Altmer vs Dunmer : The Elder Scrolls Series Discussion

» Sat May 28, 2011 3:02 pm

1 v 1 Dunmer wins simply because he has more tools at his arsenal.

In an army situation Altmer wins hands down. An army of the finest spellcasters ever seen backed by hordes of goblins, and with little religious/moral ambiguity so expect A LOT of necromancy.

The dunmer are a broken people, the temple was the only thing that united the squabbling houses and even that is gone, not to mention their entire province is made of lava now.

*concur*
now lets all stop arguing about useless stuff

» Sat May 28, 2011 4:10 pm

It's a real shame we don't have Deadliest Warrior to resolve this. (In deep voiceover) We have the magical powers of the Altmer versus the skills of the Dunmer. Who. Is. Deadliest?

My vote was for the Dunmer - I didn't look at potential classes, or levels, but just the basic skills, attributes, and strengths/ weaknesses. The versatility and resilience of the Dunmer is hard to beat.

» Sun May 29, 2011 2:01 am

I think, as many others have mentioned, it will depend a lot on the circumstances. What level, what specializations, what kind of battle? In melee, I think a well-balanced Dunmer will win. If the Altmer gets his magick started at a distance, I think the Altmer will win.

» Sat May 28, 2011 10:42 am

Tabris, all the Dunmer has to do is flick his wrist and the Altmer's dead. It's really more of a quick-draw.

» Sat May 28, 2011 10:04 pm

In this topic, people who know nothing about lore. The altmer were the most powerful race in TES. The only way the Imperials managed to beat them was by attacking them with a god-machine. They fly birds made out of the sun which can destroy armies, really, stop looking at this from "lol morrowind dunmer are gratast" perspective. Look at this from the lore, objectively.

» Sat May 28, 2011 1:35 pm

We're talking one vs. one, Walrus.

» Sat May 28, 2011 10:33 pm

We're talking one vs. one, Walrus.

In that case dunmer, but in an war situation at the times where morrowind had the tribunal an all out fight between them would have many wounded goblins and dunmer and the altmers would end up winning when you have many sorcerers over 4000 years old don't ya think three of 'em would be able to take out a false god?

» Sun May 29, 2011 12:38 am

i still say 1 on 1 an altmer would beat a dunmer because an altmer can be a great mage a dunmer cant really be great at anything theyre good at a lot of things but never great

» Sun May 29, 2011 1:26 am

The Telvanni sorcerers are very good as well, not as much so as Altmer sorcerers, but they could still be a difference maker.

It just all depends on the situation.

Warrior vs. Warrior - Dunmer
Mage vs. Mage - Altmer
Battlemage vs. Battlemage - Could go both ways
Army vs. Army - Could also go both ways.
Dunmer with Tribunal vs Altmer - Dunmer without a doubt.

» Sat May 28, 2011 11:53 am

i think an army of mages is enough to beat the dunmer and their false gods all but dagoth ur were getting weaker anyway and the altmer would revive their friendship with valenwood if things got out of control the altmer had an empire it took a god machine to beat them and that machine is no longer around

» Sat May 28, 2011 11:31 am

Fantasy races are all about balance.

Orsimer are big warriors with tons of strength and low magical points. Their foil are the Altmer who are frail tall people with very low fighting stats but very high magical ones.

Because there are three (Mage, Warrior, Thief) there's an equal amount of points distributed between the races. You get those who're high in one skill, like Altmer, Orsimer, and Khajiit. Then you get the "strongly inclined" people, such as Bosmer, Bretons, Nords, Argonians. Then you get the "Slightly Inclined" people, like Redguards, Dunmer. And then you get the token "We're equally good and bad at everything" race, AKA the Imperials. All with equal amounts of points distributed to the stats to ensure they're equal.

They do that so everybody who cares about stats don't go running to one specific race while the others feel neglected.

» Sat May 28, 2011 3:45 pm

We all are talking about nice stats boosts dunmer have, like blade, sneak (lots of are just some +5 mod, not really that deal), etc., but we are forgetting something really important: enchant.

In Morrowind one of the more useful ability is enchant, which not only permit to create magic items, but govern how much an item is consumed when used, and along the game become a very important ability that can transform even a non-mage character into an amazing "fake" sorcerer. And who have the really best boosts in enchant? Altmer!

Yes, still vulnerable to fire frost magic etc etc etc, but can create defending items for easy, and take your ass with a copper ring with poison, lol.

» Sat May 28, 2011 3:13 pm

While the dark elf might get in a solid hit with his bow, the altmer would simply have enough mana to regenerate the lost health before the dark elf then casts his destruction spell and switches to melee. By the time they clash together, the altmer would have put up an armor spell around him, either by summoning or using alteration. His magicka pool wouldn't be empty yet and he could easily cast a long lasting absorb health spell on the dunmer and then they'd start fighting in melee. While the dunmer would pack more punch in melee, the constant absorb health spell would be too much for the dunmer as the altmers magicka pool recharges faster than the dunmers, he could then either powerfully heal himselves or paralyze the dunmer or cast another absorb health spell. Magic wins over someone who spreadsheets over bow, destruction and blade.

