Guide on how to ruin Morrowind experience for new players.

[PainkilleR]

Is "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim" the only TES game you have ever played? Do you hate the idea that there might be a better TES game out there that on top of that is much older than Skyrim? Do you want Morrowind to be a crappy experience?

Fear not for I have a guide for you on how to turn Morrowind into a dull and most boring game you have ever played!

1. First of all make sure that you don't understand how Morrowind is an RPG and how your skills are not as important as your character's skills.
2. Pick random skills as your primary/secondary skills, and make sure that you don't use them while fighting with your enemies, so that you could miss A LOT!
3. Now you can start hating the game. Because obviously collision detection doesn't work. Make sure you still don't understand that Morrowind is an RPG though!
4. Make sure (and this is important) that you click on EVERY dialogue option and speak with EVERY npc you meet! You don't want to miss anything, do you?
5. Read uesp.net pages before playing the game! Make sure you read the story summary. Read a lot of guides. Make sure you know how to get the boots of blinding speed! You want to know that they exist in Morrowind BEFORE you play the game... Otherwise you will feel as if exploration was TOO rewarding. You don't want that, do you?
6. Make sure to follow quest directions provided in quest guides. Better yet follow some walkthrough videos. Don't ever wonder around for no good reason. Sadly there is no way to turn on quest markers, but following walkthrough videos feels just as unrewarding. Just give it a try!
7. Don't think out of the box. Never assume that there might be something interesting under the pillow/in an old hollow tree/etc!
8. Make sure you min/max your character! Efficient leveling is your best friend. You don't want your mage to have less than 100 endurance and strength, do you?
9. Never forget how graphics are too bad for your sensitive eyes.

Follow these simple steps and I guarantee you the Skyrim will remain your favorite TES game no matter what.

Good luck to you traveler!

[AC Denton]

1. Play the game with no understanding.

[Veeshan]

I once had a friend walk me through finding the sword of Woe. As I picked it up I was puzzled as to why he would want to ruin so much of the game for me. I eventually understood that he thought he was helping.

You see the same thing in EverQuest project 1999. The community is frequently lauded as helpful and nice. Yet the reasons for this, once you dig, turn out to be that high level players will frequently hand new players extremely high level gear and money and power level them through instances higher than their level would allow.

It's scary how prevalent this misconception is even among those who went to the trouble of installing and who play early EverQuest.

[K§H]

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

5. Read uesp.net pages before playing the game! Make sure you read the story summary. Read a lot of guides. Make sure you know how to get the boots of blinding speed! You want to know that they exist in Morrowind BEFORE you play the game... Otherwise you will feel as if exploration was TOO rewarding. You don't want that, do you?

This never ceases to amaze me, i.e. how much many new players have actually researched and read through before playing the game. I suspect that this is related to a wish to play the game in an "ideal way" (whatever that is), but that also means that they are depriving themselves of actually finding out for themselves.

[PainkilleR]

Originally posted by K§H:

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

5. Read uesp.net pages before playing the game! Make sure you read the story summary. Read a lot of guides. Make sure you know how to get the boots of blinding speed! You want to know that they exist in Morrowind BEFORE you play the game... Otherwise you will feel as if exploration was TOO rewarding. You don't want that, do you?

This never ceases to amaze me, i.e. how much many new players have actually researched and read through before playing the game. I suspect that this is related to a wish to play the game in an "ideal way" (whatever that is), but that also means that they are depriving themselves of actually finding out for themselves.

I think that because gaming nowadays has become such a mainstream thing, it has attracted (for some reason) some ridiculous amount of people who don't really want to play games (yet they continue to do so), and perceive gaming as some kind of a job... It's as if they "play" games just to follow some list they made up that looks something like this:

-Do all quests in Seyda Neen - Check
-Do main quest - Check
-Speak with all npcs - Check
-Have some fun - what is fun? I just follow uesp.net

They play games they hate, and they see the absence of quest markers, challenges, and everything that makes games games and not movies as an annoyance that prevents them from completing the game as fast as they can only to move to another game they don't like.

