Favourite City/Township

[OblivionDuruza]

Okay, so we've seen discussion on the favourite cities of Oblivion, but what about Morrowind?

Morrowind holds a vast array of interesting locations across a range of different environments. Whether it be the harsh Ashlands or the picturesque Ascandian Isles there are many environments to discover and enjoy. Whether it be the pious Redoran or the eccentric Telvanni, there are many different peoples to aquaint yourself with.

I've tried to pick cities/settlements from a range of regions and designs for the poll, but the beauty of Morrowind is that there are more settlements worthy of mention than a single poll will allow. I was considering just listing majors and also considering grouping settlements around size and so on (e.g. Suran and Gnisis; Hla Oad, Maar Gaan and Vos). Any opinions on which you'd prefer/would be more effective?

[Chaos the N'wah]

While I normally live in Balmora, my vote goes to Sadrith Mora. There's so much to see: Telvanni Council, slave market, shady tavern, imperial presence, Tel Naga, a Morag Tong base, the Gateway Inn, etc. All wrapped up in a Telvanni mushroom city

[Akiraka]

I've got to go with either Balmora or Suran. Both for the architecture, but Balmora for it's functionality (I can't seem to get away from the place hah) and Suran, if not for any other reason, the awesome orc smith haha. I loved going out of my way to chat with that guy when I first started playing the game. And, you know, back then I was always really fond of Tel Mora too. All those bosmer ladies

[Kerr]

I voted for Balmora it is a really nice town and it is where my character lives at the moment. It is a real gateway town.

[Trelares]

Balmora, for sure . It was the first bigger town I expierienced and I liked it from the start. Its just a simple and practical architecture but you pass so often by in this town during your travels^^. And I have a great mod for a home direct next to the river, with a nice roof garden.

[KalleFlaxx]

I voted Vivec, but it's a difficult decision. I think most towns have something special to them, and almost all of them are cool in their own way.

Balmora is great, partly because it's the first real town you get to and I've spent a lot of time there so I've grown quite fond of the place, and there are a lot of different factions there, and pretty much all kinds of merchants you need.

I also love Sadrith Mora, because that's where House Telvanni hangs out, and those guys are awesome. And I love their architecture too.

I like Vivec because you can find pretty much anything you need there. It's a huge town, and I've been there many many times, and I still haven't explored all of it yet. Sometimes I like to just walk around in the different districts and just see what I find.

[Eltee]

I've always loved Balmora... It's one of the major towns, so it has guilds and everything... And I like the style of buildings more than Ald'Rhun (Which I think are a little too utilitarian) and Sadrith Mora (because I simply don't like the Telvanni.) Vivec doesn't have buildings, which I always disliked. Yes, the Cantons are kinda cool, but I like buildings. Pelagiad came in a close second, because of it's Imperial style, quaint inn, Ahnassi, and interesting round guard tower. However, Balmora is just exotic enough to be interesting, while being familiar enough to be comfortable. Plus, Hlaalu rules.

[Akiraka]

I like Vivec because you can find pretty much anything you need there. It's a huge town, and I've been there many many times, and I still haven't explored all of it yet. Sometimes I like to just walk around in the different districts and just see what I find.

Vivec is so friggin' amazing! I just love starting a new character, going straight there, making a home in St. Delyn Waist North-two, and just seeing how much trouble I can get into from there Between the guilds, temple, under-/canalworks, the factions' treasuries... Ahhh, good times. You could almost forget the rest of Vvardenfell for a while.

[Chaos the N'wah]

I voted Suran. The mods I'm using makes this place look amazing, topped of with a gorgeous sunset on the horizon

Must...fight....urge to make strip club joke.....

[ZombieMonkeyNZ]

Pelagiad. Cause it doesn't get enough luv.

[KalleFlaxx]

The only thing I really like about Pelagiad is Ahnassi. I haven't really done many of her quests, though. Gonna have to do that sometime.
I pretty much only go there if I need to go to Vivec when playing my vampire character, and I can't use any travel services.

[Eltee]

Kinda funny how Caldera is bigger than Pelegian, Suran or Seyda Neen and it isn't even mentioned.

[OblivionDuruza]

I knew I would forget one , hmm looks like Peligaid may be relegated to the 'other' category.

Sorry Zombie, you may need to change your vote.

[Chaos the N'wah]

I'm surprised of the lack of votes for Ald'ruhn, the Emperor land-crab shell (Skar) is a wonder to behold

[KalleFlaxx]

Sure, the giant crab shell is awesome, but that's pretty much the only thing I like with Ald'ruhn. I don't like Redoran very much, their architecture is pretty boring, and that area is so dull. Just gray rocks everywhere, and sandstorms all the time.

[OblivionDuruza]

Too true! The almost constant ashstorms were a rather large negative of Ald'hurn for me. But I'm glad Beth included them in the game, as it wouldn't have seemed as real without them.

I'm just a little surprised that there haven't been more votes for Sadrith Mora . Which would have to be one of my top three (although I really don't have any city/town that I dislike)

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Also, way off-topic, but I'm lovin' that avvy Flaxx (so much in fact I'm going straight to the Avatar and Sig thread to continue this discussion)

[dkjestrup]

Yeah I really like Balmora. However, I have to wonder, what does its economy run on? The egg mine?

