This is up for debate? Really? REALLY?!

Prisoner = in jail

Everything else is putting 10s on the concept.

It limits roleplay options. It is lame. Bethesda please don't do this.

my 2 cents

You start as a prisoner in all of them.

Arena: Starts off in a prison like dungeon of some kind.

Daggerfall: Starts off with you being released by the emperor and asked to do a task in return for a full pardon.

Morrowind: Starts off with you being released from custody into Vvardenfell.

Oblivion: Starts off with you in a jail cell.

These are the only ones I've played, but I am sure you probably start in a jail cell or as a prisoner in the off-shoot games as well.

Not really. Read the thread. If not, read this:

In Arena, one start in a dungeon full of monsters just because the Final Boss does not like ya. Daggerfall, there ALOT of reason how the PC got to Daggerfall in the first place, all lead to ship wreck. In Redguard, ya start out fighting pirates. In Battlespire, one was sent to a mission to fight off Dagon himself. In Morrowind, ya got out of the boat.

Only Oblivion start out in a Prison Cell.

So long as escaping from said prison doesn't involve 40 minutes of extended, unskippable tutorial, I'm easy. The in-game character generation is a pretty nice concept, but pushed too far, and integrated with a tutorial which assumes you're totally new to games, it can make the beginning a chore.

Arena: You're still a prisoner. Just because you're the prisoner of the enemy doesn't mean you're NOT a prisoner.

Daggerfall: Yes, you end up in Daggerfall itself when your ship wrecks, but it states that you were released from prison to do a task for the emperor which required you to go to Daggerfall. Starting zone not withstanding, it clearly states you were a prisoner.

Morrowind: yes, you get out of a boat... A PRISON BOAT. You were arrested and sentenced to exile on Vvardenfell. Kinda like how the British used to send undesirables to Australia.

Note that I said you start as "a PRISONER." Not "IN A PRISON."

Created 5 characters in Daggerfall now, and I don't remember it being stated you were a prisoner at all. From what I gathered, I was a friend of the emprah.

It does in one of the pre-generated backgrounds. Not sure which one, just something about getting an ebony dagger. I'm sure whoever dug that up in a previous thread will probably copy/paste it for you.

The opening cinematic where the emperor is talking to you. He mentions he will pardon you if you do this service for him.

Why would you need a pardon if you weren't a felon?

Oh, that part. Also, I clearly remember the ebony dagger part, which was "The Emperor gave you something before you left, what was it?" and you got your choice of the dagger, small amounts of gold, gems, etc.

Of course but than again, I see it as this: the PC is a prisoner to the Main Quest and how one follow it, but even then, the intro isn't that of "prisoner".

Arena: One is stuck in a hell hole left for dead. That not being a prisoner, that just being doom to die.

Daggerfall: That just one of the template that the background is offer. One get that if one is more "stealth" like build. I got the Mage Template with the wand stopping the bandit. Even than, the template is easily forgettable and the real intro is simply just the Emperor saying ya his friend and one go to Daggerfall. No prisoner here.

Morrowind: Who say that I was prisoner and really I am agent to the Blade with a low profile? The intro is short and forgetable when one get out of the office, Hell, I can see this as a cheap fare for any immigrant to travel to Morrowind and all destiny is really handed to Jiub.

Oh, that part. Also, I clearly remember the ebony dagger part, which was "The Emperor gave you something before you left, what was it?" and you got your choice of the dagger, small amounts of gold, gems, etc.


Just watched the cinematic twice now, and the only relation you have with uriel in that cinematic is that you are his champion and friend, nothing about being pardoned. In fact, here's the intro from two different recordings.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAd4YbNlALU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niU1bRqxrIU&feature=related

i doubt that people understand that in TES4 the emperor sends you on a mission, forgiving you for your crimes, " As for what you have done, it does not matter, THAT is not what you will be remembered for" pay attention to the intro's they tell you more than you think, pluss if you were a feugative then barus would not let you go, and the first time a gaurd would see you you would go back to jail, you were pardoned for an official imperial mission

^ This is probably where I am getting it from. I only ever make stealth specialized characters.

jeeeeeh we are prisoners again!

Jeez, in denial much? You are prophesized as a prisoner. Jiub clearly says "let us go", if I remember correctly, with the connotation that you are being held against your will. You are ordered around by numerous guards. You must be "officially released", implying that you must be released from something. There is NO way that "release" papers could be misconstrued as "citizenship" papers. Just accept the fact that the main character in Morrowind is a prisoner, you're making a fool of yourself

:rofl:

http://cdn1.knowyourmeme.com/i/000/075/154/original/gJJFU.png?1286210638

Stand back prisoner! OVER BY THE WINDOW, NOW.

I agree. Jiub says, "I heard we've reached Morrowind. I'm sure they'll let us go. Quiet, here comes the guard."

Guard comes and says, "This is where you get off. Come with me...Get yourself topdeck and keep this as civil as possible."

Then the release papers?

Yeah, I agree with you, mate. The character in Morrowind is a prisoner.

By Asap's logic, the African slaves that were in the slave ships back during the slave trade were not prisoners. They were just regular passengers.

A prison ship is a prison ship. Plain and simple.

Although in Morrowind you are set free fully and legally, given all the paper work etc, given paid work and money to get you started. Which means not a prisoner anymore.

In Oblivion you are “allowed” to “escape” prison since you were put in the wrong cell accidently and the guards had no choice but to leave the door way open. After the death of the king the remaining Body Guard finds out that the king gave you a mission of the upmost importance and can’t really say no since it was the final order of the great king so again he lets you go. Oh no forgetting that the guards only let you help because they were outnumbered and the king said to let you. This kind of means you are still a escape prisoner at the end of the story, just not stuck in jail. I guess they felt you paid your dues.

I'm just keeping my fingers crossed this whole prisoner story comes with some background, or the option of adding your own touch to the situation, this time around. Please don't just stick us in a cell and call it tradition. PLEASE!?

We should start out in a prison that looks A LOT like the prisons in Oblivion.......

THEN,


As soon as we go for the door - BOOOM



You wake up, it was just a dream. You fell asleep on the caravan headed towards skyrim. Now that you have woke up you notice you made it. Skyrim and all its glory is in front of you and your first mission is to kill a MUDCRAB!

As long as they don't give my character a backstory I'll be happy. I liked how you never found out about your past in Oblivion and the prison setting at the start added a bit of mystery to it.

This, Morrowind was the first ES game to do it, Arena and Daggerfall, both gave too much bacround history for my liking