There was? Well of COURSE it was in Kvatch. I wish Kvatch wasn't destroyed...

Why would a great warrior risk his life in such a place for meager rewards and virtually a small piece of glory?


This is part of the reason I have such a problem with the idea of all arena matches being to the death.

Wellll, since the setting is in Skyrim and there's a civil war and there's a desire for a more dynamic arena.
Let's replace the concept of Yellow team versus Blue team. Then, have the arena divided between the two different forces of the civil war. Sort of as if, these barbarians are trying to distungish which side has the strongest, most fierce warriors.

Then allow the player decide which side to join. Each side with its own distinct pros, cons, reputation, and rewards.

Have you ever done anything in your life, for no other reason than to prove something to yourself? Without doing it because you're gonna get paid or get recognition from others or because you'll be able to brag and boast about it, but instead just do it to prove to yourself that you can do it--for your own personal growth, satisfaction and peace of mind.

A true warrior wouldn't fight for glory, accolades or prizes. A true warrior fights for life and for survival--he fights for challenge, for thrill and to test himself against other skilled warriors.

And besides all that, Mango, I thought it was a fitting end to my colourful description. :biggrin:

Well yeah, but I never did it "TO THE DEATH!!!!!!!!!"

I wasn't going to literally kill myself if I didn't get that last achievement on the Xbox.

Again, you can test yourself against other warriors without one of you ending up dead.

I did, it was a good thing I won. Take THAT Digdug high score and [censored] you older brother.

I think the thing about the arena in ES is that they would rather die with honor than live in dishonor. If they lose or surrender their honor is tarnished and they don't feel like they deserve to live.

This. I think the op is on the right track for something more "barbaric" but all of his ideas are not the least bit barbaric, imo. Jousting? Nords don't joust.

This made me laugh...hard! :rofl:

I was really just trying to depict how I imagine a warrior's mindset and lifestyle to be. Their lives would be harsh and often filled with grim consequences when they fail at what they do. Their existence would be fraught with peirls and struggles to survive, and weakness would not be forgiven kindly. But through it all, they would be driven by honor and would seek to prove to themselves that they are the mightiest, the strongest, the most skillful and most powerful of all the warriors in all the land, even if that means fighting in some run-down, slum of an arena. The setting of the challenge wouldn't matter...it would be the challenge that was important, and in fact, the grittier the place where the battle takes place the better it would be for the barbaric warriors of Skyrim.

But if skilled warriors often tested themselves by fighting to the death against other skilled warriors, there would be very few skilled warriors left.

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1153456-imperial-city-arena-entertainment-or-genocide/ about Imperial City's arena, but if you don't want to read it I'll just post an excerpt.



Assuming Tamriel has a population similar to Medieval Europe, death in the arena would be pretty much the #1 cause of death in Cyrodill every year, unless there's a plague, famine, or war.

I don't think this is realistic, or even remotely believable, personally

Cyrodiil may have the biggest arena, but by no means the most exciting.
Skyrim may have an illegal 'underground' like arena where the Nords fight on their gory glory and throw slave fights, and you can bet on them looking at a few stats and apparel of the contestants.

LET'S GET IT ON!

Tell that to Jabba's Rancor.
I don't think it's out of the question to face some huge beast that's unique to the arena in Skyrim, at least once.

And yes, Cyrodiil's arena WAS the biggest an Tamriel... 200 years ago. Now there's next to nothing left of Cyrodiil, whereas the drunk and violent Nords of Skyrim suffered an enduring peace up until the civil war. If you were a Nord, what would YOU do with your spare time when there were no wars to be fought? I wouldn't pick up model-painting, that's for sure.
Also, how many of you have seen the first season of Spartacus? Spartacus ends up being punished by having to fight in an underground arena where the combat was really more a torture method that a gladiatorial contest. I'd like to see an arena a little more that that; it would be a cool addition to the more visceral feel of Skyrim.

Have any of you ever seen the episode of Spartacus when they go to the underworld because Spartacus is too hated to fight in the Carthage arena. They should have some bad ass creepy clan that holds fights. If they do the gladiator arena thing again I will still be more pleased because the new combat system seems to be able to give the Arena a fresh new look that we didn't get in the pit or in OB.

You, my friend, have been Ninja'd. Good day to you

There is a lot of world and mystery outside of Skyrim. Ciridiil had a half Orc.. Never seen another one of those in all my travels.

Just becasue the Imperial City houses the biggest arena does not mean there can not be other arena around. Morrowind had an arena. I see no reason why Skyrim cannot have one.

*Pictures Sheogorath as Fight Club owner*