Off Topic Discussion Megathread

[Vyrerus]

The only way Morrowind hasn't aged well is graphically and mechanically. It looks bad by today's standards, and the idea of missing a hit due to an accuracy roll in addition to your aim is a foreign concept to many of today's gamers.

It has a radically amazing setting that was literally written by a guy drunk off his rocker with benzodiazepines out his dumper. He also wrote Oblivion. Morrowind's setting is so unusual that the only reason it would seem banal is if you've experienced it dozens of times since you were a kid. It's also very brutal and real. The Dark Elves have their own word for foreigner. The setting doesn't 100% explain itself to you right off the bat. You have to look, read, think, and puzzle your way through.

I prefer SsethTzeentach's video on it the most.

Its main plot is actually some what reminiscent of Xenogears. Reincarnation involving other god-like beings, all intent on being or surpassing or killing other Gods. It's not a 1:1 but the Nerevar == Fei Fong Wong and Dagoth Ur == Krelian. Miang == Almalexia. It's still not quite as strange as Xenogears' plot, with the Zohar, Wels disease, all humans actually being synthetics, and Deus etc. But damned if the comparison can't be made.

The reason people give the current/later Elder Scrolls games guff is generally because they clip and compress the skills with each iteration, compressing/eliminating playstyles. For instance, there's no longer an, "Unarmored" skill that would let you build defense rating while wearing clothes not considered armor. As of Skyrim there's no longer attributes like STR DEX etc.

The first people to get interested in Elder Scrolls and cause it take off were more dedicated gamers, and/or kids who didn't know anything else, who liked/grew to like crunching numbers. Figuring out how to break the system. Reduce the player's ability to that, and they will naturally deride the entry that does it. It's that brand of fun that's led to modding being such a hot thing(you know, other than tiddy mods).

[Kolsykol]

The only way Morrowind hasn't aged well is graphically and mechanically. It looks bad by today's standards, and the idea of missing a hit due to an accuracy roll in addition to your aim is a foreign concept to many of today's gamers.

Personally I just don't find it to be a fun gameplay mechanic.

I think that it could be if the feedback was better, for example if instead of hitting your opponent and hearing that sound effect you do you instead hit the armor and there was proper feedback for it.
Because it ends up just feeling frustrating and like your character is a dumbass who can't hit what's in front of them.
It's the same in Pathfinder Kingmaker too, I do love the game but I think it'd be better with that kind of feedback or proper dodging animations.

It could be fun in Morrowind but it just makes me feeling like my character is blind.
I remember this was a thing I realized when I played the first Assassins Creed game because based on what I remember at least the enemies still blocked attacks when they got hit but there was a stagger animation so it was clear they took damage.
Morrowind is obviously extremely old at this point but I still think there were ways of doing it better especially with audio.

In FFXIV we used to be able to miss attacks too but it was horrible for obvious reasons ( Morrowind was obviously not as bad, no combos and not a MMO ).
But I think it could work in singleplayer games but you rly gotta still make it feel like you're actually swinging at someone.

[SturmChurro]

Personally I just don't find it to be a fun gameplay mechanic.

I think that it could be if the feedback was better, for example if instead of hitting your opponent and hearing that sound effect you do you instead hit the armor and there was proper feedback for it.
Because it ends up just feeling frustrating and like your character is a dumbass who can't hit what's in front of them.
It's the same in Pathfinder Kingmaker too, I do love the game but I think it'd be better with that kind of feedback or proper dodging animations.

It could be fun in Morrowind but it just makes me feeling like my character is blind.
I remember this was a thing I realized when I played the first Assassins Creed game because based on what I remember at least the enemies still blocked attacks when they got hit but there was a stagger animation so it was clear they took damage.
Morrowind is obviously extremely old at this point but I still think there were ways of doing it better especially with audio.

In FFXIV we used to be able to miss attacks too but it was horrible for obvious reasons ( Morrowind was obviously not as bad, no combos and not a MMO ).
But I think it could work in singleplayer games but you rly gotta still make it feel like you're actually swinging at someone.

