Quagmire.

[caldfir]

My nightmares:
-PC pops up in another copy of the initial swamp scene, just as though they had completed the nightmare sequence, however there is no sigil stone. The copy of the "oblivion gate" is the exit to the next nightmare, and is surrounded by appropriate mobs.

-(meant to mirror the "you're late for your exams!" nightmare I am certain many of us have had) PC walks into the ruined kvatch chapel with guards in tow, only to find it full of daedra, and Martin dead. The shrine to Akatosh is the door. (possibly too similar to 40, but I like this better)

-Small labyrinth of some kind, no monsters visible, but battle music playing. Sheathing your weapon teleports you out.

[Myzel]

Also you have to remember there is a difference between real life and ingame scary. Sure jumping of a tall tower in the real world is scary, but in oblivion it simply isn't (I often jump off white-gold tower just for kicks).

Since this thread doesn't appear to die I would just like to point to this quote, because I think it's the smartest thing anyone has said in this thread.

It's our fear of death that makes many things scary in reality. Fear of death doesn't apply to this game, because in such an event life is only a savegame away.
What does make things scary in a game? Our fear of the unknown is one possibility. Being trapped in strange, warped places, not knowing what you are dealing with or what will happen next might keep a player on the edge of his seat.

[Adanorcil]

I suppose that in a game, the fear of death is partially replaced by the annoyance of having to reload. Still, it is hardly a good replacement.

For Quagmire, I reckon, we have to think mostly towards 'mindfuck'and fear of the unknown. (Suggest impending attack, keep the player ready to fight, suggest foes that are far stronger than they.)

[fstony]

For what it's worth, I experience a genuine fear of heights while gaming. It's probably the scariest thing in most first-person games. Maybe it bothers no one else, but I wouldn't dismiss it out of hand.

I don't disagree with the general point, though.

[JoshthePirate]

To preface, this is way beyond PG-13, but if the better bodies mod is in play... If the PC is a male, he's being laughed at for his *ahem* endowment. (I have morrowind, not oblivion, so I don't know if there even is a better bodies mod for oblivion). Make it in a bedroom, and he just leaves the room to exit to the next nightmare.

Another one could be somewhat reminiscent of Majora's Mask, with a moon falling out of the sky, or an meteor, or something, and you're running towards a cave or something. Just before you get there, it crashes on you and you teleport to the next area.

And how about one where there's an NPC that's really friendly, it could be romantic or otherwise, and they're just talking away, and either they make an advance or shake your hand or bump into you or something like that, and they turn into a terra cotta statue, or a gold statue, or something like that. You have to shatter the statue, and it teleports you.

I feel like this has already been suggested, but i can't remember for sure... you teleport into a completely blank room that's pretty huge. It's lit by candles, flickering off one by one. They go out, and it's dark for a minute, and then BOOM it's really bright, there's a vampire standing right in your face. He says hello, and then starts laughing, then casts a huge spell at you. As it hits, you teleport.



I know I broke the "use doors" rule all over the place. Sorry. I couldn't think of a way to get around it.

Edit: thought of this immediately after posting. You walk through a door, and a larger-than-normal goblin attacks you. The lighting is really red. You fight it, it's kinda tough, and you kill it. As soon as it dies, the body turns into either a small child or a baby or something. The child's mother comes through the door and starts crying and yelling at you, and is just laying on the body and weeping like crazy.

You could also just have a normal hallway, door at each end. No gimmicks, no nothing. Just open the door. Maybe the name of the door is "OPEN ME" or something.

[C-A-G-E]

Edit: thought of this immediately after posting. You walk through a door, and a larger-than-normal goblin attacks you. The lighting is really red. You fight it, it's kinda tough, and you kill it. As soon as it dies, the body turns into either a small child or a baby or something. The child's mother comes through the door and starts crying and yelling at you, and is just laying on the body and weeping like crazy.

Another one could be somewhat reminiscent of Majora's Mask, with a moon falling out of the sky, or an meteor, or something, and you're running towards a cave or something. Just before you get there, it crashes on you and you teleport to the next area.

And how about one where there's an NPC that's really friendly, it could be romantic or otherwise, and they're just talking away, and either they make an advance or shake your hand or bump into you or something like that, and they turn into a terra cotta statue, or a gold statue, or something like that. You have to shatter the statue, and it teleports you.

None of those are possible on the oblivion engine i'm afraid.

Make it in a bedroom, and he just leaves the room to exit to the next nightmare.

You could also just have a normal hallway, door at each end. No gimmicks, no nothing. Just open the door. Maybe the name of the door is "OPEN ME" or something.

I dont see how either of those ideas are scary at all.

you teleport into a completely blank room that's pretty huge. It's lit by candles, flickering off one by one. They go out, and it's dark for a minute, and then BOOM it's really bright, there's a vampire standing right in your face. He says hello, and then starts laughing, then casts a huge spell at you. As it hits, you teleport.

That one might work, I cant see any logistical problems at least.

[jonarus_drakus]

Make it in a bedroom, and he just leaves the room to exit to the next nightmare.

You could also just have a normal hallway, door at each end. No gimmicks, no nothing. Just open the door. Maybe the name of the door is "OPEN ME" or something.

I dont see how either of those ideas are scary at all.
quote]

I think the point of non-nightmares like these is as filler, you have to go through multiple 'areas' before you can get back to the real world, and having duds in there does have a point. If you've had a good run of really freaky stuff putting a dud works because the player will be expecting something to happen but it never will, in effect, the lack of freekyness IS the freekyness...

[Four Greyhounds]

--A bunch of people on fire screaming and stuff. As far as the door, I don't know.
--A bunch of dolls that are hanging and dismembered and stuff. The door could be like a giant baby's face that is crying and screaming ans stuff. You have to get inside its mouth before it slams shut.

[Four Greyhounds]

I just thought of something else. I know that Quagmire is probably set in stone, but to me the most natural Daedric Realm to visit in Hammerfell would be Clavicus Vile's. Since his sphere is the granting of wishes, it seems to tie into the somewhat Arabian feel of Hammerfell. You know, like genies and grating wishes and stuff.

[Tefiri]

Greyhounds brings up a cool idea, what with the Djinn in the game linked to Clavicus...

And are we still listing Nightmares? I just joined these forums and such, and may have some ideas.

[Lady Nerevar]

im not sure why this thread is still open.

in other words, no. quagmire is a disorganized project which is extremely low on the priorities, which means that we wont bother to devote time to it unless we run out of stuff to do. which in turn means that we dont need any ideas.

[Thrignar Fraxix]

im not sure why this thread is still open.

I'm not sure why this thread was still open after someone who could close it wondered why the thread was still open.

[Lady Nerevar]

because someone who could close it who considered why it was still open forgot to close it