Hearthfire Discussion

[jbloun12]

Hearthfire 3rd
HOLIDAY:Tales and Tallows

No other holiday divides the people of cityName like the 3rd of Hearth Fire. A few of the oldest, more superstitious men and women do not speak all day long for fear that the evil spirits of the dead will enter their bodies. Most citizens enjoy the holiday, calling it Tales and Tallows, but even the most lighthearted avoid the dark streets of cityName, for everyone knows the dead do walk tonight. Only the Mages Guild completely thrives on this day. In celebration of the oldest magical science, necromancy, all magical items are half price today. NOTE: A number of in game sources say this is the day one may summon Nocturnal, but that is actually the 8th - see below.

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Calendar#Hearth_Fire

Also a book in Skyrim on Conjuration: http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:2920,_Hearth_Fire,_v9

Released in our September/Hearthfire, Seasonal Change/ Mages Guild love this day, common folk paint their doors red and stay inside. Awesome follower with new commands that is expert in Spears, build your own house/shop or maybe Winterhold since College of Winterhold is located there. Duel magic!!! Conjure Nocturnal!!! ...............ohhhhhh zombies and daedra around our own holiday of Halloween- good marketing!

p.s.-Maybe a good goblin war too even though the went extinct in the 3rd era and are prone to Cyrodiil.

[ZackyZombify]

Has anyone had the thought that it might involve the Psijic in anyway? Like the return of them or a journey to their "disappearing" island? Just a thought since on a new character play through I noticed that the robes that the Psijic Mage you're visited by in the College's quest line has similar markings/designs as the Ancient Falmer armor.

[Winterborn]

Dawnguard was easy... i mean Dawn-guard. Guarding the Dawn. Simple. There is not a similar logic with Hearthfire. You can't glean meaning from it just based on the name this time, we need the content. Everything Elder Scrolls is always location (SI, Oblivion, Morrowind, Skyrim) or affiliation (KOTN, DG, Tribunal). And then there's Bloodmoon, which doesn't fit into either of those. Since i don't think Hearthfire is a new faction, or a new location we will be visiting, it's probably along the lines of Bloodmoon-esque (which, for those of you that have played Bloodmoon, actually starts to make sense with a few of the Hearthfire theories based on the content). But until it comes out, we can't be sure.
They are going to show the first trailer and we are all going to be like, "OHHH...."

[Da_BossMaN69]

I'm still wagering it on being some ascension with the Dragonborn or him being Talos, the hints are too obvious and too apparent not to be made. For them to simply leave it as what we've gotten is just a writing neglect on Beth's part. I mean I'm sure this DLC will be cool plot wise, but it just seems like such an opportunity.

Plus how are we going to one-up the CoC. Every hero has gotten better than the Last.

[Gideon Dragontongue]

I'm wondering what areas they'll be adding with this one. Since with Dawnguard the only place we got to go outside of Skyrim was the Soul Cairn, it stands to reason that this might actually involve leaving Skyrim's borders. If you look at the past two games, the first expansion (Tribunal, KotN) both didn't leave the setting of the main game (Morrowind, Oblivion/Cyrodiil), whereas the second expansion took place entirely out of it. It seems plausible that this same pattern will be followed in Skyrim.

On the other hand, why assume that there will only be two expansions? Bethesda could keep pumping them out roughly once every six months for the next five years, and as long as they kept them original and engaging and simultaneously worked on ESVI, I don't think anyone would complain.

[Winterborn]

I'm still wagering it on being some ascension with the Dragonborn or him being Talos, the hints are too obvious and too apparent not to be made. For them to simply leave it as what we've gotten is just a writing neglect on Beth's part. I mean I'm sure this DLC will be cool plot wise, but it just seems like such an opportunity.

Plus how are we going to one-up the CoC. Every hero has gotten better than the Last.

Yeah its going to be difficult for Beth to top the CoC mantling a Deadric Prince. Hopefully something awesome does happen. We honestly have no idea, they could go any direction with this, do anything they wanted, and do something completely unexpected.

[Gideon Dragontongue]

Imagine three tiers of divinity: The self-created divinity of the Tribunal, the born divinity of the Daedric Princes, and the all-out godhood of the Aedra. Therefore, Morrowind was a hero becoming "like" the Tribunal, Oblivion was a hero becoming "like" the Daedric Princes, and Skyrim could well end with a hero becoming "like" an Aedra; that is, Talos.

