Growing up I wasn’t really in the most stable household so I couldn’t play many games. I got a switch last year and Skyrim was released on it. I’ve never been so happy to play something my kid self never got to its a masterpiece.
That's what mods are for. Like including the holidays of the provinces with actual celebrations, drinking, games for the kids, and food for the locals as well as party clothes for the people.
I don't think most people in Skyrim even knew about Alduin or the end of the world at all. They just knew Dragons were back and that it was a problem, and nothing more.
Every single faction in Skyrim has an unhealthy obsession with the past. Every. Single. One. The Dragonborn represents the movement into the future, literally turning the ruins and bones of the ancients into weapons to create a new world.
@@AroAceGamer one could say they were afraid of their past under Astrid, changing the way they operated drastically to avoid getting wiped out like most of the other chapters.
This has honestly got me thinking - the human religions of the Elder Scrolls are usually closely associated with progress and moving on, but Hammerfell is constantly fighting over the circumstances of their arrival a few thousand years ago, the guilds of Skyrim are extremely fixated on the past and their cities are ancient and look like they're still a couple centuries behind, Cyrodiil has been increasingly attempting to hold together an empire that showed hints of failing since TESIII, and High Rock - honestly, we don't know a lot about HR in the 4th era. Meanwhile, the Altmer in Alinor, whose religion literally focuses on tradition and holding on to a divine past, have actual bloody spaceships, an immense academic and intellectual class in the form of sapiarchs, scientists and teachers, and abolished their millennia-old monarchy in an unprecedented act. I can't help but wonder how things got to this point, and the irony is a bit difficult to ignore.
Skyrim would've been the most satisfying power fantasy RPG if we can actually see the world change for our actions, like rebuilding EVERY city since you CAN be thane of all holds, rebuilding Winterhold as the Archmage(can work as the new Jarl of Winterhold if you side with Imperials knows the value of having good relations with the College), destroying the thieves guild for good like Dark Brotherhood.
@@Deeveeaar also how fast you become the guilds leader. A few quest made in under 2-3 Hours and boom you are now the leader of the companions, archmage of the college, listener for the dark brotherhood and so on so forth.
@@sakuranakamura1814 yes, like in morrowind when you start joining a guild you have to do very simple tasks like kill some rats, or bring someone a message or item. Great way to start before going onto epic quests.
With the groundwork Bethesda set in FO4 with settlement building, the revealed ship building mechanic in Starfield, Hearthfire, in depth home building in ESO...it's pretty obvious they are embracing build mechanics more and more. I would wager we will see some deep building mechanics in TES6.
I like the theme Skyrim's devs chose. If only they'd been given enough time to fully flesh out the game, we could've had a game which is to the themes of decay and renewal what Morrowind is to prophecy and culture clash
Yeah I agree. As it is, lots of the lore seems to exist solely to justify lazy or incomplete implementation in the game. E.g. Winterhold or Riften being destroyed or Imperialised gods and time jump to avoid adding the Nord gods or the Thu'um university in Markarth.
@@SlavicCelery Actually many are referenced in some way already such as the draugr tomb puzzles and the claws (each animal equals a god, with the dragon as Alduin for example) Many are similar to thr Nine Divines but with different qualities. Some of the Nord gods are named in dialogue too. In Morrowind there was a difference between the Imperialised culture of the Empire and their allies, and the dominant Tribunal Temple, and the traditional Ashlanders. What I'm talking about is the same depth and nuance in Skyrim as in TES Morrowind. These differences are already in the established lore prior to Skyrim.
...but Skyrim's theme isn't in a "state of decay", it's usually a state of uncertainty, indifference, clashing ideologies or impending doom that's presented to the player. If anything represents decay, it's be the remnants of The Old World, still on its last legs (Castle Volkihar, Dwarven Ruins, The Silverhand), there's plenty of hope in Skyrim, even with groups like the Dark Brotherhood; this is a bad take (video included).
Modders did a better job then the " devs". You have 2 mods that let you become Molag's champion, one of which has a moral choice. Is it really worth everything he puts you through to be his champion and to have your own Daedric Realm if it means you can never have a peaceful afterlife. The other lets you free Lamae's soul from Coldharbor or take Bal's place through a dragonbreak, becoming Molag Bal at some point in time. Its the same with Fallout. I use mods that add back in all the RPG stuff that Bethesda GUTTED because their stupid enough to think " streamlining" is a good thing when its just dumbing it down.
