Morrowind talk:Morrowind for Oblivion Players

Concept

The problem I think we're going to have with this article is that each person's list of "main differences" is going to be different. While the points mentioned right now are definitely all valid differences, several of them are not ones that I'd consider important. I'd say they belong on the article, but not highlighted at the top. For example, the point about leveling up: it doesn't affect general gameplay (e.g., what happens when you "act" in the game, whether combat or spells or dialogue); players who aren't into efficient leveling won't care; "Oblivion-style" training still works, so you won't go wrong if you stick to your old habits. Off the top of my head, the things that I'd immediately think of are:

• Almost all actions have a chance of failing. When you start out, weapon hits and spell-casting (just to mention a few of the actions) will fail more often than not. When you first try to hit a creature and there's no visible effect, it's probably not that you're aiming at the wrong location, it's that the hit failed.
• Magicka does not regenerate (already mentioned)
• The game is not leveled. Until your character is stronger, large parts of the map are effectively off-limits. Exploring random caves is likely to get you killed; pay attention when NPCs warn that an area is dangerous.
• (Perhaps) Fatigue affects nearly all actions. For example, spell-casting is more likely to fail if your fatigue is low.

But I don't know how we come up with general guidelines to say what's important and what's not. I tend to focus on things that qualitatively change how you play the game, and in particular ones that make a noticeable difference for low-level characters (i.e., things that you'll notice when you're first trying to start the game). But other people might prefer to know right off the bat how to create the perfect custom class, in which case the list would probably be completely different.

Any other thoughts? --Nephele^Talk 17:38, 22 May 2008 (EDT)

Yup, one of the major differences is the concept that you can do most things from the beginning in Morrowind, but it is very hard to actually succeed doing it. A few more differences which alter gameplay considerably:

• Magic skill profiency does not reduce Magicka cost.
• You need a fixed amount of skill uses for a levelup. Linear, instead of Oblivion where higher skills were harder to level.
• No AI dynamics. NPC locations are almost always fixed.

As for "no leveling". This is not entirely true. The game is partially leveled in that creatures and items may still be selected from a leveled list. Various creatures and items also have fixed locations, but most are from leveled list. The main difference is that Morrowind doesn't know the the concept of the increase in power of creatures/NPCs/items as you levelup. --Timenn < talk > 10:44, 23 May 2008 (EDT)

like to point out a flaw with page. youve said non goty of morrowind will not display enemies helf bar yet i have a very early copy of morrowind and seperate copies of both expansions loaded and i have it. this may be caused due to expansion or the offical patch i do not know but fact is its a non goty edition with a enemy health bar — Unsigned comment by 203.26.16.68 (talk)

• hi konstantin here i am kind of new, but small part of oblivion the items are interacive like you can kick a vase around by attacking it in oblivion but in morrowind not ony can you not affect the item unless it is in your inventory, but you will walk through them too, try it, drop 5 pillows and you walk straight through them--Konstantin VIII 10:03, 3 May 2009 (EDT)Konstantin VIII

Also i want to say, that it might be usefull to know that there is a levitation spell in Morrowind, or that there is no levitation spell in Oblivion, just how you see it. --Falk5T 18:15, 18 August 2008 (EDT)

Security

A minor detail that affects my gameplay is security. In oblivion the minigame-style security is possible even for non-stealth characters. Not so in morrowind. Based on your intelligence and luck (and lockpick quality) you only have a chance of unlocking the item in question. Because of this, I suggest that a "good" custom character will have security as a major skill. Another possibility is Alteration. With an Alteration of 30 (lowest possible major skill value) you can go straight to Balmora, get an open spell, then make your own spell to open a level 100 lock. The catch is that a combat character may not have enough magicka to use this without a magicka bonus, and there is around 70-80% chance that the spell will fail at this low level. However, with enough restore magkica potions, it is possible. In conclusion, I hate going through a game missing out on loot cause I can't open any chests, so i figured it was worth mentioning. — Unsigned comment by 76.28.170.174 (talk)

Not sure if this warrants Security as a major, unless you want the skill for controlled leveling. A expensive ring fits a 50 pt open, 100 pt. Open is only a 30 pt Enchantment, and there are rewards such as Ondusi's Key. --Benould^•T•C 04:08, 30 May 2008 (EDT)

opinion

i think this is a gd atrticle it pursuaded to me to play morrowind — Unsigned comment by 217.44.122.174 (talk) at 19:55 on 15 July 2008

Yeah I'm going to add too the above guy's opinion. There's a lot of talk on here against this article, but I found it fascinating, and I read the whole thing. Learned a TON too. Great article. — Unsigned comment by 76.94.203.146 (talk) at 08:42 on 16 August 2010

Guidelines

This article is rapidly getting out of control. I don't think having an exhaustive list of every trivial difference between the two games is useful to anyone. I also don't think that this article should try to replace every other Morrowind article on the site. I think it should only summarize important differences (ones that are likely to cause new players to make mistakes; ones that are likely to discourage new players from continuing the game; ones that are not immediately obvious when you get to the appropriate place in the game). I also think that any piece of information should be accompanied by a link to the Morrowind article that discusses the information in more detail, instead of encouraging information from other articles to be copied here. --Nephele^Talk 11:12, 21 July 2008 (EDT)

Agree, I just whacked most of the recent edits and added a link to Level instead. Removing the incomplete tag would help, too ;) Otherwise, if the guide lines could be refined, it seems to be a helpful and popular article. --Benould^•T•C 11:23, 21 July 2008 (EDT)

This is a wonderful resource for new Elder Scrolls fans, but it could be more succinct. The format should be simple. There should be a statement, such as a list of physical combat differences, and then the relevant links, not formulas that nobody is going to remember. Lukish tlk cnt 09:09, 7 October 2008 (EDT)

Bias

I find this article pro-morrowind, anti-oblivion. ANyone else find that? — Unsigned comment by 24.70.95.204 (talk)

Not really. It just states the facts. If you mean "pro-Morrowind" as in "This is easier because..." or "There are more types of armor", that is just plain fact. It's up to the person to determine which game is better (many vote Morrowind, but I haven't played it). Vesna 17:22, 18 August 2008 (EDT)

Morrowind actually leaves the player alone with his own thoughts and ideas, for most players this is the reason not to like Morrowind, maybe because they cant "live in the second world". Others who "can" or found out how to, love this freedom and sink fully into their character. Also Morrowind has, as just said, more different weapons and Armours, even more Weapon classes, like throwing Stars and Throwing arrows, or staffs (not oblivion like, they are used to fight with) and all those are available in nearly all materials and variations. --Falk5T 18:10, 18 August 2008 (EDT)

"No quest compass showing you where you have to go. You'll have to note directions to various places, use the sign posts or a bit of searching to find where you have to go."

This seems as neutral as it can be, if anyone thinks the wording can be cleaned up to look more professional, please edit it in for review. Lukish tlk cnt 08:58, 7 October 2008 (EDT)

Guards

I could swear that the guards WOULD help you if an NPC attacked you, depending on circumstances. Am I wrong? My disk is broken otherwise I'd check. -143.109.154.117 14:50, 25 September 2008 (EDT)

I'm not sure that would happen. Guards do attack actors they consider to be enemies, so that could have been the case. --Timenn < talk > 10:29, 26 September 2008 (EDT)

Was your game modded? There are mods (for example, MCA is quite popular and has a guards addon) that can cause guards to help you fight certain hostile NPCs. --67.105.209.72 23:07, 23 April 2009 (EDT)

:guards will attack creatures that follow you into a town, but not npc's
 also,  summoning a creature in a town can cause the guards to attack it, and you.

--62.194.21.246 23:04, 29 April 2010 (UTC)

Items Recharge

Another biggie is the fact that in Morrowind, magical items recharge spontaneously, whereas in Oblivion, then must be recharged either by using a full soulgem or by buying a recharge from a mage.