Something like that.

[Veeshan]

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

Originally posted by K§H:

This never ceases to amaze me, i.e. how much many new players have actually researched and read through before playing the game. I suspect that this is related to a wish to play the game in an "ideal way" (whatever that is), but that also means that they are depriving themselves of actually finding out for themselves.

I think that because gaming nowadays has become such a mainstream thing, it has attracted (for some reason) some ridiculous amount of people who don't really want to play games (yet they continue to do so), and perceive gaming as some kind of a job... It's as if they "play" games just to follow some list they made up that looks something like this:

-Do all quests in Seyda Neen - Check
-Do main quest - Check
-Speak with all npcs - Check
-Have some fun - what is fun? I just follow uesp.net

They play games they hate, and they see the absence of quest markers, challenges, and everything that makes games games and not movies as an annoyance that prevents them from completing the game as fast as they can only to move to another game they don't like.

Something like that.

Spot on.

One segment of that population appears to be the achievent driven crowd. For them, "I want to feel like I accomplished something this session," is a sensible comment. As if the game were merely the tool to deliver the satisfaction of success.

This mode of thought works fantastic for, say, exercise, where the actual moment to moment experience can literally be painful, but when translated to gaming...

Nothing wrong with serving that crowd of course, just as the social crowd are served by the older MMOs which gives shared experiences.

[////]

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

7. Don't think out of the box. Never assume that there might be something interesting under the pillow/in an old hollow tree/etc!

true. it took me years to realise that things can be hidden in uninteractive hollow trees...

[PainkilleR]

Originally posted by she did ballet:

what a douchebag lol

Why? Did you dislike the guide?

Wait... Did you follow those steps mentioned in the guide, but didn't want the end result to be this dull and boring? Then this guide wasn't made for you obviously. No need to be rude for no reason.

[Mr. Whiskers]

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

Originally posted by K§H:

This never ceases to amaze me, i.e. how much many new players have actually researched and read through before playing the game. I suspect that this is related to a wish to play the game in an "ideal way" (whatever that is), but that also means that they are depriving themselves of actually finding out for themselves.

I think that because gaming nowadays has become such a mainstream thing, it has attracted (for some reason) some ridiculous amount of people who don't really want to play games (yet they continue to do so), and perceive gaming as some kind of a job... It's as if they "play" games just to follow some list they made up that looks something like this:

-Do all quests in Seyda Neen - Check
-Do main quest - Check
-Speak with all npcs - Check
-Have some fun - what is fun? I just follow uesp.net

None of this is a new trend. People were playing games like that before Morrowind came out, and people played Morrowind like that on its release. Some people find completing checklists fun. The way you personally enjoy gaming isn't the only way it can be enjoyed and other people aren't inferior for not adhering to your idea of fun.

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

They play games they hate, and they see the absence of quest markers, challenges, and everything that makes games games and not movies as an annoyance that prevents them from completing the game as fast as they can only to move to another game they don't like.

The modern gaming industry still produces games without quest markers and games that have challenges and they're still popular when they're good.

[////]

attacks a person for their knowledge of the game.

>

acts as if they know more about elitism than anyone else.

>

....

[PainkilleR]

Originally posted by Mr. Whiskers:

The way you personally enjoy gaming isn't the only way it can be enjoyed

Absolutely true.

After following these forums for some time though I have come to the conclusion that most people who hate this game sabotage their own experience (either consciously or unconsciously) by following some (or all) steps mentioned in my original post. It's almost a 100% guarantee that if you play the game the way I described here, you will most likely end up hating it.