I think the flip-side, since you bring up "decay, but you fix it" is a lesson that ties in really well with Alduin: ends are necessary and lead to new beginnings and if you hold on to something too long, it will start to stagnate and decay. It's (apparently) Alduin's role in the universe. Bring about the ends and new beginnings.
Even so, you are the last dragonborn. You may be restoring things for now, but your own kind is crumbling away. It doesn't matter your race, religion, or political leanings, the fact is, the last dragonborn will die, and life rarely keeps pristine.
@@DopaminedotSeek3rcolonthree It might still be up in the air how they will write the LDB's fate in canon. But if it's that them being coerced into Hermaeus Mora's service is the true ending, what good they accomplished won't last as they are not on Tamriel to uphold it. And most importantly, inspire young heroes.
I remember playing Skyrim for the first time, and coming across some ruins. I got the profound feeling that this place was *ancient*, and I was wandering around years after its golden age. Quite a sad realization. You put it into words perfectly, as usual.
Yes, most of the ruins in Skyrim were built during the Dragon Age, aka LONG before the First Era. So ancient that the idea of a "Dragonborn" (a mortal blessed by Akatosh himself) didn't exist. It's a testament to how carefully crafted they were created to stand against time and Skyrim's infamous harsh af climate.
The Thing about The Dragonborn is, no matter how many times I have played Skyrim, I have never seen the Dragonborn as ONE individual Person.. or, "Saviour". I've always seen The "Dragonborn" as a Group of People who's fate have tied them together to Save Tamriel. Very much like The Ancient Dragonborns that united to save Tamriel in days of Old.
I wonder why? Cus it's cold and heavily isolated without proper gear and determination? Is the Harkon Clan in ESO or anywhere else in lore? Harkon himself says that his court is "of the most powerful and ancient vampires," but he IS an egomaniac who lies about everything so Idk if I can take his word that seriously.
@@colt9836 believe that Harkons clan is mentioned in one of the books found in Skyrim, however they aren’t present in ESO to my knowledge. According to ESO Blackreach appears to span basically the entirety of north western Skyrim, including a massive, and I mean massive underground vampire fortress underneath Solitude and the swamps of Morthal. It’s probably likely due to the fact that Skyrim is so inhospitable and remote, which lots of large caves and ancient ruins that vampires love it, lots of places to hide, and when someone goes missing most people probably assume an animal or something weather related got them rather than vampires. The inhospitable conditions would also make it more difficult for someone to go searching for a clan of vampires.
@@nordvestgaming1238 "Immortal Blood," is the book, I'm almost certain. But the book says that the Harkon Clan is located somewhere completely different from in-game. Like near Markarth, iirc.
@@colt9836 Yes Immortal Blood that's the one, it is also possible that perhaps at one point the Harkon clan might have been near Markarth, or at least had a significant presence there, that or Bethesda just pulled a Bethesda and messed up their own lore, which wouldn't be the only instance of that within the Dawnguard DLC.
@@nordvestgaming1238 Maybe the author was apart of the Harkon Clan or was forced to say that they were located somewhere else by said clan to throw people off. Imo, I don't really mind the inconsistencies because this is how it would be if vampires, magic, and actual supernatural creatures that just vibe in the forest existed in real life. History is already like that now, without magic and werewolves running around.
@perdeus A) That doesn't refute OP's point. Alduin being potentially stronger than Mehrunes Dagon doesn't change the fact that TES V takes place in a post-apocalyptic Dark Age
@perdeus B)The Oblivion Crisis caused objectively more damage, physically and politically in Canon. This isn't Dragon Ball Z, just because the main antagonist is stronger doesn't mean they actually caused more damage and led to the dissolution of major political and social institutions.
@perdeus C) You don't understand the narrative of Gods in the Elder Scrolls. No single deity or being is static in power, they constantly fluctuate due to context in the narrative. They are constantly shifting- Alduin's role in to eat the world when the kalpa ends. He will do that when it is time, it doesn't mean he "ranks" higher. He doesn't have an objective, measurable "power level". This series is far more nuanced than that.