» Sat May 28, 2011 7:55 pm

Well, they're designed to be equal. I reckon Dunmer would beat an Altmer of the same skill one on one, so long as he used fire spells, because Altmer have elemental weakness.

» Sat May 28, 2011 12:09 pm

I think they have different strengths. The Altmer is clearly the best mages in that world and their culture is the dominant in the Empire(not sure about the Mede empire though). The Psijic Order was the first know order to study magic in a high standard.
The Dunmer are better warriors and assassins in general, they also have some powerful sorcerers, and their culture is very traditional.
I would say that the Dunmer is the strongest of them, but not much stronger due too large political in-fighting.

» Sat May 28, 2011 10:04 pm

Well, they're designed to be equal. I reckon Dunmer would beat an Altmer of the same skill one on one, so long as he used fire spells, because Altmer have elemental weakness.

Or shock spells. Or frost spells.

» Sat May 28, 2011 11:13 pm

I think Altmer are a bit stronger but dunmer are obviously just a bit tougher in constitution aside from the fire resistance feat. An altmer would be pvssyring his teeth shivering during the winter while the dunmer would be feeling a bit more perky for a fight.
Strength wise they both have hundreds of years to get stronger they wouldn't need steroids to get a physique like arnold schwarzenegger did in his peak, work on their agility and be more skilled with weapons and spells, but the altmers tend to be taller and would have a size and reach advantage.

» Sat May 28, 2011 9:31 pm

I think Altmer are a bit stronger but dunmer are obviously just a bit tougher in constitution aside from the fire resistance feat. An altmer would be pvssyring his teeth shivering during the winter while the dunmer would be feeling a bit more perky for a fight.
Strength wise they both have hundreds of years to get stronger they wouldn't need steroids to get a physique like arnold schwarzenegger did in his peak, work on their agility and be more skilled with weapons and spells, but the altmers tend to be taller and would have a size and reach advantage.

Why would Dunmer be more cold resistant? They have no stat to suggest this, and in fact, much of Morrowind, due to Red Mountain, is quite hot (see PGE).

» Sat May 28, 2011 6:46 pm

Why would Dunmer be more cold resistant? They have no stat to suggest this, and in fact, much of Morrowind, due to Red Mountain, is quite hot (see PGE).

I don't think of them as more resistant to it as just less effected, if you know what I mean. Even in a hot spot the altmer would be sweating himself into dehydration while the dunmer is just fine. I always assumed the high elves were more effected by all elements not just magicka produced like if a dunmer could handle a very hot skooma pipe without hurting himself just like a hot potatoe to him and he can brush it off the altmer would singe his hand pretty badly and need a bandage or whatever.

» Sat May 28, 2011 11:17 pm

I've played both characters, and I have found that they excel in different ways.

On the plus side...Dunmers are quite deadly when played the way the game suggests, switching between bow and ranged spells for long distance fighting and the sword and touch spells for close quarters. The fire resistance is such a life-saver in Oblivion as well. On the down side though...my Dunmers tend to get every freakin' disease in the game. I mean a zombie or a wild creature just looks at them the wrong way then bam...sick Dunmer. Also their magicka is much more limited than an Altmers so they really can't rely on casting many spells, or even very powerful spells.

On the plus size for Altmers...magic, magic magic. Taking a birthsign that adds to magicka in addition to their already high starting magicka and high starting intelligence means that you can cast mad amount of spells. And later in the game you can cast some spectacular spells that can obliterate enemies before they even have much chance to react. So later in the game their weaknesses aren't nearly as much of an issue (especially when you add in enchanted items with elemental resistance). I also love the 75% disease resistance. My Altmer never got sick (and then got stuck with all of the annoying stat drains that come with it), while my Dunmers got sick constantly. Of course on the downside...before they get some type elemental resistance they are vulnerable to all magical attacks. This is really annoying and deadly in the first part of the game.

yh. I once saw a thread in a forum where posters were discussing the toughest possible player and the thread went on to say similar to what you have said.

They were agreeing that a magic user will eventually have the upper hand (or something to that effect) and they agreed that an Altmer who was an all out magic user born under a certain birth sign was one of the toughest possible characters you can have as it gives the maximum amount of magicka etc that any player can have.

Something along those lines any way.

» Sat May 28, 2011 10:50 pm

Dunmer got my vote as they are much better balance warriors than the Altmer. However, the Altmer are more influential and would probably put up a good fight being so powerful magic-wise. If the two races were to come to blows, the Bosmer might side with the Altmer so I don't think the two races would ever go to war against each other alone. Personally I like both races, but I like the Dunmer better as the Chimer.

» Sun May 29, 2011 1:35 am

Dunmer have a higher strength score, so...

» Sat May 28, 2011 5:15 pm

Dunmer all the way. You're going to die in here 'high' elf, you're going to die.