The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (2002)

It's finally happening. I made a character in Morrowind. Played for a couple hours and it's really just to get my bearings. Things I've learned:

1. Holy frijoles you walk so slow.
2. Running is slow, but slightly less slow.
3. One rat will grievously wound you.
4. Two rats will demolish you.

Despite all this, I'm loving being back in a Bethesda game. I already cheesed my way to a couple nice magic weapons, and finding ways to cheese these games is my favorite part.

I look forward to learning more about the mechanics, because a lot of it isn't so clear. Maybe I should RTFM. (I'm avoiding guides where I can because I don't want to be told where the best stuff is. I don't have the willpower to not make a dash for it and possibly ruin my adventuring and exploration.)

Decided recently to give this another shot after first trying it a few years ago and not liking it. Playing a magic-focused character, focusing on some different quests, and sticking almost entirely to the info given by the game, I do like it more this time.

While a lot of the objectives early on are really straightforward (fetch quests and things... I'd hope they get more interesting later on), actually accomplishing them tends to require some interesting navigation around the world at least. All that running around gets tiring quickly though with how sluggish the movement feels for an early-game character. Combat feels kinda bleh as well, lacking impact and relying on dice rolls that feel at odds with first-person action gameplay. Even avoiding combat you will run into things like the persuasion system which is a bit silly and just makes me want to save before talking to anyone and reload until things work out. The quest journal is a neat idea but too unorganized to be practical.

It's an interesting world, and I really like how they just let you loose in it to figure things out and make mistakes, but I need it to be more fun to physically play the game. If it was remade with a similar design philosophy and art direction, but rethinking some of the actual core mechanics and taking advantage of modern technology, maybe I could actually get into it enough to stick with it.

My Morrowind playthrough continues, I am level 25, and have 25k gold. I have avoided stealing everything in sight, despite being a thief, except when it makes sense, so when I get missions to rob X person, I then take EVERYTHING.

I am really enjoying the game. At this point not a lot has felt threatening for a while, but I am getting deeper in faction questlines and haven't even started the main quest, so I am guessing I should be hitting NPCs soon that will challenge me.

I started the quest to build my stronghold, which is exciting, and now have the resources to play around with item enchanting and spell creation which is exciting.

Despite enjoying the game, as I get with most open world games, I am growing a little bored with some of the wider, more time consuming stuff. For example, I have been doing alchemy, but im tired of hoarding supplies, so I just began selling them and buying premade potions, because its just quicker lol.

My plan is to finish House Hlaalu's storyline and then dive into and complete the main quest, with the idea that by that point i'll have experienced a good chunk of the game. I know there is a TON to offer, but I'm starting to be ready to move on soon-ish, which means its time to get to the "meat" of the game, namely the quest at its core.

Final thought, not being able to poison arrows and weapons really sucks and I miss it.

"Wake up, I've heard them say we have reached Morrowind," and thus began my jaunt down memory lane into one of the RPGs I remembered fondest, but hadn't played in over a decade!

20 hours later, this game is still as good as a remembered it. The combat system is dated, however, if you use trainers and stick to skills you are good at, you quickly stop missing. I really enjoy the leveling system in this game, as it rewards both organic play, but also some careful training in town.

Marcus the Merchant, a rogueish type, who uses his charms and fast wits when ever possible has been a lot of fun to play. I have maxed personality, and high speechcraft and mercantile, letting me smooth talk my way through a LOT of quests.

I am still in the earliest stages of the main quest, though I have done a decent amount for the thieves guild, mages guild, and house Hlaalu.

Overall, the real draw of this game is the world, which is alien and enthralling. It is so fun exploring the ash wastes and swamps, reading the books, and learning the lore of this place. Compared to the relatively standard fantasy settings of Skyrim and Oblivion, Morrowind feels alien and different.

The soundtrack is spectacular, though I wish it was longer.

Overall, really enjoying my jaunt so far into Morrowind