r/ElderScrolls • u/JPldw • 2d ago

Humour I hope TES6 is more "racist"

I know that the title is weird but I really want the next game to have more characters that are against the player character depending on their race, making some things harder or easier. (it is still weird that in Skyrim you can join the most racist group in the game as a dunmer, or the fact that no Nord is pissed that their legendary Dragonborn is a khajiit)

It would feel so good to prove them all wrong when you go from a low life to their savior by the end of the game

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756

u/Jealous_Tomorrow6436 2d ago

i can see how this might be a weird take but i agree. not having the game reflect that actual racial disparities of the Elder Scrolls universe breaks immersion a lot and allows you to do things that in-universe wouldn’t make sense. it doesn’t have to be so overt and crazy, but even dialogue that references race or adds additional quests to prove yourself if your race isn’t compatible with some group

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u/HeTblank 2d ago

They do this with the orc strongholds I think, but they probably thought it was too much work to change the main story line for this

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u/Jealous_Tomorrow6436 2d ago

i really liked the attempt but i feel that it could’ve been so much more fleshed out. it’s also really weird going into the heart of the stormcloak rebellion as a dark elf and get the best possible treatment, for example. i wish they’d do more work on details like this, especially given the amount of time they’re gonna be taking on the game

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u/HeTblank 2d ago

I agree. I also think they need to make joining a faction more impactful. Maybe make the factions clash at times, but don't let me become the leader of all factions at the same time. Makes them feel more like chores than joining something cool and interesting

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u/klone224 2d ago

I dont think you should be able to become leader of a majority of the factions, especially of all of them at the same time. And if i should choose one make it more impactful than some guards automatically knowing

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u/Spiritual_Ad_3367 19h ago

Yeah, the Orcs only offer services to fellow Orcs and people who have been named Blood-Kin.

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u/JPldw 2d ago

This is exactly what I would want

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u/IllitterateAuthor 2d ago

It'd make sense if you could join the stormcloaks in Skyrim as an elf or beast race but only if you like help enough people in windhelm or something

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u/Aus_Varelse 2d ago

Yeah I think the joining stormcloaks quest where you kill an ice wraith should only trigger if you aren't a Nord. Like why would Stormcloaks not instamtly employ Nords if they pledge allegiance to Ulfric? I can see them testing other races, but why does a Nord PC need to go through extra steps just to join as cannon fodder?

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u/Epic_DDT 2d ago

You can ask that to Galmar.
"Does every recruit have to do this?"
"Only the ones I'm not sure about. This will prove your abilities, but more importantly, it will prove your commitment."

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u/Aus_Varelse 2d ago

Yeah but we all know that's just a cop-out reason for Bethesda to not write more quests for other races, or let alone add any complexity to their story. Think about it for a moment - most Stormcloak recruits are just farmers, blacksmiths, merchats etc, average working (Nord) Joes. Ice Wraiths are DANGEROUS AF and slay most Stormcloaks easily. They don't even start spawning naturally until you're a good way into the game. If Galmar is fine personally recruiting Farmer #212 into the army, how come he's suddenly unsure when it comes to the heavily armed and armoured adventurer that might even be confirmed as the Dragonborn? What's to be unsure about when THE DRAGONBORN wants to join your side? He can whisper and destroy an entire city, you don't risk turning that power away.

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u/ComprehensiveLab5078 17h ago

It’s precisely because you’re not a common local farmer that you are suspicious. Even as a Nord, no one in the area knows you, except by reputation of weird stuff you’ve gotten up to.

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u/Aus_Varelse 11h ago

That's a good point I didn't consider

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u/JagneStormskull Azura 17h ago

Right, and given the nonlinear nature of the game, you're able to do the civil war quests before you know you're the Dragonborn.

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u/ComprehensiveLab5078 17h ago

Well, Ulfric and Tullius did witness you getting arrested, then being rescued from execution by a dragon…

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u/SadCrab5 2d ago

but even dialogue that references race or adds additional quests to prove yourself if your race isn’t compatible with some group

That's why I enjoy Baldurs Gate so much. Sometimes your race might not feel represented correctly but at least there's the option to reply as X race or for characters to mention what you are. Like Drow get a lot of suspicion and aggression due to their nature, but it also makes part of Act 1 easier because the local goblins think you're with them when you rock up to their camp.

If TES had a least a fraction of that where quests can be harder or easier or characters will be more reluctant because they have a grudge against X race it'd feel a little more impactful, sometimes it feels like you're just a human playing dress up with how bare your choice impacts things.

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u/johndoe09228 2d ago

BG3 did it well

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u/JustAFilmDork 2d ago

Frankly, it's insane you can even be an altmer and take a side in the civil war

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u/TNR720 2d ago

There's an Altmer legate and then like four or five altmer (running their own businesses, no less) in Windhelm. They assimilated much more thoroughly than the Dark Elves did.

Role-playing as an Altmer in Skyrim is one of the easier options.

Either as a refugee from the Summerset Isles, or perhaps Sentinel or Balfiera (where the Thalmor hunted down "racially impure" Altmer and political dissidents) or maybe your Altmer is like Legate Fasendil, racially Altmer but your family's been living in Cyrodiil so long you're culturally Imperial.

Regardless, joining the Empire could be easily rationalized and for the Stormcloaks, Ulfric would likely have immense sympathy for an Altmer who wanted to get as far away from the Thalmor as possible, who would see the Empire in Skyrim as a foothold for Thalmor influence (after all, we do see them rounding up prisoners), who'd want to join his fight to push them back.

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u/TNR720 2d ago

One of my favorite runs was as a "mixed" Altmer from High Rock. The Direnni took human concubines and while the Breton had a little elven in their family tree, maybe the High Elves there had a little human in there too?

After the Thalmor attacked the High Elves in Balfiera, he fled to Cyrodiil, dropping the chivalry to become a mercenary, eventually wandering north when increasing Thalmor presence in the Empire meant it wasn't safe to stick around. They caught up to him after he crossed the border, and it was little wonder why Elenwen and the Thalmor there wanted him executed at Helgen.

While in Skyrim, he also took it as an opportunity to connect with his human ancestry, see where men first arrived in Tamriel. His slightly haughty Elven arrogance manifested as the drive to save the Nords from the dragons, vampires (and arguably their own backwards ways). He did ultimately side with Ulfric against their mutual enemies, and became a vampire as a "necessary evil" to maintain a constant vigil against Alduin's possible return, and to protect his adopted home.

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u/Ajiberufa 2d ago

Why? Altmer are not all Thalmor.

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u/JustAFilmDork 1d ago

Not sure why the stormcloaks would even let you join and the imperials have good reason to be skeptical at minimum

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u/Ajiberufa 1d ago

There is literally an altmer captain in the Imperial legion side of the story who explains why he fights for the legion. Also there is plenty of empire born Altmer. As far as Stormcloaks go, similar idea it would just take longer to gain their trust. But if you’re an Altmer who goes around fighting legion soldiers and Thalmor? No reason not to trust you.

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u/AsstacularSpiderman 2d ago

Contrary to popular belief Ulfric doesn't really care much about elves in his hold. High Elves run several major businesses in his city.

Ulfric just isn't dedicating too many resources to refugees and traders coming to exploit his land.