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I've noticed this is a topic that goes mainly undiscussed, so i figured i'd make a topic, and get a conversation going.

The civil war idea, which has been talked about by Todd Howard and others, seems really cool to me. The idea that fighting within the nation is ocurring, while also being ransacked by dragons is quite exhilerating. My assumption, though, is will we, the player, be tasked with choosing sides?

This, to me at least, seems to bring something new to gameplay. Not only will you be tasked with saving the world from dragons, but will you also have to bring the sides together? And does choosing to aid a certain side bring forth retaliations from the other party?

Anyways, does anyone have any thoughts about this?

I might be imagining the Civil War to be more epic than how it unfolds in the game, but it seems to me that this epic conflict is going to be an undercurrent to the guild quests. The lines have already been drawn with Windhelm serving as the Rebel base of power and Solitude as the Empire HQ. I don't think it's a coincidence that each of the three major guilds is based in the remaining big cities, Riften, Whiterun and Winterhold.

Each of the Nine Holds are going to have to take sides and each of the guilds or just about any other large organization is going to have to take sides in this war. It might play out where the PC chooses to help the Rebels or the Empire and then must win over the various guilds to support the side he chose. At least I certainly hope it's something that huge.

This is interesting. You're response then brings up the question, will we be able to only jpin a few guilds in one playthrough, making your choices more substantial, like morrowind, or will it be like oblivion and all guilds will be open to you whenever?

But in a much smaller aspect, will the opposing party be out to get you, based on who you choose to side with? Maybe it will function like the Talon Company mercs in fallout, except instead of being based in morality, it will be based in alliances. i wonder...

I hope it isn't like Oblivion, that RUINS the experience of the War. Why? Because then guess what if you are (say) leader of all factions; you ultimately made a 'god-character' and you've made all guilds join a specific side (like in Morrowind, if you are instantly Arch Master/Grand Master/Arch Magister then you instantly become Hortator of that one House) rather than have the guilds have variety like in Morrowind.

But let's consider the Holds, probably you may have to do some unorthodox things (like in Daggerfall) to gain a specific faction of said hold to like you (incite a revolt against a hold that is pro-Imperial to make it pro-Rebel either through popular support and popular government or making them join rebels) or rather support said faction.

I'm interested in seeing how this plays out. I could see it be anything from just something that is going on in the background that you cant really even interact with much, to being able to pick sides and get towns to join in.

I dont think its gonna be as interactive as some are imagining though, because theyve said that they are focused on making single story lines that are really good, as opposed to lots of different options for shorter story lines.

Should be interesting to see how it plays out though

Right, but they've also said that these guilds will somewhat intertwine with the main quest, what if it is in this context? That would make this game that much more appealing. I am really hoping they do, however, take the guild back morrowind style and make certain guilds somewhat contradict the other, so that you can't be in all guilds with one lone "god character". I enjoy the idea that i would build my character for a specific role, whether its a mage, warrior, or thief, or a mix, to fit within the framework of this "particular" guild. Although, i am a very big fan of the new skill set, and leveling process, along with the reduction of classes, i'm still going to have a predetermined vision of how my character plays out, and i hope the guilds will support that concept.

They haven't said anything yet but I'm wondering if it will turn out like Fallout NV. You could choose between three paths and still go just about everywhere. But depending on who you sided with the area will be hostel or non hostel. I don't think it will be that extreme but more in a grey area. I think certain quest may change depending on your choices of friends. Radiant AI at work.

Right, but they've also said that these guilds will somewhat intertwine with the main quest, what if it is in this context?

Like the Three Great Houses and the Tribunal Temple; if you did decide to join said faction then when you are the Nerevarine and plan to be Hortator: prepare to be bombarded or have conflict.

Even if you are the 'leader' of the faction, I'm betting the faction itself will be diversified on whether it should be Imperial or Rebel or even just independent(it doesn't care).

Rather than make it into a because you (player) are leader, they follow YOUR word without question. I hope it won't come to that.

But in the context? The context would be that the guilds are both interdependent on the main quest yet they are also separate from it. Separate for they have their own line of quests, and its not going to 'force you' to join.

But interdependent as they will take sides, and hold views that may be contradictory to yours, if not in full conflict.

I hope it's more polished if it's anything like the factions in fallout nv, great idea in concept, but it didn't feel exactly right in nv, although Bethesda didn't develope it, and are far more experienced than obsidian, i think they could make it work properly. i'm dying for more news on this.

xopsi wrote:Right, but they've also said that these guilds will somewhat intertwine with the main quest

That's awesome news! Can you provide a link to the article or interview mentioning this?

I would much prefer a cold war than a hot one, to be honest. Where you can do quests for various holds to help them gain power, sneaking through the borders to send information to the other side, convincing the leader to defect, etc.

