Skyrim elves look AWFUL :(

[AmrasCalmacil]

I for one think skyrim's elves look brilliant.
High Elves no longer look like gigantic golden ballsacks like they did in Morrowind, for one.

I have a fun idea for the OP though, make your own game.
Then your elves can look however you want them to look.

 

[Elamdri]

What the hell was Bethesda thinking? The elves in Skyrim look absolutely HIDEOUS.

Could you give us some specific examples of exactly what it is you find hideous about them? I think they look fine. They look like... well... elves.

Who cares if they aren't good looking to humans? Unless you're a disappointed elf fetishist or something. Which is fine with me, whatever you're into.

Throughout the thread, I've narrowed it down to their crinkled faces and their bug eyes. I think I've said this a few times over, but to me they look like Buffy Vampires with Anime eyes.

I better make this clear before I get internet lynched (which would be ironic since we're talking about skyrim elves) but I'm not trying to like ruin anyone's world here. I'm just being opinionated and hyperbolic for the sake of fun and discussion. Yeah, I dislike the way they elves look. Yes I think that they should look more Tolkien-esque. Yes I think Bethesda is wrong from deviating from that particular aesthetic. Yes I know that they have the right to do what they want. Yes I know that traditionally elves DIDN'T look Tolkien-esque. Yes I'm set in my ways and belligerent. Please don't hurt me, I bruise easily.

 

[TheCowman]

Ok, the Giants admittedly are kinda cool.

BUT NO VIKING SHOULD HAVE A HOME DECORATING GUIDE!

Hey, I know they're a race of burly, violent warriors; but they're PEOPLE too, y'know.

Sometimes they just gotta let that creative side out and express themselves. It's good for the heart, man. Good for the soul.

*throws up peace sign*

 

[Elamdri]

Elamdri (isn't that the name of some elf from something or other?)

When I was young and played Magic the Gathering, my favorite character was Eladamri the lord of Leaves, but I couldn't spell it right. I never bothered to fix it.

hasn't really set up an intelligent, meaningful debate here. He's blowing off steam and having a laugh. He doesn't like the look of the elves. I don't like them either, but it doesn't bother me as much. Some people do like them, to varying degrees. There's not much more for any of us to say about it, so yeah: kind of a pointless thread. But we all chose to chime in, so there's no reason for anyone to get offended. Dude wants to riff on Skyrim, making fun of not-so-scarce food, baskets-on-heads, and weird-looking elves, among other things.. and so far, it's been somewhat entertaining. Let's all calm down. I think some more funny pictures of elves are in order.

Well I'm glad someone gets me. That was somewhat validating. Thank You.

 

[Phlakes]

I think they look brilliant. Much better than the creepy round-headed slanted-eyed monsters from Oblivion.

 

[pppppppppppppppppp]

What the hell was Bethesda thinking? The elves in Skyrim look absolutely HIDEOUS. I mean, they look like something you'd see out of Aliens.

In case you hadn't noticed, Skyrim is supposed to be an alien world, check out the number of moons in the sky sometime. In fact, "elves" is just a colloquialism in the game for the Dunmer, Altmer, and Bosmer, all races that are meant to seem a bit unfamiliar to the player. That's actually the best part of Morrowind that Oblivion pretty much left out and Skyrim seems to have: that sense of wonder from being a lonely outsider in a foreign, overwhelming, but beautiful and exotic world; and I think the slightly off-putting elven faces add to that.

But anyway, I'm getting on a tangent, the point is not every RPG has to conform to Tolkien fantasy conventions, and if you want pretty elves, go back to Dragon Age.

 

[Elamdri]

why the giants can send you flying 5000 feet into the air, why a viking asked me after purchasing my home if I wanted to see the viking home decorating guide, why vikings have a home decorating guide,

I'm sorry, I'm having trouble understanding you. You mention these two points as if they're bad and not awesome.

Ok, the Giants admittedly are kinda cool.

BUT NO VIKING SHOULD HAVE A HOME DECORATING GUIDE!

Just for the record, the guy that sells you decorations and gives you a guide is a Breton, soo... Yeah.

You don't have to buy them, you can live in your Viking shit heap if you want to.

