Vvardenfell

[thanateros]

This topic (I would say) is more geared towards people who REALLY roleplay Morrowind, not just play it soley as a computer RPG but like you would table top. I know you're out there so let me hear what you have to say. I'd like to see some more threads that have a little 'gamers philosophy' behind them because Morrowind is as close to true RPGing than any game out there (and yes, moreso than NW nights and Icewind Dale)

 

I find that often new characters I make take an extreme liking to the southern parts of morrowind. And then I take a look at the rest of the map and notice that there are a lot of regions that simply don't offer anything really interesting in the way of locations. In the ashlands you have Redoran and Ashlanders, Grazelands have Telvanni and more Ashlanders and then Dwermer and Daedric shrines scattered throughout the map.

 

Generally when I quest or travel to any of these places besides Wesh Gash or Ascadian Isles is to complete a quest or follow up on some latest rumors and then immeadiatly truck it back south.

 

Now does Bethseda intend for me not to want to go out into the frontier or is it just misuse of a lot of space. I like the idea that there is a frontier, but it's not completely accessible but to only die hard adventurer's seeking treasure or just getting from one place to another.

 

This brings me to my next idea, maybe an Explorer's Guild should be made into a MOD, to help chart the unexplored regions of Vvardenfell for possible settlement of colonists looking to make their way in the world.

 

Mainly it just bothers me some that unless you are a die hard Nerevarine character you won't get to see much of the island that isn't the south unless your bold or have a reason to be out in the middle of nowhere.

[cmac]

All the empty outdoor area is not really empty- there's always bandit caves, Daedric Shrines, 6th House bases, and marauding creatures. Plus, some of the scenery is great.

[ThetaOrionis01]

I guess perhaps the land to the north does not support a large population...

 

The southern parts of Morrowind look fertile, and able to sustain agriculture -> farms, and settlements catering to those farms.

 

Apart from the coastal fringes, the northern parts of Morrowind don't look particularly inviting - lots of rock, poor soil...and the settlements are perhaps there to provide essential services for mines, shrines and the military etc. With no large scattered agricultural community you need fewer towns - the ones which are there mainly provide services for mines and shrines perhaps.

 

Then of course, the Ashlanders might resent intrusions into their territory and discourage settlements.

 

Also, the terrain in the north of Morrowind makes travel and therefore trade difficult - no major trade routes, no towns growing up around them.

 

Also, the admininistrative centre of Morrowind is in the south, and that attracts businesses, civil servants etc to Vivec and Ebonheart.

 

So, geographically and politically it kinda makes sense that the north of Morrowind is sparsely populated.

[Stampede]

The Ashlanders seem to revel in their hardships, fiercely independant I'm sure they find beauty in the Ash wastes. I think it's great that there these harsh environments which Bethesda leave your to explore, because if you dig under the surface, the north is where a lot of the artifacts lie.

 

I think because imperial influence seems to be at it's 'weakest' in the north, you find some really strange things and encounter some weird types, that's probably

House Dagoth has such a strong hold over the north, Telvanni's armies don't seem interested in protecting Morrowind, they only protect their wizard lords who are to busy trying to discover the secret to immortality to pay any attention to current events!

 

Maybe if they researched further than their towers they'd realize that the secret to immortality lies in the heart of Red Mountain :o

[Switch]

hmm yeah i see your point thanateros but thats what the game was designed for... you're supposed 2 become a magic user/warrior etc and go out into the world as an adventurer, if u wanna do otherwise i guess u r sorta stuck to the south :P

[thanateros]

i am a magic user/adventurer, but like i mentioned you should get rewarded for going out into the middle of nowhere, maybe i should make the explorer's guild mod to scout out idea sites to establish small trading posts, trade with ashlanders and pay off smugglers to get you dwermer artifacts to sell to collector's. yea there's tons of stuff in the ashlands region, and geographically it makes sense everything is in the south. but there should be some entreprenurial (sp) opportunities to turn the ashlands into a cash cow.

[Stampede]

Hmmm interesting, you could create curio shops which sell 'Authentic' Ashlander art, I can see all the visiting imperial officials wives flocking to these stalls and shops, while the rural Ashlanders watch with disgust :lol: