Playing as a dark elf.

[Fufflebuff]

This may be a bit silly, but I've just recently started a new playthrough with a dark elf and I'm not really familiar with elven characters, I've only ever played human races in most elder scrolls games.

Immersion and roleplay is important to me in any elder scrolls game, I always like to bond with my character and put myself in his or her boots.. But I'm finding that to be very difficult with a dark elf. I mostly know what defines these races out of my own character, I would however like some advice on playing as one both in terms of actual gameplay and roleplay.

How do you do it? Nords, imperials and sometimes bretons come naturally to me, but elves just feel so alien in my experience.

[HomeInvasionTurbo]

i hate playing as elves

[Docsprock]

The Dunmer in Skyrim have nearly lost their homeland. There are many refugees among the population. The Argonians have invaded Morrowind, and put many Dunmer into slavery, as retaliation to the Dunmer enslaving Argonians for generations.

At the same time, the Red Mountain has erupted and turned most of Vaardenfel into ash. Truly a difficult time for the Dark Elves.

Just East of Windhelm, past the border, is the city of Blacklight, (Not in this game), which is the current Capitol of Morrowind. Much of Windhelm's, (Ulfric's), resentment of the Dunmer, comes from the influx of refugees from there.

So you can look at the Dunmer in Skyrim as a people that are repressed and homeless, looking for shelter and respect in a land of resentful bigots. They are generally in a bad mood.

[Fufflebuff]

Originally posted by Docsprock:

The Dunmer in Skyrim have nearly lost their homeland. There are many refugees among the population. The Argonians have invaded Morrowind, and put many Dunmer into slavery, as retaliation to the Dunmer enslaving Argonians for generations.

At the same time, the Red Mountain has erupted and turned most of Vaardenfel into ash. Truly a difficult time for the Dark Elves.

Just East of Windhelm, past the border, is the city of Blacklight, (Not in this game), which is the current Capitol of Morrowind. Much of Windhelm's, (Ulfric's), resentment of the Dunmer, comes from the influx of refugees from there.

So you can look at the Dunmer in Skyrim as a people that are repressed and homeless, looking for shelter and respect in a land of resentful bigots. They are generally in a bad mood.

Thanks for the information, this is a good start I think.

[GrimCat]

Originally posted by Docsprock:

The Dunmer in Skyrim have nearly lost their homeland. There are many refugees among the population. The Argonians have invaded Morrowind, and put many Dunmer into slavery, as retaliation to the Dunmer enslaving Argonians for generations.

At the same time, the Red Mountain has erupted and turned most of Vaardenfel into ash. Truly a difficult time for the Dark Elves.

Just East of Windhelm, past the border, is the city of Blacklight, (Not in this game), which is the current Capitol of Morrowind. Much of Windhelm's, (Ulfric's), resentment of the Dunmer, comes from the influx of refugees from there.

So you can look at the Dunmer in Skyrim as a people that are repressed and homeless, looking for shelter and respect in a land of resentful bigots. They are generally in a bad mood.

That's a great summary, Doctor.

[Delta 1038]

Or you could just be a n'wah (Non-Morrowind) Dunmer.

[voehringer_nitron]

Originally posted by Delta 1038:

Or you could just be a n'wah (Non-Morrowind) Dunmer.

At first I was thinking n'wah meant fool, but that's actually s'wit. N'wah does indeed mean foreigner.

Dunmer has been my favorite race since Morrowind, my first TES game. Originally, I chose Dunmer since Morrowind was their home province, not knowing that my character would still be an n'wah. I like playing as fighter/mage types, and their skill bonuses fit that pretty well. But as I got to know more about them they proved to be pretty intresting. I like the lore/history there and often roleplay them as Boethiah worshippers. I mean, who else eats gods and poops out other Daedric Lords?

I really don't like how half the province asploded when Red Mountain erupted. And I always freed slaves (except maybe that one House Telvanni quest at the mine where you those two really nice rings for killing them). So the Argonian invasion, while understandable from a lore perspective, upset me nonetheless.

[alexander_dougherty]

Originally posted by Lux:

but elves just feel so alien in my experience.

Elves are supposed to feel a bit alien, just as Khajiit and Argonians are supposed to feel a bit alien, if you play they as human you are doing it wrong.

Emphasise the feeling of superiority, be a bit callous to non-elves (not necessarily hating but ignore the bruised feelings a bit), and take a longer view, after all you are going to be around for several centuries.

[Delta 1038]

I would say that TES has some of the best races in RPGs and the Elves/Mer especially stand out because of just how different they are from the cookie-cutter Tolkien elves that are bloody everywhere.

The Dunmer are especially weird which is good.

Course in terms of RPing, I prefer not to play a racial stereotype unless it's to dress down the how's and the why's. In the words of Sten:

'People are not simple. They cannot be defined for easy reference in the manner of: "the elves are a lithe, pointy-eared people who excel at poverty."'