The Elder Scrolls (also known as Elder Scrolls or abbreviated as TES) is a computer role-playing game series, with Morrowind and Oblivion also being developed for consoles. It is developed by Bethesda Softworks. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (aka Morrowind) is a computer role-playing game by Bethesda Softworks, and the third in The Elder Scrolls series of games. ... The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is a game currently under development by Bethesda Softworks for the PC, Xbox 2, and Playstation 3. ... A video game developer is a software developer (a business or an individual) that creates video games. ... Bethesda Softworks, LLC, a ZeniMax Media Company, is a developer and publisher of computer and video games. ...

History

Main article: Development history of The Elder Scrolls series

The development of the series began in 1992, when the staff of Bethesda Softworks, which had until then been a predominantly sports game-producing company, decided to shift the focus of their upcoming Arena from arena combat into role-playing. The team, inspired by Ultima Underworld and Dungeons & Dragons, released the massive, open, but ultimately derivative, first-person RPG The Elder Scrolls: Arena in 1994 for DOS PC systems. The game began a tradition of games based on the principles of "[being] who you want and [doing] what you want"^[1] that have persisted throughout the series' history. The development history of The Elder Scrolls series began in 1992, when the staff of Bethesda Softworks, which had until then been a predominantly sports game-producing company, decided to shift the focus of their upcoming Arena from arena combat into role-playing. ... Game development - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Bethesda Softworks, LLC, a ZeniMax Media Company, is a developer and publisher of computer and video games. ... A sports game is a computer or video game that simulates the playing of traditional sports. ... This article is about games in which one plays the role of a character. ... Ultima Underworld is a series of two computer role playing games published by Origin Systems in the early 1990s. ... This article is about the role-playing game. ... This article is about derivatives and differentiation in mathematical calculus. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... This article is about the family of closely related operating systems for the IBM PC compatible platform. ... A stylised illustration of a personal computer A personal computer (PC) is a computer whose original sales price, size, and capabilities make it useful for individuals, intended to be operated directly by an end user, with no intervening computer operator. ...

The next Elder Scrolls series game—The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall—was published in 1996. Fueled by the modest success of Arena, Daggerfall was even more ambitious than its predecessor. Daggerfall attempted to create a game world twice the size of Great Britain, rendered in a truly 3D engine, and build a skill-system that revolved around skill building rather than experience gains. Daggerfall suffered from that very ambition: Daggerfall, rushed to publication, was found "tortuously buggy," and prohibitively hardware-intensive. In the opinion of one commentator, despite Daggerfall's commercial success, "the game still bears the mark of bad code".^[2] Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... For other uses, see Hardware (disambiguation). ...

Following Daggerfall's release, Bethesda ceased any development on any numbered series title until 1998, developing in the interim The Elder Scrolls Legends: Battlespire, released in 1997, and The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard, released in 1998. Both games had a smaller focus than the numbered series titles: Battlespire was a linear action RPG; Redguard was a slightly less linear third-person action-adventure game. The games sold poorly, and Bethesda flirted with bankruptcy. Only with the cash influx brought by Bethesda's acquisition by the well-funded Zenimax in 1999, did Bethesda return to the fore. Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Battlespire is a first-person action computer role-playing game, set in the world of The Elder Scrolls. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard is an action-adventure game in a third person style reminiscent of the Tomb Raider games, set in the world of The Elder Scrolls. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ...

With The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, Bethesda tripled their staff and pushed again towards hardware-intensive gaming. Morrowind saw a return to the old-style expansive and non-linear gameplay, but also a shift towards individually detailed landscapes and items, and a smaller game-world than past titles. Morrowind was released on both the Xbox and the PC, and saw popular and critical success on both, selling upwards of 4 million units by mid 2005. Two expansion packs were quickly released for Morrowind between late 2002 and early 2003: The Elder Scrolls III: Tribunal, and The Elder Scrolls III: Bloodmoon. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, also known simply as Morrowind, is a first-person (also playable in third person) computer role-playing game in Bethesda Softworks The Elder Scrolls series. ... The Xbox is a sixth generation era video game console produced by Microsoft Corporation. ... A stylised illustration of a personal computer A personal computer (PC) is a computer whose original sales price, size, and capabilities make it useful for individuals, intended to be operated directly by an end user, with no intervening computer operator. ... An expansion pack is an addition to an existing game. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Elder Scrolls III: Tribunal was the first expansion for Bethesda Softworks The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. ... The Elder Scrolls III: Bloodmoon is the second expansion set for Bethesda Softworks The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind: unlike Tribunal, it adds a large new island to the original world map, a cold northern country named Solstheim. ...

