Any gamers around here?

[Blackleaf]

I believe Morrowind was the game to first introduce M'aiq the Liar as well. Probably just introduced as a fun little Easter egg, but he's since grown into a self-aware, fourth-wall breaking being, saying things that people within this universe shouldn't be saying. He's like his universe's version of Deadpool. There's a fan theory floating around that he's actually a god in disguise. I'd wager Lorkhan, the god who is either famous or infamous depending on who you ask for deceiving the other Aedra into giving up their power to create the mortal realm. Lorkhan is known as the dead god. The Nords called him "Shor," and Mundus was literally "Shor's bones." When you visit Sovngarde in Skyrim, he has a throne, but it is empty. Supposedly because he is dead, but gods don't really die. They are transformed. Lorkhan the Liar, disguised as M'aiq the Liar, makes sense to me. Maybe he's lost most of his power, having had his heart ripped out of him and thrown into the mountain, and so he's cursed to living in mortal form. Is it a coincidence that his first appearance is in Vvardenfell, near where Lorkhan's heart formed the Red Mountain? Maybe, maybe not.

[Mr.Obvious]

I was just going to play control for one hour, it turned into three.
Addictive game, kind of alan wake meets the matrix meets the X-Files.

[Hydra009]

I'd wager Lorkhan, the god who is either famous or infamous depending on who you ask for deceiving the other Aedra into giving up their power to create the mortal realm. Lorkhan is known as the dead god.

Lorkhan was an underappreciated genius.  He masterminded the creation of a world of struggle - an arena - where spirits may compete or cooperate or go off on solitary journeys to become greater than they once were.  Limitation as a necessary step in growth and eventually, transcendence.  The Psijics endeavor thus.

[Blackleaf]

Lorkhan was an underappreciated genius.  He masterminded the creation of a world of struggle - an arena - where spirits may compete or cooperate or go off on solitary journeys to become greater than they once were.  Limitation as a necessary step in growth and eventually, transcendence.  The Psijics endeavor thus.

Are you familiar with the concept of Chim? You probably are. It's a state of being that mortals can somehow achieve, where they realize that they both exist and don't exist. If a person reaches this state, but is unable to resolve the contradiction, they poof out of existence. But if they can accept their reality, then they become a god. This leads me to believe one of two possibilities. The first possibility is that the world of The Elder Scrolls is just a dream, and everyone in it is a character in that dream. Achieving Chim means coming to accept that one is both a thinking entity that exists, as well as the product of the dreamer's mind. Or...and this is an idea that's been brewing in my head for a while, The Elder Scrolls universe is just a game. I mean...it is just a game, obviously, but I mean within its own lore, it is a video game. The gods of the universe are the developers. Heck, many of the gods are named after real people who worked, or at least helped out, at Bethesda. I learned this recently in an interview with one of the original creators, who wrote the stories for Arena, Daggerfall, and Morrowind. Akatosh is named after the signoff someone named Laurence Sadousky used in his emails, which went "Laurence Sadousky, also known as the old Smaug himself."

Also
Known
As
The
Old
Smaug
Himself

In this case, Chim is just realizing that you are a character within a video game series. This is how M'aiq is able to break the fourth wall, because he knows the truth. This may also make sense of the Elder Scrolls. That is, the legendary items within the games. The Elder Scrolls tell of legends within the series. They map out the lore. So when they say that everything the scrolls say is true, including the falsehoods, "especially the falsehoods," they're not just speaking nonsense. You, as the player, can literally do whatever you want. Forget the main quest, if you want to. The Elder Scrolls, both the games and the items, tell of what may be, not of what will be. They allow freedom for the player to do as they wish with the sandbox provided to them. Heck, if there's something you want to do that the vanilla game doesn't allow, you can even mod it if you want to. Have sex with Paarthurnax, if you want to. It's not "canon," but you can do it.

[Hydra009]

And because all of it is a dream, it can change abruptly without reason or continuity.  A sandbox for both player and creator.

[Mike Cl]

Got the menu problem solved.  Figured out how to drop an item.  Am having problems attacking a crab--I have a dagger, but cannot seem to hit the damn thing!  Kicking my ass--actually, killed me.  Not quite sure what I'm going to do--struggle on, I guess.  I'm trying to remember what I did the last time I played the game--that was years, and years, and years ago.  Yeah, a bit sheepish about this--I do play FO4 on its highest rating and do well.  :) (Weak grin)

[Hydra009]

Got the menu problem solved.  Figured out how to drop an item.  Am having problems attacking a crab--I have a dagger, but cannot seem to hit the damn thing!  Kicking my ass--actually, killed me.  Not quite sure what I'm going to do--struggle on, I guess.  I'm trying to remember what I did the last time I played the game--that was years, and years, and years ago.  Yeah, a bit sheepish about this--I do play FO4 on its highest rating and do well.  :) (Weak grin)

Missing excessively is a common problem.  The first thing is to apprehend that Morrowind is essentially a pen-and-paper RPG translated into 3D, not an action RPG like Oblivion or Skyrim.  Combat operates on a RNG hit/miss system based on your stats.  So you'll need to increase your short blade skill, agility, and possibly luck (can't go wrong with more luck).  Also, make sure your fatigue bar isn't depleted when you get in combat.  Rats are the weakest enemy, iirc, though mudcrabs are only slightly tougher and much slower.  They can be tough at first, but a little practice and you'll start mowing through them like a hot knife through butter!

