Edi Wants Help: Morrowind & Oblivion

[Brother-Captain Gaius]

Well, it's a matter of opinion. But Vvardenfell has several things going for it that IMO Cyrodiil lacks - the clashing architecture of the different factions, the meticulously crafted geography (you can literally spot where the Imperial invasion went solely through observing the different names and architectural styles), and the sheer originality of the setting as compared to the homogenous 'more Tolkien than Tolkien' - style setting that is Cyrodiil.

My biggest beef with Cyrodiil is they seem to have retconned the Empire in Oblivion. In Morrowind it's presented as very Roman-inspired, which I thought was cool. I loved the style and aesthetics, but then they basically wipe it out for Oblivion. The Greco-Roman influence is virtually non-existent, which just bugs the hell out of me, a problem further complicated by not allowing modders to use material from Morrowind in Oblivion, so there's virtually no chance of ever seeing the Morrowind-style Roman Cyrodiil as opposed to Oblivion's... generic, quasi-medieval Europe.

The change is reflected even in the voice-acting. The Imperial VOs are bland and generic, instead of the cultured "Romanesque" voices from Morrowind. ("Emperor, King, and justice, citizen.")

[Vympel]

My biggest beef with Cyrodiil is they seem to have retconned the Empire in Oblivion. In Morrowind it's presented as very Roman-inspired, which I thought was cool. I loved the style and aesthetics, but then they basically wipe it out for Oblivion. The Greco-Roman influence is virtually non-existent, which just bugs the hell out of me, a problem further complicated by not allowing modders to use material from Morrowind in Oblivion, so there's virtually no chance of ever seeing the Morrowind-style Roman Cyrodiil as opposed to Oblivion's... generic, quasi-medieval Europe.

The change is reflected even in the voice-acting. The Imperial VOs are bland and generic, instead of the cultured "Romanesque" voices from Morrowind. ("Emperor, King, and justice, citizen.")

I was fully expecting, going in to Oblivion, to see Imperial soldiery like I saw in Morrowind, except with far superior graphics. Instead, we got bland (still a nice design) dark grey plate armor. Nothing cool to be seen at all (except the lovely Lorica Segmentata-inspired Akaviri Armor of the Blades).

I don't understand why they did that. It's incomprehensible. I mean, I can understand making some minor changes to allow for the passage of years, but a complete makeover? Bah.

Were legion soldiers depicted in TES II: Daggerfall?

Still, it's to be expected that Cyrodiil was never going to be as "exotic" as Morrowind- but there were differnces in architecture, significant ones, between all the different cities. The only similar ones were Bravil and Leyawiin, and that's because they're so close together. I loved Bruma, for example. My Nord character felt right at home.

[DPDarkPrimus]

The Imperial soldiers in Morrowind never actually did much in the way of combat when you played, whereas the Imperial Guardsmen had patrols that took them into bandit country, and of course the Oblivion Gates.

Perhaps that's why they changed the look to something a bit more protective. (Come on, they had exposed shins in Morrowind.)

[Vympel]

The Imperial soldiers in Morrowind never actually did much in the way of combat when you played

Not seen to, no, but they were housed mostly in Forts and Vvardenfell wasn't exactly a nice place. If anything, the Cyrodiil garrisons should be the ones not ready for prime time.

Perhaps that's why they changed the look to something a bit more protective. (Come on, they had exposed shins in Morrowind.)

Hmmm?

Link

[Vympel]

Courtesy of the invaluable UESP Wiki, here's a picture showing all the variants of Imperial Legion armor we saw in Morrowind:

Link

It's more beautiful, there's more variety, it all goes together- it's just swank.

Oblivion just has one damn, bland, type.

[Brother-Captain Gaius]

Courtesy of the invaluable UESP Wiki, here's a picture showing all the variants of Imperial Legion armor we saw in Morrowind:

Link

It's more beautiful, there's more variety, it all goes together- it's just swank.

Oblivion just has one damn, bland, type.

Bah - it's missing Templar armor!

[Manus Celer Dei]

That Dragonscale armour stuff has never looked right to me. It looks like he strapped a bloody hedgehog to his chest.