Work began on The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion in 2002, immediately after Morrowind's publication. Oblivion focused on providing a tighter storyline; improved AI, courtesy of Bethesda's proprietary Radiant AI; improved physics, courtesy of the Havok engine (used in Half-Life 2); and impressive graphics. The game was released, following much press coverage, on the PC and Xbox 360 in early 2006, and the PlayStation 3 in early 2007. Bethesda released one content collection and one expansion pack for Oblivion in late 2006 and early 2007: The Elder Scrolls IV: Knights of the Nine and The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (the core game) received a 9.5/10 on average from many different gaming site's reviews. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is a game currently under development by Bethesda Softworks for the PC, Xbox 2, and Playstation 3. ... AI redirects here. ... This article is about the physics engine. ... Half-Life 2 (commonly abbreviated to HL2) is a science fiction first-person shooter computer game that is the sequel to Half-Life. ... This article is about the scientific discipline of computer graphics. ... Video game journalism is a branch of journalism concerned with the reporting and discussion of video games. ... A stylised illustration of a personal computer A personal computer (PC) is a computer whose original sales price, size, and capabilities make it useful for individuals, intended to be operated directly by an end user, with no intervening computer operator. ... It has been suggested that Xbox 360 Elite be merged into this article or section. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The PlayStation 3 , trademarked PLAYSTATION®3,[3] commonly abbreviated PS3) is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment; successor to the PlayStation 2. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ...

Game mechanics

Main article: Gameplay of The Elder Scrolls series

The Elder Scrolls games can be safely categorised as role-playing games, although they do include elements taken from action and adventure games. However, in contrast to other games of the genre, The Elder Scrolls maintains a unique, skill-based approach to character advancement. A multitude of skills can be raised through use, and once a character's skills have increased sufficiently, their level increases in reflection of those skills. Because of this, players are allowed immense flexibility and choice in character advancement. This is perceived as both a strength and a weakness in the series by gamers, although the flexibility of the games' engines has facilitated the release of game extensions (or mods) through The Elder Scrolls Construction Set that change the skill and level mechanics. // Main article: The Elder Scrolls: Arena The Elder Scrolls: Arena began its development as a gladiator-style arena combat game. ... For other uses, see Mod. ... The Elder Scrolls (TES) Construction Set is editing software for the video games The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, the Morrowind version was shipped with the game while the Oblivion version is available for download. ...

The Elder Scrolls main series of games emphasizes different aspects of the gaming experience than most computer role-playing games. A brief by Joystiq in early November 2006 compared BioWare's creations to Bethesda's by noting a difference in emphasis. Bethesda's creations focused on "aesthetic presentation and open-ended adventuring"; BioWare's on a combat system and modular architecture.^[3] The series' overarching aim has been noted by their designers as well. Bethesda has described their motivations in creating the first series game, Arena, as those of any good pen-and-paper RPG: creating an environment in which the player could be what the player wants and do what the player wants.^[4] Daggerfall's manual begins with a sort of design manifesto, declaring the developers' intention to "create a book with blank pages", and "a game designed to encourage exploration and reward curiosity". Choices, in the form of paths taken by the player, to do good, to chase after evil, are left open to the player, "just like in real life".^[5] This design trend continued with Morrowind, following the hiatus of similarly epic games in the interim, though Joystiq's previously noted insistence on graphics came again to the fore. During the development of Morrowind, Bethesda tripled its staff, so as to perfectly color its newly hand-made world. In their own words, "We knew we had to exceed the visual polish of the other games on the market, and we made it our goal to put The Elder Scrolls back into the forefront of game innovation."^[6] The Elder Scrolls series' emphasis on freedom remained. In the words of Bethesda's Morrowind Prophecies, "Experience it as you wish."^[7] BioWare Corp. ... Bethesda, the name of a pool in the New Testament, has been adopted as a name by many other places and things. ... The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall is a first-person freeform computer role-playing game (CRPG) for the PC, developed by Bethesda Softworks and released in 1996. ... The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (aka Morrowind) is a computer role-playing game by Bethesda Softworks, and the third in The Elder Scrolls series of games. ...