I bet there are some exceptions to that rule, but I haven't seen any one saying something like:

"Omg, I can't understand how dice rolling system works, and I love it, because my hits never land, and I think the collision detection is broken in this game. So much fun!"

or

"I keep on clicking on the same topics for all npcs, and all the time I get similar lines from them! I like reading the same thing over and over so much! The Morrowind is the best!"

Originally posted by Mr. Whiskers:

and other people aren't inferior for not adhering to your idea of fun.

Please, keep this bs to yourself. I never called anyone inferior. I am totally making fun of people who spoil their own fun for no good reason, that's for sure. Not in a nonsensical way though. The original post is constructed in a sarcastic way and targeted at people who can understand the irony, and who can learn on other people's mistakes and never fall into mentioned traps.

The ultimate truth here is that most Morrowind haters could've liked the game. And that could have been a win-win situation for them.

Just think about it: I haven't spoiled any games for myself and I like almost all TES games (except for TES:Online for subjective reasons, and I don't know anything about mobile games) as a result. Now I have 2 fun games to play instead of only 1 (both Morrowind and Skyrim).

Originally posted by she did ballet:

I dislike your elitist attitude. You are trying to be so clever in your ♥♥♥♥♥♥ little post with that condescending tone towards hypothetical players who may enjoy things different way than you are - You only expose yourself as the biggest dоuchebag in the Universe.

Forget words "elitism", "nostalgia", whatever "buzz" words are popular... At least don't use them out of context. Because I definitely don't have an elitist attitude. We are talking about games here, and there is nothing "elitist" about them.

[Mr. Whiskers]

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

Originally posted by Mr. Whiskers:

The way you personally enjoy gaming isn't the only way it can be enjoyed

Absolutely true.

After following these forums for some time though I have come to the conclusion that most people who hate this game sabotage their own experience (either consciously or unconsciously) by following some (or all) steps mentioned in my original post. It's almost a 100% guarantee that if you play the game the way I described here, you will most likely end up hating it.

I bet there are some exceptions to that rule, but I haven't seen any one saying something like:

"Omg, I can't understand how dice rolling system works, and I love it, because my hits never land, and I think the collision detection is broken in this game. So much fun!"

or

"I keep on clicking on the same topics for all npcs, and all the time I get similar lines from them! I like reading the same thing over and over so much! The Morrowind is the best!"

Sounds like a good opportunity to realize that the game is flawed and that's not the players' fault.

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

I never called anyone inferior.

But heavily implied it.

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

I am totally making fun of people who spoil their own fun for no good reason, that's for sure.

Again, not having the same idea of what's fun as you is not a fault of theirs. You are not better than people because you find different things fun.

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

Not in a nonsensical way though.

Very nonsensical.

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

The original post is constructed in a sarcastic way and targeted at people who can understand the irony, and who can learn on other people's mistakes and never fall into mentioned traps.

Not enjoying a game you like in the same way you like it and playing the way you want to play is not a mistake. You are not better than people because they don't have the same idea of what's fun.

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

The ultimate truth here is that most Morrowind haters could've liked the game. And that could have been a win-win situation for them.

True. If only it had been made more suited to their liking.

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

Just think about it: I haven't spoiled any games for myself and I like almost all TES games (except for TES:Online for subjective reasons, and I don't know anything about mobile games) as a result. Now I can enjoy 2 games instead of 1 (both Morrowind and Skyrim).

Good for you. That doesn't mean people who don't enjoy both are wrong. (Also those aren't the only TES games)

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

Because I definitely don't have an elitist attitude

Elitist is the defining trait of your posts here.

[PainkilleR]

Originally posted by Mr. Whiskers:

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

Absolutely true.

After following these forums for some time though I have come to the conclusion that most people who hate this game sabotage their own experience (either consciously or unconsciously) by following some (or all) steps mentioned in my original post. It's almost a 100% guarantee that if you play the game the way I described here, you will most likely end up hating it.

