Mountains

[SansSword]

So I was looking at the official Bethsoft map for Tamriel and noticed the games that have been released all feature provinces with serious mountains in them (High Rock, Hammerfell, Morrowind, Cyrodiil, & now Skyrim)--can check for yourself at http://www.uesp.net/wiki/File:TamrielMap.jpg

 

Obviously in game design mountains provide stark contrast for players from standard lowland fields, swamps, even hills. But I was just struck that Summerset Isle, Valenwood, Elsweyr, & Argonia seem to lack these mountain chains, at least in the illustration, which seems quite accurate as we've already played these aforementioned games and generally know where the mountains are.

 

The southerly provinces seem much flatter and less vertical, hills, swamps, & flatlands. Perhaps this was a primary reason they haven't been done yet? Fewer interesting contrasts for the players? Thoughts?

[Fatalmasterpiece]

Artisticly I agree that areas with mountains offer a more apealing backdrop and dramatic image.

 

I live in a fairly flat state and I can tell you it get's boring. However, water features do help to break it up.

[direelite1134]

Im kinda worried we cant climb past a 2% incline like in oblivion.

[Vagrant0]

I would imagine that Summerset Island would have its own contrasts between tropical beaches, urban sprawl, and the the sparse walled forests/gardens.

 

Valenwood would have contrasts between large forests, jungles, plains, and cities above or below.

 

Elsweyr would have its dunes, oasis, forests, settlements, and coastline.

 

You don't need mountains for contrast, you just need variations in terrain to make areas vastly different from eachother. Mountains just make it easier to have things like caves and natural barriers in games. Naturally, there is nothing to say that they can't have some sudden rifting or upheaval in one of the provences to make mountains and deep chasms where there wasn't before.

[Evilllamas]

I think valenwood with it's open planes, dense forests and jungles, and possibly a volcano, would offer plenty of variety!

And the posibities for marksmen and thieves would be great multi level forests, climbing up and down trees!)

[Zinro]

Im kinda worried we cant climb past a 2% incline like in oblivion.

In Oblivion, you could climb the tallest mountains/hills as long as plants grew on them. It is the same in FO3 and FO:NV. Somehow, wherever plants grow, there is a path you can walk along, probably something related to the game engine :P

 

It'll be fun to see if it works the same way here.