Whatever, he lives in SKYRIM, in a castle, with a VIKING LORD, clearly, he is a VIKING. And you know what, Maybe I will go live in my Viking Shit heap, like a proper viking. I mean seriously, this is how I imagine this going:

(In a Scandinavian Accent)
"Ah, yes Bjyorn, I will place the wenches in this wing, and my pillaging gear has to be arranged to maximize the feng shui in the room or else my chi will be all out of whack for when we go raping and pillaging along the countryside. Btw, after tomorrows raid, I was planning on getting my beard waxed, would you like to come along"

 

[Elamdri]

But anyway, I'm getting on a tangent, the point is not every RPG has to conform to Tolkien fantasy conventions, and if you want pretty elves, go back to Dragon Age.

Dragon Age? Please, I'll just crack my D&D sourcebook.

 

[ChupathingyX]

It's funny reading through this thread and seeing who thinks this is serious and those who know it isn't XD

(In a Scandinavian Accent)
"Ah, yes Bjyorn, I will place the wenches in this wing, and my pillaging gear has to be arranged to maximize the feng shui in the room or else my chi will be all out of whack for when we go raping and pillaging along the countryside. Btw, after tomorrows raid, I was planning on getting my beard waxed, would you like to come along"

Your Viking seems to know a lot about Asian culture, and why would he wax his beard? Don't Vikings draw power from their epic beards?

 

[Elamdri]

Don't Vikings draw power from their epic beards?

Only if they're Marco Hietala

 

[TheCowman]

Your Viking seems to know a lot about Asian culture, and why would he wax his beard? Don't Vikings draw power from their epic beards?

No, no.

He's not waxing it to get rid of it. He's using wax to sculpt it. Y'know, make it all twirly and stuff. Cause no beard is more epic than one accompanied by a hilariously large and twirled sheriff's mustache.

 

[Elamdri]

What the hell was Bethesda thinking? The elves in Skyrim look absolutely HIDEOUS. I mean, they look like something you'd see out of Aliens. I feel like the Khajit and the Argonians feel more human than the elves do! It's become very off-putting.

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.

I think they look massively improved. Bosmer in particular, are so pleasing to look at that I'm actually playing one.

Oh they certainly look BETTER. I just don't think they look GOOD. I mean, god, Oblivion was an abomination, Skyrim is just awful.

 

[TheDrunkNinja]

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.

Says who? Why can't they look other worldly and not just sinking to humanity's very superficial view on beauty?

Also, these aren't just elves. They're Mer. And if you didn't know, the Mer include Dwemer, Falmer, and Orismer, which are respectively Dwarves, Goblins, and the Orcs you just mentioned. I.E. They aren't and never were meant to be humans with just pointy ears.

 

[Sandernista]

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.

 

[Elamdri]

Really though, don't make an apparent big deal about something (whether you mean't to or not is beside the point, I'm sure everyone will agree you've come across quite forcefull in your opinions) and then say "Well, yeah, except for the fact that elves aren't real." I'm sure that would have annoyed you if someone had told you to stop complaining because Elves aren't real because you obviously feel quite strongly about all this.

Aw, I'm sorry dude. Tell you what, can we call a truce, hug it out, and then go rip on the kids that like JRPGS?

 

[Elamdri]

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!

 

[Aethren]

Elder Scrolls elves > Tolkien elves.

A more true statement has never before been uttered.

 

[Elamdri]

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.

Says who? Why can't the look other worldly and not just sinking to humanity's very superficial view on beauty?

Because I am shallow and predictable.

Also, these aren't just elves. They're Mer. And if you didn't know, the Mer include Dwemer, Falmer, and Orismer, which are respectively Dwarves, Goblins, and the Orcs you just mentioned. I.E. They aren't and never were meant to be humans with just pointy ears.

Yeah, I'll be honest, I'm not really looking to get into a discussion on the particularities of the elder scrolls lore, I mean, I'm just kinda stirring up stuff for a laugh or two. I mean, sure I get it and all, but to be honest half the reason I play Skyrim is to electrocute bunnies with force lighting.

 

[Sandernista]

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

See the pointy ears?

Spoiler: This guy was an Elf too

Spoiler: This guy too

 

[ChupathingyX]

Elder Scrolls elves > Tolkien elves.

A more true statement has never before been uttered.

Without Tolkien elves there probably wouldn't even be Elder Scrolls elves...there probably wouldn't even be Elder Scrolls.

Also, I don't recall any elves in the Elder Scrolls killing a Mûmakil by themself.