Skyrim elves look AWFUL :(

[JoesshittyOs]

I think they look amazing.

They are what elves are suppose to be, humanoid, but not entirely human. I fucking love what Bethesda did with the Races this time around. They all actually look different instead of elves just being "the guys with pointy ears"

 

[Afterglow-]

I like the elves in skyrim. It doesn't take the "most beautiful creature on the planet" route. I like how my wood elf doesn't look trustworthy. it makes it all the more fun for me.

Wood Elves, Trustworthy? We all know the Bosmer are the thieves of Tamriel.

Lies, sir, lies! That title belongs to the Khajiit. Constantly skulking around our city walls, eyes always looking for an opportunity, hands forever twitching.

OT: Not every elf's appearance have to go the Tolkien most-beautiful-creature-ever route. They're not exactly pretty though.

 

[Smeggs]

I like the elves in skyrim. It doesn't take the "most beautiful creature on the planet" route. I like how my wood elf doesn't look trustworthy. it makes it all the more fun for me.

Wood Elves, Trustworthy? We all know the Bosmer are the thieves of Tamriel.

Lies, sir, lies! That title belongs to the Khajiit. Constantly skulking around our city walls, eyes always looking for an opportunity.

You insult my people, you dung heap! I will claw out your eyes!

 

[WeAreStevo]

I think that too many people are afixed to the idea that elves look like people with pointy ears.

I think the elves in Skyrim look awesome because they are diverse and different from the human races. I hate playing elves when they are only "humans with pointy ears"

 

[RedDeadFred]

I think they look pretty good to be honest. Much better than the human models....

 

[Afterglow-]

I like the elves in skyrim. It doesn't take the "most beautiful creature on the planet" route. I like how my wood elf doesn't look trustworthy. it makes it all the more fun for me.

Wood Elves, Trustworthy? We all know the Bosmer are the thieves of Tamriel.

Lies, sir, lies! That title belongs to the Khajiit. Constantly skulking around our city walls, eyes always looking for an opportunity.

You insult my people, you dung heap! I will claw out your eyes!

Me, a dung heap, you uncivilized fool!? Everyone knows that we High Elves are the pride of Tamriel! By Talos, I shall strike you down! Have at you!

That was fun . But no seriously the Bosmer are the thieves of Tamriel, with their insufferable sneaking skills and their deft hands.

OT: Honestly I've never seen a character in a Bethesda game I would consider to be physically attractive.

 

[CommanderKirov]

Get back to imperial lands you elf lover.

STORMCLOAKS FOREVER!

 

[IronicBeet]

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.

...Did you just say that there's a definitive way that elves are supposed to look? Have you ever heard of Dobby the house elf? Or those weird-ass elves that make cookies? You might as well say that vampires all have to look like hideous bat-people, or that all zombies have to look like normal people with white eyes and blood around their mouths. It's just stupid to think like that. TES has a different interpretation on how elves look, quit crying about it.

 

[Afterglow-]

Get back to imperial lands you elf lover.

STORMCLOAKS FOREVER!

Wait, I'm both, so should I go back to Imperial lands or not?

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.

...Did you just say that there's a definitive way that elves are supposed to look? Have you ever heard of Dobby the house elf? Or those weird-ass elves that make cookies? You might as well say that vampires all have to look like hideous bat-people, or that all zombies have to look like normal people with white eyes and blood around their mouths. It's just stupid to think like that. TES has a different interpretation on how elves look, quit crying about it.

I think the only physical feature that defines an elf is the pointy ears.

 

[IronicBeet]

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.

Ironically enough, this would be CLOSER to classic elves. They were tiny devilish troublemakers before the likes of Tolkien came in and rewrote them.

Sure, but here's the deal. TES is a classic, high fantasy game. Tolkien's elves have been the accepted norm for elves for about 60 years now. Now if you wanna make some deviation from the high fantasy Genre, fine, but when we're talking about TES, there are some expectations I think, and what they've put out don't meet those expectations in my opinion.

Tolkien WON. Elves LOOK like human beings. They may not have to look like supermodels, but they're general appearance should be human. Especially in a game series that bleeds as much Tolkien and D&D as TES.

http://theelderscrollsskyrim.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/skyrim_elf_pet.jpg

It looks like a stringy human with a weird bone structure. That fits your definition pretty
well.

