It seems strange that they have technology to manufacture sawmills, houses and ability to use magic to their advantage yet they can't invent a pellet propelled weapon.

Fair enough but I wasn't saying they shouldn't invent such weapons, just that shipping, piracy etc don't nead canons in order to happen.

Why, when there is magic? Same reason there aren't any doctors.

I guess that's true, but it seems a bit primitive for such an advanced civilisation, and would add something interesting to the series, but the problem is that then no-one would use bows, which is a no no.

As well Skyrim has clockwork traps and a mechanical sawmill and in RL the first gun was invented 100 years before the first sawmill, so there's a good reason to guns, even if they are clockwork and flintwork/musket firearms.

It's a flavour thing, TES just doesn't and shouldn't have guns. This is a different world, with it's own history and lore, different values.

OP: The Elder Scrolls does not follow the timeline of medieval Britain, as I said above. This is interesting though, as some people just assume this series is a medieval game with a sprinkling of fantasy elements, when it is soo not!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Actium

Epic naval battles don't need cannons.

Should Mario games have guns?
Should Zelda games have guns?

Bullet Bill and Bob-omb disagree lol

If they ever made an Elder Scrolls that is set in a near to present time, I would stop playing the series forever. It would basically be COD.

What about 15th century Muskets?

I think peeps should start thinking with a broader perspective than just no it shouldn't be so, go play Fallout etc etc.

You think mills and houses are the same stage in technology as guns?

No. But the first gun was made in the 13th century and the first sawmill was invented in the 14th century. And Tamriel's provinces have been civilised for nearly 5000 years yet they haven't invented firearms yet.

Guns simply dont belong to TES universe. I would ruin the whole feel of the game. I wouldnt mind them making a new game thought similiar to TES but sset in a world with primitive guns..

TES already has guns: Staves. I just keep hoping some 'genius' finally figures out a really big stave mounted on a boat or a wall would be a good weapon...That way sieges can be more awesome (which wouldn't be hard to do actually, considering the Whiterun Siege is the best in the game...and the first...)

I just remembered how using a staff in oblivion made me think of the Jaffa rifle-staves from SG-1.

Necessity breeds invention, not time.

I'm sorry for not replying sooner to this thread, there seems to be alot of confusion here. I meant an TES "style" game, a whole new series as in depth as the Fallout and TES games but set in the 19th century, example Sherlock Holms era.

Machine guns and pistols.

The issue is simple, most simply reply No because they fear/hate change but I've yet to see a single well thought out or reasonable explination for why not.

It seems strange that humans could control fire and make beer and the pyramids, but yet they couldn't invent a pellet propelled weapon until later.

I get the feeling that Nirn doesn't have the required resources to make gunpowder, at least I hope so. Supposedly the Dwemer had cannons but because of their love of steam one can assume they were steam cannons.

There's a sawmill in Skyrim and no guns even though guns were invented 100 years before sawmills in real life.

You're comparing RL to a video game. What's more, you're comparing it to a video game in which the history and lore has NO parallels to RL.
Your argument is invalid.

On topic, I'd be happy with matchlock/flintlock firearms. They'd need a teachable skill/perk to be able to use them though, like power armour in Fallout.
This'd give people a choice as to whether to use them or not, and only giving them to high-level NPC's until the perk is taken/skill is taught would add still more choice as to whether you even encounter them or not.
The people who are screaming "NO!!!!" or saying "go play Fallout" are missing the point. Change can be good, provided it's well implemented with regards to programming and gameplay.

Maybe not as a main TES game, but it'd be interesting to see a TES Adventures game set further into the future where such technology becomes more prevalent.

And to everyone who says magic makes it irrelevant, bear in mind the Nords are for the most part mistrustful of magic and mages, so it wouldn't be out of the question to see some gunpowder tech coming out of Markath or something.