I could literally listen to any well educated conversation about Skyrim. That is why I loved the podcast so much. So more videos like this would be all fine for me
Yeah, but they'd need to have better takes than this one, Tamriel is NOT Limgrave, Caelid or Liurnia! Skyrim is in a state of uncertainty yes, but in a state of decay, no... not at all. Raven Rock is a settlement in the process of struggling to grow, even considering that clearing out an Ebony Mine practically saves the colony, the amount of reaching in this video is wild, LoL!
@@InconsequentialGaming without the dragonborn. Skyrim would be reduced to nothing but a place filled with death. Like come on, you wage war on your own kinsman while dragons burning the cities and bandits roaming free? Plus every city has a major problem on their own just like what the video said. If that is not decaying then idk what decaying is to you. Without the dragonborn to help stop the dragons, they will eventually swallow everyone.
@@InconsequentialGaming and raven rock is on solstheim not skyrim. Different province. The province of SKYRIM is in decay, not the entirety of Tamriel.
It didn't take long to notice the decay and ruin, when I first started playing skyrim. When I started watching this video, my first thought was Whiterun's ruined outer walls
Think how all bandits are holed up in great ruined castles, im always thinking what used to be here? When now it's just broken. "I remember when Imperial walls and towers used to make me feel safe"
the amount of nordic ruins i saw when i first played skyrim gave me way too many reminders of how the mayan empire (League of Mayapan) fell due to many reasons. and the region broke off into many city states. post-classical mayan people lived in run down ruins of cities and their irrigation projects lay to waste to be over taken by nature. sure there is a temple every 10 miles but mayan civilization never healed and experence rebirth. it was always conflict with each city state having frequent wars with one another.
You explained why Skyrim has always been my favorite Elder Scroll. In every other game you need to stop a disaster from happening or at least lessen its affect. Arena is a world that still has some semblance of peace, but every hero just barely stops the world from suffering major destruction. But when you get to Skyrim, the repeated close calls to the end of the world has left it in tatters. But as it was written upon Alcuin’s Wall, the Dragonborn appears when all disaster has occurred to come fix it. The other main character are heroes by all means, but they ultimately fail to stop the world from getting worse. The Dragonborn though, goes in to fix it, attempt to bring peace to the broken world. The ultimate hero.
Actually disagree. By the end of Skyrim, Tamriel is still a crappy place. What you did was preventing a draconic god from completing his natural duty (debatable though, since he could very well have tried to be a tyrant instead) cause you "like this world". How does "failing" to make Tamriel less crappy (it's still much worse to let Dagoth Ur and Dagon assimilate the universe) make them any less heroic? Nerevarine fought against arguably the biggest threat to the Aurbis, and Hero of Kvatch had to take on entire province-destroying armies of "demons".
Except the Dragonborn does little to fix Skyrim itself, let alone Tamriel. Over half the major quests are actively making things worse like helping Daedric worshipping Companions, the Thieves Guild, Dark Brotherhood, or a dozen other Daedric quests. Just like all the other heroes, at best you only avert disaster (Alduin, Harkon, Miraak) and do little to make things better. In fact, you quite arguably do even less to improve matters compared to previous heroes. Or as previously mentioned, actively make life worse.
I think there should've been more ways to "heal" the province. A great example of this in game is the Skyforge, where completing the Companions questline brings it back to its original glory. Maybe completing the College of Winterhold quests could improve relations with the township (maybe rebuild the 3 broken huts at least). Bring back some interest in the Voice, actually name Elisif or Ulfric the leader of Skyrim (would it really be any trouble to go that one extra step?). They didn't have to do anything crazy. Little details, improvements, and a couple extra lines of dialogue can do wonders.
The third empire of Tamriel has been in decay long before the Oblivion Crisis. The empire reached it's peak not at any time during the main Elder Scrolls games, but before, during the life of Tiber Septim himself, the first emperor. He conquered the whole of the continent and brought the empire to the peak of its prosperity. Since then, the empire has only lost territory, Tiber's bloodline become muddied and dilute, and suffered all manner of instability. Political infighting, civil war, assassinations, etc. By the time we get to Emperor Uriel Septim VII, the empire is already a husk of its former self, though no one cares to admit it. The Oblivion crisis, and the end of a long line of Dragonborn emperors was simply the last brick to be pulled before the tower comes crumbling down. Skyrim is merely the result of not 200, but 600 years of decay.
