It would be cool if they changed up how you typically get out of the prison though, like getting broken out of jail because of being mistaken for the wrong guy... but they are mixing it up this time, we know that some how we are to be exicuted and get out of that some how (they haven't said how but I would bet a shiney nickel that it has to do with dragons)

I'm not even saying that it has to be a pre-determined backstory. I'm not a super RPer so it wouldn't bother me if they did at all, but I understand that other people would probably defecate themselves in anger.

My point is to stop starting out as a prisoner. Why do I have to be in prison? How about coming up with some new ways to start a character? It gets incredibly repetitive to start the games out in the same fashion, regardless of whether or not it's "slightly different" in its presentation.

Well. Actually you can decide how you went to Jail... lol

Um, I don't want Bethesda telling me what my character is like and how I should play him. That would completely ruin the experience. It's not being lazy, it's a vital part of the RPG.
As for the jail thing, I love it. Gives your character some mystery, and I love walking into your first town with barely anything and having to then acquire your first decent weapon and set of armour.
I mean, yes, it is repetitive. But it doesn't matter if it isn't ruining the fun, right? I LOVE starting in a prison cell, and I'm sure I could do it many more times in the future, because it is still fun. There's no shame in using the same formula if it works.

I kind of see what OP is saying, but I disagree for the most part. I don't have a problem with starting in a prison, but an opening cinematic of the player being thrown in the jail cell, or something along those lines, would make for a more exciting opening that draws you into the game.

I didn't like starting oblivion in a prison...it was boring as hell in that place with that annoying dunmer yelling at me.....Although i'm not worried about it, since every elder scrolls have started in different kinds of places. (Arena : Some dungeon / Daggerfall : A collapsed cave after a shipwreck / Morrowind : A boat / Oblivion : Jail)

well as todd says, it gives you every possible explenation possible. you can come up with why you were in prisoned and even if your a good character who doesn't commit crimes you can come up with a back story of why you were wrongfully imprisoned.

as opposed to being started just off in a specific town or place, it gives people less options as to their backstory. You can't make up a back story that you were from some other town if they start you in a different town. its not the only way to give people a clean slate, but this way works for the most people. its okay if it doesn't work for you, its just in the interest of the majority of people's role playing. and you don't have to be a super RP'er to come up with your own back story.

No.

This is one of the few questions that I get tired of seeing... And in this case I'm particularly annoyed because of the topic's subtitle. You are clearly not an Elder Scrolls fan.

My point is you can't make your own story,imo the more story for a RPG the better.Why not at least make a side quest surrounding your imprisonment? It just comes off as lackluster writing!

Its tradition, It is one of the things that makes TES TES, it also leave it open to all possibilities, you decide why you where in prison not Bethesda.

Yes, I understand this, I don't play that way (having your backstory influence your choices) myself, but I still feel like that's simply a good way to incorporate a backstory with your character. I think preset backstories are just too limiting.

This.

Soooo this.

I'd be upset otherwise to be honest. Firstly, it is a tradition after all. Secondly, I want to be able to give my character that backstory. Otherwise Roleplaying would become limited, some of the games replay-ability would disappear. I like it how it is - and this new execution beginning has me intrigued. I just hope i'm not thrust into the Main Quest like I was in OB, I liked Morrowind's way of handling the start - though I wouldn't be too bothered if there was a tutorial to begin with.

I've always liked it - it gives plenty of leeway for starting with a "blank slate" and devising an intriguing character backstory. Perhaps even moreso, I'd argue, than a more mundane and orthodox starting sequence could. By starting as a prisoner, you can choose to justify (or not justify) your character's imprisonment however you so choose. If the game just plopped you down in some random town, sure, perhaps there's no "status" associated with your character to lampshade anymore, but there's plenty of other issues. "Why specifically this town?"

Not to mention with attributes gone, we have even fewer shreds of "tradition" left to hold on to in the Elder Scrolls series.

Yeah except in Oblivion you were forced to ask the emperor why you were in prison, which means your character didn't know anything, which means he didn't know a backstory, which means he didn't have one.

Unless of course you just kinda kick aside that whole "immersion" thing everyone always likes to talk about here and pretend like you didn't have to ask him that question.

well thats a bit harsh.


that would probably work for you, but it would close off literally thousands of backstory possibilities. making a definitive back story for some people ruins the ability to role play for loads and loads of people.

I like it. It's a TES tradition. Plus I like the "no backstory". I like being able to think about what my character did to get in trouble. Much better, imho, than Fallout 3s "birth to maturity" nonsense. Didn't leave a lot of room for imagining how your character grew up or what they did.

I think the lack of backstory is so you can make your own, it's really quite helpful when playing an RPG... Also I think now starting as a prisoner is just their thing. It's cool the first time, anoying the second, and then any more than that and it becomes a tradition.

Don't you like The Elder Scroll's tradition of prisoners rising up to save the world?

he has what ever back story you want thats the whole point. it may ruin immersion for you and a couple of people, but giving a definite back story would ruin it for every one else.

Honestly? No....oddly enough.....
The Character, Like you (The Player) Know close to nothing about the area and what is going on.
If the character starts off KNOWING everything or in an important position they would know more about what was going on and I think it would leave the Player behind.
The Character is Not from Skyrim as far as I have read and is thrown in jail for Border Hopping. Because of this you and the character know nothing of what is going to happen. I belive this if for the better really.
*Shakes Head* Any way what are you really complaining about? We are getting a new TES Game! And no matter how it starts it looks like it will be the very best of the series. I do hope it will not be a huge let down though. I think that the graphics may just make up for the "Problem" you have with the start.

I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm just simply tired of starting out as a prisoner. There are plenty of other ways to start out a character without giving a definitive, pre-written backstory.

yeah, they could, but its like their signiture. besides, the character creation/ prison begining isn't much considered to be part of the plot as much as an introduction to the plot. the plot usually unfolds when you are released from prison, which is where the real variety in the story begins. we haven't been let out of prison for the same reasons.

yeah listen to this guy, the only time they started the prison thing was the prison/slave Boat at the start of Morrowind, Oblivion was the second and more typical prison environment as the PC[you] got thrown
in jail for again mystery abounds.

This


And? That matters why? I bet if you went out to some city and walked around, nobody would know who you are. And if you want some lameass fixed game, play DA2 or some such crappy thing.


This

The very most back story the character really should have would be having the guards chase you down, capture you, mabye ruff you up alittle bit, knock you out, give a short intro and then have you wake up in a prison.....it leaves room for imagination, you could have been a theif/ assassin or other wise law breaker on the run. (or a falsely accused)

I do have to admit that giving a huge backstory would ruin it for many people......