Beth messed up our elves!

[Lachdonin]

Or did they just slap something together, thinking the modders will do what they do anyway, so let's not spend a whole lot of time on that, (a much more likely scenario in my opinion.) I do think they figured most players would play as Nords and so spent most of the precious energy they had for this on them. But anyone who has played other RPG fantasy games knows without question that not much of Bethesda's thought or resources goes into costumes, compared to quests and worldspaces. The dungeons absolutely knock me out and I submit that was one of their main focuses.

 

There was way too much focus in Skyrim on Quanity over quality, i will freely admit that. When it comes to the character design choices, they even let that go by the wayside. Its a pitty really, since its become so obviou that a bunch of regular joe's can do better in their free time than Beth's art department can while being paid, but i suppose we can link that to the idea that when you're paid to do something you love, it becomes a job rather than a passion. And we all know, you do a better job when your passionate about something.

[Woundedbeast27]

I didn't read everything, but it seems to me that people think bethesda just made them ugly for the heck of it. But Skyrim is set in a fairly Norse universe, in case some people hadn't noticed, and in Norse mythology, elves are pretty damned ugly. They look similar to how they're portrayed in Skyrim. Bethesda usually has some historically correct stuff in their games, and since TES is a fantasy genre, they go from mythology, as well. We have all these Norse names, all these Norse monsters (Draugr are taken directly from Norse mythology, being Vikings that never got into Valhalla and were cursed to walk the earth until they redeemed themselves in battle), a Skyrim interpretation of Valhalla (Sovngarde), the very Norse culture, the Norse building style, the general mistrust of magic... Skyrim is, in many ways, a game about Vikings. In order to keep with the rest of the Norse theme, they even made the elves into villians (Aldmeri Dominion), and thus made them resemble the elves in Norse mythology.

 

So while I agree that the elves don't look so hot in this game, I agree with the reasons behind it. The next Elder Scrolls game, wherever it's set, will probably change the look of the ten races to match the mythology that the region is based off of. It's actually pretty cool, in my opinion, which I admit will probably not be shared, and much less appreciated. But the best advice I can give to those that want pretty elves is to look to the mods for that. Lord knows there's plenty that change the way we look, though you'll probably be hard-pressed to find any that make men look different.

[modder3434]

the elves don't seem ugly to me, they seem more unique now to each type of elf as well as unique in general from the other races. it sure is an improvement from vanilla oblivion, where the only way to tell race was height with a combination of ears, and in the orcs case color.

[Fortunado3]

Whole lot of ignorance in this thread. The only thing Beth messed up lore wise was male Bosmer should be shorter. Otherwise, everything is lore correct. From Argonians still having breast, to how the Dunmer look. Just because some newb only played Oblivion, doesn't mean he knows anything about the series. Edited March 6, 2012 by Fortunado3

[Capomafioso]

for the most part i enjoy the elves, some of the npcs are a bit fugly (faendal....yugh) but apart from that some really nice looking characters can be created if you put effort in, and i know most people put effort in lol

[Niborino9409]

My Male Dark Elf has never looked better! :biggrin:

 

But the female on the other hand, the Nexus solved that in mere seconds.

Edited January 20, 2013 by Niborino9409

[Tzontlimixtli]

If I wanted pretty elves I'd go to Middle Earth. But I don't, this is Tamriel. I always thought they'd been trying to make the Skyrim elves look more like they did in Morrowind, with the pointy, angular faces and slightly inhuman lumps or brows.

Elves aren't Humans, from what I've interpreted from the lore they're either a completely different species or one that shares a common ancestor with Humans. I'm sure a Neanderthal Human wouldn't fit into most of our conventional parameters of "beauty", but there's still a possibility they and Humans interbred to a small degree, as far as I know the same has happened in TES with Humans and Mer.

 

Not only that, the Dunmer look pretty badass. :3

[dragonchris152]

Male elves look fine, but female elves could look better in my opinion.

[grasscid]

I'll give this one a shot. I have a particular fondness for Elves, and I have to agree that the Elves in this game are terrible. But, to be fair, I think it probably is a situation of each of us having their own 'vision' of what an Elf should look like

 

I agree. Skyrim being my first TES game, I think the elves look fine.

[893kira]

Skyrim elves looks badass with a proper tweak in customization. I grown tired seeing elves with human face with just elves ears in every game. It will be good if Bretons have pointed elf like ears in the game. Love the more old face customization in Skyrim except for females.