[Alnevar Odai]

Imagine three tiers of divinity: The self-created divinity of the Tribunal, the born divinity of the Daedric Princes, and the all-out godhood of the Aedra. Therefore, Morrowind was a hero becoming "like" the Tribunal, Oblivion was a hero becoming "like" the Daedric Princes, and Skyrim could well end with a hero becoming "like" an Aedra; that is, Talos.

Specifically, the "all out godhood" might be argued against since they technically were too Et'Ada however they were trapped on Mundus when Lorkharn tricked them into creating it. However this theory which also suggests that the Aedra became the Earthbones is shaken by the Dawnguard DLC

Spoiler:

by Auriels bow needing to be shot into the sun to "block his influence"

suggesting that the Aedra exist in Aetherius. If that is the case then the Aedra ought to be able to be contacted by similar means as daedra. In fact since the sun is a direct conduit between mundus and Aetherius, it should be even easier than contacting daedra.

Also, specifically to the hero becoming "like" and Aedra... There exist other examples, Arkay to was a mortal who ascended as well as the Modern Sheogorath.

At any rate, DLC expansions tend to deal in this series of ways.
DLC 1: Fight a supernatural force and either defy or become a supernatural entity. (morrowind: werewolves, Oblivion: a resurrected Aylied king who is "unfeathered" and requires supernatural means to be defeated including

Spoiler:

dying and all of a sudden coming back to life, meeting an angel, and becoming a god-blessed crusader

, and Skyrim: Vampires.
DLC 2: Discover the truth of a godfigure, follow the godfigure, surpass the godfigure. Morrowind: Tribunal/ the Almisivi. Oblivion: SI/ Sheogorath.

[X086573]

And, i think it should be pointed out, there's no reason why they couldn't have two teams working on dlc, for thos of you thinking the next dlc won't be big.

It could be that they had two teams working on dlc, starting at the same time, and one team (Dawnguard) has finished their dlc, while the second team (presumably Hearthfire) is STILL working on theirs.

If this theory is correct, which is VERY plausible (just look towards the fallout 3 dlc develpoment), the this next dlc is going to be MASSIVE.

[Stormborn]

If Fallout 3 DLC is any guide we can expect aliens next. Point Lookout was the final DLC for FO3 and Shivering Isle was the last for Oblivion so I'm going to assume that the final DLC for Skyrim will be the largest.

[SajuukKhar]

who said this was the last?

all we know is that there's AT LEAST 2

[Frost Mage]

I'm wondering what areas they'll be adding with this one. Since with Dawnguard the only place we got to go outside of Skyrim was the Soul Cairn, it stands to reason that this might actually involve leaving Skyrim's borders. If you look at the past two games, the first expansion (Tribunal, KotN) both didn't leave the setting of the main game (Morrowind, Oblivion/Cyrodiil), whereas the second expansion took place entirely out of it. It seems plausible that this same pattern will be followed in Skyrim.

On the other hand, why assume that there will only be two expansions? Bethesda could keep pumping them out roughly once every six months for the next five years, and as long as they kept them original and engaging and simultaneously worked on ESVI, I don't think anyone would complain.

I remember hearing pre-release that there were a confirmed three expansions for Skyrim. Might just be my imagination, though.

[SajuukKhar]

All we know about the number of DLC is that there will be less then Fallout 3, so less then 5, and AT LEAST 2, as Bethesda has a 360 exclusivity deal with Microsoft for two DLC.

[Gideon Dragontongue]

I'm wondering what areas they'll be adding with this one. Since with Dawnguard the only place we got to go outside of Skyrim was the Soul Cairn, it stands to reason that this might actually involve leaving Skyrim's borders. If you look at the past two games, the first expansion (Tribunal, KotN) both didn't leave the setting of the main game (Morrowind, Oblivion/Cyrodiil), whereas the second expansion took place entirely out of it. It seems plausible that this same pattern will be followed in Skyrim.

On the other hand, why assume that there will only be two expansions? Bethesda could keep pumping them out roughly once every six months for the next five years, and as long as they kept them original and engaging and simultaneously worked on ESVI, I don't think anyone would complain.

I remember hearing pre-release that there were a confirmed three expansions for Skyrim. Might just be my imagination, though.

I think that was from the same thing that told us the first was going to be called "Riders of Hammerfell," so we might not want to go on that...

