Which Elder Scrolls game had the best expansions?

[ZeRoc]

I voted Morrowind, nostalgia filter aside, it's expansions are the only ones I've played... (I did watch my brother do Oblivion's, but still.)

[BetaB17]

@Miss S'wit:

:

@Ygern: two things.. firstly I can agree with many of the points and insight made in your post. Most details are evident, but there really isn't any wrong answer that is.. if we promise not to talk about the horse armor dlc... Secondly this:

all three add a lot of new content including new skills (crossbows, vampire perks, building houses, riding dragons, baking bread)

B3ad does not bake you have to bring him down to a low simmer, add some seasonings and spice, and cook him evenly through out to get that desired mild flavor.. and then sit back and wait for it all to explode In all seriousness, B3ad is a cool guy none the less

[Ygern]

B3ad does not bake you have to bring him down to a low simmer, add some seasonings and spice, and cook him evenly through out to get that desired mild flavor..

Add some Lavender, a fistful of Moon Sugar and sprinkle liberally with Sujamma

Off-topic: Cooking is something that a lot of people don't see the point of in Skyrim - you can see that in the number of modded homes that don't have a cooking pot, but the more complicated dishes are actually awesome when you are at a low level starting out and wanting to tackle dungeons. They are very often way better than potions you can reasonably buy or find in the first 10-20 levels of the game.

[Willxpm]

For the first time in my life, I'm favoring Oblivion over Morrowind. Shivering Isles is perhaps one of the greatest DLC packs of all time. Taking what's great about the base game and adding so many new things made the whole thing unforgettable.

With regard to TES DLC in general, BM, SI and DB were interesting in that they mimicked the base game's main quest but in a new setting, whereas their pairs (TR, KotN, DG, respectively) expanded upon a concept already in-game (Downfall Of Gods, Evil Daedra Are Evil and Vampires, again respectively).
What I loved was that Shivering Isle's setting was so wildly different from what might be expected in a game about knights killing demons (I say this because: Blades Knight Brother/Sister, Champion of the Order of the Dragon (Whom are Knights of the Dragon), Knights of the Thorn and of course Knights of the Nine).

[Yaije]

If SI was the only oblivion expansion I'd have voted for it... but being a less than 'good' character for knight's of the nine? ugh

I remember it required the full set of relics to complete? Which couldn't be worn if you had an infamy level greater than 1 (or was it zero?)

Might as well have been another house DLC like Wizard's tower, pirate's cove, or the dark place by leyawin that was freaking awesome.

[Kolossus]

Oblivion's DLC was great, sure; but I had to choose Morrowind. I don't know why, but I was incredibly mystified with Bloodmoon; the stories, the look, and the feel. That being said, Skyrim's 'Dragonborn' felt like uninspired fan-service.

[NerevarRising]

Morrowind, Tribunal expanded brilliantly & realistically on the original story, while bloodmoon was nothing but entertaining & interesting.
Both provided new everything, environments weapons & jokes

My fave DLC would be bloodmoon, shivering, tribunal, dawn guard.

Morrowind is my fave anyway, but the DLC merged almost seamlessly with the main game, as well as providing 100+ hours of NEW stuff.

[godsmack]

Expansions = power creep.

Prime examples, EAoS and Mantle of Woe for Morrowind, "The Perfect versions of Madness and Amber Armor provide better protection than Daedric, Glass, or Bound Armor." and "In many respects, Perfect-grade Madness and Amber weapons are the highest quality weapons in the game, exceeding the equivalent Daedric weapons in damage and health." for Oblivion and SI, and finally, for Skyrim and Dawnguard, one word. Crossbows. same damage at level 10 as Glass Bows that don't start becoming available under normal circumstances in the base game until at least level 27 not even considering all the available enchantments, enhancements and upgrades. I can equip any follower with one, stand back to watch the carnage and rarely need to lift a finger. 'nuff said, but my vote still goes to Morrowind for Tribunal, plus Morrowind did Solstheim first, and I can't help but consider it the basis, laying the groundwork for Skyrim.

[OblivionDuruza]

What you say about power creep is true, but it has to be considered that most expansions and DLC are intended for higher level characters, after a not insignificant amount of vanilla game playtime. Morrowind and its expansions were a prime example of this, while Oblivion's level scaling mitigated that effect relatively substantially.

