I know there have been many "what race are you going to be =O?" topics, this is *sort of* one. Considering Skyrim is heavily themed on the nords, do you think theres a possibility that Nords might be too focused on in the main story line? I have no doubt Bethesda have made it as equal as they can, but I'm worried about it being a much better experience if you're a Nord. I personally don't want to play as one mainly due to their bonuses, I'm more going towards a Wood Elf.

Then again, I guess the idea is that playing as other races in a Nord central is meant to make you feel some what alienated from it all. I dunno, I'm probably over reacting. Basically, do you think you will be a Nord due to the Nordish theme? Or go against that

Skyrim is the land of the nords, but expect a good amount of Dunmer and orc refugees.

The Nord's always been in my top-two favorite races due to myself being of Norwegian ethnicity. Nords are the most viking-like race. This game makes me happy enough to proudly be one, despite my contrary play-style.

I realise that haha. I guess Oblivion did that heavy central thing of Argonians being slaves as well

I hope it's Nord-centered. Cyrodiil was more or less devoid of Imperial culture, instead focusing on pale imitations of the neighboring provinces cultures.

I guess that makes it easy for you then huh xD



Yeah, it looks like it will be Nord-centred. I wasn't a huge fan of the whole Imperial thing either, they annoyed me. But then again thats what made it effective I suppose.

Your in their home country. What do you think?

Hence I said that being in their home country you're meant to feel alienated. But still, its a game. There has to be some form of equality

I suppose its sort of like Deus Ex: Human Revolution giving you "heaps of choices". It does offer choice but the best way to go and most rewarded way is stealth.

You did play Morrowind right?
A good chunk was dedicated to the Ashlanders, the Telvanni were mostly Dark Elves, the Camonna Tong were a group of racist criminals, there was a quest that had you protecting an Argonian from racist Dark Elves etc etc.

The game should be centered around Nords, and there should be lots of story involving the relationships between the races. Because after all, what's the point in setting it in Skyrim if you aren't going to tell the story of Skyrim and the Nords?

Oblivion was kind of a let down in that area, but maybe that's because the Imperials have always been kind of bland IMO.



Were there that many slaves in Oblivion? In Morrowind there were cages with Argonians and Khajiits for sale in Sadrith Mora, and Suran had a slavers market.

Skyrim is the land of the Nords. It's where they come from. Saying there's too many Nords in Skyrim would be like saying there's too many Americans in the United States or there's too many Mariners fans in Seattle. It would be ridiculous to assume there's too many Nords and that Nords affect the main quest. This game is Skyrim. It's about the Nords. Skyrim=Nords. If I were playing Hammerfell I'd expect to see mostly Redguards. How is this confusing?

Yeah, I did play Morrowind. Morrowind did have a good balance though I found. I'm just hoping its the same in Skyrim =D

And yeah, in Oblivion I agree the Imperials are kind of bland.

Nords are one of the most racists of the races, right after Altmer, and Dunmer. So I doubt it.

You sure? Nords just don't like elves, whereas Altmer don't like anyone but their own race.

I'm sure the third-place is up for grabs for someone besides Nords.

The Imperial City

Refayj's famous declaration, "There is but one city in the Imperial Province,--" may strike the citizens of the Colovian west as mildly insulting, until perhaps they hear the rest of the remark, which continues, "--but one city in Tamriel, but one city in the World; that, my brothers, is the city of the Cyrodiils." From the shore it is hard to tell what is city and what is Palace, for it all rises from the islands of the lake towards the sky in a stretch of gold. Whole neighborhoods rest on the jeweled bridges that connect the islands together. Gondolas and river-ships sail along the watery avenues of its flooded lower dwellings. Moth-priests walk by in a cloud of ancestors; House Guards hold exceptionally long daikatanas crossed at intersections, adorned with ribbons and dragon-flags; and the newly arrived Western legionnaires sweat in the humid air. The river mouth is tainted red from the tinmi soil of the shore, and river dragons rust their hides in its waters. Across the lake the Imperial City continues, merging into the villages of the southern red river and ruins left from the Interregnum.

The Emperor's Palace is a crown of sun rays, surrounded by his magical gardens. One garden path is known as Green Emperor Road-here, topiaries of the heads of past Emperors have been shaped by sorcery and can speak. When one must advise Tiber Septim, birds are drawn to the hedgery head, using their songs as its voice and moving its branches for the needed expressions.

From the First Pocket Guide...

That's boring?

Its not confusing. I am aware that there are a lot of Nords, no duh. But I was just hoping its not too like..you know, if you aren't a Nord you're nobody kind of thing.

I guess this concern is formed from Oblivion, where your race didn't really do much. It just changed what they called you, really.

I don't see it. Who else is there? Bosmer, Argonians, Bretons, Redguards, Orsimer, Khajiit, and Imperials. I put my money on the Nords.

Khajiits pretty much insult everything but their own race, and Bosmer are rather snobby as well, oftentimes.

Whilst it would be wrong to make up a scale of racism, Redguards and Bretons have a genocidal hatred of orcs. The Nords, however, allowed Dunmer refugges into Skyrim.

But how much of that made it through the translation to 3d space?

They cannot possibly be "too prominent", it's THEIR homeland.

I would be expecting something similar to Morrowind, and for me, that's great news. I think the MQ is going to truly immerse us in Nordic culture just as Morrowind immersed us in Dunmeri culture. At least now there'll be more voice actors so we won't get bored of the same voice.

But you said they were always kinda bland, which I was disagreeing with.

Edit: And none if it. But I think Oblivion has been hated on for too long.

You could say the exact same thing about Morrowind, looking at the details on paper. The actual experience though was pretty flexible. You can expect the same thing in Skyrim.

That is kind of like going in to France, and asking if the french will be TO prominent. The answer is yes there are to many nords in skyrim.

That comment has a couple of difficulties. First of all, the existence of an Imperial race was a retcon in Morrowind. There were no Imperials in Arena or Daggerfall. Therefore, the only game to have made them "bland" before Oblivion would have been Morrowind. And Imperials were simply NOT bland in Morrowind, considering part of the wonder of Morrowind was the whole theme of an occupied strange land. Occupied...by Imperials.

And stylistically, they were not bland. They had a pretty definite inspiration: the Romans. If anything, the most bland race are the Bretons, but mostly because we know very little about their culture, but one really cant imagine it as being too extravagant.

Although I do feel the feeling Cyrodiil gave off was not how I pictured it at all. To be honest, it felt more like what High Rock should be.

I hope Skyrim is almost all Nords... more of them for me to kill.