I bet there are some exceptions to that rule, but I haven't seen any one saying something like:

"Omg, I can't understand how dice rolling system works, and I love it, because my hits never land, and I think the collision detection is broken in this game. So much fun!"

or

"I keep on clicking on the same topics for all npcs, and all the time I get similar lines from them! I like reading the same thing over and over so much! The Morrowind is the best!"

Sounds like a good opportunity to realize that the game is flawed and that's not the players' fault.

Every TES game is flawed, and Morrowind is not an exception. It is a good game though that can easily be turned into a complete garbage by player's actions without the involvement of game's own flaws.

Originally posted by Mr. Whiskers:

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

I never called anyone inferior.

But heavily implied it.

We can cut this discussion right here, if you don't mind? I am not this kind of person who you can easily put your own words into their mouth, and I am not interested in discussing who is better and who is worse, nor who is "elitist" and who is not.

Just to clarify one more time: I don't think that you are an inferior human being because your perception of fun differs from mine. In fact I don't care if you are inferior or superior human being at all. My main interest here is games, and topics related to games like other people opinions on games, contributions to games, etc.

Now let's get back to the topic.

Originally posted by Mr. Whiskers:

Not enjoying a game you like in the same way you like it and playing the way you want to play is not a mistake.

It's not about me telling people how to play the game, it's about me pointing out how breaking the rules set by the game genre can (and most likely will) lead to a ruined experience.

I.e. Morrowind's combat system's rules are being dictated by an RPG genre. Preferring action-adventure/hack-n-slash combat system over an RPG based combat system is not a mistake obviously. Expecting that RPG based combat system will be identical to an action-adventure/hack-n-slash combat system is a mistake though.

Another point to note is that the sense of discovery can be easily nullified by reading the guides/following quest markers.

Here is the thing about exploration: you either explore or not.

A huge chunk of Morrowind's gameplay revolves around the world exploration. It's not a mistake if you don't like to explore the game world. It's not a mistake if you don't like finding treasures/secrets/whatever in games. Expecting that you will find a treasure after you've read a walkthrough guide, or by following a quest marker is a mistake, because you've already "found" it long before you began your adventure.

And so on and so forth.

[Mr. Whiskers]

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

Originally posted by Mr. Whiskers:

Sounds like a good opportunity to realize that the game is flawed and that's not the players' fault.

Every TES game is flawed, and Morrowind is not an exception. It is a good game though that can easily be turned into a complete garbage by player's actions without the involvement of game's own flaws.

Morrowind's flaws causing it to be less enjoyable is not the fault of the player.

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

Just to clarify one more time: I don't think that you are an inferior human being because your perception of fun differs from mine.

You should probably make different types of threads and change your way of communicating, then.

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

It's not about me telling people how to play the game, it's about me pointing out how breaking the rules set by the game genre me can (and most likely will) lead to a ruined experience by my standards.

FTFY

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

I.e. Morrowind's combat system's rules are being dictated by an RPG genre. Preferring action-adventure/hack-n-slash combat system over an RPG based combat system is not a mistake obviously. Expecting that RPG based combat system will be identical to an action-adventure/hack-n-slash combat system is a mistake though.

Dice roll combat is not required by the RPG genre. It was useful in tabletop games because our ways of displaying and interacting with the action were more limited. Morrowind's implementation of that type of system is particlarly bad, and rather buggy as well. Additionally the choice to make the game look and control like a first person action combat system while maintaining a hidden dice roll system sets itself up for criticism.

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

Another point to note is that the sense of discovery can be easily nullified by reading the guides/following quest markers.

Can be, but isn't necessarily. Not to mention that not everyone is playing for a sense of discovery in the same way.

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

Here is the thing about exploration: you either explore or not.

A huge chunk of Morrowind's gameplay revolves around the world exploration. It's not a mistake if you don't like to explore the game world. It's not a mistake if you don't like finding treasures/secrets/whatever in games. Expecting that you will find a treasure after you've read a walkthrough guide, or by following a quest marker is a mistake, because you've already "found" it long before you began your adventure.

