Saint, Sinner, or Something in between?

[Mullenmoor]

I wouldn't describe myself as playing a 'Villain', though they certainly aren't good. I'm sort of 'Half-Roleplaying' a Thalmor currently - Killing any Stormcloaks and Talos worshipers I come across, trying to avoid Stormcloak-controlled territory, and generally being cruel and mocking to anyone who isn't an Altmer. I plan to do all of the Daedric Quests, as I like the idea of my character being extremely power-hungry, through any means possible. I've already got Clavicus Vile and Hircine's Quests down.

 

My character having a City? It'd probably be in the style of a traditional Altmer City - Extremely extravagant, beautiful to look at, giving off an aura of vanity and power. A lot of Magic going around I imagine - I like the idea of the city practically being powered by the stuff. Non-Altmer would likely be forbidden from entering. While nice on the surface, I assume there'd be some form of Thalmor-Run Secret Surface rooting out any and all dissenters, and dragging them off to be Questioned, never to see the light of day again. The Thieves Guild and Companions would have no place. There would likely be some form of Mage's Guild, and the Dark Brotherhood would probably be used to assassinate those whom opposed the regime, though naught else.

[landy8]

There was a long topic about it. Moral traps and ambiguities, if I'm not mistaken, started by BrettM.

 

For the good-loving players and characters: like I wrote somewhere earlier, there's always a choice by action. For example, you are forced to receive the TG join quest (that Brynjolf guy almost chases your character), but you are not forced to DO it.

 

As for the city... I like Windhelm. Don't want to change anything there. As for the racial intolerance - one of my characters (my favourite) was an Altmer sorceress and a Stormblade (took Solitude and killed general Tullius) at the same time. The only thing I'd like to add is a sewer system - Windhelm streets are a little... dirty.

[CaptainRC]

I used to play the virtuous, saintly hero type in Oblivion, but in Skyrim, that's pretty difficult. In fact, the longer I played, the more I realised that it's practically impossible... and in a way it should be. The whole theme of the entire game seems to be moral ambiguity, and for good reason. In a way, it is a reflection of reality. After all, even today in what we consider to be civilization, with all the laws and religions dictating to us what is saintly and what is a sin, no one actually follows those rules completely. How often have we been shocked to find out that a church pastor or a teacher who was trusted for years turns out to be a pedophile? How often have we been shocked to find our favorite sports heroes have been cheating by using steroids? Or how that seemingly normal person living next door turns out to be a wanted criminal? And last, but not least... how often has those certain people that hold their morals so dear that they go out of their way to shove their moral code down society's collective throats, only to show that they betray that very moral code to enforce it?

 

On the other hand, one also must consider the reverse.

 

How often have former criminals who have paid their debts to society and have honestly rehabilitated been shunned by society, forever branded a criminal? How often has an innocent person been persecuted by society, or even procecuted by the law, over rumor and conjecture? How often have people been branded some form of a criminal, or more simply a terrible person, over a simple misunderstanding? (Kind of reminds you of Oblivion every time you accidentally picked up an object and every NPC in the room started screaming "Thief!")

 

In all cases, the answer is the same: all too often.

 

But... I digress...

 

I've noticed that in both Oblivion and Skyrim (sorry, but I haven't played any of the previous games) the games are written as if the Champion and the Dragonborn are strangers in a strange land. And I don't mean that they are from another province of Tamriel other than the one they are having their adventures in... I mean, as if they came from somewhere else altogether. After all, if they really were from Tamriel, wouldn't they know who the Divines are, or the Daedra Lords, or even know the basics of the current events happening around them? Yet, they have to ask every time they come across a situation. What is going on? Who is that? What is this? Etc, etc. One could say that it's written that way for the newcomers to the series... but I take a different approach... and that is... well...

 

Ask yourself: what if YOU were to suddenly find yourself in a world like Skyrim? Somehow, someway... YOU were taken from your "civilized" life here on Earth by some Power That Be and placed in this medieval world of swords and magic, with no idea what is going on and what is happening around you, finding yourself on a cart with three strangers, your hands tied, being taken to a medieval village to be executed and then suddenly attacked by a giant black dragon?

 

For me, the answer is summed up in one word: survive. Survival by any means necessary. If I have to please the Divines, or become the champion of every Daedra Lord... whatever it takes.

 

And if you really think about it... that's exactly what this game is all about, the Dragonborn doing whatever it takes to survive to fulfill his ultimate destiny... whether it is to become a member of the Companions, or the College of Winterhold, or the Thieves Guild, or the Dark Brotherhood, or the Thane of all nine holds... or all of the above.

