The Ending(s) of Skyrim? : V - Skyrim

» Fri Jul 16, 2010 1:29 am

How can you have different endings to this main quest?

Either
A: You successfully stop Alduin from "eating" the world or

B: Everyone dies.

You're prophesized to defeat Alduin, there's no other way around it.

AMEN!

» Fri Jul 16, 2010 8:54 am

I vote for one ending, mainly because we're in the ES universe and not the Fallout universe. On the other hand, however, I woundn't mind having alternative endings, but I'd like one.

» Fri Jul 16, 2010 12:52 pm

Multiple endings also give a game replay value like we saw in Dragon Age and Fallout. I also like how it allows the player to individuals the storyline so the game is not a carbon copy of every other game.

But you don't play TES for the ending; you play for the side quests.

Seriously, the main quest is such a tiny part of the game that if you restart the game for a different ending, you are missing the point.

» Fri Jul 16, 2010 12:24 am

Sure, the game must end with Alduin's death, but people saying that this fact means a linear main quest are being very unimaginative. Off the top of my head I can give you three different stories with the same result.

1) Hero saves World. The classic storyline, a hero emerges to face the dragons, eventually resulting in his/her victory, the destruction of his/her enemies, and the world is safe once again.

2) Antihero. The character joins the dragons, whether through greed or a general hatred of the world or other motives. However it gradually becomes clear that his/her alliance with the dragons is unworkable, whether this is through a realization that they will destroy the world, or that they will betray the character, or that the rewards they promised will never truly be granted. This leads our antihero to turn on the dragons, eventually resulting in the death of Alduin and the fall of his followers.

3) Occupation. Starts the same as antihero - joins dragons, gradually realizes an unsustainable relationship. However at this point the character convinces the dragons they could overthrow Alduin, and claim Tamriel as their own. Results in Tamriel becoming ruled by the dragons, but not destroyed, while Alduin falls.

3 examples of very different situations. An absolute ending does not necessarily denote a linear story line.

» Fri Jul 16, 2010 4:57 pm

So far, Bethesda hasn't said anything about multiple endings, but I suspect we'll get only one ending to the main quest, because Morrowind and Oblivion were both like that, and Bethesda hasn't said they plan on changing it. Now, Fallout 3 may have had multiple endings, but Fallout 3 is Fallout, not the Elder Scrolls, just because Bethesda does something in it doesn't mean they'll want to do it in Skyrim as well.

Of course, I could be wrong on this, but I think Bethesda will probably want to keep it down to one ending, after all, when you're dealing with a god bent on eating the world, there isn't much room for alternatives, either you win and save the world from becoming Alduin's latest meal, or you lose and everything gets destroyed, and I think we can safely say Bethesda likely has no intention to do the latter option.

If the game end at the end of the main quest it's quite easy to have multiple endings, just show different video at the end. Daggerfall had multiple endings but the only effect on your world changing decision was some reward and better relation with the winning faction.

Branching during the main quest as you could choose between getting a huge treasure or save a town is quite possible as it's limited.