The series' grand ambitions have put some members of the gaming press into an apparent position of subdued skepticism prior to the release of each new game, incredulous as to Bethesda's capacity to surmount its obstacles. Nonetheless, whether this be a grab for reader interest or a true sentiment on behalf of the game press, such feelings evaporate by the end of each unvaryingly warm review the series' games receive.^[8]

These mechanics exist in contrast to most RPGs, where experience points are the sole measure of a character's advancement, and leveling up drives skill increases. This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

The World of The Elder Scrolls

The Empire of Tamriel

The world of T.E.S. is known for its attention to detail, realism, and the long, complex lists of names, dates, and places. They constitute its extensive history and the vast, interconnected structure of its various societies, cultures, and religions much more than most players are familiar with. Image File history File links Races_fullmap_center. ... Image File history File links Races_fullmap_center. ...

Furthermore, there is no one compilation of all information pertaining to T.E.S., and, within the games, historical references are often vague or unsure. Players are encouraged to draw their own conclusions about situations and events for which the records are few and incomplete or when competing viewpoints obscure the truth. This has spawned a subculture amongst T.E.S. players of history and philosophy debaters affectionately called loremasters.

The Elder Scrolls games take place on the continent of Tamriel, a large landmass divided into nine provinces. An exception is The Elder Scrolls Legends: Battlespire, which takes place between the realm of Oblivion, an alternate dimension ruled by the Daedra, and the mortal realm of Mundus. It is known that there are continents besides Tamriel in the Elder Scrolls planet known as Nirn, but there is yet to be an official game that takes place in one. The Empire of Tamriel Tamriel is the fictional continent where the events of The Elder Scrolls games take place. ... The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (commonly known as Oblivion) is a fantasy-themed role-playing game developed by Bethesda Softworks LLC for PC and Xbox 360. ...

The nine provinces of Tamriel are:

• Cyrodiil, homeland of the Imperial
• Black Marsh, homeland of the Argonians
• Elsweyr, homeland of the Khajiit
• Hammerfell, homeland of the Redguards
• High Rock, homeland of the Bretons and the Orsimer (aka Orcs)
• Morrowind, homeland of the Dunmer (aka Dark Elves)
• Skyrim, homeland of the Nords
• Summerset Isles, homeland of the Altmer (aka High Elves)
• Valenwood, homeland of the Bosmer (aka Wood Elves)

While each of the ten playable races has a "home province" or province of origin, they are not limited to this province and can be found outside its borders, though they are a minority. It should also be noted that the home province of the Orcs is, in fact, a city-state called Orsinium, which lies within the borders of High Rock. A map of Cyrodiil. ... Imperials as they appear on the Elder Scrolls website This article is about a fictional race featured in The Elder Scrolls, for other uses see Imperial. ... Argonians as they appear on the Elder Scrolls website The Argonians are a fictional race of reptilian humanoids from the Elder Scrolls video game series. ... Elsweyr is a fictional region in The Elder Scrolls series of games. ... Khajiit as they appear on the Elder Scrolls website The Khajiit are a fictional race of feline (cat-like) humanoids featured in The Elder Scrolls computer game series. ... Redguards as they appear on the Elder Scrolls website Redguards are a fictional fantasy race in The Elder Scrolls computer game series. ... Bretons as they appear on the Elder Scrolls website Bretons are a fictional fantasy race featured in the computer role-playing games of the Elder Scrolls series. ... Orsimer as they appear on the elder scrolls website. ... The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (aka Morrowind) is a computer role-playing game by Bethesda Softworks, and the third in The Elder Scrolls series of games. ... Dunmer as they appear on the Elder Scrolls website Spoiler warning: The Dunmer, also called Dark Elves, are an elven race in the game series The Elder Scrolls. ... Nords as they appear on the Elder Scrolls website The Nords are a fantasy race of humans from The Elder Scrolls fantasy setting of Skyrim. ... A map of Summerset Isle. ... Altmer as they appear on the Elder Scrolls website The Altmer, also called High Elves, are a race in The Elder Scrolls series. ... Bosmer as they appear on the Elder Scrolls website The Bosmer, also called Wood Elves or Boiche, are a fictional elven race that inhabits the province of Valenwood in the video game series The Elder Scrolls. ...

