Kohlar the Unkilled
Time for some ale
I'm not enough of a game historian to proclaim that Morrowind is ahead of it's time. Yet, this 12 year old game has an uncanny familiarity too it. I've made notes thus far. I'm level 7; if I were playing Skyrim, I'd be level 17, at least. Here are some random ruminations on Morrowind.
Every where I travel, there are always strange animal sounds in the background. Sometimes the sounds signal actual animals. Sometimes they're just sounds.
There is an Argonian named: "Only He Stands There." This is the absolute best name that I've ever seen.
What about the sheer number of spells? It's amazing the number of ways an enemy mage can fuh'k you up with various spells...I'll have no idea what spell has been cast upon me, and suddenly I can't move, or I'm just dead..! You have to drink a potion, or cast a spell that counter-acts the one cast against you... Magic is so much more involved, and therefore more fulfilling.
Here's something good: Reputation! I love walking into a place where everyone acknowledges your triumphs and deeds! This aspect alone renders the guild quests more fulfilling than any other I can think of presently. They start out hating you, end up loving you!
Many times my spells fail. Same with attempted enchantments, very frustrating. What do you mean my enchantment failed, and my soulgem was destroyed?? What a slap in the face. More realistic though, perhaps? I can accept that there might be a learning curve with spells, and even the occasional failed cast, during times of duress.
One thing's for certain, Morrowind does NOT have the same addictive quality that Skyrim has. Not for me. In fact, I have a hard time playing Morrowind for more than 2 hours at a time. It just gets too frustrating. This ensures that the game will keep me occupied for... what, YEARS? What do I mean by this? Well, there's the lack of quest markers, for one. In a way, it's good. I mean you actually have to look for things. Where Skyrim gives you a compass and a destination marker, Morrowind gives you a few vague clues in a journal... which brings me to:
The Journal. I've started a real-world supplement to my in-game journal. Come on... back me up fellow Morrowind players. Don't you find yourself flipping 42 pages back in your journal trying to remember something.. Sometimes the info is so vague, like: Bring these shirts to so and so in Ald'ruhn. OK, then you get to Ald'ruhn and realize, "this place is fairly big. Where in the f'uk do I even start? So then you begin the process of asking every individual in town, and they all hate you, of course.
If there were a Hearthfire type option in Morrowind, I'd certainly choose the Ald'ruhn area for my dwelling. I don't know what it is, but the raging dust storms are just awesome! I guess I like the effect, but, the whole time my character has his hand to his face, (he actually does put his hand to his face during a dust storm), I've a smile on me own.
The A.I. I met a fellow on the road to Mar Gaan who asked me to escort him to some cave. I agreed, and then proceeded to run up the side of a mountain, in the direction of said cave. Turns out I can't climb that mountain, so I tread back down toward the path and, my Dunmer friend is stuck behind some rope. There were stakes and rope tied along this path, and my new found friend could not get out from behind the ropes. I waited for... awhile. He just kept running against the rope, hopelessly. So I killed him. There was nothing else to do, for he was stuck for eternity behind the rope...
Solstheim. I went to Solstheim and promptly got killed by a snow bear. I joined the East Empire Company, to start the building of Ravenrock. Ravenrock is one of my favorite cities in Skyrim, so it thrills me to be a part of it's genesis here.
Last thing I'll mention for now regards health bars and theft. First of all, an enemy's health bar only appears if you hit it with a physical attack, and even that doesn't seem accurate, because sometimes an enemy dies before the bar is depleted. Destruction magic registers no damage, even though it's inflicting damage. When you drink a potion, you can't see the effect before you drink it, so you just drink four or five bargain potions of restore health and hope it's enough..!
This is enough for now. I'll leave the floor open to all now.
Every where I travel, there are always strange animal sounds in the background. Sometimes the sounds signal actual animals. Sometimes they're just sounds.
There is an Argonian named: "Only He Stands There." This is the absolute best name that I've ever seen.
What about the sheer number of spells? It's amazing the number of ways an enemy mage can fuh'k you up with various spells...I'll have no idea what spell has been cast upon me, and suddenly I can't move, or I'm just dead..! You have to drink a potion, or cast a spell that counter-acts the one cast against you... Magic is so much more involved, and therefore more fulfilling.
Here's something good: Reputation! I love walking into a place where everyone acknowledges your triumphs and deeds! This aspect alone renders the guild quests more fulfilling than any other I can think of presently. They start out hating you, end up loving you!
Many times my spells fail. Same with attempted enchantments, very frustrating. What do you mean my enchantment failed, and my soulgem was destroyed?? What a slap in the face. More realistic though, perhaps? I can accept that there might be a learning curve with spells, and even the occasional failed cast, during times of duress.
One thing's for certain, Morrowind does NOT have the same addictive quality that Skyrim has. Not for me. In fact, I have a hard time playing Morrowind for more than 2 hours at a time. It just gets too frustrating. This ensures that the game will keep me occupied for... what, YEARS? What do I mean by this? Well, there's the lack of quest markers, for one. In a way, it's good. I mean you actually have to look for things. Where Skyrim gives you a compass and a destination marker, Morrowind gives you a few vague clues in a journal... which brings me to:
The Journal. I've started a real-world supplement to my in-game journal. Come on... back me up fellow Morrowind players. Don't you find yourself flipping 42 pages back in your journal trying to remember something.. Sometimes the info is so vague, like: Bring these shirts to so and so in Ald'ruhn. OK, then you get to Ald'ruhn and realize, "this place is fairly big. Where in the f'uk do I even start? So then you begin the process of asking every individual in town, and they all hate you, of course.
If there were a Hearthfire type option in Morrowind, I'd certainly choose the Ald'ruhn area for my dwelling. I don't know what it is, but the raging dust storms are just awesome! I guess I like the effect, but, the whole time my character has his hand to his face, (he actually does put his hand to his face during a dust storm), I've a smile on me own.
The A.I. I met a fellow on the road to Mar Gaan who asked me to escort him to some cave. I agreed, and then proceeded to run up the side of a mountain, in the direction of said cave. Turns out I can't climb that mountain, so I tread back down toward the path and, my Dunmer friend is stuck behind some rope. There were stakes and rope tied along this path, and my new found friend could not get out from behind the ropes. I waited for... awhile. He just kept running against the rope, hopelessly. So I killed him. There was nothing else to do, for he was stuck for eternity behind the rope...
Solstheim. I went to Solstheim and promptly got killed by a snow bear. I joined the East Empire Company, to start the building of Ravenrock. Ravenrock is one of my favorite cities in Skyrim, so it thrills me to be a part of it's genesis here.
Last thing I'll mention for now regards health bars and theft. First of all, an enemy's health bar only appears if you hit it with a physical attack, and even that doesn't seem accurate, because sometimes an enemy dies before the bar is depleted. Destruction magic registers no damage, even though it's inflicting damage. When you drink a potion, you can't see the effect before you drink it, so you just drink four or five bargain potions of restore health and hope it's enough..!
This is enough for now. I'll leave the floor open to all now.
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