Sneak Toggle

This edit says that a sneak toggle has been "patched in". Can anybody tell me what that means and how to use it, please? –Rpeh^{•T•C•E•} 06:00, 7 October 2008 (EDT)

Check the option in the Options menu so that the sneak button toggles it on. Lukish 07:21, 7 October 2008 (EDT)

Sorry... there just isn't that option, and that's on GotY. You're not talking about a third party patch, are you? –Rpeh^{•T•C•E•} 11:57, 7 October 2008 (EDT)

AFAIK it's basic Morrwind w/ patch 1.2...

Khajiit and Argonian Bodies?

I don't have Oblivion, so I'm going on hearsay, but is it true that in Oblivion Khajiits and Argonians are more 'human' in the sense that they can wear boots and helmets, in contrast to Morrowind, where they couldn't wear boots or full-helmets? If so, this should be mentioned in the article, no? 67.60.187.161 12:23, 1 November 2008 (EDT)

Yes, Oblivion doesn't have any race-restrictions on equipment, and yes, it probably should be in the article. --TheRealLurlock ^Talk 13:10, 1 November 2008 (EDT)

They also have strange bowed legs in morrowind and do not wear underwear (?) Wheras oblivion makes them basically furry (or scaly) people with cat (or lizard) faces...AdairTheNord 16:30, 14 February 2011 (UTC)

Guild skill requirements?

Do you guys think it's worth mentioning the fact that unlike in Oblivion there are skill requirements for joining/advancing in the guilds? — Unsigned comment by 80.60.182.229 (talk) on 2 February 2009

It's mentioned in the eighth bullet under "Main Characteristics." -RAHB 21:14, 2 February 2009 (EST)

Graphics Comparison?

I have been playing Oblivion lately, and have really been enjoying it. While I am far from finishing it, I would like to know more about Morrowind, specifically it's graphics. How does it compare to Oblivion? Is it better or worse than, say, Warcraft 3? Thanks. — Unsigned comment by 68.214.192.109 (talk) on 17 March 2009

The problem is that it depends on who is looking at it. You will find that Morrowind has outdated graphics compared to modern games (obviously). Like Oblivion, Morrowind was praised for its environments, depth and detail. Common criticism was for the quality of the animations. We have literally thousands of images of Morrowind articles on this wiki, I'd suggest you browse through the subjects and judge for yourself. --Timenn < talk > 10:23, 19 March 2009 (EDT)

The graphics are outdated, but there are also many mods for Morrowind which upgrade the graphics significantly. Search for Texture Replacer, Better Bodies and Better Heads, MGE Graphic Extender. It makes Morrowind feel in terms of graphics more like a 2004-2005 game instead of a 2002. — Unsigned comment by 98.110.156.244 (talk) on 20 March 2009

joinable guilds

can someone please tell me what factions you can complete and which ones make you unable to complete other factions?like can you complete morag tong and house hlaalu?it said on the page its impossible to complete every faction so i think we should put somewhere what factions make others unfinishable and the point where it makes that faction unfinishable.Scourge 03:51, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

Basically, only one Great House can be joined in one save. That's really the only limitation, except some guilds have conflicts with others (see Quest Timing and scroll down to see what I mean). -- Jplatinum16 03:59, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

oh i thought it was like you can only do mages guild or fighters guild.thanks for clearing that up.Scourge 06:19, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

Soul Gem valuation differences between TES3 and TES4

It should be pointed out that prices for soul gems in TES3 depend on what creature is captured in the gem, as well as the gem quality. In TES4, it's strictly based on the size of the soul trapped in the gem, with a Grand soul in a Grand soul gem being the highest priced at 500g base value, regardless of the creature that was trapped. This might give players moving from TES4 to TES3 a severe shock to the system when they go to buy a soul gem and see a 10k+ price tag on a gem with a high end soul trapped in it. Torinir 12:57, 24 January 2010 (UTC)

It is pointed out - right at the bottom! -Itachi 15:50, 28 January 2010 (UTC)

Murder Statement

I was looking through the page and noticed this statement: "If you decide to kill somebody in their house, and nobody sees, you will not incur an bounty, as with Oblivion, guards will swarm to you no matter where you are." I cannot make sense of this. --DKong27 ^Talk 21:10, 15 June 2010 (UTC)

   When they say "as with Oblivion" they mean unlike in Oblivion.If that was not your question then...

Say in Morrowind you sneak up and get a critical 1 hit kill guards will not come into the house to arrest you. (That may be due to NPC's inability to chase you into other cells.) However in Oblivion even if it's a one hit kill they will come to arrest you. Hope this answerers your question. JP 23:33, 8 August 2010 (UTC)JP0152

In my experience if you one hit someone in Oblivion while undetected, you don't get a bounty and guards dont arrest you..? — Unsigned comment by 86.149.31.178 (talk) at 00:40 on 19 January 2011 (UTC)

Merge

The concerns about this article and its mirror image at Oblivion:Oblivion for Morrowind players have come to pass (see previous entries on this talk page). Every single little difference, no matter how trivial, is now listed and usually its mirror is listed too. So for instance, this article has "Also, running drains your fatigue...", while the mirror has "Your fatigue no longer drains while you are running." I submit that having the same article written from two opposing points of view is not helpful in this case.

My suggestion is to merge the two articles into one and then write it in a more neutral way, so the previous example would be something like "In Morrowind, your fatigue drains while [list of actions]; In Oblivion, it only drains when [smaller list of actions]".

I picked the Oblivion page as a final destination because it seemed more logical to describe what changed as the games moved forward rather than to look back and see how things used to be. That's a personal preference and if more people want it the other way around, I wouldn't mind.

Assuming the idea meets consensus requirements, I also suggest we do some serious trimming. I think about 30-50% of the existing list can be removed or combined. Any other thoughts? rpeh •T•C•E• 22:59, 8 August 2010 (UTC)

That makes sense to me, although I would favor a redirect from here to the OB page once the merge is complete.--TheAlbinoOrc^{any_questions?} 18:07, 10 August 2010 (UTC)

Oh, certainly. I wouldn't just delete this. Definitely a redirect. In fact, the destination should probably be changed to "Differences Between..." etc. rpeh •T•C•E• 22:09, 10 August 2010 (UTC)

I'll admit to only having glanced at the articles very quickly, but from your description, I think both the merge and the suggested page name change make a lot of sense. I'll also float an idea, though it may be more trouble than it's worth: set the new article up as a table, or series of tables, something like:

Subject	Morrowind	Oblivion
Fatigue	Drains while [list of actions]	Drains when [smaller list of actions]

I don't know if "Subject" (or whatever name makes sense) would always apply, though. You might end up trying to fit square pegs into round holes eventually with something that structured. – Robin Hood↝talk 06:11, 11 August 2010 (UTC)

I'm not sure about a table... some of the things on the list will be too big to fit easily into that kind of structure. I'll try to sandbox something when I have a minute. rpeh •T•C•E• 09:52, 16 August 2010 (UTC)

I've made a start with the Combat section. The table works, but the first column isn't needed so I've done it that way. rpeh •T•C•E• 13:30, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Hrm. Why limit it to MW vs. OB? The first two games are free to download if one so chooses, and these re-releases along with modifications like DaggerXL have spawned additional interest in the pre-MW section of the series lately. In addition, considering that a fifth title will be released at some point in the future and displace Oblivion, perhaps a page that describes the differences between each of the titles in the series, an inclusive "Differences Between Elder Scrolls Titles" page, would be a better route to develop. Such a page would be both past and future proof, would give interested gamers who have not played every game in the series (or none at all, for that matter) an oppertunity to compare the mechanics between releases, and would be a source online that could be a haven of basic gameplay and technical information detailing these newer and older titles, data which I do not believe has yet been coliated into a single location online.

