Skyrim elves look AWFUL :(

[Robert Ewing]

Actually, it's more how they wanted the elves to look. If you look at their concept art.

In Morrowind they almost nailed it, but the graphical horsepower was... Yeah. But in oblivion they couldn't make the elves wacky and wonderful like in Morrowind, because their engine didn't really allow it. They even specified this that they lost the feeling of an alien world in Oblivion.

Their elves don't look like Tolkien's elves... Tall, slender, beautiful...

The elves of Tamriel are quite warlike, and definitely not benevolent. A lot of Elf races are actually rather tyrannic, corrupt and even evil.

The only Elf race that doesn't have a particularly bad name are the... Erm Dwarfs, or Dwemers.

Yes, Dwarfs In the eldar scrolls are elves but steampunk'd. If they can get away with that, then they can get away with making their other elves look like the bad guy out of Aladdin.

I say they have a bad name simply because they leave their damn robots all over the place to repeatedly murder me whilst im trying to steal from and desecrate their former homes

Also the dwarves tried to create a god, thats what lead to them flat out disappearing, not sure if you see that as bad, but its worth noting

Hehe, well maybe they aren't crystal clear, but they really aren't as clearly evil as the other elf races

 

[The_Blue_Rider]

Actually, it's more how they wanted the elves to look. If you look at their concept art.

In Morrowind they almost nailed it, but the graphical horsepower was... Yeah. But in oblivion they couldn't make the elves wacky and wonderful like in Morrowind, because their engine didn't really allow it. They even specified this that they lost the feeling of an alien world in Oblivion.

Their elves don't look like Tolkien's elves... Tall, slender, beautiful...

The elves of Tamriel are quite warlike, and definitely not benevolent. A lot of Elf races are actually rather tyrannic, corrupt and even evil.

The only Elf race that doesn't have a particularly bad name are the... Erm Dwarfs, or Dwemers.

Yes, Dwarfs In the eldar scrolls are elves but steampunk'd. If they can get away with that, then they can get away with making their other elves look like the bad guy out of Aladdin.

I say they have a bad name simply because they leave their damn robots all over the place to repeatedly murder me whilst im trying to steal from and desecrate their former homes

Also the dwarves tried to create a god, thats what lead to them flat out disappearing, not sure if you see that as bad, but its worth noting

Hehe, well maybe they aren't crystal clear, but they really aren't as clearly evil as the other elf races

Thats because theyre all gone, you know those soul gems that power their machines?... They took those souls from puppies and kittens. Reeeeeaallly big puppies and kittens for the Centurions

 

[Robert Ewing]

Actually, it's more how they wanted the elves to look. If you look at their concept art.

In Morrowind they almost nailed it, but the graphical horsepower was... Yeah. But in oblivion they couldn't make the elves wacky and wonderful like in Morrowind, because their engine didn't really allow it. They even specified this that they lost the feeling of an alien world in Oblivion.

Their elves don't look like Tolkien's elves... Tall, slender, beautiful...

The elves of Tamriel are quite warlike, and definitely not benevolent. A lot of Elf races are actually rather tyrannic, corrupt and even evil.

The only Elf race that doesn't have a particularly bad name are the... Erm Dwarfs, or Dwemers.

Yes, Dwarfs In the eldar scrolls are elves but steampunk'd. If they can get away with that, then they can get away with making their other elves look like the bad guy out of Aladdin.

I say they have a bad name simply because they leave their damn robots all over the place to repeatedly murder me whilst im trying to steal from and desecrate their former homes

Also the dwarves tried to create a god, thats what lead to them flat out disappearing, not sure if you see that as bad, but its worth noting

Hehe, well maybe they aren't crystal clear, but they really aren't as clearly evil as the other elf races

Thats because theyre all gone, you know those soul gems that power their machines?... They took those souls from puppies and kittens. Reeeeeaallly big puppies and kittens for the Centurions

*Takes a drink of coffee, reads this post*

PFFFFFFTTTTTTT

DEAR GOD! Make them all dissapea- oh. Well... Desecrate their homes even more than you already have been doing! Hehee, that'll teach them, wait til' I get PETA on the phone.

 

[Turigamot]

I dunno, I find my own catharsis to be personally constructive and fulfilling. It's also nice to know that the internet, as usually, is collectively wrong (<NOTE: SARCASM). Also, nothing written on an internet forum, anywhere, ever, in the history of time, has been constructive, so pointing out that something ISN'T constructive is like pointing out that that a Scion XB is ugly. It's a given.

Your own catharsis could have been jotted down in a Word document, not coming here with a shitty attitude and blowing off any attempt at showing you our views on the race.
Maybe 'constructive' wasn't the right word, but acting with courtesy or at least not being completely inflammatory is something everyone here should try and employ.

Venting to a computer is not cathartic. Personally I don't think I have a shitty attitude or have blown off anyone. I have a strongly worded opinion about the way that Bethesda handled the elves in the game. I've never said that anyone else's opinion was wrong, apart from sarcastically anyway, but regardless, I've not called anyone on this forum a name, but I've adamantly disagreed with them on their opinion. Also, to be honest, I think taking a stark stance on something in a forum is perfectly fine, it's better to have discussions about things we're passionate about and heaven forbid, disagree about than stand around pretending that we all like that same things and get along.

