OBLIVION and SKYRIM (minor spoiler)

[the spud]

Mr. Snippers.

It doesn't so much as bother me as it does confuse me and make me want to question Bethesda's marketing. You would want the avatar to have a design that is at least somewhat universal. I know most people are probably going to pick warrior, but one of the best and most significant elements of the elder scrolls series is your ability to play as any type of character you like. Like I said, it doesn't really bother me; the game won't suffer from the promotional work, it just seems like it would be a good idea to make the idea more encompassing.

 

[Kimarous]

you know, they do sing in the trailer 'dovahkiin our king who will dawn with fire'

So is that to be taken literally, is the dragonborn meant to be king? Maybe we can wrest the crown from the old king like Conan!

Nice case of Mondegreen there. They're singing in the language of dragons:

Dovahkiin, fah hin kogaan mu draal

Which, when translated to English, means:

Dragonborn, for your blessing we pray

 

[grimgor42]

The rumors are saying that the character you play in Skyrim was born with the soul of a dragon, so he's a dragon in a mortal body which gives him powers, according to some prophecies, which is why you can absorb the souls of dragons. The Nords learned to use dragon shouts from the dragons in ancient times (possibly) but were banned from distributing that knowledge when they joined the empire, which is why the greybeards are the only nords with those powers and they have to stay on their mountain. Well, Tiber Septim was the first(?) emperor of the "dragon blood" and my theory is that he was a prophecied hero just like the hero you play in Skyrim, complete with a dragon's soul and voice powers. He kicked major ass, became emperor, and later ascended to godhood/was deified. His descendants are all called dragonborn but he was the only REAL dragonborn. All of this is a theory based on preexisting lore, and my assumptions based on what is revealed of Skyrim in the trailers. Makes since though right?

 

[Slowpool]

Mr. Snippers.

It doesn't so much as bother me as it does confuse me and make me want to question Bethesda's marketing. You would want the avatar to have a design that is at least somewhat universal. I know most people are probably going to pick warrior, but one of the best and most significant elements of the elder scrolls series is your ability to play as any type of character you like. Like I said, it doesn't really bother me; the game won't suffer from the promotional work, it just seems like it would be a good idea to make the idea more encompassing.

You make a good point. I can agree with that; it would have been nice to see someone rocking a lightning bolt or two. It just doesn't seem like particularly large misstep to me.

 

[Slowpool]

The rumors are saying that the character you play in Skyrim was born with the soul of a dragon, so he's a dragon in a mortal body which gives him powers, according to some prophecies, which is why you can absorb the souls of dragons. The Nords learned to use dragon shouts from the dragons in ancient times (possibly) but were banned from distributing that knowledge when they joined the empire, which is why the greybeards are the only nords with those powers and they have to stay on their mountain. Well, Tiber Septim was the first(?) emperor of the "dragon blood" and my theory is that he was a prophecied hero just like the hero you play in Skyrim, complete with a dragon's soul and voice powers. He kicked major ass, became emperor, and later ascended to godhood/was deified. His descendants are all called dragonborn but he was the only REAL dragonborn. All of this is a theory based on preexisting lore, and my assumptions based on what is revealed of Skyrim in the trailers. Makes since though right?

Eh. Maybe? Quote from TESWiki:

"In the Elder Scrolls universe, the term Dragonborn is used to refer to the "descendants" of Emperor Tiber Septim, founder of the Septim Dynasty of Tamriel. Most of past Dragonborn have been of the Imperial race; however, Dragonborn can be of any race, as the abilities and title are given by the Nine Divines to favored subjects.
It also may refer to the Nerevarine, the main character from Morrowind, who is referred to as "Dragon-born" in the Lost Prophecy. The issues have since been cleared up, with Game Developer Todd Howard revealing that the "Dragonborn" of Skyrim will be different to those in previous games."

I think the term has been used to describe a number of different individuals, not all of whom were Dovahkiin as we currently understand them.

 

[rod_hynes]

SNIP

Eh. Maybe? Quote from TESWiki:

I think a dragon born is just that. a human who for some reason is endowed with some sort of divine (from the dragon akatosh) power, for the empire it was so be able to light the fires that kept oblivion away, for skyrim it is the ability to speak and fight the other dragons.