Clara

Its not the best but its one of the most memorable by far

Little Guy

Concept art for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Shivering Isles DLC

My main gripe is both of them are barely present villains. Alduin shows up four times throughout the main quest (Helgen, Kynesgrove, Throat of the World, Sovngarde). Shroud shows up three times (first episode, the last two (if my memory serves me right)).

Neither of them felt intimidating, both of them sort of just exists. Sure, Alduin is a massive dragon and can bring back other dragons. Sure, Shroud got his tech and his villains. Their lack of presence makes them less interesting and intimidating (to me). If we, as the protagonist, at some point fail against them, where they have the upper hand, I'd probably quiver in my boots. But they never have the upper hand. They sort of just... are.

Both of them first shows up when the protagonist's life changes (nobody -> Dragonborn, mecha-man -> Robert). Both of them had so much potential. The angst for Robert if he and Shroud had been closer.

AND ANOTHER THING (this is mostly a Skyrim thing and unrealates, sort of), the lack of failure in the main story. Things goes too well. Things can go well but with consequence to it. Let the Thalmor hunt the LDB and try to kill them during random encounters instead of just that one time in Riften. Or a Thalmor spy following them. Let me be already too late to find Esbern. If there’s constant success the end won't feel satisfying.

Also let me fail, PLEASE. 🥺

TBH if Skyrim had more fail states, players would have probably raged against it. Not on here maybe. But on forums like Reddit.

People already complain about Jauffre losing the Amulet in Oblivion and about Delphine stealing the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller (and I don't even like her but it's such a small thing to get angry about). I mean, Jauffre gets blamed for Martin's sacrifice instead of Dagon/Camoran!

It wouldn't even surprise me if the Jauffre situation is partially at fault for the lack of built-in fails. /silly

And let's not forget that people did complain when Dawnguard came out and random vampire raids happened, actually endangering npcs! They had to nerf the vampires!

I suppose Mehrunes Dagon was the more effective villain because while his Oblivion Gates didn't cause much disruption in-game, they still gave a feeling of urgency in a way.

It's not really about the failstate. In my opinion, there just needs a few more hurdles and, like Oblivion, more urgency. Something to feel that the world is ending.

But I understand the limitations with pushing player freedom and agency. The occasional encounters with seeing Alduin in the wild resurrecting dragons sort of adds to the urgency.

But like you said, the dragons are still there. Most likely because of game mechanics for those who wants to learn every single shout.

It's a shame that the main quest feels far less impactful than the dlc quests. Miraak has about 2 minutes of being antagonistic and a really short story but he feels more threatening than Alduin.

Well yes, Dagon felt more effective because of the Gates and the sleeper agents.

Would have been nice if you could beat up dragons without killing them and the dragons essentially just challenging you after Alduin. And them teaching you the meaning of words like the Greybeards do to you for the first few Dragon Words they teach you. Like Paarthurnax does for Firebreath.

Bonus: Pet dragons. Who loaf like cats. /silly

There's mentions of the Dragonborn absorbing knowledge but I can't find it right now. I suspect either Arngeir or Paarthurnax says something about it but I'm not finding anything right now. I'll have to do a deep dive to find it.

My main gripe is both of them are barely present villains. Alduin shows up four times throughout the main quest (Helgen, Kynesgrove, Throat of the World, Sovngarde). Shroud shows up three times (first episode, the last two (if my memory serves me right)).

Neither of them felt intimidating, both of them sort of just exists. Sure, Alduin is a massive dragon and can bring back other dragons. Sure, Shroud got his tech and his villains. Their lack of presence makes them less interesting and intimidating (to me). If we, as the protagonist, at some point fail against them, where they have the upper hand, I'd probably quiver in my boots. But they never have the upper hand. They sort of just... are.

Both of them first shows up when the protagonist's life changes (nobody -> Dragonborn, mecha-man -> Robert). Both of them had so much potential. The angst for Robert if he and Shroud had been closer.

AND ANOTHER THING (this is mostly a Skyrim thing and unrealates, sort of), the lack of failure in the main story. Things goes too well. Things can go well but with consequence to it. Let the Thalmor hunt the LDB and try to kill them during random encounters instead of just that one time in Riften. Or a Thalmor spy following them. Let me be already too late to find Esbern. If there’s constant success the end won't feel satisfying.

Also let me fail, PLEASE. 🥺

TBH if Skyrim had more fail states, players would have probably raged against it. Not on here maybe. But on forums like Reddit.

People already complain about Jauffre losing the Amulet in Oblivion and about Delphine stealing the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller (and I don't even like her but it's such a small thing to get angry about). I mean, Jauffre gets blamed for Martin's sacrifice instead of Dagon/Camoran!

It wouldn't even surprise me if the Jauffre situation is partially at fault for the lack of built-in fails. /silly

And let's not forget that people did complain when Dawnguard came out and random vampire raids happened, actually endangering npcs! They had to nerf the vampires!