[DikaSmausha]

Yeah, they mostly recommend high level players.

[BetaB17]

Yeah, they mostly recommend high level players.

Not exactly, rather while a high level would still get his worth of fun, it may not be as challenging as it is fun. Hence why medium levels tend to be best. In vanilla your in the transition point from always getting beat up to being that total badass, it's both fun and challenging without all that stress or boredom. Once your at that glory point, switching over to DLC only continues that feel. The enemies are tougher, and your not all too strong for them Though I must say.. boss battles never have been my fancy, especially in Skyrim

[cybrxkhan]

Though I must say.. boss battles never have been my fancy, especially in Skyrim

Alduin sucked for me.

The most recent time I fought him, it took me a while to get my weapons prepared correctly - just a few seconds, though - and by the time I was ready to smash Alduin the three heroes from Sovngarde had already reduced his health by 70% or something.

[Br3admax]

Yeah, they mostly recommend high level players.

Not exactly, rather while a high level would still get his worth of fun, it may not be as challenging as it is fun. Hence why medium levels tend to be best. In vanilla your in the transition point from always getting beat up to being that total badass, it's both fun and challenging without all that stress or boredom. Once your at that glory point, switching over to DLC only continues that feel. The enemies are tougher, and your not all too strong for them Though I must say.. boss battles never have been my fancy, especially in Skyrim

High level for you is not the same high level that he may mean. Most people don't go past level 30. People often forget that the casual, silent gamer rarely if ever finishes RPGs as much as they do. Dika is talking about for the casual crowd.

[DikaSmausha]

Exactly. Almost all their DLC's are recommended for level 20, or level 30.

[Musicman247]

I've only played the Skyrim expansions despite owning all of them. I like that Dragonborn added to the mythos of the character you were playing. I'll have to play through Shivering, as I've heard nothing but good things about it.

[godsmack]

Exactly. Almost all their DLC's are recommended for level 20, or level 30.

If that were true then how do you explain the fact that you can usually access them at first level? I think the highest level requirement I've ever seen on a DLC expansion was level six for Tribunal and that was strictly for the console version, and level ten for Dawnguard. I think you could "theoretically" even start Dragonborn at first level is you advanced the MQ far enough without ever actually leveling (which I know some people used to do with Oblivion, but I'm not sure why you'd do this in Skyrim). The only real problem I have with them is that they tend to "break" the vanilla game before I've played it. My "fix" for this is simple enough though. I just don't install the expansions until I've completed the MQ, at least. Got the Skyrim Legendary pack, for example, and hated it. Installed just the base "vanilla" game and now I'm level 32, and so far all I've really done is completed Dragon Rising in the MQ and the Companions quest line. Still so much to do, and having a blast doing it. There'll be plenty of time later for the expansions and DLC.

[Jeelius-Tei]

I actually beat SI with a level 5 Argonian warrior. He wore nothing but clothes (like all my characters, but he actually went to the Shivering Isles to get clothing in the first place), and he used Dawn Fang/Dusk Fang.

[Br3admax]

Exactly. Almost all their DLC's are recommended for level 20, or level 30.

If that were true then how do you explain the fact that you can usually access them at first level? I think the highest level requirement I've ever seen on a DLC expansion was level six for Tribunal and that was strictly for the console version, and level ten for Dawnguard. I think you could "theoretically" even start Dragonborn at first level is you advanced the MQ far enough without ever actually leveling (which I know some people used to do with Oblivion, but I'm not sure why you'd do this in Skyrim). The only real problem I have with them is that they tend to "break" the vanilla game before I've played it. My "fix" for this is simple enough though. I just don't install the expansions until I've completed the MQ, at least. Got the Skyrim Legendary pack, for example, and hated it. Installed just the base "vanilla" game and now I'm level 32, and so far all I've really done is completed Dragon Rising in the MQ and the Companions quest line. Still so much to do, and having a blast doing it. There'll be plenty of time later for the expansions and DLC.

Because there are no level restrictions in most of the content. It is paid for.

[godsmack]

Because there are no level restrictions in most of the content. It is paid for.

Oh, really? Then what do you call these?

