Arena is set in 3E 399.
Daggerfall takes place 6 years later in 405.
Morrowind takes place 22 years after that in 427.
Oblivion takes place 6 years after that in 433.
Skyrim takes place 201 years after that in 4E 201.

I can see the world in Oblivion looking similar to the world of Arena. After all, only 34 years have passed. But the world of Skyrim STILL looks remarkably similar (in technology and infrastructure) to the world of Arena, Daggerfall, Morrowind, and Oblivion. From Arena to Skyrim is 235 years! Go back 235 years in America and you arrive at 1776 (heh, strange). Compare the difference in how America looks now and the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

I mean, hell, people are still using the same armor, using the same materials, using the same types of weapons, and building the same types of buildings.

I agree it's strange technology doesn't really seem to be evolve, but at the same time I'd rather not be playing an Elder Scrolls game with guns and cars and stuff.

1250 AD to 1500AD

There is magic, so there is little need for them to advance all that really useful technology we use today like cars. Why use cars when there are portals. Why use penecillin when there is magic that can heal everything. Why use guns when you can fire a freaking fireball?

If there is a lack of utility, something will not develop.

Not to mention, Tamriel seems to be in the middle of a dark age or something. The main empire is failing, the organization people have enjoyed for years has been decaying since morrowind happened. Heck, Fallout: Tamriel edition wouldn't be too unbelievable if everything continues to go to hell at the rate it is now.

Editted at 11:56 because I forgot something: Also, the Dark ages lasted 1000 years. Not that unsurprising.

this, or any other 235 year span in the rest of the history of the world. Our last 235 years are quite an exception lol

They also didn't have access to magic or Dwemer technology. The world of Tamriel does.

Oooh bro.. just don't watch/play star wars -_-

I think the clothing style changed quite a bit.

http://i.imgur.com/RaeeW.jpg

Yeah the above reasons make sense. Also, there are lots of wars going on. Most actual technological progress is destroyed by angry gods. (dwemer) This isn't planet earth, etc.

Think about disease in our world. How hard it is to fight. Then see cure disease spell/potion. Progress in tech form is seen as dangerous maybe? Like Dwemer?

I agree with this. From the time the Oblivion crisis started, the Empire has been in a steady decline. I'm not too clear on specifics between OB and Skyrim, but I've heard it was an increasingly difficult time. Not to mention the Great War between the Empire and the Aldmeri Dominion. Even after that war "ended", a civil war springs right up in Skyrim, right alongside the return of the dragons.

And it seems that Tamriel would be a world that forgoes scientific research in favor for magical research. Give it a couple hundred more years and they'll start improving slowly. Possibly learning some of the Dwemer automaton secrets to help them out maybe?

In our world there wasn't much in the way of improvements in tech until the the advent of gunpowder with not too many exceptions. Aside from that biggest advances in weapons and armor from Rome to the 1800's or more was improved methods of making and using steel, with very few exceptions. The real majority of big technology in the more modern world have happened in only the last couple hundred years, with accelerated advances in only the last 50ish.

Another thought is that how much of a drive would there be to improving the mundane when you can take said mundane down to the nearest enchanter and have it made better for you by magic?

I'm against any kind of technological progress in TES. It will ruin it. Plain and simple.

I don't think they have 'access' to Dwemer technology. It's not well understood how it works, and those that do work usually are trying to kill the people trying to figure it out

And magic probably removes the need for technological progress, rather than help it in any way.

The more technologically advanced you are the faster technology advances (99% of the scientists and engineers who ever lived on Earth are alive today). Its safe to assume TES setting is less technologically focussed than Earth because they have Magic to do half the stuff we need technology for so they might advance slower.

Granted things have changed a lot from 1800 to 2000, but between 1000 and 1200 things didn't advance as noticeably.

The Dwemer tried to advance, but look what happened to them.

Um..... Not everyone has ever lived in the middle of a technological revolution like we do now. Egyptians plowed soil using a cow and plow 4000 years ago..... we were STILL doing that up until about 100 years ago.

The OP is an unfair comparison from Tamriel to Earth in a couple ways.

The last 200 years on Earth (Industrial Revolution followed by the Computer Age) are a unique period which has never been nor probably never will be replicated again (assuming you don't believe in Atlantis or past alien civilizations on Earth). Things don't always progress during 200 years. There are have been plenty of historical periods on Earth, for instance during which things did not progress. Things went backwards, matter of fact, as society disintegrated or whatever.

One of the reasons for our modern successes on Earth is the fact that those countries who have made the most progress also often have the biggest guns, the strongest armies, etc. It's diffictult to invade these countries, which means they get to have the easiest time advancing their civilization without worry.

On Tamriel, this is not so. I can't speak for all TES games, but the Empire in Cyrodiil during Oblivion's days in particular was getting more and more compliant, more and more lax, and just lazier overall. It was up to "us" to come and save Cyrodiil, for instance, except for very few battles during which we were joined by a few soldiers. The things we saved Cyrodiil's peoples from would have wiped out Tamriel big time. Once we save Tamriel, the Empire starts crumbling. Lack of adequate management, basically, is one of the thigns which spells out the Empire's doom.

Add all this up, and does it not seem difficult that civilization as a whole (not counting a few individuals here and there) is going to have a tough time making a go at advancement?


And Ash87 below says...

I'm glad that there isn't a lot of technology. Am not a fan of steampunk.

in the lotr, middle earth had the same medieval technology for thousands upon thousands of years, you dont see them driving to mordor in cars and shooting orcs with Ak-47's.
This is a fantasy world with magic, technology can gtfo.

I don't think it's strange. Actually, if anything, I would have expected technology to have regressed. It seems like Tamriel is entering a Dark Age of sorts, with the death of the Septim bloodline, the gradual collapsing of the Empire and everyone basically descending into war again.

I'm actually quite impressed with the progress. Not when it comes to technology (this is fantasy, so that's irrelevant for me anyhow), but when it comes to politics and cultural changes. When I first started playing TES, I was sure it would be quite static. There would always be a vast and stable Empire, always be a Septim on the throne, always be a set amount of provinces that wouldn't change much etc. The two novels and Skyrim changed all that. There IS progress in Tamriel, huge changes and revolts, both politically and culturally. That is too me much more interesting. If you want technology, play Mass Effect (which isn't meant in negative way, Mass Effect is a great series).

War stagnates growth.

Tbh, after the oblivion crisis, they were hit by Umbriel (greg keys's books, officially recognised as cannon), which hasnt concluded yet, but at least as far as the two books take it atm mean the empire was faced with another crisis. Following that.. youd have had... what.. 100 years before the great war, any technological advances in that time wouldn't be widely spread out. Then you have the great war... and now the thalmor, who lets face it, would keep any significant technological developments to themselves.

Indeed, it goes against what the series is trying to be. I's not trying to be a game with guns or non-magical technologi, it's trying to be a fantasy game with a magical medieval setting.

bit of strange thread if you ask me but heres my input anyway.

if you look at earth its only really the last hundred yrs where there has been any technoligical progress.from the early days of big battles in britain for example hastings-1066 and till around 17th century warfare consisted of swords,axes,maces and horseback...thats nearly 700 years before cannons and muskets started appearing.

also food and building materials and methods also stayed the same as did the tools and materials BECAUSE there was no other way/technology to use or change how things get done.

So i expect there to be no progress as im sure its supposed to be set in the MIDDLE AGES????where there was NO PROGRESS for 700 yrs or more untill the start of industrial revolution.

i think there has been slight changes in there clothing etc and other things which i agree are very subtle but this is what i would expect

not sure what your expecattions were? :blush: