Proposal: Tamriel Main Quest

Nomadic1 · Post by **Nomadic1** » Sun Sep 05, 2004 7:12 am

Been thinking more about the House Redoran guy in the Cammona Tong guy's house. What if...

- The player does not get the note
(Solution: the quest does not advance)

- The player does not talk to the Redoran guard after discovering the letter?
(Solution: make the Redoran guard force conversation immediately after leaving the inventory with the letter)

- The player kills the Redoran guard
(Solution: aukwardly have the Redoran guard "leave" the house (ie; disappear) after the forced conversation)

- The player is a high ranking member of House Redoran
(no solutions I can think of for this. If the player is, the Redoran guard has to give the key no questions asked. A way around this would be to have the guard offer to accompany you, but as a high-ranking member the PC has the right to say no, especially if they are a councillor or in charge of the entire Great House)

Edit:
A way around the last part is to make the guard an Imperial guard instead. But that would also mean moving the Cammona Tong guy's house from a small Redoran settlement to a large Imperial garrison, meaning that you'll need good dialogue for the town concerning the Cammona Tong guy.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sun Sep 05, 2004 8:24 am

Nomadic1 wrote:A way around the last part is to make the guard an Imperial guard instead. But that would also mean moving the Cammona Tong guy's house from a small Redoran settlement to a large Imperial garrison, meaning that you'll need good dialogue for the town concerning the Cammona Tong guy.

But what if the player is a high ranking imperial? It doesn't fix the problem, just move it.

Nomadic1 · Post by **Nomadic1** » Sun Sep 05, 2004 9:02 am

Point... I'm outta ideas.

The_Writing_Wraith · Post by **The_Writing_Wraith** » Sun Sep 05, 2004 9:25 am

Perhaps in that event evidence of another intruder could be found, say a member of the Theives Guild spying on the Commona Tong member. After helping himself to a few of the dead CT member, the TG member goes to a local tavern, gets drunk and tells how he found a list of names stuffed behind the desk/bookshelf/whatever.

A Redoran Guard overhears this and reports it to his commander who then accompanies you insisting that he look into some rumors have been circulating about the town. Should you not find the note, going into the tavern and asking about the CT member's death would also be a clue that you had missed something and give you a hint as to were to look.

Morden · Post by **Morden** » Sun Sep 05, 2004 6:17 pm

Why not leave out the guard entirely and have the PC just find the drunken theif? He can give you the key to the house, or point you to a hidden entrance.

That way you also avoid the wierd situation of a Redoran guard telling you to take the letter back to your Blades questgiver... who should be a secret considering he's a blade. Everything should be as covert as possible.

Earl · Post by **Earl** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 7:40 am

There's no reason to prevent the PC from killing anyone. If they want to, have at it. That's one of the things I liked about the original MQ.

Why would Vivec leave Vvardenfell?
Could have business elsewhere. The other Triunes have been more 'hidden' lately, so Vivec might want to keep up appearances to keep morale high.

I do like the idea of the Alma Rula, because it puts a previously unused high-ranking character in a prominent position. But for some reason I think the Alma Rula would seem to favor Indoril and Dres, whereas Vivec's word couldn't be suspect. On the other other hand, given how long into the original MQ it was before Vivec would chat with you, Alma Rula seems much more realistic.

What if you were Nerevarine already?
Simple: Dres and Indoril refuse to accept it because of your outlander status. Hlaalu and Redoran have already accepted you. It would just further divide both sides.

The player does not get the note
Redoran guard remains in the house. Talking to him, he suggests you search for evidence until you find the note. To point the PC in the right direction without holding his hand.

The player does not talk to the Redoran guard after discovering the letter?
Yeah, force conversation was what I was thinking. Although, since you have to 'read' the letter when you pick it up, depending on the positioning of the guard it could be possible to say he was reading it over your shoulder.

The player is a high ranking member of House Redoran
Well then you must be accompanied for protection, and to have someone assist you at the scene. I doubt anyone of any House would let a superior walk in on a murder suspect alone.

Redoran guard telling you to take the letter back to your Blades questgiver
He wouldn't know who your superior was, and likely wouldn't know that you were a Blade. All he needs to know is that you're an agent of Imperial authority investigating a crime.

Nomadic1 · Post by **Nomadic1** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 10:17 am

It's actually not simple if Vivec announces you as the Nerevarine publically. Dres and Indoril would have no choice but to accept it.

I've been thinking about the Redoran guard even more, and I'm afraid the more I do, the less feasible it is...
- If the player is in charge of House Redoran, the entire plan falls apart. In fact this happens for all houses... Hlaalu might attack regardless, but if the player is in charge of Dres, they'ld be allowed to skip all the quests leading up to the communication with the framed Dres guys. It is even worse if the player is in charge of Redoran as suddenly Tharn Jr. can no longer expect to have Redoran supporting Hlaalu (although personally I reckon the Redoran would stay neutral, you're a good enough writer to make it sound like they would support Hlaalu)

So, here's what I was thinking...

Instead of having a linear quest the same for everyone (one size fits all), you instead make the quest branch into the following...

The Hlaalu Line: In this case your quest pretty much works for. The Redoran guard would not trust you, and the Dres would not be willing to let you interrogate the Dres guys.

The Redoran Line: In this case things have to change drastically IMO.

The Dres Line: In this case it would be rather similar to the Hlaalu Line, only in a pro-Dres position.

The Indoril Line: In this case you would expect to be pro-Dres, just more cautious.

The Telvanni Line: In this case it's whatever; I mean the Telvanni won't get involved and probably won't care as long as they get their Dres slaves and are left alone.

The No House / Kicked Out of House Line: This would take the most thought, and would probably be the last line planned considering it has to step around all the other lines and have the player fit right in one if they join a house.

All lines should end up in the same place though, much like the real Morrowind MQ.

The Pros:
- Greater variance in the main quest.
- Should be able to out-manouver the what the...s.

The Cons:
- Much, much more work

Shoot me down if you wish (your quest afterall) but I'm only giving my 5 cents.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 1:19 pm

Maybe, if the player in in charge of any of the houses, a sub quest happens before any of this, in which the house turns against the player and ousts him. Once the civil war is over (or almost civil war or whatever) they realise their mistake and take you back. The good thing with this is that if the player is leader of a house, there can be any kind of quest to bring him down as it is assumed that the player would have been playing for a while.

Also, whatever incedent occurs to disgrace you from the house could also disgrace you in the eyes of Dres and Indoril. Even though (if) Vivec himself proclaimed you Nerevarine, the Tribunal is losing its hold and 2 of its 3 members are dead (? I never bothered to play though Tribunal, this is just what i picked up from the forum) and Vivec is losing power because of the heart. Dres and Indoril would accept Vivec's decision, although internally there could be some doubt and if some major incident disgraced you, there would be quite a lot of doubt internally, maybe even the houses declaring officially that you are not the Nerevarine.

So what could possibly disgrace you so much that you are distrusted, even by your own house, even as the Nerevarine?

Garriath · Post by **Garriath** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 1:22 pm

I haven't been reading the previous posts, but how about this?

The Great Houses discover your Blades affiliations.

Nomadic1 · Post by **Nomadic1** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 11:15 pm

They did that in Vvardenfell's MQ (I take it you never read that note you got from Sarethi of House Redoran)

turtleman04 · Post by **turtleman04** » Thu Sep 09, 2004 12:10 am

I've got an idea. How bout something involving being able to meet up with Caius on the mainland, unless thats already been mentioned somewhere and I wasnt paying attention.

Garriath · Post by **Garriath** » Thu Sep 09, 2004 12:39 am

I've fully completed the VF MQ three times over. I've read every plot device several times over (at least) in the game, thank you very much.

I've looked over TIL several times over and still can't find that letter. I have no memory whatsoever of it telling the nation that you're a member of the Blades. I remember that when you gain the Redoran Councillors' support, a few say 'I was foolish to believe in these rumors that you were an Imperial spy.'

Let's think about it. The Dunmer hate outlanders. It's hard enough for them to accept one as their savior. However, it'd be virtually impossible for them to accept an agent of the Emperor himself as their savior.

Do several Temple officials know of your Blades Affilitations? Undoubtedly. Does the nation of Morrowind? Almost definitely not.

I get the feeling that even if you slew Dagoth Ur and all, if it was suddenly publicly known, with evidence,(and not just some accusations like last time) the Dunmer would disown the Nerevarine almost immiediately... Especially with Vivec's power waning and the rest of the Tribunal dead.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Sep 09, 2004 1:09 am

Actually Garriath after u get Moon And Star, a notice appears in many public places, like a bar, proclaiming that you are a heretic and a member of the blades, it's id in the TC is bk_NerevarineNotice u should read it

Garriath · Post by **Garriath** » Thu Sep 09, 2004 1:11 am

I read the notice. However, if you look at my above quote, at least the Redoran councillors verbally dismiss it as anti-Nerevarine propoganda.

Earl · Post by **Earl** » Thu Sep 09, 2004 4:55 am

I don't think it matters much whether or not you're the head of a Great House; I think those guys have far less freedom then you'd imagine. Nominally, yeah, they're in charge, but there are certain expectations upon them. If you get hit and don't hit back, do you think your people would still follow you?

When you're a leader it isn't so much about what you want, it's about what the position demands of you. You cease to be an individual in a conventional sense; you are the embodiment of your House. Whether or not you'd let something go is irrelevant, the greater part of your House would not stand for it.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Sep 09, 2004 7:07 am

Still, Earl, as leader of a house you should be able to choose a course of action that would circumvent a house war but would still appease your people. Without the choice of this option, being in charge of a house would be just as pointless as it is now; absolutely no control over anything.

Garriath has a good idea. If it is proven that the propaganda was true and that you are an Imperial spy, no ones going to trust you. That will add a massive amount of possible intrigue that just wouldnt be possible if everyone thought you were the indesputable Nerevarine and saviour and would die for you etc.

blackchipmunkjay · Post by **blackchipmunkjay** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 10:33 pm

What about Jiub? Everyone wonders what happened to him. Maybe you could meet him early on in the main quest. I'm inferring cameo appearance here, not intrical character. Although it would be fun to play part of the main quest as him your Imperial Blade partner or something.

Sload · Post by **Sload** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:07 pm

I posted a while ago, saying that the logical place for him to be was Blacklight, but I don't think he fits well in the mainquest.

Artemis Entreri · Post by **Artemis Entreri** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 12:34 am

Is there another thread on this, because other than the last two posts, no one has posted?

Post by **Haplo** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 9:22 pm

Nope, this is it.

Genesis · Post by **Genesis** » Sat May 28, 2005 3:01 am

A main quest for TR? I haden't thought about it at all.
But Earl's ideas were good. I loved how wonderfully every thing fit in.