First year of skyrim: OMG! There is so much live in that world! So many beatiful places!! A decade playing skyrim: The Thalmors and its consequences have been a disaster for the Tamriel...
When I first played Skyrim it was with a very heavy heart. Like you said the decay is everywhere. But the thing that hit home the most was, the dragonborn. You see the dragonborn as a symbol of hope, and to a degree he is but he's not really a symbol of hope. He's the LAST Dragonborn, think about it. Are Dragonborn going to be needed from this point onwards, if people like Ulfic Stormcloak can learn to shout without a dragons soul is the dragonborn needed anymore, aside from being the ultimate dragon slayer the only other reason the dragonborn existed was to keep the doors of Oblivion closed, that duty ended with Oblivion. The Dragons weren't hunted to extinction by the dragonborn originally it was by frightened and pissed off people. When I first played Skyrim I couldn't help but feel the emphasis on the dragonborn being the Last of his kind ment the relationship between Akatosh and the Divines and the world of Tamriel was at a end. The dragonborn is the last time the God's will take a active role in the lives of the mortal races. I can't help but feel the change the dragonborn signify is going to change the elders scrolls forever and not in a good way. I can't help but feel that magic is about to disappear from the world we love so much. The mages guild is dead, noone trust the collage of winterhold. The only real magic users are the enemies of all the human races. And the God's have hardly any interaction with the mortal races compared to older games like Morrowind and Oblivion. I think Elder Scrolls is about to enter the Dark Ages except its not science that will be outlawed, its magic. If the Thalmore win, I can see them outlawing the use of magic for everyone other than them (since all magic organisations came from the elves anyway) their arrogant enough to try enslaving humans again and banning magic from being used by anyone other than them. I can't say it wouldn't make a epic story going down that road. A rouge underworld mage society struuling to survive the oppression of the Thalmore.
Never thought of it that way. Very interesting. It would actually make for a good main storyline for another standalone TES game. Bringing the world out of the darkness and decay into the light and gaining the gods favor again and we see more interaction from the 9 divines with mortals
Very good analysis, but I should say, science was never outlawed nor persecuted during the "dark ages" (nor in the middle ages), whose proper historical context would be not everything pre-15th century, but only the Migration Period from the 4th to the 9th. It can be called "dark ages" due the scarcity of writen records and the general state of unrest caused by migrations and invasions into Europe, but technological and social developments even during this early period are well documented.
@@siruristtheturtle1289 well documented but not progressive. Science during the dark ages/middle ages was slow to progress because Christianity put restrictions on it to slow its advancement. Alot of research was labelled forbidden knowledge and made illegal to study.
@@SelphieTheNutter I am sorry but that is completely false, even if a rather common myth regarding the period. There was not a single scientific restriction placed upon anyone during the Middle Ages by christianity, and cases like Giordano Bruno and Galileo are firmly stepped in the Renaissance, and far more to do with powerplays and factionalism within the Vatican. The renaissance of the 12th century saw, for example, the rise of clerks as secular scholars, lawyers and researches thanks to institutions like the University of Paris, manned almost exclusively by churchmen. Saint Thomas Aquinas was not only a theologian but also an alchemist, never condemned for it. Books on natural sciences, astronomy, biology and medicine were all produced by churchmen, never facing opposition regarding their findings.
@@SelphieTheNutter Lastly, I will say: You are faling trap of another common myth, that it is the myth of automatic progress: History is a series of very complex factors, events and conditions that do not automatically produce technological development as if it was the result of the passing of time. Technological advancement depends on a series of conditions and can be halted, regressed and destroyed by others. The Bronze Age collapse, for example, saw most of the Mediterranean becoming a primitive region with very little literacy despite possesing cultures much more complex and advanced than those of the early classical and late iron age. The aztecs possesed a civilization that was on par with some in Antiquity despite having no access to metal tools. Progress can't be charted, because not all civilizations grow or develop the same.
