No more prisoner to hero

Post » Fri Jun 08, 2012 2:53 pm

I like the prisoner thing, but the hero part is getting old. Sure, make a "main quest" or whatever, but focus more on the other aspects of the game and don't send us on an urgent mission starting the MQ immediately and without much space to avoid it.
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MatthewJontully
 
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Post » Fri Jun 08, 2012 5:53 am

Who says you have to be a hero?

I'm a thieving, murdering, necromancer, vampire, cannibal.

I just saved the world to get people off my back so I can continue to steal, murder, raise dead, drink blood and eat people.
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James Potter
 
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Post » Fri Jun 08, 2012 12:47 pm

No one calls me m'dear and gets away with it (without a follow-up meal)! But despite your flirty mannerisms, I yet again have to disagree with you. Thanks to level scaling, you can complete the main quests in the last 2 games at any level. There are a couple of youtube videos of people doing just that at level 1. But that's an aside to my point. The main quest is there as an option. Not a necessity. You can reach level 81 without playing a single quest and you can play all the quests without levelling. The game has far more in common with the sims than it does Dragon Age.

Oh and black tie or casual (For that meal)? :wub:

Ha! True, you CAN complete the main quest at level 1, but that doesn't negate what I said- you still need to get the shouts, do the quests and kill dragons. You can't complete the main quest roleplaying a farmer in his field every day, or running your shop. You'd have to leave and complete things. You would still be a hero in the end.

And casual for the meal, unless you just like wearing a tie. :P
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Charity Hughes
 
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Post » Fri Jun 08, 2012 5:23 am

1.The prisoner start is a signature move of the Elder Scrolls stories. It`s also quite original not being your typical cliche fantasy starts `young man who`s parents gets murdered, goes on revenge` or `intrepid heroe sets off from home to find fortune`... 2.It`s also perfect for setting up the character because it allows the Player to `roleplay` why he`s where he is. Is he really innocent? Did he actually commit a crime? what happened? 3.Stepping out from time in jail is like starting a new life which again is perfect for making a `new` character trying to make good. I would think it`s sad if they changed the basic `being a prisoner` start.
I agree with blade watcher. Its a fresh start and allows for unlimited role playing options.
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Thomas LEON
 
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Post » Fri Jun 08, 2012 11:57 am

Honestly, I dont mind the whole prisoner set up to the games. Its not like you are always the same character. Saving the world, then comitting some crime, like fork theft, and getting sent back to prison. If that were true, it might get a little annoying.

If you'll allow me to mention a different set-up, look at Baldur's Gate. Looks like you're an ordinary, run of the mill orphan. But as you progress the quest, holy crap! That revelation hit me like a ton of bricks.
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Glu Glu
 
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Post » Fri Jun 08, 2012 3:57 pm

I like the whole prisoner theme. It's a perfect beginning for basically any story. You can build an infinite amount of varying characters and background stories without it conflicting with the start of the game. From getting sentenced innocently on the whim of corrupt officers and thirsting for revenge to turning life around and traumatized by the the behind the jails experience, becoming a peaceful monk. In Skyrim you could probably role-play as a Dunmer who made sweet love to an Argonian several times in Morrowind and when that was discovered, he was forced to flee and cross the borders to save his life. That's probably the [censored]tiest story idea ever but even that can make sense through this anonymus prisoner prologue. I vote to keep it.
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Saul C
 
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Post » Fri Jun 08, 2012 1:19 pm

I thought of a cool intro just for fun. Just wanted to share it.

Starts with a fade in of a horse galloping full tilt, and a thunderstorm all around. The horse can be heard neighing as though it is freaking out.

Visually we fade in on a first person perspective of the player character riding the horse. The player cannot stop the horse and it is following a road, but the player can gently steer the horse left or right and choose different paths at certain forks in the road.

Occoassionally NPCs walking along the road will make comments that allude to something being terribly wrong with the person riding the horse. Also the camera will occassionally get fuzzy and begin to drift down and to the right, as though the rider is trying to stay conscious.

The scene leads to the rider and horse evenutally coming across one of the game world's settlements where the guards run out to the horse, calm it and begin calling for help, before beginning to question the rider as to who they are beginning the character creation process.

