Gaming in Tamriel?

[Cheomesh]

Yeah, I can put all that in there using some of the traits.  At the very least, the racial stuff for sure.  If the players want the spell-like abilities (like Nord's shield or frost touch) that'll work too.  Starsigns can be a part as well.

M.

[Nomadic]

In honor of the new game I think I'd totally play a giant nord with a battleaxe/warhammer and a strong love of ale. Where are you thinking of setting the game? If we do it in Cyrodiil could you please fix one of the things that actually does bug me about TES IV... make the lowlands an actual jungle as opposed to the weird scattered forest.

[Steerpike]

If we do end up running this I think I'll either play as an Altmer pyromaniac and member of the Summerset radical faction known as "The Beautiful" (basically anarchistic aesthetes who want to tear down the great monuments of High Elf civilization - link) or a shamanistic Argonian bandit and Hist-sap addict, of the Naga tribe.

Geography-wise my votes go to Summerset Isle, Black Marsh, or Valenwood, though of course anywhere Che decides would be fine.

[Cheomesh]

Yeah, I did not like how Cyrodil was portrayed in Oblivion.  It looked nice, but was too pastoral.  If you want to do Northern Europe, make the forests thick, deep and neigh primordial away from civilization.  IIRC, Tribunal has you going to a jungly part of the Morrowind mainland, which was much more Cyrodilic than Cyrodil.

Now BlackMarsh would be kind of cool, though there's a lack of resources for me to draw on regarding it.  Same with the Somerset Isles.  Perhaps even one of the islands like Solstreihm (cba to spull)

Now, I wonder how a Nord and an Elf or Argonian decide to team up...

Also, I get a pyro in every GURPS game I run.

M.

[Nomadic]

Now BlackMarsh would be kind of cool, though there's a lack of resources for me to draw on regarding it.  Same with the Somerset Isles.  Perhaps even one of the islands like Solstreihm (cba to spull)

Now, I wonder how a Nord and an Elf or Argonian decide to team up...

Also, I get a pyro in every GURPS game I run.

M.

I like the sound of Black Marsh, though Elsewyr or Valenwood would be awesome too (basically anything in that southern stretch). Alternatively Hammerfell or High Rock

[Cheomesh]

I'll have to read into them.  I used to be somewhat handy with TES lore (and game lore in general), but it's been a while.

Nomadic, do you have any GURPS experience?

M.

[Nomadic]

I'll have to read into them.  I used to be somewhat handy with TES lore (and game lore in general), but it's been a while.

Nomadic, do you have any GURPS experience?

M.

Never touched it. My experience with systems can be laid out as such: V:tM DnD Custom Systems

[Cheomesh]

Grab the lite version off that link I posted; it should get you started.

I wish I had stuck with learning Map Tools; I'm assuming we'll run this in some IRC room - maybe I can get isomage to set up a dicebot for us.

M.

[Nomadic]

Grab the lite version off that link I posted; it should get you started.

I wish I had stuck with learning Map Tools; I'm assuming we'll run this in some IRC room - maybe I can get isomage to set up a dicebot for us.

M.

When I try to get it through that link it says that it cannot be found. As for dice rolling Isobot can probably already roll it. Isomage set him up as a sort of logical roller where you can roll just about anything. You supply him the equation and he rolls it.

[Cheomesh]

Weird; try here.

http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=SJG31-0004

M.

[Nomadic]

Weird; try here.

http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=SJG31-0004

M.

That link works much better. Might suggest putting it in your first post so that it's easy for people to find.

[Cheomesh]

Done.  Now for adventures, shall we stick to the fundamentals?

M.

[Steerpike]

I'm all for fundamentals - it's more the approach to them and the material around them that I'd be in it for.

At its best the Elder Scrolls combine politics and intrigue with swashbuckling action, kind of like Eberron, relying on the extensive back-story and carefully crafted world to create a dramatic and interesting scenario.  At its worst it degenerates into dungeon crawling and "Kill X, Retrieve Y" quest logic, making it all but indistinguishable from every other generic fantasy setting.  I'm all for action and exploration for sure, but the big strengths of Tamriel to me are the factions, history, and tensions that make up a very tangible part of the world.

The best moments for me playing the games were doing stuff like breaking into the Ministry of Truth, watching Sheogorath rain down burning dogs to convince some Khajiit that the apocalpyse is nigh, delving into the Ashlander tombs to get named Nerevarine, seeking out the last dwarf in the leprous labyrinth of Tel Fyr, building a new gatekeeper for the Shivering Isles with pieces culled from the Garden of Flesh and Bone, and that trippy quest where you entered a painting.  That stuff was awesome... killing rats for the Fighter's Guild or closing my millionth Oblivion gate, not so much.  Basically, I enjoy the stuff that emphasizes how unique and detailed the world is the most, even if the fundamental gameplay was fairly similar to a standard delve, and am very bored by the grinding/repetitive parts of the games.

Yay for silt striders and cities made out of fossilized crustaceans, boo for goblin tribes and ruined castles.  Yay for weird Ayleid artefacts and subterranean, steampunk Dwemer citadels, boo for bandit camps and hunting for alchemical ingredients in bland swamps/fields/forests.

[Nomadic]

I'm with steerpike on this one. However it develops should be along the strengths of TES, the unique backstory and flavor that makes the games awesome.

[Cheomesh]

I will see what I can balance between the two.  I wouldn't take the delve off the table completely (I had fun graverobbing and the like in all 3 of the major games), but I'm with Steerpike.  None of that chosen one stuff though.

I'd guess the two of you should collaborate characters so we have you established as a group beforehand.  Or not and see what I can come up with for making you two work together (I do actually have something in mind).

M.