Shot in the dark here: As in Morrowind, the player was the reincarnation of the Nerevarine, "Chosen" to repair and prevent. Perhaps in Skyrim, the player is the "Chosen" reincarnation of Talos? Due to the fact he has been worshipped as a deity for quite some time, (if I remember correctly, Oblivion has a quest to get the blood of a god, and that is in the armor of Tiber Septim), and now the Aldmeri Dominion comes along and says "No!" Maybe Tiber had some heartburn with that. Denounced as a god, reincarnated as the Dragonborn, after everything is in ruin, to rebuild, and prevent another apocalypse..? Like I said, shot in the dark.
Living in Skyrim doesn't get any.more saddening or depressing than vampires break into your house, or a swooping dragon attacks your village, or a shopkeeper next door will sell your sister. Yes Skyrim is sad.
Always thought it was a shame you couldn’t pay for repairs and guards at some of the old ruin area. Or even claim an old citadel as your own and have it repaired.
I like to think that as the Dragonborn travels Skyrim, all the followers from the game meet him then through his influence they are inspired to revitalize the other main factions individually. All the main factions quests are done by them while the Dragonborn is fighting the rebellion and Alduin, by the end Skyrim is looking at a new dawn.
Seconded on the messianic nature of the Dragonborn. I've thought so from the moment I first read _The Book of the Dragonborn_ we find in that Helgen cellar storeroom (torture chamber, was it?). "The World-Eater wakes, and the wheel (Aurbis, the Nirnian concept of the universe itself) turns upon the Last Dragonborn"? How much bigger "Promised Deliverer" vibe could you get? Unless they had you turn water into wine or something... (iron into gold works...lol)
You know how the Skyrim map in the game is a 1/100th or so sized version of the lore map? What if one day they make a 1/25th size remake with lots of new locations, towns, and quests?
you know, another way of looking at it is a message of hope: -every single problem that you list is solvable by anyone with the intention to do so(well, possibly except for Alduin, though the DB can be any amnesiac refugee, no matter the race or skillset/ -level)
This is without a doubt the most beautifully constructed video of Skyrim I've ever seen. The way you've crafted each shot with different focal lengths, pans, lighting and framing is absolutely breath-taking and its amazing to see this game presented in the cinematic fashion that I always saw it in. Thank you!
I also want to say that Skyrim was the place that the Nords first made landfall. The Nords in the past were a pretty conquering race, especially with the Snow Elves. So I wonder if that has to do with it. The place where the Nords first made landfall is the OLDEST place the Nords have in Tamriel. They cling to the battlements and walls of old, and the history and lessons of the past as hard as they can because that's their *'homeland.'* The decay could be from the war. The civil war AND the war with the Aldmeri Dominion. It 100% at least contributed (especially with the damaged city walls). The war very recently ended, and everyone (not just the Nords) are still recovering so there's a sense of 'defeat' amongst Skyrim's populace, even while there's a fierce army in the east with the Stormcloaks. It kinda feels like a 'we are TIRED but we will fight, we have to, we have to try'. It's very odd. There's activity, but there's not. There's a strange sense of hesitance in the civil war, like a 'are we sure about this' or 'I am just so tired of injustice'. A depressed sort of vitality to the world itself. I guess that's kinda what 'decay' is. It seems especially evident on the Imperial's side, perhaps because they're fighting two wars (Aldmeri Dominion and Stormcloaks).
Scott and Michael, thank you both so much for continuing to carry the Fudgemuppet torch. Your channel means a lot to me. I hope your lives sort out well. Gratitude and good wishes to you both.
TES in general is a very dim story. What starts as a fight for the innocent, for the good or to stop the dark often turns into an unwanted evil end, or a victory that required innocents be sacrificed and sometimes the hero's being viewed as the bad guy. Like Tolkien the end is just that, an end, nothing *Glorius, no riding into the sunset, the evil is stopped and that's all, everybody go home. As dark as that seems it also gives the TES stories the depth that pulls people in for an immersion they can't find other places.
Another point, the empire itself is clearly faltering militarily, gone is the romanized full plate armor every legionare had in the days of the gates, instead it has been replaced with far less effective leather and a complete regression of armor technology. When legion hunters and simple gaurdsmen in the days of yore were better armed and armored than their more recent counterparts that is should be a sign of alarm.
