Good evening,
I have recently had the pleasure of receiving, as a birthday gift, the full set of The Elder Scrolls from Arena through to Skyrim. I have decided to start with 'Morrowind'.
Having established my character, the redoubtable Thornskul_Doomhamma no less, I have explored the town - straight off the ship, gathered together what I could and headed off to Balmora.

There I joined the Fighters and started on the Guild Quests trail.

My question is, what is recommended as far as the best course of action for a newcomer who is learning the game, Faction (Guild) or Free-form adventuring?
Thanks, in advance,
T

If you're just learning the guild is a great place to start, it will progress a bit and will help you gear up appropriately. Even with the guild though you will still run into things you can't beat. Run away, don't hesitate, no one will call you a coward. There are things that will straight up wreck you if you can't deal with them properly. Run away and then do a little free-form adventuring. Poke your nose into areas and either get it chopped off or progress to the point that you can armor that nose and then pop back into the guild questline. You will likely die horribly and often until you get the hang of the game and what can and cant kill you. Oh and if you hear battle music but can't find the enemy and you are outside, look up. Cliff Riders are everywhere. Have fun and if you have any questions or are stuck or just can't figure out how to kill something come ask.

Joining a Guild, Faction or House is definitely a good place to start.
You can get some easy experience, and see a bit of the world without fear of imminent death.


If you have played Oblivion or Skyrim already, you might want to check this out to help explain how some gameplay mechanics work differently: http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Differences_Between_Morrowind,_Oblivion,_and_Skyrim

As a tip for your fun with this game: take it slow. Read some of the books, read what NPCs tell to you, get immersed in the game world.

What Morrowind really did well is just this, it created the beliveable feel of a real world you were moving in. More recent games offer better combat, graphics and whatnot, but Morrowind beats most games released afterwards in terms of content.

The fighter's guild especially is a good place to start. I've started with them in pretty much every playthrough of the game. Feel free to explore the world too. Although it is dangerous out there so save often. and most importantly...Have fun!

Good afternoon folks,
Thank you for your replies, most helpful. I will take the advice and combine the Guild tasks and some free-roaming.
As for the dying horribly bit... yep, got that down pat thanks...!

Already came across a chap that slit me from gizzard to gullet without me even seeing him move...!

I'll try not to bother you with dumb questions. Again, many thanks, I'll catch you around the place. Good luck and happy adventuring to all...!
Respects,
T

Don't be afraid to do as much free roaming as your character desires. The guilds are a great place to gain some experience but exploration is also one of Morrowinds strong suits.

I couldn't agree more. I actually liked playing Morrowind on the Xbox due to its draw-distance limitations. It really gave you a sense of aw and wonder as a location would slowly come into view as if through a fog. All of the mods I've seen allow one to see for miles, making the map seem so much smaller.

... but anyway, yeah, venture on your own, but be careful where you step foot. You can easily get your butt kicked by walking in the wrong den/cave, etc. The small cave just east of Seyda Neen can be tough!