A page so documented could be a generally useful feature of the USEP Wiki and its constituent parts/sections in the future. LordHaHa 02:40, 29 September 2010 (UTC)

Good point. I'd say if people like this format we should create that "Differences Between Elder Scrolls Titles" page.--Ghurhak gro-Demril _{or TAO}^Yes? 18:23, 29 September 2010 (UTC)

It would probably be a fair bit of work, and would require people who are familiar with at least the difference between one game and the next, but that might be the way to go. It would certainly address the possibility of two pages (one for the previous game and one for the next) being created in every game namespace over time. – Robin Hood↝talk 19:26, 29 September 2010 (UTC)

I'd rather not bother until there's a demand. I'd also rather only have pages about two consecutive games in the series to keep the permutations down. If you're going from Daggerfall to TESV then that's just tough. rpeh •T•C•E• 16:40, 30 September 2010 (UTC)

(←) What about a more linear table like this one?

Arena	Daggerfall	Battlespire	Redguard	Morrowind	Oblivion
Arena has no concept of spell schools or training. Proficiency in spellcasting is acquired by leveling.	There are six spell schools, including Thaumaturgy which is only present in one of the other games. In addition spells can belong to more than one school of magic.	There are still six magic schools, although spells can only belong to one school. Resting is disabled however, which means that absorbing spells or drinking potions are the only means available to replenish magicka.	There appears to be no magic which is available to the player.	Magic must be readied before a spell can be used. This also applies to "Cast when Used" enchanted items. There are still six magic schools: Destruction, Alteration, Restoration, Conjuration, Illusion and Mysticism, but Thaumaturgy has been removed; for instance, Teleportation has been replaced by "Mark" and "Recall" which are both Mysticism spells.	Magic no longer needs to be readied; it is on a different key from melee attacks entirely. There are still six schools of magic but some spells have been rearranged; for example Absorb is now a Restoration spell while it was previously Mysticism.

Since it list the differences between all of the games but avoids the problem of having to compare each of them directly it should work right?--Ghurhak gro-Demril _{or TAO}^Yes? 22:19, 1 October 2010 (UTC)

I think that's a textbook case of Too Much Information. This article and its counterpart started because people wanted a list of differences between the two most popular games. In other words: "I'm used to magic working like this in Oblivion - how does it work in Morrowind?" The page is confused and complicated already without adding all the other games.

Personally, when I started MW having played only OB I didn't need any help adjusting [and before anybody claims I'm talking myself up here, the last game on which I would legitimately describe myself as being 1337 is this, and it's almost old enough that we could be getting people on this site whose parents were too young to remember it being released]. rpeh •T•C•E• 23:08, 1 October 2010 (UTC)

Stolen Goods entry

I alterd this section, to instead of an abstract (the plates mentioned previously) it talks about the most devestating effect of this glitch that almost all new players will stumble into: Galbedir getting you expelled from the mages guild if you try to use her as an enchanter, after stealing her soulgems. My rationale is that it is known to cause a player's heart to skip a beat the first time they see the soulgems value, and being out of sight makes it all too irresistable to take them. I know I sure couldnt resist it...74.128.56.194 00:49, 15 November 2010 (UTC)

Factions?

In the faction section said that "once you've completed the first quest of the House Telvanni, you cannot join House Redoran."Does that mean we can join House Telvanni and join House Redoran before finish first quest of the House Telvanni(Vvardfell 10:54, 24 November 2010 (UTC))

Realistic

I have been playing morrowind for a little while now and i notice it is far more unrealistic than oblivion. (I am not saying oblivion is 'real') For example morrowind has giant mushrooms instead of trees, a little more like the shivering isles. Oblivion has horses and dogs ect. but morrowind is very very different and i find it very odd. The creatures on morrowind also seem very far fetched (like the giant mouth thing on legs...) This is just my opinion however... Does anyone agree or even know what i mean????AdairTheNord 16:27, 14 February 2011 (UTC)

Easy Transportation

Somebody should try and catalog all of the ways of easily getting from place to place, such as using a Divine Intervention spell in Tel Vos will take you all the way back to Sadrith Mora... These kinds of facts would make it easier for first time players to use common "Empty Houses" and such to their fullest. For instance if I "set up shop" in the abandoned shack near Gnaar Mok (a really good starting hideout by the way) I can use the Divine Intervention Spell to get to Balmora and the Almsivi Intervention Spell to get to Ald-ruhn's Legion Fort. Things of this nature could be extremely useful.