I don't really care about the sad state of Skyrim in general ... as long as I got to spend some quality time with Lydia! And with doors. And Lydia blocking said doors asking "what can I do for you my Thane", and the not having the dialogue option of "stand aside from the doorway please". Best times, best girl. Good game 5/5
You yourself made a video with compelling arguments about Skyrim being a "post apocalyptic setting". Decaye is not just prevalent in Skyrim, but in most of Tamriel. By the time Skyrim takes place, most other civilisations and lands are also long past their prime. It is very much the equivalent of the Roman empire in it's final years.
When misrule takes its place at the eight corners of the world When the Brass Tower walks and Time is reshaped When the thrice-blessed fail and the Red Tower trembles When the Dragonborn Ruler loses his throne, and the White Tower falls When the Snow Tower lies sundered, kingless, bleeding The World-Eater wakes, and the Wheel turns upon the Last Dragonborn.
It makes me think of how the Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings take place in a similarly-decayed world, where an adventure takes place in the time after the Golden Age, So... does that mean that all great stories take place in worlds where everything falls apart? I need to ponder this...
0:48 Isn't Prophecy the main theme in all the Elder Scrolls games? If you see the lore. Just see what an Elder Scroll is. "The Elder Scrolls, also called the *Aedric Prophecies* (though the accuracy of that term is often disputed), are scrolls of unknown origin which simultaneously archive both past and future events." -Taken from the UESP "Prepare then, for as the Elder Scrolls *foretold* , it will be here that your adventure begins"-Message to the player in the starting cutscene of Arena "Go ye now in peace. Let thy fate be written in the Elder Scrolls..." -A message to the Eternal Champion, as seen in Arena "When the next Elder Scrolls shall be written, you shall be it's scribe"-Martin Septim to The Champion of Cyrodiil This suggests that all the heroes before The Eternal Champion to the Last Dragonborn and after are prophesied by the Elder Scrolls. Their name, race, and deeds may change but their arrival is already known. After that it is forever recorded in the Scrolls.
Skyrim is set in an age that reminds me of the real world Fall of the Western Roman Empire. The Empire is weak and only has the fame of its former self going for it, and even that is fading out. All while external forces are at work to make it fall from within.
Ngl since the first game things are going south... The "powerful" empire of TES IV already couldn't hold the forts in the province, heck even by morrowind we saw cracks on the dragon throne.
I like the theory that, like Fallout, it's a post-apocalyptic wasteland, the Oblivion crisis being equivalent to the Great War. They don't even have 2/3 of the spells, most of the buildings are in ruins, and cities have a fraction of the population they have in ESO 1000 years earlier.
The theme in Skyrim is more about the accumulation of power or the inevitability of fate than it is despair, sadness, or decay. In each of the past three elder scrolls games the player character starts off as a prisoner and ends up achieving immortality or even godhood to an extent - the Nerevarine is cursed/blessed with the corprus disease rendering them immortal, the champion of Cyrodiil ascends the throne of the god of madness, the dragonborn is demigod (Miraak is several thousand years old when we encounter him suggesting that dragonborn who actually take in dragon souls achieve some measure of longevity or immortality, plus canon suggests that for every soul a dragonborn takes they're supposed to increase in power and in dragon-esqueness). In each of the past three elder scrolls games fate, destiny, prophecy have played a major role - and mysteries one uncovers outside the main quest, along with some dialogue present and bits of lore all lead towards this idea of inevitability. The Nerevarine is constantly challenged in the assumption of that mantle, until one can no longer deny the prophecy has come to pass; the champion of Cyrodiil is constantly working towards goals which seem to fulfill the destiny of others but they always end up restoring a balance themselves; the dragonborn is quite literally thrust into destiny and is the quintessential "chosen one" (a cliche, yes, but for a game it kinda works).
"Skyrim is about decay" The fact that this is arguably Bethesda last beloved game and has been rereleased over and over like a reanimated dead thrall being recycled makes that only more depressing
For me Skyrim is a Dark Fantasy video game, but the writers and developpers never adressed this in the gameplay. In the books we can read in the game, yeah, very dark stories, but the game story never touches the darkness of the context, which is very frustrating once you noticed how desperate the situation is within the Empire..
