The Throat of the World : V - Skyrim

» Wed Sep 01, 2010 6:26 pm

I definitely want to climb it. I'd like it to be a scripted event, where you go on and climb and there's these gales of wind and music accompanying you as you make your heroic ascent... It should give you the feeling that this is your true destiny, and when you reach the top the Greybeards will bow before you and speak your name... Thus you become the Dovakiin.

Of course, the name thing will be the same for everyone but mean something ceremonial in some language.

Amazing idea. I think that would be just incredible and one of the most memorable gaming experiences ever.

» Wed Sep 01, 2010 9:39 pm

Everyone should at least experience climbing the stairs once. Woohoo, I finally reached the top!

Only after that you should be able to fast travel to the top.

» Wed Sep 01, 2010 8:32 pm

7000 steps up a mountain - am I the only one intensely suspicious that a Dragon will ambush us halfway through?

» Wed Sep 01, 2010 8:49 pm

I'd actually like to see Stamina costs for walking up the steps, and your character begin to pant heavily as they get more and more tired. Then just when you think, I need to rest lets take a moment to look a the view, have some nasty critter jump out!

bliviongate:

» Wed Sep 01, 2010 7:54 pm

I'm not going to run up the steps, I'll walk. One step at a time. Epic.

I'm probably just gonna tap the "jump" button all the way up... if it's still like MW and OB

» Wed Sep 01, 2010 11:30 pm

7000 steps up a mountain - am I the only one intensely suspicious that a Dragon will ambush us halfway through?

You're not the only one. I'm betting on a particularly nasty dragon turning up at the most opportune moment, eg. when we're out of stamina 50 steps from the top.

» Wed Sep 01, 2010 12:21 pm

This topic is hyping me more than any other. I am very much looking forward to these steps.

» Wed Sep 01, 2010 8:52 am

i think it would be awesome if a dragon attacked you as you were going up, and an epic battle would ensue

edit: why are some of you people actually planning on counting the steps? who cares if they're a few off, it's a damn game

» Wed Sep 01, 2010 10:25 am

why are some of you people actually planning on counting the steps? who cares if they're a few off, it's a damn game

There will be 7000. Count on it (no pun intended).

» Wed Sep 01, 2010 10:44 pm

I'm picturing a multi-stage battle (if a dragon does interrupt our climb), where we fight the monster off only for it to come at us again further up.

edit: why are some of you people actually planning on counting the steps? who cares if they're a few off, it's a damn game

We're joking, I think (I certainly was). Todd's even mentioned counting them, since the art guys promised him all 7000 steps (or something along those lines; I forget the source).

» Wed Sep 01, 2010 9:54 am

I'm sure the steps will cut into the mountain (interior cells). This will help reduce lag when confronting an epic enemy.

:foodndrink:

» Wed Sep 01, 2010 10:58 am

There will be 7000. Count on it (no pun intended).

Even if there's not, I'm sure there will quickly be a mod released that adds one step or so!

» Wed Sep 01, 2010 11:20 pm

I'm sure the steps will cut into the mountain (interior cells). This will help reduce lag when confronting an epic enemy.

:foodndrink:

I seriously doubt a few stair sprites would cause any kind of significant lag. No more than the same amount of trees and bushes, which are everywhere anyway.

» Wed Sep 01, 2010 7:23 pm

I seriously doubt a few stair sprites would cause any kind of significant lag. No more than the same amount of trees and bushes, which are everywhere anyway.

It will depend on the LOD. If Skyrim is below, I'm sure a dramatic fog/ mist will be used (in addition to interior cells) to help the game run smoothly

» Wed Sep 01, 2010 1:11 pm

edit: why are some of you people actually planning on counting the steps? who cares if they're a few off, it's a damn game

no its THE damn game

» Wed Sep 01, 2010 10:28 am

It will depend on the LOD. If Skyrim is below, I'm sure a dramatic fog/ mist will be used (in addition to interior cells) to help the game run smoothly

Steps will probably be very low-res LOD. And then there is a object distance for full detail. LOD can be handled much easier now than in Oblivion. There might even be a chance you can't see all the steps from distant, since they would be ... small? Maybe, or maybe not.

Still, if you think the steps will cause the game to lag, then I think you're living in a 5 years old world of computer-technology.

» Wed Sep 01, 2010 8:38 am

Just to clarify, the steps wont cause the problems, the distant terrain will. Especially if you are 3000 steps up with Skyrim beneath you. No doubt the LOD will be low res to help.

Console gamers are living with 5 year old technology........

» Wed Sep 01, 2010 1:25 pm

Just to clarify, the steps wont cause the problems, the distant terrain will. Especially if you are 3000 steps up with Skyrim beneath you. No doubt the LOD will be low res to help.

Console gamers are living with 5 year old technology........

On consoles, all distant LOD is usually lowered, along with other things. It depends on how well the game runs though.
Anyway, here's an excellent example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WJG14uLA3k
First image slide shows the difference in LOD.

» Wed Sep 01, 2010 10:12 pm

I hope it reminds me of Durin's Stairs... though I've never seen them but I'm sure they're both epic and awesome

» Thu Sep 02, 2010 12:02 am

On consoles, all distant LOD is usually lowered, along with other things. It depends on how well the game runs though.
Anyway, here's an excellent example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WJG14uLA3k
First image slide shows the difference in LOD.

That is quite a difference! Anyway, I'm sure the steps will be implemented well for all platforms. :foodndrink:

» Wed Sep 01, 2010 4:21 pm

7000 steps, or I will demand a refund!!! :swear:

Thankfully, I think someone (Todd?) already said that there would indeed be 7000 steps to climb in order to visit the Greybeards. :goodjob:

» Wed Sep 01, 2010 9:31 pm

It might not be 7000 stair steps, but 7000 character steps. In any case, I expect more and more fog, the higher up we climb. The game can not come soon enough.

» Wed Sep 01, 2010 8:16 pm

If you think about it, 7,000 steps isn't all that huge. I mean, you'd happily run downevery corridor of a dungeon which is at least 7,000 steps, so what's different about a mountain? I'm sure if it's that long of a journey there will be plent of loot and monsters on the way anyhow.

» Wed Sep 01, 2010 6:20 pm

I'm pretty sure you can go up it on horseback. It won't be a big deal.

» Wed Sep 01, 2010 1:07 pm

The steps will not cause any performance challenge. Bethesda's rendering engine uses your viewpoint, only rendering visible polys. For example, if there is a house or a large rock in the way, the terrain behind it is not rendered until it comes into view.

In this way, you can bet the 7000 steps will not be a straight path. The stairs will wind up the mountain, so that the engine will only have to render a limited portion of them at once.

Moreover, they've already spoken about their improvements in lod scaling. Father-away objects will scale down in polygonal complexity, allowing a vast draw distance with better details and smoother transitions than ever before.