Other races included in T.E.S. lore are Ayleid, Chimer, Dwemer, Ehlnofey, Falmer, Hist, Imga, Kamal, Ka Po' Tun, Maormer, Sload, Tang Mo, Daedra and Tsaesci. The Dwemer were destroyed for unknown reasons before Arena, but this is explained in Morrowind (Elder Scrolls III). Ayleids, also known as the Wild Elves or Heartland High Elves, are a fantasy race featured in The Elder Scrolls universe. ... Chimer (changed folk) are an extinct fantasy race of mer (elves) featured in The Elder Scrolls universe. ... The Dwemer (pronounced //) are a fictional race of elves from The Elder Scrolls video game universe. ... Falmer, or Snow Elves, are a fictional race in The Elder Scrolls universe. ... Hist is a mythic race from the Elder Scrolls universe. ... The Great Apes, or Imga, are a fictional race of apes from the Elder Scrolls video game series. ... Kamal, meaning Snow Hell, is one of four nations of Akavir, a continent far east of Tamriel, on the fictional world of Nirn, from The Elder Scrolls games series. ... The Ka Po Tun are a race of cat people that live on Akavir in the Elder Scrolls games. ... Maormer is the name of a tropical elf race from the Elder Scrolls computer game series. ... The Sload are a race of sluglike beastmen in the fictional universe of The Elder Scrolls. ... Tang Mo, meaning Thousand Monkey Isles, is one of four nations of Akavir, a continent far east of Tamriel, on the fictional world of Nirn, from The Elder Scrolls games series. ... The Tsaesci, which means Snake Palace, are a race of vampiric serpents in the fictional universe of The Elder Scrolls, originating from the continent of Akavir, east of Tamriel. ...

The Elder Scrolls places great emphasis on the idea of the dualism and equality of opposites. This dualism is not the Abrahamic dualism of good and evil, but more closely resembles a fusion of Eastern and pre-Christian Western beliefs on the subject, being the duality of order and chaos. According to Elder Scrolls Lore, the concepts of order and chaos can be translated collectively into everything. These notions might be more exactly approximated using the words stasis (unchanging continuity) and force (unknowable energy). Almost all Tamrielic religions strongly feature the idea that the world was created through an intermingling of these two things, some saying that time is a synthesis of continuity and alteration, and most religious creation-theories deal with one or more mythological characters representing these absolutes either procreating or engaging in combat (or both, as the case may be). The thought experiment of the irresistible force is often invoked, and much of the Elder Scrolls theosophical lore is devoted to developing and examining hypotheses as to how such a thought experiment might actually play out on all levels, were it metaphysically possible. Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Relation to other religions Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ... This is a trivia section. ... Theosophy is a word and a concept known anciently, commonly understood in the modern era to describe the studies of religious philosophy and metaphysics originating with Helena Petrovna Blavatsky from the 1870s. ... Plato (Left) and Aristotle (right), by Raphael (Stanza della Segnatura, Rome) Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the ultimate nature of reality, being, and the world. ...