I have always thought that skyrim as a setting is in a sad state. mainly because I took the disbanding of the mages guild personally and it made me look at all the other things we lost
Wow. I adored this video, Scott. I’d be more than happy if you were to upload these ‘spur of the moment thought videos’ more because there isn’t enough content out there addressing the sadness and dire reality of Skyrim. Heck, the entirety of Tamriel at this point. It makes the world seem more alive and real yet fantastical and magical at the same time. Thank you for your continued work on TES and I hope your personal problems are resolved soon ❤
It's not so weird that Skyrim overall looks like it's in a state of disrepair, considering that asides from the civil war and the return of Alduin: A. the Nords had to bail out the Imperials during the war with the Aldmeri Dominion B. Bethesda creates cities/villages on scale because obviously performance has priority C. it is obviously a fantasy setting D. traditions are not only important for Nords but play a heavy part in story elements. E. it's also stated that the warring camps have taken a lot of resources for themselves already during the civil war. Despite all of that many characters will actually comment how their business is booming due to the war. The Dark Brotherhood and Thieves Guild inititally not doing well is obviously a boon to society. The Great Collapse at Winterhold is left up to speculation, but natural causes are the most likely cause. Asides from one or two characters, most characters are actually very hopeful when it comes to issues such as discrimination. Really, can you call the state of affairs in Morrowind and Oblivion any better, with a plague sweeping the land and Oblivion gates opening everywhere? Especially considering Nord optimism, I don't think the state of affairs is that bad. Or sad. In fact Skyrim seems to be filled with people willing to fight for what they believe in on their own (mostly with regards to the civil war) whereas in Oblivion you pretty much have to convince everyone to stand with the empire against the Oblivion threat and (barring a few heroes) close all Oblivion gates yourself, whereas in Morrowind... you are going to have to do it all yourself, Outlander.
This is actually parallel to the philosophy of history proposed by philosopher Oswald Spengler on his idea of the morphology of civilization. History is made of a cyclical morphology of high civilizations that begins as high cultures with a strong religious and intuitive feeling with a destiny that's fulfilled through the cultures "prime symbol" (spirit or personality) and once it's been fulfilled it turns into a civilization where the brain (rationality) starts to rule and its religious feeling goes away with the establishment of megalopolitan cities that's plagued in shallowness caused by the intense feeling of nihilism that rules because there lacks a religious feeling and there's a general tendency for materialism, reductionism and mechanization which causes chronic social conflict and a desire for material possession (money) until caesar like figures emerge and bring a second religiousness and reunites the civilization by breaking what he refers to "the dictatorship of money" and replaces the brain with the soul
So true! Maybe that's why I always enjoy playing a priest type in Skyrim. Spreading hope through the divine to a war torn area. "Blessing" folks with the Courage Spell. My current Shaman build is the current pinnacle of my Priest builds. It finally made sense to me to use the bard mod I have with a priest character because Shaman are historically know to use a drum in commune with the spirits and shaman are as much about the woods as well as civilized areas.
I think all of this is especially evident when you check out Skyrim in ESO as well. I get that it’s not everyone’s cup of tea but at the same time it adds a lot to the world of the Elder Scrolls and also allows you to check out the world of Tamriel in a bygone era. You get to see a Skyrim that isn’t maybe quite as developed as it would become but it’s put together and shining, with plenty of activity. To me anyways it’s adds a whole new dimension to playing Skyrim if you’ve seen it in ESO. Not to mention exploring the other lands of Tamriel, ever since I started playing Elder Scrolls games I’ve wanted to see the Alik’r Desert and visually it definitely didn’t disappoint me. Personally I just think it’s an underrated Elder Scrolls experience.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The world of skyrim is a post-apocalyptic one just as assuredly as fallout. The oblivion crisis was an apocalyptic event, and it's events precipitated even further destruction. Quite fitting for the daedric lord of destruction.
Surprised you mentioned Conan as an influence, but not Tolkien. Decadence is a major theme in The Lord of the Rings with the elves' power diminishing and them having to go into the west. The Dragonborn is basically Aragorn.
