Is that strictly history and literature and the like? Or is that every written document including letters, jounrals, quest items, etc.?
Because when I say lore I mean backstories and culture, strictly.
As in-- the fact that there are physically no stairs in Telvanni architecture and the fact that Redguard Taverns have different layouts from Breton taverns as lore.
But I would not consider the package for Caius Cosades or the fishy stick book lore, even though they are books.
I counted books like those two, as well, but not letters or notes in scroll form. I counted journals and ingame descriptions of the history of lockpicking, manuals of armor, alchemical manuals, etc. All books as listed in the UESP were part of the tallies. Letters such as the Akaviri messenger's diary, the letters found in Vilverin, the letter rolled up in Rosethorn Hall, and the translated slabs in Sideways Cave were not included in my count. Certain things that were brought into Morrowind from Daggerfall, but in an edited form(The Real Barenziah series and the Brief History of the Empire series, for example) were included in my count. Books that were brought directly over in unaltered forms(The Wild Elves in the Daggerfall/Morrowind transition and Mixed Unit Tactics in the Morrowind/Oblivion transition, for example) were not included in my count. I counted each book in a series as a separate book(Daggerfall's 12-part King Edward series and 10-part The Real Barenziah series, for example). I also included what may be considered outdated(Daggerfall's The Faerie, for example, despite Faeries being cut from the final game and despite the fact that they've never actually been seen in an Elder Scrolls game). I did include quest items because they do give some interesting lore, but only if they were in book form. For example:
http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Brenus_Astis%27_Journal
http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Lithnilian%27s_Research_Notes
http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Divine_Metaphysics
I also included light-hearted stories and joke books. Who could forget the famous Daggerfall book of jokes?:
How is your wife," asked Zalither.
"She's in bed with laryngitis," replied Harlyth.
"Is that Argonian bastard back in town again?"
"I keep seeing spots before my eyes."
"Have you seen a healer?"
"No, just spots."
A big Nord named Julgen was set on by a gang of thieves. He fought them furiously, but in the end, they beat him into semiconsciousness. They searched his pockets and discovered that he only had three gold pieces on him.
"Do you mean to tell us you fought us like a mad lupe for three lousy gold pieces?" sneered one of the thieves.
"No," answered Julgen. "I was afraid you were after the four hundred gold pieces in my boot."
During the War of Betony, the Bretons in the Isle of Craghold were under siege for several days. After the island was liberated, Lord Bridwell found the ruins of the castle where a crowd of survivors were hidden away in the dark. It was going to be a difficult job freeing them, as part of the roof had collapsed trapping them all within. Bridwell stuck his head in the only opening and shouted to the Bretons below: "Are there any expectant mothers down there?"
"It's hard to say, your Lordship," said a young woman. "We've only been down here for a few days."
An elderly Breton met with an contemporary of his at a guild meeting. "Harryston, old man, I wanted to express my sympathy. I hear that you buried your wife last week."
"Had to, old boy," replied Harryston. "Dead, you know."
Why was the Sentinel army so useless during the War of Betony?
The cannons were too heavy, so all three garbage scows sunk.
What does a new Sentinel private learn first as a combat technique?
How to retreat.
What is the thinnest book in the world?
Redguard Heroes of the War of Betony.
A Dark Elf man killed his wife after catching her making love with another man.
When the magistrate asked him why he killed her instead of her lover, the man replied, "I considered it better to kill one woman than a different man every week."
A Dark Elf woman was being shown around Daggerfall. When she was shown the magnificent Castle Daggerfall, she smiled sweetly to her guild and whispered, "It reminds me of six."
"That's odd," said her guild. "Why does our Castle Daggerfall remind you of six?"
The Dark Elf sighed, "Everything does."
Yelithah told Vathysah that she was having dinner with a Dark Elf named Morleth that night.
"I hear he's an animal," said Vathysah. "He'll rip your dress right off you."
"Thank you for telling me," said Yelithah, "I'll be sure to wear an old dress."
How do separate sailors in the Khajiiti navy?
With a hammer and tongs.
"This orchard has sentimental value to me," said Mojhad, the Khajiit, to his friend, Hasillid. "Under that tree, for example, is where I first made love. And that tree, is where her mother stood, watching us."
"She watched you while you made love to her daughter?" said Hasillid, clearly impressed. "Didn't she say anything?"
"Meow."
What do you call a Wood Elf who doesn't lie or cheat or steal?
A dead Wood Elf.
» Tue May 17, 2011 1:46 pm 
I think both games (Morrowind and Oblivion) delivered with this in mind. You have 10 unique races to chose from, plenty of skills to specialize in. Theres so many quests for your character to explore. You are completely free to join various guilds and you are free to explore a big, living world. No one makes open world games like Bethesda.