People not having the same ideas of fun as you and not playing games in the same way or for the same reason is not a mistake or a character flaw on their part.

[PainkilleR]

Originally posted by Mr. Whiskers:

Morrowind's flaws causing it to be less enjoyable is not the fault of the player.

Yes, and player's actions that make Morrowind less enjoyable are the fault of the player.

Originally posted by Mr. Whiskers:

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

It's not about me telling people how to play the game, it's about me pointing out how breaking the rules set by the game genre me can (and most likely will) lead to a ruined experience. by my standards

Originally posted by Mr. Whiskers:

Dice roll combat is not required by the RPG genre. It was useful in tabletop games because our ways of displaying and interacting with the action were more limited. We've evolved beyond that now and no longer have any need to be tied to it.

Dice roll combat system being a requirement or not is irrelevant. That's what RPG combat system is by de facto (not by my standards before you alter my quote). But even if you disagree, the problem for most is not the RPG combat system but the fact that they don't understand it. Once people understand how combat system is based on crpgs, it either stops being a problem or becomes an evident fact for individual that he doesn't like an RPG based combat system. Before that point it's a question of an ignorance of an individual.

Originally posted by Mr. Whiskers:

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

Another point to note is that the sense of discovery can be easily nullified by reading the guides/following quest markers.

Can be, but isn't necessarily. Not to mention that not everyone is playing for a sense of discovery in the same way.

Morrowind offers a limited amount of content. Expecting a nice racing simulator instead of a fantasy game set in fictional 3e 427 would be a ridiculous expectation. One of the things Morrowind offers you is to find things on your own. If it is a fun thing to do for a person or not is not relevant. If you don't find things on your own though, but follow a walkthrough video, then it nullifies that aspect of the game. Again the question is not whether you like it or not, but whether you play by the game's rules and then the game as a result will offer you things to find on your own, or you will miss the part of the game.

Now if you deliberately miss chunks of the game that are rewards in itself (that according to me are fun, and according to xyz are not so fun) and you expect to find some rewards afterwards only to find out that there is none and you missed everything already, then it's not the game's fault.

Originally posted by Mr. Whiskers:

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

Here is the thing about exploration: you either explore or not.

A huge chunk of Morrowind's gameplay revolves around the world exploration. It's not a mistake if you don't like to explore the game world. It's not a mistake if you don't like finding treasures/secrets/whatever in games. Expecting that you will find a treasure after you've read a walkthrough guide, or by following a quest marker is a mistake, because you've already "found" it long before you began your adventure.

People not having the same ideas of fun as you and not playing games in the same way or for the same reason is not a mistake or a character flaw on their part.

Uhm.... Yeah, exactly?

So here is a simple concept:

Morrowind offers xyz.
If you enjoy xyz then play it.
Don't if you want abc instead.
Or expect abc, follow my original post, and have a bad time! :)

[Mr. Whiskers]

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

That's what RPG combat system is by de facto

No.

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

But even if you disagree, the problem for most is not the RPG combat system but the fact that they don't understand it.

Then the problem is that Morrowind fails to advertise and communicate its gameplay systems effectively.

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

One of the things Morrowind offers you is to find things on your own.

And the option not to. The game did have an official strategy guide to help walk you through it, after all.

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

If it is a fun thing to do for a person or not is not relevant.

It's a video game. Whether or not something is fun for a person is literally the only thing that is relevant for essentially 100% of users.

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

If you don't find things on your own though, but follow a walkthrough video, then it nullifies that aspect of the game.

And emphasizes other aspects of the game that you might find more enjoyable.

Originally posted by PainkilleR:

Again the question is not whether you like it or not, but whether you play by the game's rules and then the game as a result will offer you things to find on your own, or you will miss the part of the game.

Again your rules are not the gamer bible by which all cool gamer dudes must abide.