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.

[Vita, Mortis, Careo]

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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.

It comes down to the open world thing and figurative representation. Continuous open worlds are small by necessity and require a greater amount of suspension on the part of the player to accommodate. One of the flaws of the genre.

[old Charlie]

I don´t see any point in discussing the realism in fantasy-games.
There is a thing called "suspense of disbelief". Its a subjective thing. And none of the before mentioned problems broke this suspense for me.

Apart from that, i don´t even think that skandinavia is a good example for skyrim. The british islands or germany are probably the better examples, due to them being part of the roman empire.

[EDIT] And just for the sake of correctness: You are talking about an intercultural society, not a multicultural.

[PilgrimX]

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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?

More people to loot, still some to sell that loot to.

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Apart from that, i don´t even think that skandinavia is a good example for skyrim. The british islands or germany are probably the better examples, due to them being part of the roman empire.

Even then I don't think you'll see so much of a connection.

The original inhabitants live underground as twisted derivatives of themselves, the first humans inhabit mostly only a small area, the Nords represent a large group- probably the largest and hold most of the land in one form or another, one of the other races basically doesn't exist anymore, argonians are few and far between usually associated with trade and theft, orcs tend to be capable of integrating but choose to have their own settlements- and are very uncommon, dark elves rarely integrate due to sticking together as refugees, Bosmer and Altmer seemlessly integrate about anywhere as do Imperials, Kaijit are typically unwelcome everywhere and are even uncommon among bandits. Redguard are sometimes integrated- though usually bandits. Argonians, Orcs, and Dark Elves are very commonly bandits though Dark Elves and Orcs have other common roles outside of the cities.

Point of course being- Skyrim is that diverse. Yeah nords are a majority but not an overwhelming one.

[76561198119391273]

Don't worry, in my skyrim, there will soon be no one other than nords and imperials.

But it takes time you know, killing them one by one is hard.

[old Charlie]

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Even then I don't think you'll see so much of a connection.

The original inhabitants live underground as twisted derivatives of themselves, the first humans inhabit mostly only a small area, the Nords represent a large group- probably the largest and hold most of the land in one form or another, one of the other races basically doesn't exist anymore, argonians are few and far between usually associated with trade and theft, orcs tend to be capable of integrating but choose to have their own settlements- and are very uncommon, dark elves rarely integrate due to sticking together as refugees, Bosmer and Altmer seemlessly integrate about anywhere as do Imperials, Kaijit are typically unwelcome everywhere and are even uncommon among bandits. Redguard are sometimes integrated- though usually bandits. Argonians, Orcs, and Dark Elves are very commonly bandits though Dark Elves and Orcs have other common roles outside of the cities.

Point of course being- Skyrim is that diverse. Yeah nords are a majority but not an overwhelming one.

uhm... why not? You should read into the romans. They were alot more diverse than you think. Their soldier were from all around europe. The Legion was everywhere. And its soldiers were as diverse as can be (for the time).
Now add to that, that the roman empire existed for several hundred years in europe and reality is NOT a fantasy game. That means, that the italian legionaire went to germany, married a german wife and had german kids. That could not happen to a khajiit. Even after generations they´d be still khajiit.
And i could go on and on and on...

I´d advise you to just stop this discussion. From here on out there is no way you won´t sound like a racist ;)

[Tingratty]

in a world where there are dragons and elves (and falmer. i know they are elves but they scare the ♥♥♥♥ out of me) you care about the races of skyrim...

[Tingratty]

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Even then I don't think you'll see so much of a connection.

The original inhabitants live underground as twisted derivatives of themselves, the first humans inhabit mostly only a small area, the Nords represent a large group- probably the largest and hold most of the land in one form or another, one of the other races basically doesn't exist anymore, argonians are few and far between usually associated with trade and theft, orcs tend to be capable of integrating but choose to have their own settlements- and are very uncommon, dark elves rarely integrate due to sticking together as refugees, Bosmer and Altmer seemlessly integrate about anywhere as do Imperials, Kaijit are typically unwelcome everywhere and are even uncommon among bandits. Redguard are sometimes integrated- though usually bandits. Argonians, Orcs, and Dark Elves are very commonly bandits though Dark Elves and Orcs have other common roles outside of the cities.

Point of course being- Skyrim is that diverse. Yeah nords are a majority but not an overwhelming one.

uhm... why not? You should read into the romans. They were alot more diverse than you think. Their soldier were from all around europe. The Legion was everywhere. And its soldiers were as diverse as can be (for the time).
Now add to that, that the roman empire existed for several hundred years in europe and reality is NOT a fantasy game. That means, that the italian legionaire went to germany, married a german wife and had german kids. That could not happen to a khajiit. Even after generations they´d be still khajiit.
And i could go on and on and on...

I´d advise you to just stop this discussion. From here on out there is no way you won´t sound like a racist ;)

how can you be a racist in a fantasy world... nord power?

[old Charlie]

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uhm... why not? You should read into the romans. They were alot more diverse than you think. Their soldier were from all around europe. The Legion was everywhere. And its soldiers were as diverse as can be (for the time).
Now add to that, that the roman empire existed for several hundred years in europe and reality is NOT a fantasy game. That means, that the italian legionaire went to germany, married a german wife and had german kids. That could not happen to a khajiit. Even after generations they´d be still khajiit.
And i could go on and on and on...

I´d advise you to just stop this discussion. From here on out there is no way you won´t sound like a racist ;)

how can you be a racist in a fantasy world... nord power?

you should read some of the earlier posts. The discussion is about why skyrim is more diverse than scandinavia and how the OP is not okay with that ;)

Oh and to answer you question: You can be a racist in a fantasy world, by being a racist and playing a fantasy game.

[Rocket]

There's clearly a multiracial/cultural approach to game design here, I mean you get old nords with super dark skin. But it's a game about a fantasy world so why the ♥♥♥♥ not right? Doesn't really matter to me, the viking theme is presented well enough to circumvent little discrepancies like that. So if you got the game for that you still get your money's worth.

[Rocket]

And yes the Elder Scrolls world doesn't make any sense whatsoever. Not just compared to our world but simply as a world. The geopolitics are ridiculous, the demographics don't work out, the economics are all over the place and the history is shoddy as all hell. But it's a game so just enjoy the combat and the adventure.

[Rafael Freeman]

As others have pointed out, Skyrim is pure fantasy.

But multicultural societies weren't unusual in the past. The Persian Empire (when Xerxes was king) was a mix of ethnic groups, Vikings had settlements in the Middle East, the Romans would allow the children of auxiliary soldiers to become Roman citizens and the Greeks had colonies on the coast of Africa. Cleopatra, by the way, was Greek.

The army of Genghis Khan was rather diverse and Genghis Khan himself had reddish hair and yellow eyes.

Large cities, particularly if they had a harbor would often be multicultural. In Ireland today, it can be quite striking to see both rather dark Irish people and very fair Irish people.

Here's an idea: many Nords migrated and because of the sea, many non-Nords with an interest in trade traveled to Skyrim.

[Voyevoda]

the Roman Empire also had Martians serving in its Legions despite the Roman-Martian war of 29AD. Diversity is what makes the world go 'round buddy-boy.