Morrowind. The main part is that they actually look lizard-like rather than a human with scales and a lizard head.

I preferred the Morrowind version of the argonian over the ones found in Oblivion.

I figure if the thing is going to be a bipedal lizard it should look like it, not some scaly human with a lizards head, and useless tail.

This is just one of dozens of things that were changed when Oblivion was developed that might have been easier for them to do, but as I see it, made the game a disappointment.

I'd say Morrowind's version, it got the body design right. The general head design, though not counting "hair" styles, is more or less a tie.

I liked MW's Argonians as they looked like lizards. In Oblivion (and Arena and Daggerfall) they look like Trandoshans.

Agreed. I thought that the Beast races, (especially the Argonians) looked hilarious, awkward, and deformed. In Oblivion however, I think they looked more reptillian, and less physically retarded alien.

Morrowind's

I made an Argonian in Oblivion, spent a really long time on his head. Then, when I saw it on his body, it was three times too small. And the body was just a man body with scales. It all looked very "off" to me.

Indeed.

That's what we call evolutionary baggage.

Maybe the Argonians in Cyrodiil are more evolved like human races because they live almost exactly like them there. The tail is just left over from before, much like our (human) tail bone.


Oh and to answer the OP, Morrowind. They looked more unique, it made the races that much more distinct.

I definitely prefer morrowind's. Not because of the digitigrade legs - I can take or leave those - but the faces in Oblivion just look monsterous, like severe burn victims.

Ha. I just learned that word earlier this week.

Sorry, off topic.

So, I'm not the only one who thought they looked like severe burn victims, lol.

Oblivion Argonians. Boots FTW.

Morrowind by far..... by far.




This.

The only thing I think Oblivion may have done better in... is the "hair" styles.

Oh dear. It seems 17 people accidentaly hit the wrong button.

I prefer the design of the Morrowind Argonians, as I like the legs. However the animation was awful. So I am undecided.

Differantiated bodies from men and mer: Yes!

...at the expense of valuable equipment slots: No!

Verdict: Oblivion Argonians

***

I've thought about this previously. I enjoy the idea of playing as a completely alien creature - something that's not entirely human. I enjoyed the variety that the beast races' build brought to Morrowind. That being said, the fact that they don't have a slot for boots or helmets almost makes them feel like an after thought. Essentially, "Let's add these guys into the mix - No one will play as them, but at least they'll make cool NPCs!".

Oblivion's take on them wasn't done out of sheer laziness, so much as compromise - they wanted to make the beast races serious contenders and be able to do anything any other race could. Those two slots for enchantment can make a world of difference, depending on your character build. Besides, Oblivion's Argonians weren't too unusual in their more humanoid form - Arena and Daggerfall before it utilized similar body structures. Morrowind is the odd one out, here.

That being said, neither option would be acceptable for TESV. The ideal scenario here would be a physically diverse beast people, with armor and clothing that melds to their unique shape.

I agree. I don't think it would be too hard to design leggins for both beats and humanoids. I mean, if they stick with Oblivion style armor they won't have to make too much. Sure it won't make perfect sence to pick up leggings from a human and then when you wear them on your Argonian they look different. But who cares. When your a female in a lot of games and kill a male, and take his chest peice it magically changes to fit your physique, its the same difference really.



Most animations for Morrowind were horrible.

On the other hand, no one's gonna let a little thing like boots and helmets deter them from picking whatever race they want. Unless armor rating is more important to them than roleplaying.

In which case, there might as well only be one type of character to play as. Since all that really matters is the fighting aspect of the game.

I'm guilty of that, too. Can't help it. The idea of scaly boobies is just amusing. Only made worse by all the D cups running around.

The only thing about khajiit and argonians that I didn't like in Morrowind was their legs and the way they walked. At the time it just seemed odd. In Oblivion, I saw an argonian with normal feet and wearing boots. So, I thought that was better. But, the more I went around and saw how so very similar all the NPCs are the more I wanted the variety to come back. I also realize I've yet to even try an argonian in Oblivion. One way or the other, if they put the animal legs back on 'em, I doubt I'd complain. I think I prefer having more variety and less generalization. As long as they just don't go extreme with making variety.

Need to comment on this, too. In Morrowind, simply not having boots didn't hamper your armor rating that badly. Even if my argonian characters couldn't wear the closed-face helmets, there were still plenty of open-faced helmets for them to use. So, there was still little stress over armor choices. It did make for a different kind of experience, however, which was good.

I liked the Morrowind beast races better, and definitely the shape of the head in Morrowind's Argonian, IMHO, the shape of their head looked a lot better in Morrowind.

ok i have a pet lizard and niether of the games got the legs/feet right morrowind has a too dragon-y type feel and oblivions were like human legs so i say make them stand upright with SMALL clawlike feet as ones in morrowind are huge.

If the Argonians are going to be bestial, I want Bethesda to do it right. Morrowind's Argonians were basically scaly people standing on tiptoe, which is why I think they look so ridiculous to many people (including me). Their proportions were the same as the standard races, with their feet stretched out. Ideally, I'd like the Argonians to be built more like crocodiles in terms of body shape, with the main body as basically a tube that feeds seamlessly into the tail, and long, powerful arms for swimming (this would be the deviation from the crocodile template ) The legs shouldn't be so exaggerated, since they are primarily an aquatic race, and they really use only their tail for swimming. They should still have legs, but they should be shorter, so that they basically disappear under the creature when it swims and they don't drag it down. This picture isn't mine and it's not specifically an Argonian, but http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs8/i/2005/331/0/c/Lizardman_by_DivineDelphi.jpg

But since that would require three versions of each armor piece (one for each gender of the men/mer, and one for the Argonians-- actually, it may well be four because Khajiit would probably be unique as well), which would be a nuisance both for Bethesda and for modders designing new sets of armor, I'm going to go with my second choice, which is scrap the whole thing and just go with what's been done the most-- one body for every race. The Argonians look great in Oblivion with Robert's bodies (as does everyone else )

The meanest-looking humanoid reptile I've seen in a TES game thus far was Morrowind's daedroth. First time I saw that I thought it looked mean as hell. Was very humanoid, but looked very beastly.

When thinking about argonians, I'm certain bethesda doesn't want to make one look too much like the other. But, maybe a similar body style with the clawed/webbed feet like they're born runners and swimmers? Make the head more draconian. Then, take the daedroth and make sure the daedroth actually looks like a humanoid crocodile this time (in oblivion they looked like fat teddy bears to me). That would leave argonians beastly, but humanoid enough where they can use similar armor that other races do. Make it where they can't used closed-faced helmets, but leave enough helmet options to pick from.