» Fri May 27, 2011 3:37 pm
In Morrowind, I'd clearly go with Balmora. It had enough of a market district to be "useful", enough other districts to be "credible", and enough transport options to keep my character going through it constantly for most of the game. For most of my characters, it wasn't "home", but it was the hub for most of their activities. Many of the other cities in Morrowind were awkwardly and nonsensically laid out: you don't wall off 3/4 of a town and then leave gaping holes on the sides most likely to be attacked, and you don't situate a fort in a bowl so the walls are higher inside than out unless it's main purpose is as a prison.
Vivec was impressive at first sight, and included a full range of services, but was far too empty of people to feel like a "city". Mournhold was a fabulous start, but we never actually got to see the "city", just the inner stronghold.
In Oblivion, Skingrad had the best "feel" to it, with the closest things to "industry" in the game and actual tilled fields surrounding it, although my characters probably spent twice as much time in the IC. The other cities in the game all felt "lifeless" and "purposeless" in general, in spite of the scheduled NPCs and voiced greetings.
I have yet to fire up Daggerfall, which I definitely intend to do at some point, but the idea behind a totally "procedually generated" city doesn't sound very appealing to me; perhaps interesting to see for the first time, though.
It was the loving care and attention that the developers put into Balmora which made it unquestionably my top choice.