Trainers in Balmora (and other towns) can help raise your skills.  And leveling up raises your attributes, which also helps.

And as far as things to do, I just made a new character myself, so I can point you in the right direction.  First off, head to Balmora from the starting zone of Seyda Neen (you almost can't miss it, but feel free to take Seyda Neen's silt strider if you wish), and be sure to pick up any mushrooms/flowers you see on the way.  They'll come in handy later.  Deliver the package to Caius Cosades, he's in the house in the NE part of Balmora.

Next, join whatever guilds you like.  Mages Guild, Fighters Guild, Thieves Guild - they're all in Balmora.  The first two have equipment chests at several cities just for you.  Very helpful and you can always sell whatever you don't need.  The first few Mages Guild quests in Balmora are super easy for a lowbie and that's where the flowers/mushrooms come in.  If you missed any, don't fret.  You'll either find them sooner or later in your journeys or just buy them from vendors.

When you feel up to it, head north to Caldera (if you prefer, the Mages Guild can teleport you for a trivial fee).  Plenty of rats and mildly difficult enemies along that road to help level up your combat skills.  In Caldera, there's a house in the eastern part of the city called Ghorak Manor.  If you go in and walk to the second floor, you'll meet Creeper, your new best friend.  He buys weapons/armor without gypping you off and he has deep pockets.  He's your ticket to wealth beyond measure.  While you're there, you can steal all the Orcish armor in Ghorak Manor's third floor without penalty - they'll object but they won't try to stop you or put a bounty on your head.  Sell it to Creeper for a huge chunk of change.  And don't forget to stop by the town's Trader, he has lots of enchanted items at bargain prices.

If those trinkets aren't enough - if you want real power - head NW from Caldera along the trail from Caldera's North Gate and you'll find a Redguard woman named Pemenie.  Offer to escort her and either take her to her destination or off her if you wish for the famed Boots Of Blinding Speed.  Once you have them, don't put them on quite yet, head to Vivec City - specifically the Temple canton and the High Fane building.  A merchant there sells magic resist potions for like 12 coins a pop and instantly restocks.  All you have to do is buy 13 of those potions, chug all of them at the same time for 100% magic resist, and put the boots on.  Bam!  You're faster than Quicksilver and with none of the blindness!

Those basic steps should make the game MUCH easier.

[Mike Cl]

Made another character--Redguard mele, long blade.  More is coming back the longer I attempt to get going.  Thanks for the tips.

[Hydra009]

Made another character--Redguard mele, long blade.  More is coming back the longer I attempt to get going.  Thanks for the tips.

Redguard is the perfect choice for a melee-oriented character.  Excellent skill bonuses and top-tier racial power.

[Shiranu]

Almost bought Morrowind just to see if it's actually so good, but unfortunately I lost my wallet and currently don't have a credit card so... might get it in a few days, idk.

[Hydra009]

Almost bought Morrowind just to see if it's actually so good, but unfortunately I lost my wallet and currently don't have a credit card so... might get it in a few days, idk.

I lost my copy long ago, but about two years ago, Bethesda was giving it out for free if you download their game launcher.  Limited time offer, unfortunately.  It's currently marked down to less than 4 bucks at Good Old Games right now.  It's often heavily marked down on Steam, GoG, and Humble Bundle, so just keep an eye out.  It wouldn't surprise me if there was another giveaway coinciding with a TES VI announcement or (Akatosh willing) release.

[Shiranu]

t's currently marked down to less than 4 bucks at Good Old Games right now.

That's good to know, was gonna buy on steam for 14.

[Hijiri Byakuren]

Almost bought Morrowind just to see if it's actually so good, but unfortunately I lost my wallet and currently don't have a credit card so... might get it in a few days, idk.

It has its flaws, and the combat system and graphics have not aged well. In particular, there are a few quests that give you totally incorrect directions (in a game with no quest markers). But the rest of the game is good enough that I consider even its major flaws forgivable.

Luckily it's as easy to mod as the later Bethesda games, made even easier by the recent release of OpenMW. So it's not too hard to patch up while still preserving the vanilla experience.

[Hydra009]

A lot of quests are really hard to figure out without consulting UESP and/or an online world map.  Not just locating people, but also how to go about doing the quest.  The game takes a very hands-off approach and probably should've given new players more guidance for those crucial first couple levels.  The game literally tells you that you're on your own very shortly after character creation lol.

I also use OpenMW.  Definitely recommend.

Yesterday, I downloaded a mod that replaces the default death music with the medieval coffin dance song.  It makes dying 80% less rage-inducing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDmB76y7jFs

[Shiranu]

Just got it on GoG, so now begins the obligatory modding period for any Beth game lol.