Sometimes I just want some linearity

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Only played this game for a few weeks before my PC crashed. When I got my new PC I couldn't be bothered to install this game. I really need to be in the mood to play this game. It's just too huge. So many options I hate missing anything. Maybe I'll just download every walkthrough I can find, read them all, then install and play without referencing. This may give me a better view of the world. I'm thinking spellsword sign of the lady.

 

I know what you mean. The best way to counter that is to pick a specific chain of quests (eg Balmora mages) and do all those quests, before picking another chain. That creates some structure to what you're doing.

 

Same here; I can't play if there isn't a good, solid story driving me forward. Morrowind isn't just huge; it's scattered. You can do a lot of different things, but these things do not have any other value expect "just doing them." It's pretty boring...

 

Interesting perspective. It seems that the source of your conflict is the desire to not miss stuff and the desire to have a clear plot that moves along nicely. Morrowind definately poses a problem in that case.

If you just follow the main plot (or any subplot, as suggested above) then I believe you will find it fairly straightforward. If you wish to look under every rock (like me) then it will take some time and patience.

I simply loved running through the countryside finding everything that I could. There was so much to see and do, but very little of it is really required to complete the main storyline. It is the game that Daggerfall (also a superb game) tried to be and Ultima 9 so desperately wanted to be.

 

I actually like the way Morrowind is built. I can tell you there's a downside, of course, in the form of having to do simple quests when you're quite high-level. But the latter does have a good side to it in the form of letting you feel your power, relax a bit, enjoy the quick advancement in a guild as it quickly opens its eyes to your competence.

Sometimes the number of problems crying for solving is overwhelming, though.

The bad thing about exploring the countryside is town quests becoming too easy. But then it doesn't hurt to have slightly more power than you really need for your quests. Sometimes I just don't want to run around too much between towns because of the distance - which is normally a factor I like.

 

[spoiler alert]


You should be aware that there are some "conflicts" to keep in mind if you want to play the game and do everything.

As you probably know, you can only join one of the great houses, although if you join Telvanni you'll eventually have the option to capture both the Hlaalu and Redoran strongholds.

There's also a conflict with the main story and the Temple quests. You reach a point where you're essentially in defiance of the Temple and they become hostile toward you. Finish your Temple quests before seeking to be named Hortator of any of the great houses.

Some of the Morag Tong writs will call on you to assasinate people you might need for other quests.

There's a conflict between the Thieves Guild and the Fighters Guild...if you complete the Fighters Guild codebook quest you'll be stopped from further Thieves guild activities.

There's an advancement glitch in House Telvanni that happens when you seek to recruit a mouth...if you're above the rank of Spellwright, you won't be able to advance past Master.

Don't forget the whole sub-plot of becoming a vampire and the three different clans you can join as one. There are even several unique items you can only obtain as a vampire.

Just a few of the conflicts that I could think of off the top of my head. I think you might actually find the game to be more fun if you join clans and factions that seem to be in keeping with your character...then play through again with a totally different character. There's even more than one way to complete the main quest.

 

You can complete the book quest without bloodshed, so I don't think that should thwart your advancement. But I'm not sure, so read a bit on some fansites to find out if you want to be certain...

 

Yeah...often times it's not a matter of whether you've completed a quest, but how you chose to complete it. When in doubt, never kill someone needlessly.

 

It's very possible to complete the main quest and the Temple. I did all of the main quest before I'd finished the first (very long) temple quest, and I still managed to finish the temple. It's all about not killing ordinators in the Vivec quests. The temple (I think) won't give you quests once the Urushilaku name you Nerevarine until Dagoth Ur dies, though.

I enjoy both linear and freeform games, but for different reasons. Linear ones tend to have a stronger plot, since the designers don't have to write so many branches, but with a freeform game it's easier to relate to the character, since he's made the choices you decided. With Morrowind, it's more of the latter, and it's much more about creating your own narrative for your actions.

 

Ah, and regarding the Thieves and Fighters guild conflict,

Spoiler

you can go to Ald'Ruhn and meet the guild steward Percus Mercius, former head of guild, who will tell you more about other stewards' dubious quests and suggest better solutions

.

 

That's what I meant without being too spoilerish

 

Morrowind is something special. I like to explore every inch of the place, and came close.

My nice has played, and is playing, the game now for four years on a daily bases. I could not find any other rpg game that she liked. The questing freedom makes it special and one of a kind.

We are counting the days until the european release.

 

Then why don't you then just go outside, walk to the nearest forest, and look under the closest bush? Or travel to a summer/winter cabin and explore the fields? Take a swim in the lake or row along the islands? Fish and take a sweat at sauna? Even in cities it's as easy as straying from the beaten path and seeing what's behind the next corner and it beats doing the same in virtual world... Plus, you get some excercise.

 

Small problem wordplay, I live in Scotland and it is bloody freezing outside. So I'll just turn the heating on full, grab a mug of tea and a plate of biscuits. And play indoors like a sane person. But come summer I'll take your advise.

 

I also enjoyed the fact that the world of Morrowind was so encompassing but I didn't like the quest journal. I think if it had been a little better organized with sub-headings etc. like in NWN then it would have been a lot more pleasurable to play in a non-linear way. Having everything written right after the last entry made it difficult go back and find long unfinished quests to go back and finish.

 

Do you have the expansions installed? They make a change there and it doesn't look so bad, although still difficult to browse. Wish one could arrange it by locations or something.