I want to defend more modern Bethesda writing, but I can't. It's not a shitshow, really, but it is far more... Smoothed out feeling. I don't know how to describe it. It's like holding a piece of unpolished granite, then touching a granite counter top. They're the same, but one is (by far) more tactile. Even if it can be unpleasant in some places, the lumps, bumps, and ridges are more interesting to explore. No matter how shiny the counter top is, or how nice it is in your house, there's no denying the latter is going to stick to the mind better.
I remember watching my dad play Morrowind when it first came out on the og Xbox. He would sneak into my room (that’s where the Xbox was most of the time) when he thought I was sleeping just to sneak in a couple more hours. I remember he intentionally avoided completing the assault on dagoth ur quest because he didn’t want the adventure to end. He wanted to explore every nook and cranny in this world and honestly I play it the same way now.
I love these videos! How you explain why the merchants were broken because of how the game mechanics work was so dope man, I can't believe that they put a broken merch in there just for a bet lmao I would def like to see a "why modern bethesda writing falls flat" video with you comparing the two styles Loved the vid man and subbed to the patreon, keep it up!
First off I just want to say I love the video and the series thus far. I've been a die-hard Morrowind fan since I was a teen so when I see new blood throwing their hat in the ancient and venerable "Morrowind Retrospective" ring I stay awhile and listen. (To borrow a phrase from ANOTHER game series and developer whose legacy just seems to outgrow it further with every new entry.) But what I wanted to comment on was actually a connection between the (admittedly VERY jank) gear progression of Morrowind and that very key detail you touched on at the very end of the video. If I was to point out 1 actual clear-cut design CHOICE (as opposed to design circumstance, like the view-distance) that separates Morrowind from the rest of the Bethesda catalogue from Oblivion onward, it's this: Morrowind encourages you to make multiple characters, but many of the reasons WHY you'd want to make those different characters don't really present themselves in the super early game. Pulling a fast one on Fargoth plays out the exact same for your: Mages-Guild-Outcast-Turned-Prospective-Telvanni character as it does for your: Nord-Who-Wants-To-Join-Redoran-Because-History-Books-Give-Him-Indigestion character. So one of the ways I've always viewed the "The Sword That Slays The Darkness in the trashcan behind the local Denny's" is as a type of short-cut or fast-forward button for experienced players. You've done the early stuff a billion times so knowing to pick up the Iron Shardaxe from the stump by the Lighthouse or the Mentor's Ring from a short walk into the Swamp depending on you're character's spec is basically just a way to get you to "the good bit" (whatever you personally define that to be, cause I'll bet you money it ain't located south of Balmora and west of Suran) faster. After all, it's not like a first time player would know to even look given the sheer breadth of possible venues for exploration. (The "Iceblade of the Monarch" IS an outlier I will grant you. But for what it is worth I personally did find it as a result of the Imperial Cult Questline and for the longest time just assumed that Llaren Terano didn't spawn in before you picked up the Quest.) Now, 1 very important personal detail about me that probably explains why I feel that way is that I am absolute a pure RP goblin. Even in Skyrim where having multiple characters is basically entirely pointless I still have over a Dozen different characters. As such I generally end up playing the beginning sections of these games a LOT, so these ways to "cheat" progression end up being massive helps to me. I do recognize our different opinion on this part of the system is largely due to our diametrically opposite preferences for how to play games like this. (And I do stress "this detail pertaining to the system" cause I am NOT arguing that the system itself is flawless. This is prime FDA certified Bethesda spaghetti design we're dealing with here.) But that just makes me all the more intrigued by the potential future videos in this series. You stated all the way at the first episode that your goal was to bring some fresh air into the conversation about this game and seeing as you've already raised points I've rarely if ever heard. (Or at the very least worded common points in a way I have not heard, not a inconsequential achievement given the amount of work that already exists on this game). I'd say you are doing a grand job thus far, and I will be eagerly awaiting the next installment. Or as the friendly neighborhood Ordinator's would put it. "I'm Watching you.. Scum."
Yeah, when I was talking about hard jumping the progression curve I was mostly talking about things like the sword of white woe sitting on a shelf in Suran, or the free orcish armor in Ghorak Manor. Stuff that is easy to find and easy to steal on a first playthrough. I am glad to hear the positive comments in general, I really do think I have a different take compared to most of the videos about this game (almost all of which I have seen). People have been in a feedback loop, repeating the same like 6 things for the last decade and Morrowind is a big game with a lot to talk about, so seeing the same points over and over just drives me nuts.
i never thought deadric weaposn were rare since there was so many places you could buy a summon weapon right at the start of the game and then break the game entirely XD
Hi man, I really enjoy your videos about Morrowind. It must take balls to radically change your content all of a sudden and I think you deserve more visibility. I myself would like to make videos where I talk about Morrowind and TES games but my English is a bit broken and I don't have the courage to do it :/ Please keep it up :) ❤
