ign's top 10 Gods in Elder Scrolls : V - Skyrim

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:05 am

If the lore were more user friendly people will not make such mistakes...I hope the devs can now see first hand the outcome of convoluted lore

NO. What mostly made it convoluted is because the lore is made up of the conflicting perspectives and very different mindsets of the inhabitants WITHIN the game setting, together with the other factors (non-first hand accounts, political agendas, confusions, etc.). And to me this appears to be an attempt to mirror the real world, not just some vain attempt at being complex for the sake of contrived inaccessibility. I'm pretty sure I got PLENTY of it plain wrong myself, but on the other hand, that is more or less the reason that TES lore is the only game-universe lore that I care about, even though it's not in anyway very detailed in the factual bits compared to other IPs. I stumbled here and there big time, but really, it's an adventure in itself, just trying to wading through it all. It made me feel more involved, not feeling like some kind of a tourist being spoon-fed all these supposedly 100% accurate information by some sort of an all-knowing tour guide who could never be wrong and for some reason doesn't even belong/living the world it's lecturing me in great details.

/rant.

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:00 pm

Lol that was a good read and I must agree with the author, elves svck :teehee:

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 11:10 am

Yeah, I saw this on facebook. I said it there, and I'll say it again--That list excludes Sheogorath, therefore it is null and void. I will not accept a list that is without the Madgod--it doesn't exist. :shakehead:

:bowdown: Sheogorath is the #1 on my list.

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 11:04 am

if Vivec taught the dark elves to breath underwater then why done they have that ability? or is the author misinformed?

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 5:12 pm

if Vivec taught the dark elves to breath underwater then why done they have that ability? or is the author misinformed?

It was a temporary ability he gave them before flooding Morrowind to get rid of some Akaviri invaders.

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:41 pm

Where's Hircine? Sheogorath? Sotha Sil? No good sir...THAT LIST WILL SIMPLY NOT DO SIR!!!

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:02 pm

Where the Molag Bal.

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:20 am

If they belive he is a god, doesn't he bevcome a god? I was of the understanding that that was how it worked.

That's taking a bit of a real world perspective on it. In TES, where gods frequently interact, interfere, and use their powers, being a god is very much about having the powers of a god. I'm not sure about Oblivion, but in Morrowind right off the top of my head I can say that Azura, Sheogorath, Mehrunes Dagon, Boethiah, and Mephala all spoke and interacted with the PC (Given how prolific you were about visiting daedric shrines). They even held interests in the world and made bets which played out in the mortal realm.

As for Vivec, it's really hard to tell what was real and what was just a show. To me, Vivec comes off to me as a demi-god who wished to be a true god. The efforts he went to to hide the details of his ascension and persecution required to keep it hidden, the rewriting of history in general, the shows of power, the creation of Tribunal worship and him becoming the central figure of that. You have to keep in mind that almost everything people know about Vivec is what Vivec told everyone. He may say he see's all, but I disagree. He may say he leaves his body during sleep, but I think Dagoth Ur enters his mind just as surely as he does the Nerevarine's. He wanted to present himself as a wise god, and he certainly did some good in Morrowind - for the Dunmer at least, but ultimately I would suspect that Divayth Fyr was likely more powerful and knowledgeable than Vivec.

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:28 pm

That's taking a bit of a real world perspective on it. In TES, where gods frequently interact, interfere, and use their powers, being a god is very much about having the powers of a god. I'm not sure about Oblivion, but in Morrowind right off the top of my head I can say that Azura, Sheogorath, Mehrunes Dagon, Boethiah, and Mephala all spoke and interacted with the PC (Given how prolific you were about visiting daedric shrines). They even held interests in the world and made bets which played out in the mortal realm.

As for Vivec, it's really hard to tell what was real and what was just a show. To me, Vivec comes off to me as a demi-god who wished to be a true god. The efforts he went to to hide the details of his ascension and persecution required to keep it hidden, the rewriting of history in general, the shows of power, the creation of Tribunal worship and him becoming the central figure of that. You have to keep in mind that almost everything people know about Vivec is what Vivec told everyone. He may say he see's all, but I disagree. He may say he leaves his body during sleep, but I think Dagoth Ur enters his mind just as surely as he does the Nerevarine's. He wanted to present himself as a wise god, and he certainly did some good in Morrowind - for the Dunmer at least, but ultimately I would suspect that Divayth Fyr was likely more powerful and knowledgeable than Vivec.

I was responding to a quote about Sithis, and that was not what I was talking about. I was asking about how Sithis would not be a God, despite a great number of people believing he is. I have been told that in the TES world, if people believe something about the gods, then it becomes true after a while, which is why Alduin/Akatosh has a bit of a split personality.

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 10:52 pm

Where the Molag Bal.

Yes and him too!

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 10:02 pm

Where's Hircine? Sheogorath? Sotha Sil? No good sir...THAT LIST WILL SIMPLY NOT DO SIR!!!

Exactly! It's missing some of the best gods/daedra. I won't accept it. It is the author's opinion, and he's welcome to it--but I disagree. :nono:

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 11:45 pm

Not really. He was just a mortal who tapped the power of the heart. No different than Almalexia and Dagoth Ur, each of which 'ascended' through treachery. Putting Vivec on the list without Azura is a bit odd.

I don't see any problem with putting Vivec on the list. He may no longer be a god, and he may no longer even be alive, but there was a point where he was every bit as formidable as one of the Daedric princes.