Back when I was deeply into playing Skyrim, looking back, I was deeply depressed lol when I started feeling better, I noticed myself playing less of it. Love the game, but so true 🤣
When you think about it, this decay is not just in Skyrim, but on all kinds of fantasy genres. Even some non-medieval fictional worlds have this idea of some ancient civilisation that no longer exists and was far more advanced than anything in the present. Like the Rakata in Star Wars or the Iconians in Star Trek. And I think that this feeling is something that people in the medieval times actually experienced. There was the Roman Empire, a superpower that was far more advanced in almost every field, but it was long gone, while many ruins and artefacts still existed, showing the power of this ancient civilisation. Imagine being a medieval peasant living in a village where only the most advanced buildings have more than one floor, and you stand before the ruins of a massive stone building that was like 20 meters tall, maybe some of the glass windows are even still intact.
Worth mentioning that even the grandfather of modern fantasy, Tolkien, heavily used this kind of theming. This might explain why it is so common in Fantasy too, as we haven't yet gotten too far from Tolkien's very long shadow. Influential and grand as his works were, it might be time to move on. Regardless, in Tolkien's works: Every age was stuck becoming worse and worse with magic wearing out and decay making things from fantastic to mundane, with progress being seen through hostile eyes as represented by Saruman/Sauron's industry serving evil alone. Everyone is stuck lamenting the past glory days or past hay-days of something or another, all the old powers were waning or disappearing, and it's all very grim.
In a way perhaps due to fantasy having this kind of roots, it feels like as with pretty much everything the genre is in a tug-o-war between the old world refusing to go quietly, and the new world having trouble even beginning on account of it facing opposition from all sides. The past does cast a long shadow, and it is indeed called a shadow for a reason. I think when it comes to writing, it might be time for change to begin creeping in too. As to be stuck in the long shadow of something that's about to be gone does not inspire hope, and as a reader of fantasy, I would rather find hope than look to yet another set of ruins as something of a bleak prophesy. Cause it's becoming a self-fulfilling one in more ways than one at this point, rather than, I dunno, doing something about the various messes. Skyrim, perhaps due to lack of time, or this being never a focus, despite giving it a small go, doesn't really go too deep into the pool to examine what it takes to challenge decay beyond using very simple stuff. As the thing about decay is it's accumulative. In the long run one deed alone can't do much, no matter how mighty (Beat Alduin and the world keeps going, meaning the possibility is there for a road, yet no roads are formed. A few decades and the next crisis comes along and Alduin being bested won't suddenly mean as much, even if everything happening is an end result of Alduin not going nom nom on the world), unless it inspires genuine change in a whole lot of people which then leads to a change in the way things are done on, dare I say, the systemic level over the individuals.
I love this game! So happy your still making videos!!! Hard to imagine how years have went by with me watching and playing. Skyrim has gotten me through some real tough times in my life for what it's worth and it been great to have a fine LoreBeard guide me through it and help me see Tamriel from every angle 😊👍
The modding culture kept it alive into 2015 and meme culture turned it into an unkillable Frankenstein creation after 2016. As I type this, Dagoth Ur AI is taking over the internet and beloved by people who have never even played Morrowind.
Great video as usual. I've been watching you guys for years and I especially like the daedra rundown videos. Skyrim is indeed sad and change is forced upon a land that is rooted in tradition. Is there a armor mod list for this video? Recently installed skyrim for my pc and I'm rebuilding an immersive mod list. Great work, I cant wait to see more! Take care!
Okay. New crackpot theory. LDB is a new Starborn knight. Granted with decidedly less doom-drum laser beams, sadly. When you level up, you invest points into the constellations. The idea of being born under a sign was used in previous titles, but in the case of LDB the “sign” was predetermined to be of the stock of Akatosh making his sign largely irrelevant and instead draws power from every sign at will by utilizing standing stones an ability that seems to be unique to LDB. What we know about Pelinal is that he was an aspect of Shor; you could make the case that the lines between Shor and Akatosh are blurred in the imperial pantheon to the point where a Shezzarine is still from the lineage of Akatosh. I dunno it’s half baked, but there’s a case to be made maybe?
I think that the “hero” of all the different factions isn’t the dragon born, it’s a actually a bunch of different people who will be expanded upon in the next game
i like to think that the dragonborn is actually there to continue the prophecy, as Alduin was yanked to the future directly in the middle of his rule, and likely still only wanted to continue controlling the world
You make a good point with all of that ancient ruins/buildings. There are nowhere a new structures or even constructions of such. I didn't noticed that before.