Leveled Items

Leveled Items

Leveled Items

Daedric Quests

Daedric Quests

Etc. As a matter of fact, the "leveling" system was incorporated during Oblivion and continued into Skyrim, but in a much more transparent system. That could only be sucessfully argued with Morrowind where there were no such level requirements to either the base game or the expansions.

[Elune]

Lol, Dawnguard. Personally I didn't like it that much, nor did I like the fact that it's forced onto you as early as level ten.

How is it forced on you, do you figure?

Regardless, I think Knights of the Nine is my favorite in the whole series. Apparently I'm in the minority, but I think having to be humble of heart and do a pilgrimage is excellent. I love religious themes, we also get to explore the subject of the Cult of the Nine. Plus we learn a lot more about the first empire and how it started. We also meet and learn about the Ayelids and where they went (victims of genocide at the hands of their former slaves) which I enjoyed. I also love the quest for the relics and the appearance of all the relics is just downright sexy imo. All in all it's very inspired by the really life crusades and religious exploration, which I personally love. Adding to the lore, giving us some cool gear, a new danger etc. What's not to love?

Shivering Isles is also superb, it's interesting/ironic to realize the canon ending is that the Champion of Cyrodiil, who stopped a Daedric Prince from invading went on to become the Daedric Prince of Madness. Plus all the quests and characters and the story is just really fun.

I haven't completed Morrowind or expansions, though I did play it at release and a bit since. I'll probably get around to it and them eventually.

The Skyrim expansions are good but I haven't finished Dawnguard (though I love it and Serana), Dragonborn's story was a nice addition to the Main Quest (what it's supposed to be IMO) and more Daedric Princes are always great! However I've not done as much as I can or wnt to to comment properly. As for Hearthfire, yeah I like it tons but I wouldn't call it an expansion.

For now I'm voting Oblivion. subject to change.

[Br3admax]

Because there are no level restrictions in most of the content. It is paid for.

Oh, really? Then what do you call these?

Leveled Items

Leveled Items

Leveled Items

Daedric Quests

Daedric Quests

Etc. As a matter of fact, the "leveling" system was incorporated during Oblivion and continued into Skyrim, but in a much more transparent system. That could only be sucessfully argued with Morrowind where there were no such level requirements to either the base game or the expansions.

Those were leveled because the items they gave were way OP. Plus, I was talking about Skyrim. Also, leveled items are not restrictions. That's just items getting better overtime.

Lol, Dawnguard. Personally I didn't like it that much, nor did I like the fact that it's forced onto you as early as level ten.

How is it forced on you, do you figure?

Because as soon as you hit level ten, vampires descend out of nowhere on any town, hamlet, or map marker with people in it. If you don't do it, Skyrim will become a ghost town, with five people in it.

[Archer]

^I've never really had that problem with Dawnguard. Between me and the guards, the vampires usually don't have enought time to kill anyone. Well, that and I always have my character inside at night.

Personally, I would have to go with Skyrim for this one. I never played any of the Oblivion dlc, so that's off the table, and I didn't like Morrowind or its expansions at all.

[Elune]

Lol, Dawnguard. Personally I didn't like it that much, nor did I like the fact that it's forced onto you as early as level ten.

How is it forced on you, do you figure?

Because as soon as you hit level ten, vampires descend out of nowhere on any town, hamlet, or map marker with people in it. If you don't do it, Skyrim will become a ghost town, with five people in it.

No, it won't. Vampires only show up where you are, and are relatively easy for you and the guards to kill before they do any damage.

[Br3admax]

How is it forced on you, do you figure?

Because as soon as you hit level ten, vampires descend out of nowhere on any town, hamlet, or map marker with people in it. If you don't do it, Skyrim will become a ghost town, with five people in it.

No, it won't. Vampires only show up where you are, and are relatively easy for you and the guards to kill before they do any damage.

Past level 50, this is most certainly not true. And at level 10 it definitely is not true. Not the point anyway, friend. That's hardly my biggest problem with Dawnguard though, and don't get me wrong; I enjoyed the dlc none the less.

[godsmack]

That's just items getting better overtime.

Except for the fact that they don't, unless you're specifically referring to the KotN artifacts and relics, which are the only ones that actually do.