I didn't know much about TES until I played Skyrim, so I can't answer this. But for long-time fans, how did Skyrim affect the way you thought of Nords?

If you recall, I made a similar thread around a year ago about the Blades, and many people said Skyrim drastically affected how they thought of the Blades, usually in a negative manner. So I was wondering if Skyrim portrayed the Nords the way you always imagined they would be.

they are how I imagined them.

Hateful and racist, as expected. Also jealous of natural furs, why else do they dress like skinny mammoths?

Skyrim was my first TES game. So I didn't really know what to expect.

Only thing that I am unsure of is their ancient Nord religion (which is still cloudy), but from playing III and IV (especially hanging around Bruma for the latter), I had a decent picture of what Nords are like and Skyrim confirms it.

It changed for the better actually. The only other ES game I had played before Skyrim was Oblivion, and I got the impression that they were primitive country bumpkins from listening to all the trash-talk from Imperials. That male voice actor that did most of the Oblivion Nord voices certainly added to the "dimmer cousins from up north" image I had in my head.

I am a bit dissapointed with how Nords are in Skyrim but atleast they are better than they where in Oblivion.

For me, it changed for the worse. I just...don't really like them. I like a few of their ideals, like glory in battle and death, honor and courage, but that's about it. They're thick headed, superstitious brutes. I much preferred them in Oblivion, personally.

What we read about in previous games:

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Children_of_the_Sky

What we ended up getting: http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Korir, http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Skald, and http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Ranmir

They're still my favourite human race irregardless of how watered-down Bethesda made them. Plus, they also had awesome ancestors.

Definitely an improvement. The only previous game I've played is Morrowind, where I found them completely uninteresting.

Well said. Who can forget Orgnolf though?

"Back to work for poor old Orgnolf"

I was really hoping to find some naked Nords looking for the witches that took their clothes, but other than that it all seemed to fit well.

They still have that basic fear of magic and hatred (or strong dislike) of elves in general. Exceptions to the rule of course, but you can see this in the game. I was surprised to see the Bard's college look so civilized. I thought it would be more like old Nords passing their stories and songs down by word of mouth in some large Mead Hall, not some library with non-Nords in it.

Like I said, I didn't know what to expect, but from looking and hearing about Skyrim I expected something different.

Riverwood, Falkreath, Morthal, Dawnstar, Rorikstead, Dragon's Bridge... those types of settlements were what I expected the most. Nords remind me of Vikings, but architecture like you see in Solitude and Windhelm are... less than what you would expect the Nords to live in. Whiterun and Riften were well-made, but still lacked that Viking-feel.

And I had expected lots of singing in taverns with great warriors drinking and having a good time.

And Markarth... *shudders* That was horrible.

They're exactly how I imagined them. Well except for a few minor points then.

Im not sure I understand how they "improved" from Oblivion. My own opnion has been varied. I think the majority are decent, hard-working people, who speak with their passions and heritage. I liked the Nordic culture, and my Nordic Lord, Uthred, really opened up the race for me. Ive always had a soft spot for them, since Morrowind. Its hardly surprising they weren't prevalent in Morrowind...because, you know, it about dunmer. In every Tes game the "national" race normally takes precedence.

In Oblivion, I thought it was different - Each country seemed to have a different majority race. Bruma, with its large Nord population, I found a perfectly nice place. The Nords of Cyrodill were far more politically correct, softer, and jolly than their harsh - speaking Skyrim cousins.

originally, in the very early development of the game, I remember reading the stormcloaks would independently hire you. They sounded a lot more like a gurilla fighting group than a more organised administration. Despite initially liking the Stormclaoks, and agreeing with their principles, I found increasingly the barbed comments, the dodgy "events" and sketchy characters a little....deflating.....And I renegaded back to my Imperial roots. I don't like Ulfric, and I never will, because ive come to the educated conclusion, looking at the evidence, that he isn't acting in Skyrims interests, or for its people.

My opinion remains much the same, which is they are a very honest, and good people, with a few bad apples that somewhat sours the overall taste.

Hmm.. Pretty much how I pictured them. Remind me alot of Vikings.. except Nord's aren't running around pillaging everything. But what do you expect from a bunch of primates.

To me, Whiterun and Windhelm are exemplary TES Nord cities. Especially the latter with its animal totems dotting the buildings and the architecture bearing much resemblance to that of the barrows.

Their presentation was blander than I had hoped for. Skyrim should have been a lot darker, harsher, more savage, and had properly layered subcultures. The closest we got to the latter were the hippie Skaal which I find boring.

If anything, TESV made me have a dimmer view of the imperials because I can blame this blah on cultural homogenization due to imperialism. Though it's undoubtedly a combination between that and the mainstream mass-marketization that's happened with Elder Scrolls since Morrowind.

At least Nords look more civilized than a bunch of swamp lizards, lol.

I know someone who is happy with the way Nords turned out. http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Arentus_Falvius
I hate him so much.

Console yourself that as a conjuration mage, he was probably thrown in prison after the Oblivion Crisis for "daedra trafficking."

Ugh. That link reminded me how very horrible Oblivion was face-wise.