 

So, to conclude my all too long post here... let me say that I play Skyrim as if I'm not concerned with being a saint ot sinner...

 

I play the survivor.

Edited May 24, 2012 by CaptainRC

[landy8]

I've noticed that in both Oblivion and Skyrim (sorry, but I haven't played any of the previous games) the games are written as if the Champion and the Dragonborn are strangers in a strange land. And I don't mean that they are from another province of Tamriel other than the one they are having their adventures in... I mean, as if they came from somewhere else altogether. After all, if they really were from Tamriel, wouldn't they know who the Divines are, or the Daedra Lords, or even know the basics of the current events happening around them? Yet, they have to ask every time they come across a situation. What is going on? Who is that? What is this? Etc, etc. One could say that it's written that way for the newcomers to the series... but I take a different approach... and that is... well...

 

Ask yourself: what if YOU were to suddenly find yourself in a world like Skyrim? Somehow, someway... YOU were taken from your "civilized" life here on Earth by some Power That Be and placed in this medieval world of swords and magic, with no idea what is going on and what is happening around you, finding yourself on a cart with three strangers, your hands tied, being taken to a medieval village to be executed and then suddenly attacked by a giant black dragon?

 

For me, the answer is summed up in one word: survive. Survival by any means necessary. If I have to please the Divines, or become the champion of every Daedra Lord... whatever it takes.

 

And if you really think about it... that's exactly what this game is all about, the Dragonborn doing whatever it takes to survive to fulfill his ultimate destiny... whether it is to become a member of the Companions, or the College of Winterhold, or the Thieves Guild, or the Dark Brotherhood, or the Thane of all nine holds... or all of the above.

 

So, to conclude my all too long post here... let me say that I play Skyrim as if I'm not concerned with being a saint ot sinner...

 

I play the survivor.

 

Couldn't say it better. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

May I quote you sometimes?

[Saratje]

My character started naive, trying to help others here and there and followed her heart. When she got stronger by learning the Thu'um, she started to think quite black and white for a while, killing and stopping anyone that did something immoral or evil, just because she could. Necromancers and bandits hiding in outposts were actively attacked and slain. During the years (that particular game has reached the year 4E 204, almost 4E205 now) she became more mature and saw that some people do what they do out of desperation or because they are influenced by others and started to spare those that do not form an active threat to anyone innocent by using pacifying spells and such. She does actively fight the Thalmor and while she won the war for the Empire, she does pity and respect the Nord worship of Talos and takes no pleasure in taking down a fleeing Thalmor, knowing all too well she must if her secret war with the Thalmor is to remain undisclosed.

[sajuukkhar9000]

I let my character be taken by the random bouts of madness that being an avatar of Akatosh induces so I could explain why my character does everything on either side or the morality meter.

[landy8]

I let my character be taken by the random bouts of madness that being an avatar of Akatosh induces so I could explain why my character does everything on either side or the morality meter.

 

Another point.

Not sure about Alessia or Reman, but Tiber Septim (founder of the previous dynasty) was also Dragonborn.

Maybe uniting the forces of the Companions, Winterhold's College, Thieves Guild, Dark Brotherhood and any side of the Civil War (Stormcloaks, for example) makes some sense as preparations to create a new Empire and new dynasty? Thieves can be good spies, assassins are perfect for black ops (let them cut down that Thalmor).

 

Ever thought what would Dragonborn do after killing Alduin? :wink:

[Michio2013]

My city would be a city of second-chances. If you were a daedra worshiper, thief, assassin, I don't really care. I would let you enter, and let you try to rebuild your life to be a good guy. You could worship whatever gods you wanted (The thalmor would have to face off with the dragonborn, parthurnaax and odviing to try to enforce the WGC) and, so long as nobody got hurt, you would live and let live. But, if you decided to return to assassinating, thieving or other crimes, you would be cast out of my city. End of story. Also, we would have a fighting force of spellblades, mages, warriors and rogues (mostly for espionage and sabotage of enemy forces) who would defend our lands, innocents who needed help and any other land who we decided was fighting for the right cause.

[Omeletter]

I play as a good guy. Not exactly lawful good. I sometimes steal for myself, break into houses, etc. I never kill any NPCs (unless they are hostile like bandits or evil), and never get caught doing illegal stuff.

[modder3434]

Sinner. Villain. Proud of it. :devil: