Genshi on 23/12/2011 at 15:16
Well, by now some people may have Skyrim already, if not, they have a life, which is better :P
And Skyrim is filled with comic characters, or at least their dialog is funny....
One such character is Wylandriah, the Riften Court wizard....
What is your favortie NPC so far? And why?
scumble on 24/12/2011 at 10:51
Perhaps this shows how drawn in to the game I was getting. Although you can't get much conversation out of her, and the occasional "Look! A cave! I wonder what's inside...", I got used to having Lydia the Housecarl following me around (when she didn't mysteriously disappear for no apparent reason).
Unfortunately I think I accidentally roasted her with a firebolt while fighting an irritating frost spell wielding forsworn dude in Lost Valley Redoubt. This was only because she was already worn down by the battle. Probably should have given her some better gear...
I was momentarily sad after slicing up the remaining bandits. I stared at her lifeless form for a while before reminding myself that it was a collection of polygons that just give the illusion of looking like a real person.
I suppose the demented jester Cicero had the most comedy value so far, but I've only worked though a small percentage of the game so far.
Or there's the guard in Whiterun Jail who pretends to have forgotten where his keys are, using the Arnie voice...
Dia on 24/12/2011 at 12:03
My latest companion, Eric (the Slayer), is quite gabby. I found him in Rorikstead where he was pissing and moaning about not wanting to be a farmer and did him the favor of talking his father into letting Eric go his own way. I'd originally wanted a companion only to sacrifice him (or her) in one of the sub-quests, but the guy proved to be amusing, so I kept him around. Not only does he do the usual 'Oh look; a cave. Maybe we should explore ....', etc., but he actually goes into monologues regarding the history of certain places. His timing with remarks of getting a bad feeling are pretty accurate warnings that we're about to be attacked. Aside from the fact that he also usually gets in my way a lot, isn't the best warrior in the world, and has launched into monologues at the most inconvenient of times, he's amused me enough to keep him hanging around for awhile.
And, he doesn't speak with that blasted fake Arnie accent, which eventually got old listening to coming from my husband/companion, Vorstag (from the Markarth tavern).
Plus, he's pretty hot in ebony armor. ;)
Inline Image:
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c262/Diah_/TTLG%20Stuff/2011-12-10_00005Me_EricShadowmere.jpg(O.T.)P.S. I'm rather surprised at how many NPCs are available to become companions. I thought I'd read something that said there were only like two or three initially, but so far I've come across about six or seven who give you the option of 'Follow me'. I'm rather disappointed that I only got an 'official' death notice (from the Courier) for my first companion after she died. I've gone through a couple more who've bitten the dust since, but I never received notices of their deaths, even though two of them were my housecarls.
scumble on 25/12/2011 at 07:03
Quote Posted by Dia
... I never received notices of their deaths, even though two of them were my housecarls.
All I got were a couple of Bounty collectors on my tail, but I guess that proves it was me that dealt the final flame.
Dia on 25/12/2011 at 12:33
Like I said, they do have an awful tendency to get in the way sometimes. ;)
scumble on 26/12/2011 at 08:41
I bumped into someone else while wandering near Riften. Ilia was in Darklight Tower and asked for help in stopping her mother (Repentance quest) turning into a Hagraven. I was wondering if there had been a bit of a mistake in her setup, as she seems to be quite a powerful mage with frost spells. She was taking down Hags and Witches in less time than it took me to walk up and take a swing at them.
Also, she wasn't getting in the way but I think a mage companion has the other disadvantage of failing to avoid casting at you, so I'm a bit nervous about getting a stray ice spike in the back...
I think it was a nice touch that you could ask her to come with you, as it weaves a little story of meeting up with someone. It's a bit more interesting than hiring a guy in the pub.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/72776465@N03/6573717219/" title="Ryaeral and Ilia by scumble, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7011/6573717219_04a4d0ace7.jpg" width="500" height="313" alt="Ryaeral and Ilia"></a>
My character is the wood elf on the right.
Incidentally, elves seem to have been made rather unattractive in Skyrim.
Dia on 26/12/2011 at 13:08
I also noticed that the Elves don't seem to be as physically attractive as in the other games. But after completing the Imperials vs. Stormcloaks quest I'm willing to bet that it has something to do with what I (and other TES fans) believe might be Bethesda's next TES installment. It seems logical that the next game might center around the Thalmor and the Empire's desire to be rid of them.
Just hope we don't have to wait four or five years to play it.
LesserFollies on 30/12/2011 at 17:36
Lydia was being so pissy about carrying stuff for me, I decided to leave her at home for a bit to think it over. I then met a feisty woman in Riften named Mjoll the Lioness who seemed ideal for a traveling companion. She seemed interested in joining me--extremely interested--and I didn't notice til I checked my journal sometime later that I had accidentally agreed to marry her. :wot:
Unfortunately I was saving my heart for a certain Nord housecarl in Markarth I'd heard about, who supposedly had a really nice voice, and I couldn't go through with it. I had to LEAVE HER AT THE ALTAR. :( God, I felt so bad; she was so upset. When I run into her in Riften she always reproaches me, so I try to avoid her. I don't think I've ever felt quite so guilty about an NPC before, in any game.
scumble on 31/12/2011 at 08:36
One must be careful when choosing dialogue options, LF. Although I've had the menu switch to the wrong option on several occasions without me doing anything. Either that, or be careful about wearing the Amulet of Mara. For some reason Skyrim manages bring out individual characters better. Either it's the writing or the voice acting has got a bit of an edge.
If you go and get Mjoll's sword she might forgive you, although I don't think she'll follow you until you've done that will she?
Incidentally, I ended up marrying Aela the Huntress, but I think I'd have been too afraid to leave her at the altar. She seems a relatively helpful companion, as I haven't had one that was quite reliable about flagging up trouble before. She's also come out with one incidental comment pointing out that we'd arrived at a Nordic ruin. I still think they could have put more effort into companion dialogue, given that you tend to have them around for hours at a time.
Dia on 31/12/2011 at 12:19
Quote Posted by scumble
I still think they could have put more effort into companion dialogue, given that you tend to have them around for hours at a time.
I agree. Vorstag & I had just exited a cave/ruin when he said, 'Oh look; a cave!'. I turned around & smacked him with the flat of my blade.
:weird:
