Why did the beginning of Skyrim take place in Helgen? : V - Skyrim

» Fri Jun 29, 2012 11:04 pm

Because Helgen appears to be something of an Imperial stronghold. Heavily guarded, judging by all of the watchtowers.
Also, think about the position. Ralof tells us that they were arrested near Darkwater Crossing. It's a lot faster to go to Helgen from Darkwater than it is to Solitude, which is basically on the other side of Skyrim. It's about minimizing risk, and getting the traitor executed ASAP.

Actually they were ambushed on their way to Darkwater, not at Darkwater.

» Fri Jun 29, 2012 8:16 pm

Funny how you should say that. At least in my experience Skyrim is a interactive movie. Its just too much on the rails and there is too much hand helding.

You have a really funny definition of 'interactive movie.' Also 'on the rails'.

My very first playthrough, I did not go to High Hrothgar until 90 hours in.

» Fri Jun 29, 2012 1:58 pm

You have a really funny definition of 'interactive movie.'

This guy is un[censored] believable! - Christopher Walkin on many things in Ripper(some old FMV game for the PC).

I just had to reference Ripper. HAD to.

» Fri Jun 29, 2012 10:02 pm

If you're RPing you should feel forced.

No. Absolutely not. If we are truly roleplaying then it is the character's decision whether or not to care enough to inform the Jarl, not ours. Like most roleplayers (I hope) I play characters with many different personalities and outlooks. And some of those characters are not going to care whether Helgen was fried by a dragon or not.

It is the opposite of roleplaying to say that every character will always do a thing the same way as every other character.

» Fri Jun 29, 2012 10:43 pm

I mean, seriously. Final Fantasy? Interactive movie. In the worst sense of the phrase. BioWare games? Interactive movies, in the best sense of the phrase. Skyrim? It's got a flimsy excuse for a plot for the people who want to have one. It's about wandering around and doing crap and deciding why you're doing it.

» Fri Jun 29, 2012 3:56 pm

I mean, seriously. Final Fantasy? Interactive movie. In the worst sense of the phrase. BioWare games? Interactive movies, in the best sense of the phrase. Skyrim? It's got a flimsy excuse for a plot for the people who want to have one. It's about wandering around and doing crap and deciding why you're doing it.

Sounds like a zen film. Without the live bullets now that we're calling a few games movies... Where's the guy hating all the actors and saying they are slaves so their ego doesn't get bigger?

Yes, the creator of zen films. Always a jerk. Always. Look it up. You will love his opinion on everything, including not paying people he employs.

» Fri Jun 29, 2012 9:08 pm

You have a really funny definition of 'interactive movie.' Also 'on the rails'.

My very first playthrough, I did not go to High Hrothgar until 90 hours in.

Yes its possible to do that, but until you start the main quest you cant continue the civil war. If you dont join the mages guild, you cant
continue the main quest.

This guy is un[censored] believable! - Christopher Walkin on many things in Ripper(some old FMV game for the PC).

I just had to reference Ripper. HAD to.

Are you reffering to me?

No. Absolutely not. If we are truly roleplaying then it is the character's decision whether or not to care enough to inform the Jarl, not ours. Like most roleplayers (I hope) I play characters with many different personalities and outlooks. And some of those characters are not going to care whether Helgen was fried by a dragon or not.

It is the opposite of roleplaying to say that every character will always do a thing the same way as every other character.

Thats true because I now do the same, seeing how the dragons are oversized cliff racers. So you and I must ignore every time you hear about the dragons and you must be extremely careful in the soul carin.

» Fri Jun 29, 2012 11:26 pm

I think the chief reason for starting the game at Helgen was that it was a nonessential location, so incinerating it would not affect the overall gaming experience that much. And yes, in theory the main quest starts right away, but that's all that happens: my Imperial chose to give Riverwood a pass, so now he's happily roaming about Skyrim, taking no side in the war, and finding cool stuff in various dungeons. And given the number of dungeons I've found, he can do that for quite some time.

Effectively, the first part of the game serves as a tutorial, for inexperienced TES players. You run, you jump, you kill a few spiders and Stormcloaks, and then you're out in the weak Skyrimmian sunlight and the huge game world is yours to play in.

» Fri Jun 29, 2012 5:11 pm

Yes its possible to do that, but until you start the main quest you cant continue the civil war. If you dont join the mages guild, you cant
continue the main quest.

Are you reffering to me?

Thats true because I now do the same, seeing how the dragons are oversized cliff racers. So you and I must ignore every time you hear about the dragons and you must be extremely careful in the soul carin.

I was making a joke.

» Fri Jun 29, 2012 9:16 pm

I see

» Fri Jun 29, 2012 10:23 am

chose to give Riverwood a pass

2 things. first, i love your fanfic! seocndly, i would like to point out that sentence for xolah. in skyrim the guy tells you to split up and gives you a chance to break off from the main quest, unlike oblivion (which was the only game to rush you through the main quest). although other things are on rails, if you want to quest you better no go dungeon diving unless you are told to or you have already [censored] up a ton of quests

more on topic: im sure the imperials took everyone there because it was close to where the ambush was.