[SpikeSpeigel]

I'm wondering what areas they'll be adding with this one. Since with Dawnguard the only place we got to go outside of Skyrim was the Soul Cairn, it stands to reason that this might actually involve leaving Skyrim's borders. If you look at the past two games, the first expansion (Tribunal, KotN) both didn't leave the setting of the main game (Morrowind, Oblivion/Cyrodiil), whereas the second expansion took place entirely out of it. It seems plausible that this same pattern will be followed in Skyrim.

On the other hand, why assume that there will only be two expansions? Bethesda could keep pumping them out roughly once every six months for the next five years, and as long as they kept them original and engaging and simultaneously worked on ESVI, I don't think anyone would complain.

I remember hearing pre-release that there were a confirmed three expansions for Skyrim. Might just be my imagination, though.

I think that was from the same thing that told us the first was going to be called "Riders of Hammerfell," so we might not want to go on that...

I would bet on three DLC for Skyrim.
This console cycle will be ending soon enough.
I NEED for Bethy to release FO4 early in the Xbox 720 lifespan! (similar to Oblivion on 360)

[Frost Mage]

I still wouldn't doubt that we'll be getting at least three DLCs for Skyrim. And like Spike said, this console generation will be coming to a close probably next year, but that most likely won't be so soon that it will hinder Skyrim's expansions.

[Gideon Dragontongue]

I agree with you, I don't think three is out of the question by a long shot, I just don't think that's a reliable source.

[SajuukKhar]

I still wouldn't doubt that we'll be getting at least three DLCs for Skyrim. And like Spike said, this console generation will be coming to a close probably next year, but that most likely won't be so soon that it will hinder Skyrim's expansions.

The console generation wont end for another 3 years at least.

there is nothing in the current trends that hint at a next year ending.

[Frost Mage]

I still wouldn't doubt that we'll be getting at least three DLCs for Skyrim. And like Spike said, this console generation will be coming to a close probably next year, but that most likely won't be so soon that it will hinder Skyrim's expansions.

The console generation wont end for another 3 years at least.

there is nothing in the current trends that hint at a next year ending.

Three years? I mean, there's not much more power developers can suck out of the current generation of consoles, so I don't foresee this cycle lasting much more than another year.

[Br3admax]

Game consoles comeout after one thing, the next advancement in home cinema. When the next hd-DVD comes, so will future consoles.

[Alnevar Odai]

Game consoles comeout after one thing, the next advancement in home cinema. When the next hd-DVD comes, so will future consoles.

Yeah, the red-ray which is an ever-more layered blue-ray disk. Not to mention the fact that xbox360 and most PC games dont use blue-ray to begin with. PS3 has a blue ray reader but the games never need that much space for info. So yes... projected release of xbox "720" is holiday 2013. (which is a good reason why many games like BF4 are saying that betas are set for 2014 release when they easily could release a game every 2 years like the CoD franchise (remember two companies work on CoD games before you say one gets released every year). TES games drop ~every 5 years which conveniently allows BGS to greatly alter their games just in time for the next console cycle.

[Br3admax]

Xboxes use hd-DVD so, the original used DVD, for the game discs. And Blu-ray is a Sony product, of course no one else uses it.

[Stormborn]

Microsoft released next gen xbox developer tools in March this year (Sony have not yet released any developer tools), so I figure 18 months to churn out the usual release day rubbish and 2-3 years for anything worth playing. I'd go with three large DLC for Skyrim, one for Xmas and last one in summer 2013. That way they can bundle everything on 1 disc for 11/11/13 as ultimate edition running on the next gen machines which will probably be released ready from xmas 2013.

[OblivionDuruza]

I read a fairly well reasoned speculation that Hearthfire could be related to Necromancy or more broadly to Magic in general, although I can't recall the link, based upon the Tales and Tallows holiday celebrated on the 3rd of Hearthfire:

No other holiday divides the people of (this city) like the 3rd of Hearth Fire. A few of the oldest, more superstitious men and women do not speak all day long for fear that the evil spirits of the dead will enter their bodies. Most citizens enjoy the holiday, calling it Tales and Tallows, but even the most lighthearted avoid the dark streets of (this city), for everyone knows the dead do walk tonight. Only the Mages Guild completely thrives on this day. In celebration of the oldest magical science, necromancy, all magical items are half price today.

Perhaps we might see the sort of spell combinations Bethesda talked about as a possible feature of the two-handed combat and magic system of Skyrim?

[Stormborn]

I'm thinking that it might be about rebuilding Helgen as a home base for the Dragonborn to build an army (Empire or Stormcloaks) to give the Thalmor a good smacking in the final DLC. That's pure speculation on my part.