Is Skyrim too diverse/multicultural?

[friendlyphoenixbird]

I should first note that I have nothing against elves, imperials, cats, or any others.

According the UESP (http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Demographics), a very trusted wiki, Skyrim's racial makeup is 47% Nord. 5 out of the 9 holds are 51% or under.

I simply think that this makes frankly no sense. Mediaeval Scandinavia was virtually 100% Nord. Now, I don't suggest the game should be that mono-ethnic. With the empire and free movement, despite Skyrim being a somewhat undesirable destination, there would still be a fair amount of immigrants. Then, there would be some spillover of other races in areas near the border. At this point, a totally realistic Skyrim would still be in the high 90's in terms of Nordic percentage. For the game version of Skyrim, and for various gameplay, diversity and representation reasons, a reasonable percentage would be closer to 80% Nord, with the only minority-Nord hold being the Reach and the only minority-Nord city being Markarth.

The Nord homeland being minority-Nord is just silly and impossible for such a society as Skyrim, what do you think about a theoretical 80% instead?

Again, I'm not trying to endorse racism, just more realism.

[Malvastor]

I'm pretty sure medieval Scandinavia was 0% Nord and 100% Norse. That aside, I think this is pretty much just a function of video games never having an appropriate number of people. Skyrim's probably better than, say, Pokemon, but it still doesn't have anywhere near the number of people it ought to. Also, 47% isn't exactly minority; the Nords have at the very least a plurality. Likewise, I'm not quite sure how much of a majority the Reachmen actually have in the Reach, unless the lore has something to say on it.

[Vita, Mortis, Careo]

1. Skyrim is not Scandinavia.

2. RPGs are best when not held to the standard of having to simulate reality.

You're nitpicking a bit too much.

[Hare+Guu!]

No. ES is more like Roman times. Iirc medieval times didn't start until after the western roman empire collapsed. Aldmeri dominion is basically Persia/Attila.

Also, Skyrim makes up a small piece of the Empire. The people from other lands are more than enough to outnumber Nords. It doesn't help that Nords took that land from someone else, so there were already plenty of non-Nords in there.

[Kujo Irene]

well
if we're going to argue about this then we should point out that valenwood is on the other side on the continent and there is like 10 wood elf npcs that I can name off the top of my head. but there is easily npcs into the hundreds for Nords. This being said I should note that we shouldn't include bandits or any other rng generated racial maker.

People didn't settle in the northern lands back in the medieval era because...oh yeah it was filled with Vikings, Barbarians and general plunderers. HAD KINGDOMS but not the nicest people around. Skyrim is/was a part of an Empire allowing people to come and go as they please.
OP is disregarding a lot of things that should be taken into context if we're getting "realistic" about Tamriel's cultures.

[Vita, Mortis, Careo]

Does anyone think there are only 40 or so individuals living in the Imperial City?

[xxxaziexxx]

I would rather keep the current ratio of natives to foreign races in Skyrim than opt for more realism. Variety is the spice of life.

[Maloy20]

I think the fact that you had to say you weren't endorsing racism when you were talking about a video game is honestly kind of sad.

[friendlyphoenixbird]

Maloy, it's because some people may get overly sensitive to that topic.

[Maloy20]

Originally posted by friendlyphoenixbird:

Maloy, it's because some people may get overly sensitive to that topic.

Yeah I wasn't saying you were sad, I meant other people lol.

[datguy13]

I think I just want to see more hard-drinking, swearing, fighting, blonde-hair, blue-eyed, muscle-bound, fur-wearing, war hammer-toting Barbarians than milk-drinking lizard men, prissy snobs, pointy-eared freaks or cat people.

Oh, and I suppose they could throw a few extra Nord males into the mix too. Can't let the women have all the fun...

[★Kelvy★]

Datguy13 Best answer to date. Ha!!

[Roscaria]

If you read the books you would realise the the Nords are not the original inhabitants of Skyrim. The Snow Elves (now Falmer), Dwemer. Orcs and the Forsworn were here long before they arrived.

[old Charlie]

you might have a point there, if the population of skyrim was any kind of realistic to begin with.

Just count the population. In cities half of them are guards and outside 90% of them are bandits or the like. And there ain´t nearly enough houses in the cities to actually house all of the people. Also there aren´t nearly enough farms to feed all the people. And considering the few able bodied people in the cities, we have to wonder how and why they actually build that kind of structures.

Your argument stays, though. You are right. its strange that the elder scrolls games have that kind of intercultural society. But considering all the other unrealistic socioeconomic factors, i do have to wonder, why THIS ticks you off.

Why is it, that an intercultural society ticks you off more, than 90% of the population being bandits/necromancers/insane people trying to kill you?

[Shrapnel]

If WH was all Nord they wouldnt be able to show the oppression going on there - it would have seemed like one big isolated happy town - much so like Scandanavia.
But yes I suppose in reality thats probably how it would have gone

[friendlyphoenixbird]

Originally posted by An Album Cover:

you might have a point there, if the population of skyrim was any kind of realistic to begin with.

Just count the population. In cities half of them are guards and outside 90% of them are bandits or the like. And there ain´t nearly enough houses in the cities to actually house all of the people. Also there aren´t nearly enough farms to feed all the people. And considering the few able bodied people in the cities, we have to wonder how and why they actually build that kind of structures.

Your argument stays, though. You are right. its strange that the elder scrolls games have that kind of intercultural society. But considering all the other unrealistic socioeconomic factors, i do have to wonder, why THIS ticks you off.

Why is it, that an intercultural society ticks you off more, than 90% of the population being bandits/necromancers/insane people trying to kill you?

Those other factors also seem strange to me. Whiterun being a huge defensive city that houses several dozen people is a bit odd but it can't really be higher otherwise the cities would be huge and too close to one another. The only city I think is too small is Solitude, it's the capital of Skyrim and certainly it could have been made more populous without causing much harm, Solitude even has less residents than Riften.

The farms are not enough to properly feed the population (although keep in mind the very small population), but there is hunting as well. Not to mention many foods could be imported from bordering provinces. It would make sense for there to be more pastures, though, as that is the main food-produce in northern Scandinavia which I use a model for Skyrim.

Funny how the main concern in Skyrim is the war and dragons, yet most their population is formed of ne'er-do-wells. Even if it makes no sense from a realism point of view, gameplay purposes largely overrule that. I still think the Skyrimers should have more concern about a bandit takeover.

I meant to discuss one topic, maybe I'll post something on one of those other things, or maybe you could.