It won't let me post non elder scrolls links, but google this: playstation magagzine features skyrim new info revealed.

It might take you to the website, but its a recap of what is in the psm of july, i think.

If that doesn't work, will i be able to send you the link, via message, or something?

xopsi wrote:It won't let me post non elder scrolls links, but google this: playstation magagzine features skyrim new info revealed.

It might take you to the website, but its a recap of what is in the psm of july, i think.

If that doesn't work, will i be able to send you the link, via message, or something?

I went back and read the July 2011 PSM again - I think you are talking about the part where it says that "each faction has its own storyline to follow, and they won't be as oblivious to the outside world as their predecessors," correct?

Yes, I had read that quote before. It's not exactly 100% confirmation that the guild quests will be intertwined with the main quest, but at least it seems certain that if there is a Civil War going on, the guild factions won't be as oblivious to it as the Oblivion guilds (which were quite oblivious).

I guess. I'm not subscribed to psm, so i have to read "recaps" of what it says. The author of the article i read, which i alluded to, phrased it differently, which probably lead to me taking it a different way, but either way, by them, whoever made the quote you cited, saying they won't be oblivious, could they be referring to this national civil war dilemma? As always, it's just speculation now, i'm just really hoping it turns out the way i've described. That would make this game sweeter than it already sounds. Sorry for the mistake. Authors of articles should make sure to word their recaps exactly the way the actual article is worded, to prevent confusion...that jerk...

Anyone think its weird that the empire is centered all the way up north? Wouldn't it make more sense to be towards the south, closer to cyrodiil?

Or is this a new sort of empire not connected to the septim line?

Well There is no Septim line anymore, so I think that this won't be connected to it. I have never read The Infernal City, so I'm not sure

There has always been an Empire since Alessia, not always the same family, and they have always been able to wear the Amulet of the Kings. The Mede dynasty is the most recent and he is trying to reclaim the terrortories therefore the Civil War likely involves his empire

BootySweat wrote:I might be imagining the Civil War to be more epic than how it unfolds in the game, but it seems to me that this epic conflict is going to be an undercurrent to the guild quests. The lines have already been drawn with Windhelm serving as the Rebel base of power and Solitude as the Empire HQ. I don't think it's a coincidence that each of the three major guilds is based in the remaining big cities, Riften, Whiterun and Winterhold.

Each of the Nine Holds are going to have to take sides and each of the guilds or just about any other large organization is going to have to take sides in this war. It might play out where the PC chooses to help the Rebels or the Empire and then must win over the various guilds to support the side he chose. At least I certainly hope it's something that huge.

What about the Dark Brotherhood where are they located?

Assassin540 wrote:

BootySweat wrote:I might be imagining the Civil War to be more epic than how it unfolds in the game, but it seems to me that this epic conflict is going to be an undercurrent to the guild quests. The lines have already been drawn with Windhelm serving as the Rebel base of power and Solitude as the Empire HQ. I don't think it's a coincidence that each of the three major guilds is based in the remaining big cities, Riften, Whiterun and Winterhold.

Each of the Nine Holds are going to have to take sides and each of the guilds or just about any other large organization is going to have to take sides in this war. It might play out where the PC chooses to help the Rebels or the Empire and then must win over the various guilds to support the side he chose. At least I certainly hope it's something that huge.

What about the Dark Brotherhood where are they located?

We don't know for 100%-absolutely positive-certain that the DB is in. Beth keeps dropping hints, but they won't come out and tell us

magius241 wrote:We don't know for 100%-absolutely positive-certain that the DB is in. Beth keeps dropping hints, but they won't come out and tell us

It was confirmed at quakecom

soda popinski wrote:

magius241 wrote:We don't know for 100%-absolutely positive-certain that the DB is in. Beth keeps dropping hints, but they won't come out and tell us

It was confirmed at quakecom

Yes, and it was also confirmed that Emil Pagliarulo, who wrote the Dark Brotherhood quests for Oblivion was responsible for the Skyrim DB questline.

BootySweat wrote:

soda popinski wrote:

magius241 wrote:We don't know for 100%-absolutely positive-certain that the DB is in. Beth keeps dropping hints, but they won't come out and tell us

It was confirmed at quakecom

Yes, and it was also confirmed that Emil Pagliarulo, who wrote the Dark Brotherhood quests for Oblivion was responsible for the Skyrim DB questline.

Oooo good find Bootysweat where is that info from?

River wrote:
Oooo good find Bootysweat where is that info from?

Todd mentioned it during the public quakecon demo, and per Todd the Skyrim DB quest line is "a great, great faction line"

soda popinski wrote:

magius241 wrote:We don't know for 100%-absolutely positive-certain that the DB is in. Beth keeps dropping hints, but they won't come out and tell us

It was confirmed at quakecom

Sorry, I haven't kept up with everything that came out of Quakecom.