Actually, it looks like a vampire from buffy, but with huge eyes.

"I AM RIGHT, YOU ARE WRONG, SHUT UP AND LET ME BE RIGHT."

I think I've summed up this guy's argument pretty well.

 

[Cowabungaa]

Part of the problem with the elves is that elves are supposed to look like humans.

That's what you say, who says that that's the intention of the developers? I doubt they were, and that's good. As someone else already said; what's the point of having ten races when they all look like humans? These elves are, for once, not just long-eared humans, and they actually look like Elder Scrolls elves.

 

[Kashrlyyk]

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.

Ironically enough, this would be CLOSER to classic elves. They were tiny devilish troublemakers before the likes of Tolkien came in and rewrote them.

No, the norse mythology has "dark elves" and "light elves".

 

[Smeggs]

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.

Ironically enough, this would be CLOSER to classic elves. They were tiny devilish troublemakers before the likes of Tolkien came in and rewrote them.

Sure, but here's the deal. TES is a classic, high fantasy game. Tolkien's elves have been the accepted norm for elves for about 60 years now. Now if you wanna make some deviation from the high fantasy Genre, fine, but when we're talking about TES, there are some expectations I think, and what they've put out don't meet those expectations in my opinion.

Tolkien WON. Elves LOOK like human beings. They may not have to look like supermodels, but they're general appearance should be human. Especially in a game series that bleeds as much Tolkien and D&D as TES.

http://theelderscrollsskyrim.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/skyrim_elf_pet.jpg

It looks like a stringy human with a weird bone structure. That fits your definition pretty
well.

Actually, it looks like a vampire from buffy, but with huge eyes.

"I AM RIGHT, YOU ARE WRONG, SHUT UP AND LET ME BE RIGHT."

I think I've summed up this guy's argument pretty well.

She'll get you, and your little dog, too!

 

[CharrHearted]

We are not ugly! You take that back!

Seriously, I think they look great. You want to know wht they don't look human? It's because... *drumroll* they're NOT HUMAN! What's the point of having 10 races if they all look the same? I wouldn't want humans with longer ears *coughoblivioncough*.

*cough* rift *cough*

 

[Ruwrak]

http://theelderscrollsskyrim.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/altmer.png

...I'm gonna go ahead and call that an improvement. Maybe the elves aren't SUPPOSED to be pretty.



...In fact, I'm gonna go with that. Who says all races have to fit a traditional version of "aesthetically pleasing"?

It's one perspective on the fantasy elves. 'THey ain't prettyboys like Legolas".
Actually... I think I'm gonna agree with your theory there.
I must say I find the Orcs hard to recognize actually, dispite their tusks, I barely know it untill I loot them

 

[The-Epicly-Named-Man]

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 forgot to mention that the Orsimer (Orcs) are elves.

OT: This is really just a rant thread, isn't it? As is in no matter what anyone says, you won't ever reconsider your position. Okay, I'll just leave then.

 

[Jubbert]

I'm sorry you can't get it up by manipulating the corpses of female elf bandits anymore. Sounds like a personal problem.

 

[The Human Torch]

They look perfectly fine - stop complaining for the sake of complaining

Your opinion = not fact.

I agree with the OP, the Elves look absolutely hideous and I am not a player who always picks the prettiest race. I went with a female Argonian because out of all the options (in my opinion) it looked the least horrible.

I love how the OP is just met with so much hostility here, because he actually finds one fault with Skyrim. Thought that the Escapist community had more respect than that.

 

[Bvenged]

They're basically high-definition Morrowind elves. Oblivion's were fairly hideous with their perfectly round heads (High elf) & too smooth features. Bethesda said that a regret with Oblivion is they went too far towards realism; so with Skyrim they've settled for a heavy sided mixture of fantasy to realism. Hence, why there are way more over-the-top looking items and extraordinary landscapes (no longer rolling hills).

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

I love my wood elf I don't know what you are on about. The high elves looks quite intimidating which I think suits their usual demeanor.
I can understand why you find the look so alien but isn't that the point of a fantasy world? That it's familiar but different.

Spoiler: My Bosmer archer Tiana

She doesn't look so bad I think :<

Certainly not 'absolutely hideous'