I suppose Mehrunes Dagon was the more effective villain because while his Oblivion Gates didn't cause much disruption in-game, they still gave a feeling of urgency in a way.

It's not really about the failstate. In my opinion, there just needs a few more hurdles and, like Oblivion, more urgency. Something to feel that the world is ending.

But I understand the limitations with pushing player freedom and agency. The occasional encounters with seeing Alduin in the wild resurrecting dragons sort of adds to the urgency.

But like you said, the dragons are still there. Most likely because of game mechanics for those who wants to learn every single shout.

It's a shame that the main quest feels far less impactful than the dlc quests. Miraak has about 2 minutes of being antagonistic and a really short story but he feels more threatening than Alduin.

Well yes, Dagon felt more effective because of the Gates and the sleeper agents.

Would have been nice if you could beat up dragons without killing them and the dragons essentially just challenging you after Alduin. And them teaching you the meaning of words like the Greybeards do to you for the first few Dragon Words they teach you. Like Paarthurnax does for Firebreath.

Bonus: Pet dragons. Who loaf like cats. /silly

There's mentions of the Dragonborn absorbing knowledge but I can't find it right now. I suspect either Arngeir or Paarthurnax says something about it but I'm not finding anything right now. I'll have to do a deep dive to find it.

My main gripe is both of them are barely present villains. Alduin shows up four times throughout the main quest (Helgen, Kynesgrove, Throat of the World, Sovngarde). Shroud shows up three times (first episode, the last two (if my memory serves me right)).

Neither of them felt intimidating, both of them sort of just exists. Sure, Alduin is a massive dragon and can bring back other dragons. Sure, Shroud got his tech and his villains. Their lack of presence makes them less interesting and intimidating (to me). If we, as the protagonist, at some point fail against them, where they have the upper hand, I'd probably quiver in my boots. But they never have the upper hand. They sort of just... are.

Both of them first shows up when the protagonist's life changes (nobody -> Dragonborn, mecha-man -> Robert). Both of them had so much potential. The angst for Robert if he and Shroud had been closer.

AND ANOTHER THING (this is mostly a Skyrim thing and unrealates, sort of), the lack of failure in the main story. Things goes too well. Things can go well but with consequence to it. Let the Thalmor hunt the LDB and try to kill them during random encounters instead of just that one time in Riften. Or a Thalmor spy following them. Let me be already too late to find Esbern. If there’s constant success the end won't feel satisfying.

Also let me fail, PLEASE. 🥺

TBH if Skyrim had more fail states, players would have probably raged against it. Not on here maybe. But on forums like Reddit.

People already complain about Jauffre losing the Amulet in Oblivion and about Delphine stealing the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller (and I don't even like her but it's such a small thing to get angry about). I mean, Jauffre gets blamed for Martin's sacrifice instead of Dagon/Camoran!

It wouldn't even surprise me if the Jauffre situation is partially at fault for the lack of built-in fails. /silly

And let's not forget that people did complain when Dawnguard came out and random vampire raids happened, actually endangering npcs! They had to nerf the vampires!

I suppose Mehrunes Dagon was the more effective villain because while his Oblivion Gates didn't cause much disruption in-game, they still gave a feeling of urgency in a way.

It's not really about the failstate. In my opinion, there just needs a few more hurdles and, like Oblivion, more urgency. Something to feel that the world is ending.

But I understand the limitations with pushing player freedom and agency. The occasional encounters with seeing Alduin in the wild resurrecting dragons sort of adds to the urgency.

But like you said, the dragons are still there. Most likely because of game mechanics for those who wants to learn every single shout.

It's a shame that the main quest feels far less impactful than the dlc quests. Miraak has about 2 minutes of being antagonistic and a really short story but he feels more threatening than Alduin.

Well yes, Dagon felt more effective because of the Gates and the sleeper agents.

Would have been nice if you could beat up dragons without killing them and the dragons essentially just challenging you after Alduin. And them teaching you the meaning of words like the Greybeards do to you for the first few Dragon Words they teach you. Like Paarthurnax does for Firebreath.

Bonus: Pet dragons. Who loaf like cats. /silly

There's mentions of the Dragonborn absorbing knowledge but I can't find it right now. I suspect either Arngeir or Paarthurnax says something about it but I'm not finding anything right now. I'll have to do a deep dive to find it.

My main gripe is both of them are barely present villains. Alduin shows up four times throughout the main quest (Helgen, Kynesgrove, Throat of the World, Sovngarde). Shroud shows up three times (first episode, the last two (if my memory serves me right)).

Neither of them felt intimidating, both of them sort of just exists. Sure, Alduin is a massive dragon and can bring back other dragons. Sure, Shroud got his tech and his villains. Their lack of presence makes them less interesting and intimidating (to me). If we, as the protagonist, at some point fail against them, where they have the upper hand, I'd probably quiver in my boots. But they never have the upper hand. They sort of just... are.