The Elder Scrolls themselves

The Elder Scrolls themselves play a major (if often unseen) role in the storyline of the series. The scrolls are said to be archives of both prophecy and history. It is hinted that most of the events of the series have been inspired by those who have read one (or more) of the Elder Scrolls. In T.E.S. lore, it takes a powerful mystic to read the Scrolls, and interpretations are never absolute. They are used much like an over-complex and difficult Tarot set. One "tunes" them to a specific time and place through a mystical ritual, and then interprets the assorted symbolism and iconography which appear on the otherwise blank or incomprehensible parchment. It has been hinted that reading the Elder Scrolls too much actually causes literal blindness. In Oblivion, there is a sect of monks, known as the Order of the Ancestor Moths, that devote their lives to the reading and interpreting of the Scrolls. The more advanced members who actually read the scrolls wear blindfolds at all times when they are not divining the Elder Scrolls, and are instructed to use their eyes for this purpose only. Retired Moth Priests are completely blind and continue to wear the blindfold, apparently for ceremonial purposes. At times, however, cosmically important individuals, or individuals the subject of prophecy, have been able to see writing on the Scrolls without the associated rituals. It is said that when an event has actually occurred then it sets itself unchangeably into the scrolls, and no action, magical or otherwise, can change this. This article is about the general history, iconography, and uses of tarot cards. ...

In Oblivion, the Elder Scrolls themselves are the object of the final Thieves Guild quest, "The Ultimate Heist", where the player must steal an Elder Scroll from the Imperial Palace, located in the Imperial City, Cyrodil. This is indeed the theft to end all thefts, as not only is it one of the most difficult and arduous quests in the game, a robbery of this kind has never even been attempted before in TES history, let alone pulled off. Though the player can pick up the scroll in question in his/her inventory, and is told that it contains prophecy, he/she cannot read it: the scroll appears as an incomprehensible chart containing glyphs transcribed upon an arrangement closely resembling the constellation known as The Thief.

The Thieves' Guild Guildmaster, the Gray Fox, uses the scroll to remove the negative effects of his Gray Cowl, by naming the original thief, lifting the curse on it, thus allowing him to be recognized after removing the Cowl. The fate of the stolen scroll, once given to the Gray Fox, is left unknown. It could be speculated that the scroll was destroyed in the process of removing the cowl. However it is no mystery that the scroll yields awesome power, and who is to say that the Grey fox has such power(meaning the last Grey Fox not the Grey Fox that the made up character becomes). In the computer game The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, the Gray Fox is the hidden leader of the Thieves Guild in Tamriel. ...

References

• Barton, Matt (2007-04-11). The Dawn of the Platinum Age; Bethesda and The Elder Scrolls. The History of Computer Role-Playing Games Part III: The Platinum and Modern Ages (1994-2004), page 5. Gamasutra. Retrieved on 2007-05-13.

Bethesda Softworks, LLC, a ZeniMax Media Company, is a developer and publisher of computer and video games. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 159th day of the year (160th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Escapist is an online magazine covering video games, gamers, the gaming industry, and the elusive gaming culture. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 152nd day of the year (153rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Joystiq is a video gaming website founded in June 2004 that has since become one of the most successful sites within the Weblogs, Inc. ... Bethesda Softworks, LLC, a ZeniMax Media Company, is a developer and publisher of computer and video games. ... Bethesda Softworks, LLC, a ZeniMax Media Company, is a developer and publisher of computer and video games. ... Bethesda Softworks, LLC, a ZeniMax Media Company, is a developer and publisher of computer and video games. ... PC Gamer is a magazine founded in 1993 devoted to PC gaming and published monthly by Future Publishing. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 101st day of the year (102nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Founded in 1997, Gamasutra is a web site for those interested in video games including video game developers. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 133rd day of the year (134th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

Official Website links

• The Elder Scrolls official site
• Bethesda Softworks official site

Game Archive and Review Sites

• Elder Scrolls series at MobyGames
• Gaming Target: The Elder Scrolls Retrospective

MobyGames is a website devoted to cataloging computer and video games, both past and present. ...

Game File and Modification Sites

• Oblivion Downloads at Gamespot
• Comprehensive Oblivion Mods Database
• Another Modification Site
• Morrowind-Oblivion Mods
• Oblivion Construction Set Tutorials

Fan Sites

• The Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages – Classic Elder Scrolls wiki page featuring a lot of info on all the games.
• The Imperial Library – Library of lore and legends of the series, news and forums.
• The Elder Scrolls Wiki - Fan wiki dedicated to The Elder Scrolls