Do you prefer dwemer ruins or nordic ruins?

I have to say, I don't really care much for either. Although, if given the choice to explore a dwemer city or a Nordic barrow, I'd certainly choose the Nordic barrow. I like the quietness of the barrows, and I like that there are different kinds of draugr... With the dwemer ruins, the only variations in the enemies I find are in the Falmer, and I despise them.

Nordic for me. Dwemer ruins are too long and maze-like, and I often find that despite well meaning intentions to explore every room, I will end up just blitzing a dwemer ruin ASAP just to get out of it.

With the Sounds of Skyrim mod, as well as darker dugeons, Nordic ruins can be very tense and creepy affairs. Sure, the draugr are predictable, but the initial shock when a draugr comes streaming out of the darkness at you is something I don't find Dwemer ruins are able to replicate. Another thing I enjoy about Nordic ruins is letting my mind imagine a lore story behind the dungeon - picturing how grand the ruin was when first constructed, only to slip from memory and into legend, as the wilds of Skyrim claim back the land.

The story of the Dwemer rise and fall is an interesting one, but somehow, Nordic ruins always seem more steeped in intrigue and mystery. I think it may be because it isn't a huge leap of the imagination to go from a Nordic ruin, to one in reality. Sans dragur and magical word-walls, obviously, but you get the idea. Where as the Dwemer ruins are too... Industrial. The disparity between Dwemer technology and that of the living races is vast, in my mind. I have a little trouble swallowing it.

But, hey ho, that's just me

Me I prefer both ruins there is word walls and Falmer which is so fun to get and kill


The Daedric prince

Neither really, but Nordic ruins have some easier enemies (read, good for Templar/paladin builds).

Dwemer for me on legendary difficult
But Nordic ruins for me on expert difficult

There are a few Nordic ruins that have incredible sights and are thoughtfully laid out, that being said, I prefer the Dwemer ruins.

After reading and learning about Dwemer lore, I just find them fascinating, especially with the addition of the Snow Elf questline in Dawnguard. The most advanced civilization on the planet just disappearing? It's mysteries like those that keep my mind occupied for hours, even after I've stopped playing. I will admit however, that the Falmer can be annoy enemies, along with their creepy Charrus pets, but it still doesn't detract from the actual Dwemer experience for me. Like someone mentioned earlier, you don't get the sense that you are walking through another tomb, and the dead are now back to life, you feel as if you are walking through what could have been a city, one filled with people, families, and children. There aren't any bones, no corpses, just what they left behind, and the husks of the once proud snow elves. Cool stuff.

Aesthetically, I prefer dwemer ruins over nordic ones. They just look much more grand and epic.

That being said, I prefer Draugr as enemies over the dwemer automatons. Especially dwarven spiders are simply not satisfying to kill, and there's a hundred of them in every single ruin.

So, to sum up, my position is an emphatic maybe.

It might seem weird but I like one over the other when it comes to mood.

Nordic because zombies are better than robots.

Aesthetically I like the Dwemer ruins, I think the idea of cities carved out of solid rock is fascinating. For combat I like the Draugr, although the way they spawn is getting old and not very threatening. Especially the tombs, Pop goes the Draugr!! Something with a more menacing or ambush-like feeling would be appreciated.

In the original Bioshock there were inanimate statues all around in the early part of the game. Then, in one terrifying moment, they came to "life" and sprint toward you with the intent to chop you to bits. I still remember that moment and the room it occurred in, probably the most immersive feeling I've ever had in any game ever. My heart rate spiked, the hair on the back of my neck stood up for like half an hour afterwards, and I was grinning like an idiot for the rest of the night.

With Draugr lying around in their resting spots and reanimating as you pass, the idea is similar but the execution is lacking. One difference, the first time I used Dawnbreaker surprised the heck out of me. Afterwards I was grinning away chasing any and all of the unfortunate Undead to smite for another explosion.

Yesterday I was sent to one of the Dwemer ruins on Solstheim (second time I've ever been there), and although the dungeon was infuriating at times, it was a lot more fun than any barrow has ever been. I actually had to think, and even use some good old "trial and error".

With this character (50 hours in, level 37) I've been actively avoiding Draugr dungeons; have only been to Dimhollow. I've been avoiding Dwemer ruins as well, but keep getting sent to them.

Draugr are definitely a lot more fun than constructs, except when I get caught in a ragdoll loop (Unrelenting Force spam by several Deathlords/Overlords/Reapers/Guardians/[insert high level Draugr]). Nothing like Fus Ro Dahing them right back. >:-D
Constructs I believe cannot be ragdolled (haven't had full URF in a long time), however Centurions can ragdoll the PC. Unfair.

Ayleid Ruins

I prefer the Nordic ruins, the Dwemer ruins are interesting but get boring quicker to me for some reason, I just like the feel and atmosphere of the Nordic ruins better I think.

Ragdoll loop FTW!!! Love those, nordic for me, good old Tolfdir saying "This is simply FASCINATING! Ive never seen such a place, look at all these corpses, oh my GOODNESS, Im sure I just heard something what just happened? I just banged my head - this is ASTONISHING!" then getting bashed by three draugr. Lol. Its just the cool looking draugr deathlords...vlok sakhi!!!

Nordic ruins, for me Dwemer ruins are very hard to navigate I get so lost sometimes I can't find my way back

Dwemer.. love the maze and the size of them

When I'm looking for a quick dungeon crawl, I prefer a nordic ruin. The enemies are really easy, not much thinking is involved, decent boss at the end, good loot, and a word wall.
When I feel like I got a good 20 - 30 minutes to sometimes an hour, I go for Dwemer ruins. Start off by fighting some bandits, go deeper, dwemer spiders and spheres, and occasionally a skeever, a little more traps than a Nordic ruin has, and then fight some Falmer and their god forsaken Chaurus, then fight the big robot at the end, with a reward of ebony arrows x8 Daedric arrow x4 some dwarven ingots, and then take the elevator out.

Basically, if I need money and a new word helps out - Nordic
Adventure, but not caring about loot - Dwarven

I'd have to say Dwemer ruins purely because they yield the most loot. Soul gems, Centurion Gyros, many many dwarven bolts and some nice leveled arrows from the centurions. I don't mind falmar. I would gladly take falmar over Deathlords.

On a more random note: my google chrome spell check does not recognize "Falmar" it wants to change it to WALMART. I knew that place was evil...

Isn't it Falmer with an e? Lmfao@ Walmart auto correct, one time I was typin my bros name in a phone and auto correct suggested "Gayboy " Fun times