I don't really see this happening, and I usually play with the premade classes on top of it for added roleplay (I like how your "class" has a description - do the same in Oblivion). Are you entering fights with no fatigue left, and/or using a weapon your character isn't skilled with? I'm literally playing a base mage right now - still level one - and have had no issues whatsoever. I suppose the thing about Morrowind is that you kind of have to know what stats and effects do what, to not get too frustrated by it and have no problems. Your character isn't blind, they are just probably unskilled, and out of breath. The game is just simulating this.

[Kolsykol]

I don't really see this happening, and I usually play with the premade classes on top of it for added roleplay (I like how your "class" has a description - do the same in Oblivion). Are you entering fights with no fatigue left, and/or using a weapon your character isn't skilled with? I'm literally playing a base mage right now - still level one - and have had no issues whatsoever. I suppose the thing about Morrowind is that you kind of have to what stats and effects do what, to not get too frustrated by it and have no problems. Your character isn't blind, they are just probably unskilled, and out of breath. The game is just simulating this.

Yeah but even if you're unskilled you should still be able to make contact with the enemy.
I think that for the most part it's an issue with audio especially considering the age of the game.

I honestly dunno how to describe it, it almost sounds like you're cutting grass lol.
In DnD AC is meant to simulate a lot of different things, like weapons hitting armor, dodging, parrying etc.
I think it really helps to show that or at least indicate it some other way like with audio.

Otherwise it sorta feels like your character is just slicing the air.

[SturmChurro]

Yeah but even if you're unskilled you should still be able to make contact with the enemy.
I think that for the most part it's an issue with audio especially considering the age of the game.

I honestly dunno how to describe it, it almost sounds like you're cutting grass lol.
In DnD AC is meant to simulate a lot of different things, like weapons hitting armor, dodging, parrying etc.
I think it really helps to show that or at least indicate it some other way like with audio.

Otherwise it sorta feels like your character is just slicing the air.

Not necessarily. The game just lacks the animations. It is simulating the enemy dodging your hits. For example, I was recently playing NWN EE, and NWN2, those games would give visual feedback (dodge animations) of you or the enemy missing by having your character or the enemy literally dodge hits. Your character could still miss for a variety of factors, and I, frankly, think it's more realistic to miss from time to time. Aside from that, there are probably mods that change this for people who want it.

[Kolsykol]

Not necessarily. The game just lacks the animations. It is simulating the enemy dodging your hits. For example, I was recently playing NWN EE, and NWN2, those games would give visual feedback (dodge animations) of you or the enemy missing by having your character or the enemy literally dodge hits. Your character could still miss for a variety of factors, and I, frankly, think it's more realistic to miss from time to time. Aside from that, there are probably mods that change this for people who want it.

Animations would definitely help which was my point, I think if your character is wearing heavy armor tho there should be audio for that too.
It's just that without it the game does a poor job at communicating that visually and audibly and imo at least it makes the gameplay feel bad.

I think that when you visually actually see your weapon land on the enemy then you kinda end up expecting that to be reflected in the visuals and audio, when it's not it ends up feeling bad imo.

[SturmChurro]

Animations would definitely help which was my point, I think if your character is wearing heavy armor tho there should be audio for that too.
It's just that without it the game does a poor job at communicating that visually and audibly and imo at least it makes the gameplay feel bad.

I think that when you visually actually see your weapon land on the enemy then you kinda end up expecting that to be reflected in the visuals and audio, when it's not it ends up feeling bad imo.

It's old, and it's a Bethesda game. That about sums it up, but the mechanics are there for a good reason. Your weapon isn't landing. Your character is like a gassed amateur boxer, trying to go up against a fresh pro - they aren't going to land hits. Even in hema a lot of it is about parrying and dodging blows. A good representation of this in action, is probably Kingdom Come: Deliverance.