The Elder Scrolls Online » Discussions


UESP Interview with ESO developers (Summerset)

Tags: #ESO  #Interview  #Summerset 
  • May 10, 2018

    Patriarch said: On May 11th, Albee can listen in to loremaster Lawrence Schick as he talks about Summerset. https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/post/26393?utm_source=SocialMedia&utm_medium=bitly

    Haha. I'll definitely try to catch that.

    Hey, man, I want to apologize for mucking up your thread and continuously being a Debbie Downer on the matter. But you gotta see it from my perspective, right? This is a big deal for me. I've worked on Straag since 2014, lol, almost as long as these games are developed. 

  • Member
    May 10, 2018
    No need for any apologies. I totally get it, Lis. And Debbie Downer is hilarious!
  • Member
    May 11, 2018

    Patriarch said: On May 11th, Albee can listen in to loremaster Lawrence Schick as he talks about Summerset. https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/post/26393?utm_source=SocialMedia&utm_medium=bitly

    Okay, that's something to look forward to!

    The Long-Chapper said:

    We should have a chat about this, Phil. Bug me on Skype.  

    Lawrence Schick will have thought of this, that is for sure. He's never dissappointed, and indeed, seems to be behind ESO's references to oog lore. He may well go down the unreliable narrator route, but it's just as likely that he'll use the sources depicting the Isles as we know them to enhance the lore.

    Like, it could be he'd say that what was seen and described as...

    "made from glass or insect wings." "a hypnotic swirl of ramparts and impossibly high towers, designed to catch the light of the sun and break it to its component colors, which lies draped across its stones until you are thankful for nightfall."

    ... And make it part of a religious festival or holiday. Whoever saw that actually saw the celebration of 1st Sun's Height in which the priesthood recreate the Aldmeris on Nirn using illusion and shaping magic to remind the citizens of what was lost, and what can be regained by following Auriel's example. Or something :D At anyrate, I doubt he'll sweep it under the carpet, but he probably won't dwell on it for too long either.

    For sure, though, we'll see that description somewhere in some way, either extant or referenced. I have no doubt about that.

  • Member
    May 12, 2018

    I thought the livestream was quite interesting, there were a few bits of info that were quite exciting. The architecture was discussed in relatiion to how it has been depicted in previous sources, and they did indeed go down the unreliable narrator road. However, one of the things Lawrence said which struck me was how those sources had been written by someone attempting to describe what they had seen, which could mean that a perspectie shift is needed to understand what he means. 

    With that in mind, this screenshot shows a portal to the College of Sapiarchs, the colours of the portal could be something which fits the idea of someone trying to describe what they don't understand. Made from glass or insect wing could be considered an adequate description. 

    This pic is of Sunhold, currently under siege by Maomer. What struck me is the light from the windows and overall shape of the glass - I couldn't help but think of dragonfly wings. 

  • May 12, 2018
    Well I’m seeing a mixture of Gothic and Romanesque window styles, not dragonfly wings. I will say this though, I think they are modeling on the Snow Elf architecture from Skyrim. No, not fanciful and yes, disappointing, but at least they are drawing some connection to an older Elven architecture. Insect wings my arse though and the unreliable narrative is a cop out so they can do what they want. There’s going to be a point where that argument will bite them hard in the ass. Basically saying well none of the residents of Tamriel know what the Hell they are looking at. Yeah the building is pretty. Very Pretty, that’s it. Looks like any Diocese from the 14th century could have built it and disappointing from a race touted for their magical skills. I’m sorry, I’m still not sold in this, Phil. I wanted the bizarre and jaw dropping and we’re getting ho hum. All the buildings look tne same to me. Shit, Skyrim had more architecture variations and that was in one province.
  • May 12, 2018
    Sorry fir the Debbie Downerness again. Ha! I should just change my avatar to Debbie Downer when Summerset launches. I’m still gonna get ESO fir PS4 though. I liked the mechanics of the game and Ebonslayer won’t be so alone.
  • Member
    May 13, 2018

    The Long-Chapper said: Well I’m seeing a mixture of Gothic and Romanesque window styles, not dragonfly wings. I will say this though, I think they are modeling on the Snow Elf architecture from Skyrim. No, not fanciful and yes, disappointing, but at least they are drawing some connection to an older Elven architecture. Insect wings my arse though and the unreliable narrative is a cop out so they can do what they want. There’s going to be a point where that argument will bite them hard in the ass. Basically saying well none of the residents of Tamriel know what the Hell they are looking at. Yeah the building is pretty. Very Pretty, that’s it. Looks like any Diocese from the 14th century could have built it and disappointing from a race touted for their magical skills. I’m sorry, I’m still not sold in this, Phil. I wanted the bizarre and jaw dropping and we’re getting ho hum. All the buildings look tne same to me. Shit, Skyrim had more architecture variations and that was in one province.

    Haha, I was trying to put as much of a positive spin on it as I could :D It was a good livetsream with lots of nuggets dropped (one of which wrapped up the Welwa mystery), but I was hoping for something a bit more on the architecture front. It was addressed, but I was left wanting more. Basically, Lawrence was saying that they wanted to build upon the style as seen in Auridon, but grander and more perfect looking. He mentioned how they wanted the place to look like it was built by mortals, and that as we will be taken to fantastical places in the game, they didn't want to upset the verisimilitude of the setting. That combined with the unreliable narrator seems to be the party line. I suppose that's fair, PGE was under fire even from Todd Howard when the same thing happened to Cyrod in TES IV. See why i don't take the word "canon" seriously? That book was an official Besthesda product.

    So in a way, I think they intend the buildings to be very pretty yet also ground us in the reality when compared to other places we might go. Slightly unsatisfactory, but maybe - just maybe - there is a hidden story going on there. After all, if these beings want to show they are superior and descended from gods, their architecture belies that notion to a degree: Very pretty, visually stunning, but very mortal all the same. Could be cultural subtext that could be more interesting as we learn more.

    Indeed, a note on that - there seems to be a cultural system of being labelled an outcast, either by a Sapiarch of a particular discipline, or by the Divine Prosecution. Once an elf has been labelled as a failure, they undergo a penance in which tthey must create something perfect to become welcomed back into society. In that case, the buildings not being the gossamer, light refracting crystal they strive for could be a source of disappointment for them, leaving the PGE description as being a piece of Altmeri propaganda to show the world how amazing they are. another reason they are against opening the border, maybe :D