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 10:53 am

I think there should be another list posted on our top 10 favorite lists of all time...

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:51 am

If they belive he is a god, doesn't he bevcome a god? I was of the understanding that that was how it worked.

Try worshiping gravity, you'll get a similar response from it (nothing). No matter how much fruit, people, and animals you throw off a cliff to appease gravity, you'll still fall at an acceleration of 9.81 m/s^2 like everyone else. Same deal with Sithis. And the first few paragraphs of the Monomyth should help.

All Tamrielic religions begin the same. Man or mer, things begin with the dualism of Anu and His Other. These twin forces go by many names: Anu-Padomay, Anuiel-Sithis, Ak-El, Satak-Akel, Is-Is Not. Anuiel is the Everlasting Ineffable Light, Sithis is the Corrupting Inexpressible Action. In the middle is the Gray Maybe ('Nirn' in the Ehlnofex).

In most cultures, Anuiel is honored for his part of the interplay that creates the world, but Sithis is held in highest esteem because he's the one that causes the reaction. Sithis is thus the Original Creator, an entity who intrinsically causes change without design. Even the hist acknowledge this being.

Anuiel is also perceived of as Order, opposed to the Sithis-Chaos. Perhaps it is easier for mortals to envision change than perfect stasis, for often Anuiel is relegated to the mythic background of Sithis' fancies. In Yokudan folk-tales, which are among the most vivid in the world, Satak is only referred to a handful of times, as "the Hum"; he is a force so prevalent as to be not really there at all.

In any case, from these two beings spring the et'Ada, or Original Spirits. To humans these et'Ada are the Gods and Demons; to the Aldmer, the Aedra/Daedra, or the 'Ancestors'. All of the Tamrielic pantheons fill their rosters from these et'Ada, though divine membership often differs from culture to culture. Like Anu and Padomay, though, every one of these pantheons contains the archetypes of the Dragon God and the Missing God.

Also 'a lot of people' is BS. The Hist only take note that it was Sithis that was the one to cause the first reaction. Even the Redguards call it "The Hum," as it's just an ever present force. Hell, the only group that seems to worship Sithis is the Cyrodiilic chapter of the Dark Brotherhood. That's not a lot of people.

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 2:11 pm

As long as Fargoth isn't up there, I'm happy

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:59 pm

What they didn't put Talos or Azura on the list and they went with Jyggy over Sheogorath

Are you kidding me :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm:

But Jiggy is Sheogorath :L

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 11:05 am

But Jiggy is Sheogorath :L

Sheogorath is gettin jiggy with it.

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:59 am

I still think that article is pretty lame, and the choice explanation and writing style?

Dagon because he "get's around".

Jyggalag because...I really don't know what it was. He's Sheogorathwho is called "Skooma cat" is the most apparent reason.

Stendarr because he likes humans.

Clavicus Vile because of his trickster nature (fair enough for that one, tricksters are often interesting).

Dibella because it makes him think of skimpy nord girls in fur bikinis.

Alduin's one is alright (playing with time and eating worlds).

Phynaster because it proves Elves aren't special.

Ruptga - I don'tactually understand what it's talking about with that one

Vivec because he's gold and he floats.

Akatosh because he is the msot important and powerful, which I guess is an okay reason.

But a lot of these reasons seemto be odd gimmicks and such, it's all rather immaturely written, even though they did look stuff up for it.

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 2:07 pm

But Jiggy is Sheogorath :L

Not anymore it isn't!

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 5:41 pm

But Jiggy is Sheogorath :L

Not anymore it isn't!

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:07 pm

Dibella because it makes him think of skimpy nord girls in fur bikinis.

Yeah, I'm ah, going to go with that one right there. :twirl:

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:35 am

Since it seems that anyone can make a list, I'm going to make a list of
Top 10 reasons to hate that list:

10. Infantile reasons given for the author's picks.

9. Vague explanations and insight as to the role of the gods he chose.

8. Ruptga? Come on?! Seriously!?

7. Not one mention about cheese and the importance of dairy products in your diet...

6. With few exceptions, the author did not include any of the major deities that played HUGE roles in the TES world.

5. Ruptga!? Come on?! Seriously!?

4. I hate 'toy' animal breeds.

3. The author seems to have composed that list to incite inflammatory response,,.

2. Onions are best enjoyed AFTER Labor Day...

1. Ruptga!? Come on?! Seriously!?

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:54 pm

Since it seems that anyone can make a list, I'm going to make a list of
Top 10 reasons to hate that list:

10. Infantile reasons given for the author's picks.

9. Vague explanations and insight as to the role of the gods he chose.

8. Ruptga? Come on?! Seriously!?

7. Not one mention about cheese and the importance of dairy products in your diet...

6. With few exceptions, the author did not include any of the major deities that played HUGE roles in the TES world.

5. Ruptga!? Come on?! Seriously!?

4. I hate 'toy' animal breeds.

3. The author seems to have composed that list to incite inflammatory response,,.

2. Onions are best enjoyed AFTER Labor Day...

1. Ruptga!? Come on?! Seriously!?

I fully support this list. ^^

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 1:52 pm

The HoonDing has a larger deity role in the games than Ruptga.

» Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:18 pm

The HoonDing has a larger deity role in the games than Ruptga.

Yeah! So does Glurfnell, Bliggin-Blotty, Poop-Scadoo, and KleepinDorf the Unmerciful...