One day I'll play through with modded GOTY and probably the Balmora expansion, so hopefully that will improve Balmora even more.

I have to say though, I really like Seyda Neen too. It was a nice transition into the game before you hit the city. Unlike Oblivion, where it's easy to get overwhelmed from the start.

I would have preferred if there were a few more quests there, but I dunno.

[Akiraka]

Yeah I really like Balmora. However, I have to wonder, what does its economy run on? The egg mine?

I have more than a suspicion that the Cammona Tong has a great deal to do with it

I would have preferred if there were a few more quests there, but I dunno.

There's at least three or four. I take for granted how much I like it there. Or, how much I like what Bethy did with it.

[OblivionDuruza]

Yeah, I would say Balmora is a central hub for most players for a couple of reasons.

1. The main quest requires players to go there fairly early on, and makes them keep coming back to it.

2. Being the second largest city on Vvardenfell, there are many quests out of Balmora, and each Guild has a Guildhall there.

3. It is a hub for transportation to pretty much all the other majour sttlements on the island.

4. It is constructed in a style which is nice on the player, not too bland, but not too over the top.

5. GREAT HOUSE HLAALU OF COURSE!

[dkjestrup]

Yeah I really like Balmora. However, I have to wonder, what does its economy run on? The egg mine?

I have more than a suspicion that the Cammona Tong has a great deal to do with it

I would have preferred if there were a few more quests there, but I dunno.

There's at least three or four. I take for granted how much I like it there. Or, how much I like what Bethy did with it.

Yeah I really like what they did with Seyda Neen. It's a shame there wasn't another small town you start in for Oblivion so you could ease your transition into the game. Hoping Skyrim follows Morrowind in that regard, but I'm kinda doubting it.

[Akiraka]

Yeah I really like what they did with Seyda Neen. It's a shame there wasn't another small town you start in for Oblivion so you could ease your transition into the game. Hoping Skyrim follows Morrowind in that regard, but I'm kinda doubting it.

I actually think it's funny how that works. In Baldur's Gate, you begin the game in the library citadel of Candlekeep, a very quiet place, once you leave, the game drops you off in the wilderness with a place to go, and much to do in the particular area you're in. Much like Seyda Neen.
In Baldur's Gate II, after the initial dungeon, you emerge right into the busiest city in the country, Amn. Baldur's Gate's Imperial City, hah.
Since there wasn't really a Baldur's Gate III, I can't really guess where Skyrim will start :p
But, from what I've gathered from the various trailers, is that we'll start off in a small town. I'm sure Bethy will be in a hurry to show off their new real-time conversation and economy. I'm guessing, run from dragon, get mauled, wake up in small town, pick sex, race, etc. A la New Vegas.

[kNo0b]

I voted Balmora because of the architecture. It seems very sensible to me, as opposed to the other two main architectures which just seem a bit contrived. Buildings have always been made of bricks in my boring paradigm, bricks have right angles, and buildings with right angles just make sense.

My main home is in the Caledra Shovel because it seemed large enough and RP-consistent with a lawful-good character (i.e. lots ofspace you can hire), but I'm now massively tempted to take over Nerano Manor because of the reputed tables & shelves. I've accummulated a plethora of items and I just don't have enough "tidy" storage in Caldera. (I have an illogical issue with storing swords in baskets).

Balmora is also perfect for making lots of money early on if you have an appropriately high mercantile/personality, so invariably I end up there to sell & pick up kit. Easy access enchant, with barter capability (so you can fleece the merchant afterwards) is a massive bonus too.

Plus, Balmora IS the travel hub.

[dem]

By all mean do the ahnassi quests (if you are male) there is only one that's dangerous and eventually you get 20 ebony stars @ $2000 a piece. Enough to enchant that open 100 on touch exquisite ring. You also get a hint where there is a key to the Redoran treasury (Wealth Beyond Measure Outlander.) I picked Balmora probably because it was my first home and I became attached.

[Veck]

Can modded towns count towards it? My favourite town is actually Tel Uvirith with BUUG running. It's a real hub of everything you'll ever want, with the great Telvanni architecture, a unique guard service and seamless integration into the vanilla game, to the point where you'd think it was just meant to be part of it all along. Plus I love Molag Amur for reasons beyond me. Past that, I have a love for Imperial architecture, so I'll say Ebonheart. It felt like it could use a little more to do at times, but it has a certain charm to it that I love, plus it's got the nice setting and fame of Vivec without the size or big empty spaces attached. My third favourite town might actually be Ald'Ruhn. Sure, it's not the most exciting or pretty of places, but Redoran interiors are to die for.

[OblivionDuruza]

To me, mods are just as much a part of any TES Game (well, Morrowind and Oblivion anyway), so why not.

I really like all the different settlements in the game, be they large or small, Dunmeri or Imperial. I think it's somewhat cool that Molag Mar is basically a Canton from Vivec, transposed in the middle of the Molag Amur region.