» Fri Jun 29, 2012 4:20 pm

2 things. first, i love your fanfic! seocndly, i would like to point out that sentence for xolah. in skyrim the guy tells you to split up and gives you a chance to break off from the main quest, unlike oblivion (which was the only game to rush you through the main quest). although other things are on rails, if you want to quest you better no go dungeon diving unless you are told to or you have already [censored] up a ton of quests

more on topic: im sure the imperials took everyone there because it was close to where the ambush was.

Wait wut? Did you forget about Auldin? Its not like Oblivion started with Mehrunes Dagon causing a distraction in which you escaped.

» Fri Jun 29, 2012 12:47 pm

Wait wut? Did you forget about Auldin? Its not like Oblivion started with Mehrunes Dagon causing a distraction in which you escaped.

Nope, instead you're given the single most valuable artifact in the entire Empire, one which contains the souls of each and every (true) Emperor. That one amulet contains enough power to banish a Daedric Prince and bring the powers of a divine into the mortal world.

A dragon attacking sort of pales in comparison, albeit the World Eater.

» Fri Jun 29, 2012 8:32 pm

The Weather in Pale Pass probably forced the convoy to turn around, Tullius likely had orders to take Ulfric to Cyrodil, and if He was unable to transport him, then have him imprisoned/executed in the nearest Imperial held town. Had Elenwyn not been present trying to save Ulfric and continue the Civil War, Tullius may have just locked Ulfric in Helgens Dungeon and let the Torturer have some practice on Raloff and friends. This is my opinion on the subject.

» Fri Jun 29, 2012 8:18 am

If it took place in Solitude, then Solitude would have been destroyed by Alduin. Solitude is the capital of Skyrim, so I don't think that's a good idea.

Here's one of my ideas for how it could have started instead:

Spoiler

Start out on a ship pulling into the docks at Solitude, with members of various races aboard, one of the more social ones (probably a Nord, considering the setting and this next part, gives you some exposition, particularly pointing out a Shrine of Talos and a Thalmor agent on the ship, cursing them, informing you about Ulfric, the WGC, and so on, and asking where you stand on the issue (though he doesn't really condemn you one way or another, saying he understands how you feel, but thinks it's a complicated issue). When you arrive at the docks you enter character creation, and are invited to go to Solitude (not really required but still). As you approach Solitude, there's an earthshattering noise, a Thu'um, and as you get closer to investigate, you encounter Ulfric Stormcloak fleeing Solitude, having just slain Torygg, and pursued by Tullius. As guards are ordered to catch Ulfric you hear a dragon and that's how you first encounter Alduin. At that point you're given four choices:
1) Pursue and try and apprehend Ulfric
2) Help Ulfric escape
3) Run like Hell
4) Try and fight Alduin, who will shout you away and take off after a while.

Doing things like this allows you to have a blank slate character without having to be a criminal, makes the Civil War more prevalent, as who you decide to help in the first mission connects you more to the Civil War campaign, having you establish a good relation with either of the two leaders, who then send you to check on Whiterun, as that was the Hold Alduin appears to be heading towards, but still gives you options to either ignore dragons, the war, both, or embrace them both.

» Fri Jun 29, 2012 9:13 pm

Or Ulfric can escape with Auldin and you find out the return of the dragons later.

» Fri Jun 29, 2012 10:29 am

Nope, instead you're given the single most valuable artifact in the entire Empire, one which contains the souls of each and every (true) Emperor. That one amulet contains enough power to banish a Daedric Prince and bring the powers of a divine into the mortal world.

A dragon attacking sort of pales in comparison, albeit the World Eater.

Touche what about Morrowind then?

» Fri Jun 29, 2012 10:00 pm

Helgen had the best executioner in all of Skyrim?

» Fri Jun 29, 2012 6:23 pm

Or Ulfric can escape with Auldin and you find out the return of the dragons later.

Ulfric and Alduin then start a wonderful Zorc and Pals rip off.

Who's that crazy dragon destroying the world?
It's Alduin.
It's Alduin and pals!

Ulfric: Alduin, why have you eaten the Dovakiin's pet skeever?
Alduin: I ate her soul! *laugh track*

» Fri Jun 29, 2012 12:48 pm

Ulfric and Alduin then start a wonderful Zorc and Pals rip off.

Who's that crazy dragon destroying the world?
It's Alduin.
It's Alduin and pals!

Ulfric: Alduin, why have you eaten the Dovakiin's pet skeever?
Alduin: I ate her soul! *laugh track*

Oh wow that will teach me a lesson or two. I mean't Ulfric escapes without Alduin showing up at all.

» Fri Jun 29, 2012 4:12 pm

Oh wow that will teach me a lesson or two. I mean't Ulfric escapes without Alduin showing up at all.

I know. The idea of Ulfric escaping with Alduin is just much more appealing and hilarious.