Here's music and thunderstorm sounds to help imagine the scene with! They are synced for added drama.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRLdhFVzqt4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3z2UXIWBLs&t=0m42s
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Naazhe Perezz
 
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Post » Fri Jun 08, 2012 8:08 pm

1.The prisoner start is a signature move of the Elder Scrolls stories. It`s also quite original not being your typical cliche fantasy starts `young man who`s parents gets murdered, goes on revenge` or `intrepid heroe sets off from home to find fortune`...

2.It`s also perfect for setting up the character because it allows the Player to `roleplay` why he`s where he is. Is he really innocent? Did he actually commit a crime? what happened?

3.Stepping out from time in jail is like starting a new life which again is perfect for making a `new` character trying to make good.

I would think it`s sad if they changed the basic `being a prisoner` start.

+2
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Judy Lynch
 
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Post » Fri Jun 08, 2012 3:26 pm

Clearly the "Start as a prisoner" bit is a Running Gag. It does give the player a reason to have his character go out and get involved, either for revenge (Stormcloaks) or to clear his name (Imperials)

I think the next game should be different though...how about this?

Your character is being payed by a wizard to test a new travel spell (Thus he gets some starting money after character creation) - the spell http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GoneHorriblyWrong ? and transports the character back in time to the time of the war between the Snow Elves (later to become the Thalmer) and the Dwemer. This way, Bethesda could have Dwemer in the game without retconning anything, and the quest line could explore and explain exactly how the Dwemer disappeared.

Thats an idea...............but

What about the Barbarian character I want to play, that has no intention of using spells, let alone test them for a wizard?

Thats my character broken after about 10 seconds of the game.
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Susan Elizabeth
 
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Post » Fri Jun 08, 2012 3:00 pm

I like the prisoner thing, but the hero part is getting old. Sure, make a "main quest" or whatever, but focus more on the other aspects of the game and don't send us on an urgent mission starting the MQ immediately and without much space to avoid it.
THIS!
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Sherry Speakman
 
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Post » Fri Jun 08, 2012 7:08 am

I like the prisoner thing, but the hero part is getting old. Sure, make a "main quest" or whatever, but focus more on the other aspects of the game and don't send us on an urgent mission starting the MQ immediately and without much space to avoid it.

They did that- when you leave the cave, you're told to 'split up' right at the beginning. No other instruction, just a suggestion (which turns into a quest) to talk to someone when you get to town. They haven't done that in the previous two games- Oblivion "I'm dying, take this to this person NOW!", or Morrowind, "Here, deliver this package as your first quest".

It really took the pressure off the main quest I thought.
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Toby Green
 
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Post » Fri Jun 08, 2012 7:17 pm

It's a tradition, I want to keep it. It works fine anyway.
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Vera Maslar
 
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Post » Fri Jun 08, 2012 11:39 am

1.The prisoner start is a signature move of the Elder Scrolls stories. It`s also quite original not being your typical cliche fantasy starts `young man who`s parents gets murdered, goes on revenge` or `intrepid heroe sets off from home to find fortune`...

2.It`s also perfect for setting up the character because it allows the Player to `roleplay` why he`s where he is. Is he really innocent? Did he actually commit a crime? what happened?

3.Stepping out from time in jail is like starting a new life which again is perfect for making a `new` character trying to make good.

I would think it`s sad if they changed the basic `being a prisoner` start.


The whole "prisoner" thing is about as old [and tired] as the "you all meet in a tavern and decide to adventure together" thing.

Edit: I like the "you wake up at the healers with amnesia" thing. It may be old but at least it's a little different.
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Lizbeth Ruiz
 
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Post » Fri Jun 08, 2012 10:23 am

Prisoner beginning isnt just a skyrim thing. AoC did it, and I think dnd online as well. Probably a long list of others if I had a better memory. Its used because it works.
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Nienna garcia
 
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Post » Fri Jun 08, 2012 7:53 pm

Ok keep the prisoner but lose the destined hero...at least give us a choice. I think the main quest should have 2 diffetent outcomes based on choice..you could either help save the land or watch it burn. In skyrim it would've been nice to have the choice to be a dragon helper instead of dragonslayer

As for those who say you can chose to avoid the main quest, why should i avoid the main course and fill up on appetizers? I came to skyrim to taste it all and shouldn't have to avoid certain flavors because my character is allergic

hope you understand my food anology :)
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Euan
 
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Post » Fri Jun 08, 2012 7:00 pm

Ok keep the prisoner but lose the destined hero...at least give us a choice. I think the main quest should have 2 diffetent outcomes based on choice..you could either help save the land or watch it burn. In skyrim it would've been nice to have the choice to be a dragon helper instead of dragonslayer

As for those who say you can chose to avoid the main quest, why should i avoid the main course and fill up on appetizers? I came to skyrim to taste it all and shouldn't have to avoid certain flavors because my character is allergic

hope you understand my food anology :smile:

The flaw becomes when they choose to do another Elder Scrolls game- whatever you did is part of history now. Look at Oblivion, the story is not only told in the books and lore, that event helped shape the politics that led up to the civil war.

