, all the big fantasy novels dont have 'advancement'. Did the world of Middle Earth ever change? Of course not.


At this point the topic has come up so many times over the games that there is even a reason in the lore why the owrld doesn't change....that Nirn is the ever-changing unchanging realm.

fantasy =/= reality

Exactly.
That's my point.
Because not everyone - for whatever reason - will use magic to cater to his own needs, alternative methods have to be developed.
Hence technology.

The Romans had sewers, aqueducts, baths, bathouses, central heating, hair dye, orreries, presses, concrete, ballistas, spears, glass blowing, soap and a whole host of other shiny things. They didn't have guns or lasers and machine is a broad term. A windmill is a machine, and Skyrim has such things already.

Evolution need not push Tamriel into the 21st Century.

THis remark is the all-purpose generic cop out.
Yes, fantasy is obviously different .
Yet, gravity still exists.
Yet, people still have to eat, have six, brush their teeth (though, Orcs, I'm not too sure about it).

In fact, I would argue that if you compare planet Earth with planet Nirn, you'd find more similarities than differences.

Dude, dental health would be more important to orcs than any other race. A tusk infection could cause some serious, serious problems, exposed as they are.

Dude, send me a screenshot of an Orcish toothbrush asap.
It will boost up my social life, as I pass the pic around at parties and make inappropriate sixual innuendo.



lol

I think too many people forget they are playing a game....for fun.

...while others forget that, for some, it would turn out to be even more fun if the game became more realistic.

gravity can exist but being different, who said it's the same as earth, skyrim developers? I don't remember reading anything about that
same as eating, six and stuff
because fantasy =/= reality

Ahhh....
Sigh.
Double sigh.

Look at the screen. Watch closely.
Go into a wood or something. Notice how the same view could take place on Earth - but for some specific differences.
The wind blows. The grass waves. Snow falls. Water streams.

It's just like Earth but with the addition of a superimposing layer of Magic. Still, the similarities are overwhelming and that's why Tamriel is immediately recognizable.

oh yeah, I remember the other day I was jumping from rooftops just like in skyrim....

clearly the gravity is different, but you can ask that 87 degrees horse if you are not sure....