Both of them first shows up when the protagonist's life changes (nobody -> Dragonborn, mecha-man -> Robert). Both of them had so much potential. The angst for Robert if he and Shroud had been closer.

AND ANOTHER THING (this is mostly a Skyrim thing and unrealates, sort of), the lack of failure in the main story. Things goes too well. Things can go well but with consequence to it. Let the Thalmor hunt the LDB and try to kill them during random encounters instead of just that one time in Riften. Or a Thalmor spy following them. Let me be already too late to find Esbern. If there’s constant success the end won't feel satisfying.

Also let me fail, PLEASE. 🥺

TBH if Skyrim had more fail states, players would have probably raged against it. Not on here maybe. But on forums like Reddit.

People already complain about Jauffre losing the Amulet in Oblivion and about Delphine stealing the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller (and I don't even like her but it's such a small thing to get angry about). I mean, Jauffre gets blamed for Martin's sacrifice instead of Dagon/Camoran!

It wouldn't even surprise me if the Jauffre situation is partially at fault for the lack of built-in fails. /silly

And let's not forget that people did complain when Dawnguard came out and random vampire raids happened, actually endangering npcs! They had to nerf the vampires!

I suppose Mehrunes Dagon was the more effective villain because while his Oblivion Gates didn't cause much disruption in-game, they still gave a feeling of urgency in a way.

It's not really about the failstate. In my opinion, there just needs a few more hurdles and, like Oblivion, more urgency. Something to feel that the world is ending.

But I understand the limitations with pushing player freedom and agency. The occasional encounters with seeing Alduin in the wild resurrecting dragons sort of adds to the urgency.

But like you said, the dragons are still there. Most likely because of game mechanics for those who wants to learn every single shout.

It's a shame that the main quest feels far less impactful than the dlc quests. Miraak has about 2 minutes of being antagonistic and a really short story but he feels more threatening than Alduin.

Well yes, Dagon felt more effective because of the Gates and the sleeper agents.

Would have been nice if you could beat up dragons without killing them and the dragons essentially just challenging you after Alduin. And them teaching you the meaning of words like the Greybeards do to you for the first few Dragon Words they teach you. Like Paarthurnax does for Firebreath.

My main gripe is both of them are barely present villains. Alduin shows up four times throughout the main quest (Helgen, Kynesgrove, Throat of the World, Sovngarde). Shroud shows up three times (first episode, the last two (if my memory serves me right)).

Neither of them felt intimidating, both of them sort of just exists. Sure, Alduin is a massive dragon and can bring back other dragons. Sure, Shroud got his tech and his villains. Their lack of presence makes them less interesting and intimidating (to me). If we, as the protagonist, at some point fail against them, where they have the upper hand, I'd probably quiver in my boots. But they never have the upper hand. They sort of just... are.

Both of them first shows up when the protagonist's life changes (nobody -> Dragonborn, mecha-man -> Robert). Both of them had so much potential. The angst for Robert if he and Shroud had been closer.

AND ANOTHER THING (this is mostly a Skyrim thing and unrealates, sort of), the lack of failure in the main story. Things goes too well. Things can go well but with consequence to it. Let the Thalmor hunt the LDB and try to kill them during random encounters instead of just that one time in Riften. Or a Thalmor spy following them. Let me be already too late to find Esbern. If there’s constant success the end won't feel satisfying.

Also let me fail, PLEASE. 🥺

TBH if Skyrim had more fail states, players would have probably raged against it. Not on here maybe. But on forums like Reddit.

People already complain about Jauffre losing the Amulet in Oblivion and about Delphine stealing the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller (and I don't even like her but it's such a small thing to get angry about). I mean, Jauffre gets blamed for Martin's sacrifice instead of Dagon/Camoran!

It wouldn't even surprise me if the Jauffre situation is partially at fault for the lack of built-in fails. /silly

And let's not forget that people did complain when Dawnguard came out and random vampire raids happened, actually endangering npcs! They had to nerf the vampires!

I suppose Mehrunes Dagon was the more effective villain because while his Oblivion Gates didn't cause much disruption in-game, they still gave a feeling of urgency in a way.

It's not really about the failstate. In my opinion, there just needs a few more hurdles and, like Oblivion, more urgency. Something to feel that the world is ending.

But I understand the limitations with pushing player freedom and agency. The occasional encounters with seeing Alduin in the wild resurrecting dragons sort of adds to the urgency.

But like you said, the dragons are still there. Most likely because of game mechanics for those who wants to learn every single shout.

It's a shame that the main quest feels far less impactful than the dlc quests. Miraak has about 2 minutes of being antagonistic and a really short story but he feels more threatening than Alduin.

You know I will actually