I think that there is a set "look" for elves, an industry standard if you will, and while you may have the freedom as a game designer to deviate from that, I have the right to say that I think it's a stupid decision and that something just doesn't work.

This is hyperbole, but if Bethesda made elves three feet tall, with 7 arms, red skin, and horns, then they can call them elves all they want, but they're not elves.

Elves weren't invented by the industry, or Tolkien. The "industry-standard" for elves back during the age of folktales and mythology isn't the same as it is today. And if Bethesda wants to deviate from the norm, good on them. Also, OP never played Morrowind. I can tell.

These Elves look fantastic. You re just being silly.

Do you hate Tolkien for not having green Orcs?

 

[Carboncrown]

I do have to agree, on some level at least. As a random race they're fine, but not as elves.
See, there are two kinds of elves: the little ones between a fairy and a human and the tall, proud and elegant ones. Always magical.

And as much orcs(which look amazing, by the way) need to be savage and rough - to some extent - elves can not; Elven brute should generally be an oxymoron.
In Skyrim they just have that roughness not befitting elves at all.

Of course, they are mer, and "elf" is just what the humans call them, and it's perfectly fine. But I have to wonder why "elf" and "dwarf" need to be thrown in there... for clarity? Were they called that in Arena?

I'd considering finding a mod that changes all the names to dwemer and such... but I don't care enough.
[sub]But changing magica to mana, now that's a worthwhile goal! And tits of course.[/sub]

 

[Robert2812]

They are a different genus to human beings, in fact Bethesda has developed them to look more like fairies in human folklore, a bold move that would upset alot of people but you have to remember, it is fantasy.

Although ill play imperial all up in that shit.

 

[The_Blue_Rider]

snip

Dont bother, I heard the Skyrim branch of PETA disbanded, something about being eaten by Dragons, I hear the Society of Mudcrab Appreciation and Protection is doing well though

 

[SacremPyrobolum]

Here you go!
http://www.skyrimnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=29

 

[Guilherme Zoldan]

Ummm... Is that a complaint about the graphics? The graphics look pretty awesome. I think if they look ugly its because the designers wanted them to.

 

[Vanguard_Ex]

I'm playing a Dark Elf in Skyrim and I love how he looks, I'm seriously pleased with my character. Sure they're all bug-eyed and weird but I think that's kind of the point.

 

[Virmire]

Suck it up. It barely effects the game for crying out loud! Who cares if a few people look a little ugly in a BETHESDA game, where everything else looks fantastic.

 

[Russian_Assassin]

I suggest you sue Bethesda for all their money!

Since when did developers become obliged to abide by your standards of what an IMAGINARY creature should look like? Fan service is not what the elder scrolls is all about.

 

[Wekub]

I think they look great. :]
You can't expect them to be the very soul of human beauty ideals. They're supposed to look different. If you think they look bad, that's obviously still not good, but I'd disagree. :] My Dark Elf looks awesome.

 

[LilithSlave]

I think it's just time that Bethesda hired their modders to do their faces for them.

 

[Dirzzit]

Well I have a dunmer with duel wielding scimitars.

Yea, he's badass.

 

[deckai]

I like their look, especially because the look so alien to us. This aren't middle earth elves, that are just more good looking humans...

They're a different race, you can't judge them by human standards. Or do you judge the look of apes by human standards?

 

[Amgeo]

I noticed this yesterday, but many of the elves look like a palate-swapped Sinestro.

 

[William Dickbringer]

I can't figure out what's worse. That someone designed them in the first place thinking that they would be aesthetically pleasing, or that someone didn't tell the person who created them that they're an absolute failure and put them in the final release.

Bold for point. You assuming something already. Perhaps you should rethink that.

Rethink what? That perhaps a designer hated the people playing their games and instead purposely made them look like their faces were put in a vice grip with giant anime eyes? I suppose that's a possibility too.

giant anime eyes? I don't remember my dark elf having giant anime eyes or the wood elf or the high elf the eyes in oblivion are bigger than the eyes in skyrim

 

[Soviet Heavy]

I find the Elder Scrolls in general suffers from poor aesthetics. It's been a major hurdle to my enjoyment ever since Morrowind.

You'll either have to get used to it or wait until mods come out.

You know, I have to agree somewhat. Really, the only races I like in the Elder Scrolls are the Khajit, the Argonians, and the Orcs because quite frankly they're exactly what I expect.

Psst.

Orcs are elves too, or rather, Mer.

Blasphemy. Orcs are too cool to be elves. They have tusks for the love of god. TUSKS!

Hey come on, Tolkien Orcs are mutant elves. You can't hold that against them! Maybe we should form a non human discrimination party to fight your obviously flamboyant racism against the Orcs!

 

[Nerdstar]

Part of the problem with the elves is that elves are supposed to look like humans. Orcs, Khajit, and Argonians don't have to look like humans, so there is a lot freedom there. Elves, not so much.

Why? Because Tolkien did it, and pretty much every fantasy setting since then has done it? They're a ficticious race, there's nothing that they're "supposed" to be, no more than every setting with wizards has to follow the rules followed by Gandalf. The Elder Scrolls does a lot of things differently. I'd like to point out that the dwarves in this setting are of normal height, built steampunk cities, and are extinct. So why should the games follow the "pretty elves" standard?

you also forgot that dwarfs in the elder scrolls are really just a subspecies of elves with bitching beards