How do you do that with two outcomes?
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K J S
 
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Post » Fri Jun 08, 2012 5:40 am

I like the prisoner intros. It works with my backstory in the game: A young Thalmor agent in their spy outfit purposely allows herself to get captured so she can serve the Stormcloaks and help bring about the ultimate undoing of the Empire of Titus Mede.
you know the aldmeri don't want the storm cloaks to win read ulfric stormcloaks dossier they say that no matter what there can't be a stormcloak win
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Ruben Bernal
 
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Post » Fri Jun 08, 2012 10:46 am

The flaw becomes when they choose to do another Elder Scrolls game- whatever you did is part of history now. Look at Oblivion, the story is not only told in the books and lore, that event helped shape the politics that led up to the civil war.

How do you do that with two outcomes?

In the next game you just pick what possibilities you want to be canon and which possibilities to ignore. Tons of games do that so why not TES.
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Robert Garcia
 
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Post » Fri Jun 08, 2012 3:53 pm

...

...

What's wrong with...

Black screen
Character creation
Black screen
Fade in
Dragon attacks Helgen

Game on!

...
No forced backstory; You were in helgen, PERIOD.
No prisoner, no reason -- that was where you were at the moment, figure it out for yourself, end of.
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Nicole Coucopoulos
 
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Post » Fri Jun 08, 2012 4:20 am

In the next game you just pick what possibilities you want to be canon and which possibilities to ignore. Tons of games do that so why not TES.

...because TES games have one story, one lore? I understand the appeal to change history and all that...but one of the things that sets TES aside is that it has SO MUCH lore and history tied to it. Very few game franchises can say that. What you're suggesting is that the lore is expendable to gameplay, which is akin to blasphemy :)
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Mariana
 
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Post » Fri Jun 08, 2012 3:14 pm

...

...

What's wrong with...

Black screen
Character creation
Black screen
Fade in
Dragon attacks Helgen

Game on!

...
No forced backstory; You were in helgen, PERIOD.
No prisoner, no reason -- that was where you were at the moment, figure it out for yourself, end of.

There is no forced back story. All you know is you were apprehended at the border- what's the difference? You're not IN JAIL, you're not labeled a lawbreaker or a prisoner. Doing it this way, having you ride in on the cart, gives you a sense of what's going on, gives you a taste of backstory with Ulfric and the division in Skyrim.

What you're suggesting would still need some sort of introduction, to give the player a tutorial on controls and what to do.
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ShOrty
 
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Post » Fri Jun 08, 2012 7:43 pm

...

...

What's wrong with...

Black screen
Character creation
Black screen
Fade in
Dragon attacks Helgen

Game on!

...
No forced backstory; You were in helgen, PERIOD.
No prisoner, no reason -- that was where you were at the moment, figure it out for yourself, end of.

That would be terrible.

And it shows how much you know about immersively introducing someone into a book, movie or game.

p.s. You could start the game like that, technically, but you`d need to then do a flashback later to tell the Player how he got to where he got, so you`d go right back to the intro scene anyway.
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Colton Idonthavealastna
 
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Post » Fri Jun 08, 2012 7:29 pm

Baldur's Gate starting
/thread
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DeeD
 
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Post » Fri Jun 08, 2012 12:55 pm

I used to be a prisoner, but then I took and arrow and shot a hero in the knee.

:facepalm:
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Motionsharp
 
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Post » Fri Jun 08, 2012 6:45 am

The flaw becomes when they choose to do another Elder Scrolls game- whatever you did is part of history now. Look at Oblivion, the story is not only told in the books and lore, that event helped shape the politics that led up to the civil war.

How do you do that with two outcomes?

History forgets lots of details both in game and in real life. They just need to write future games' historic lore such that the civil war choice you made is irrelevant and forgotten. There are lots of possibilities that could overshadow it.
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Chris Cross Cabaret Man
 
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