Karstaag vs Alduin

[Unionhack]

It's just the question of lore versus mechanics.

Lore wise, Alduin would wipe the floor with Karstaag. Mechanics wise, it's vice versa.

[Alnevar Odai]

You know, I love TES games for a reason. TES games have a perfect balance of gameplay. And by that I mean the word itself.
GAME: all aspects of a typical gameplay experience. Character development. Difficulty. Bosses. Upgrades. Survivability. Time to accomplish tasks. Objectives themselves.

PLAY: the world, and its believability. NPCs. Interactions. Environments. Situations. Fluidity of Tasks. Order in which events occur. Fun, smart, dynamic; world, scenes and stories

Reference points.
TESIII vs Gauntlet, PoP, Final Fan.
TES4 vs MW, DA, Fable
TES5 vs BF3, Fable 3, AC3

The above are each amazing games. But TES game style outlives and outlasts the popularity of many of these "competing" for GOTY games.
In EACH comparison, the competing games on the right focused on developing a superior game. Revolutionary in their own right. New toys, animations, bigger BOOMs and a game that the player can readily fill the shoes of a superior being. They worked on GAMEplay.

The TES games on the other hand worked on superior gamePLAY. BGS has made the games reasonable for both the weekend warrior, the casual couch spud, and the devoted gamer. But lets not forget that they go beyond. They also make room for the creative SIMs player on PC.

The games have each gotten simpler, and more relaxed without the adrenaline pumping, swear-hurling, controller smashing boss battles. Games I would argue are meant to be PLAYED not stress educing. That is why the explorer will find tougher battles than the casual achievement hunter. The HC player will find superior stories and interesting areas while the casual gamer will never know those places exist.

Karstaag is a non-quest related area. It is meant for the HC explorer who knows and loves the TES. He is MADE to provide the hidden challenge that keeps the game interesting for the players who dedicate so much time. That is why, given a fair fight, he would stomp Alduin.

Spoiler:

Now as for my personal opinion. I miss the stumble-into-your-death locations that I found so interesting in Morrowind. That being said I NEVER backtracked to a place I was stomped in. I would sooner use a health cheat than leave and return better prepared. Some places in main quests are no-turning-back, such as Morokei, Miraak, Ancano, Alduin's fight or entering the Oblivion gate at the BoBruma or Paradise. These bosses CANT be overwhelming. Areas like these are easy to underestimate, and once you are in too deep you cant find a health potion. Keep in mind the urgency meant to be encouraged in these stories, the CoC or Dovakiin cant just LEAVE the world is about to be destroyed. The development of these areas and characters was profound.

Enemy locations like bandits, Master Vampires, Karstaag, Dragon Mountains, arena combatants, other dragon priests, Gloom Wraiths, Liches, and EVERY STORY QUEST AND LOCATION IN MORROWIND could have the player leave, renter, leave and renter as often as necessary in order to return better prepared for the fight without having to redo many things, recover ground, or down-play the awe of the environments/ urgency of the situation.

In Oblivion time became a HUGE story point for the TES series. Everything had to do with the time things were happening. In Skyrim urgency was up-played by making points that things are temporary and only get harder the longer you wait [such as Alduin's time in Sovengard] (even if they werent). Morrowind had a very, "it will be done when I'm good and ready" attitude which made the play much slower and made achievements much more fulfilling.

[Torapa]

Has anyone with Dragonborn tried to summon Karstaag during the battle with Alduin? If so what was the result because I imagine this would be a totally awesome battle

I killed Karstaag some time ago (35lvl bosmer, 10 jumping exploding flame spiders and about 10 exploding dwarven xbow of fire) took his frozen giant ass down with ease. I still haven't met Alduin on the Throat of the World yet but I'm going to wait till Sovgnard to employ Karstaag though.

[DikaSmausha]

It's just the question of lore versus mechanics.

Lore wise, Alduin would wipe the floor with Karstaag. Mechanics wise, it's vice versa.

Lore wise, Alduin would wipe the floor of everyone.

[Br3admax]

It's just the question of lore versus mechanics.

Lore wise, Alduin would wipe the floor with Karstaag. Mechanics wise, it's vice versa.

Lore wise, Alduin would wipe the floor of everyone.

Gameplay wise, Alduin would beat Karstaag also, sense really Alduin is immune to all damage unless under Dragonsbane. Once that happens, it's not a one on one fight.

[Jun Satou]

Grounded fight: Karstaag
Lore: Alduin
Normal fight (Alduin starts in air): Alduin

[The SheoDovah]

Alduin would win. He is the strongest dragon in lore and was created to eat the world. Without Dragonrend, even the Dovahkiin would not have been able to banish him back to Akatosh. Karstaag is just a frost giant. A powerful one but is still mortal. Alduin on the other hand has eaten the world many times and it is said that he reduced the entire population of Skyrim to 6 years old. I think that was just his ghost. His freaking ghost did that. Also, Dragon's have ghosts? How does that work?

Anyway, Karstaag would not be able to defeat Alduin due to the nature of the world eater's role.

[Da_BossMaN69]

Lore wise Alduin, no question.

Gameplay, toss up. If Alduin simply flew around spamming dragon meteor its over for the big guy since the initial shock wave of the spell will dispel his frost aura, at least it did when I used storm call.

If Alduins grounded even for a second he'll get slaughtered.

Btw, since the karstaag thread is locked is there any other place to comment on his fight?

[Marelo]

If we're talking solely about game mechanics, Karstaag literally cannot win. Only the player character can damage Alduin, because only the player character uses Dragonrend.

[CBR JGWRR]

Btw, since the karstaag thread is locked is there any other place to comment on his fight?

PM a mod, ask them to unlock it.