On anothor note, who here uses the alcove above the Balmora Theives Guild as a cool place to store items when they are a theif/sneak type character. It opens right into a convenient area to both get quests and rest.

List of Areas Useful as "Empty Houses"

MAGE CHARACTER CAN USE THIS ONE EASILY An Abandoned Shack-Near Gnaar Mok/South of town

THEIF CHARACTER CAN USE THIS ONE EASILY Alcove Above Balmora Theives Guild

WARRIOR CHARACTER CAN USE THIS ONE EASILY Hlormaren/A Dunmer Fortress south of Gnaar Mok

Any Dunmer Fortresses other than that one, although for Warrior Characters you want to pick something close to town but not in town, so you can TRAIN on your way into town. Theif Characters should pick a hideout within the town itself. An effective way to get a hideout in town is to kill the previous owner then just take his/her house for yourself. — Unsigned comment by 184.76.77.100 (talk) on 21 May 2011

The Tel Vos page has an infobox that includes information on where Divine and Almsivi Intervention spells take you. Many towns also feature a page of houses you can use, eg Ald'ruhn Homes. There's also the Abandoned Houses page. rpeh •T•C•E• 12:30, 21 May 2011 (UTC)

Training

There is no limit to the amount of training you can do per level. For details, see Level.

I found the text in the pag and I have to ask, Really?? What is training really really expensive. — Unsigned comment by Candc4 (talk • contribs) on 10 jun 2011

In Oblivion, you can only train 5-times per level. Morrowind does not have that limit --Brf 16:08, 10 June 2011 (UTC)

Awseome I only asked cause I'm getting the morrowind game with, the 2 expansions----Candc4, Also known as the Man Inside the Sexy Leather Pants CT 16:12, 10 June 2011 (UTC)

Magicka Regeneration

theres an inconsistency in the arcticle.. Magicka does not regenerate automatically. The only ways to restore magicka are to drink a potion, rest, or visit an altar. Also, Willpower does not directly affect how quickly you regain magicka. Altars require an offering (usually 10-50 gold) to receive a blessing. Blessings vary from each altar, but you can always be cured of diseases and have your magicka restored, which is especially helpful if you were born under the sign The Atronach (and don't regain magicka). — Unsigned comment by TheReincarnationOfSheogorath (talk • contribs) at 01:52 on 6 August 2011 (GMT)

Ok but what's the inconsistency? Kitkat1749 ;) 01:01, 6 August 2011 (UTC)

cant you see? i highligted it :P

magicka does not regenerate automatically all races, birthsigns etc

then if you were born under the sign of The Atronach and (and dont regenerate magicka) suggesting only people with The Atronach birthsign do not regenerate magicka. hope this clarified. _- TheReincarnationOfSheogorath

Yeah you're right I fixed that. -- Kitkat1749 ;) 18:02, 6 August 2011 (UTC)

Containers

I was wondering if all or some of the containers in Morrowind are "safe" for your items? It seems the crates I've emptied in the past (such as around Balmora) haven't respawned like they do in Oblivion, so it would seem they could function as storage. But I'm not certain if they will ever respawn or not. If this is mentioned elsewhere I apologize, but a search didn't bring up anything. Melleh17 00:32, 23 August 2011 (UTC)

I went ahead and put some items in the containers around Balmora, and they were gone after a day or two. I also found the Houses page, so I'll just use one of those. But perhaps it would be worth mentioning some place about common containers not being safe? Melleh17 18:50, 25 August 2011 (UTC)

Updated Links

The Oblivion and Morrowind main pages no longer link to this or its sister page (Oblivion for morrowind players) - rather, those two and the new link on the Skyrim page all point to Skyrim for Oblivion Players. DextroWombat 06:41, 10 April 2012 (UTC)

Now it's been moved: General:Differences Between Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim

--ABCface^◥ 21:41, 24 April 2012 (UTC)