ES4:SI - New Oblivion Expansion sort of announced

[Garrett]

A thread (http://www.elderscrolls.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=611255) at the official forum pointed out that there is a preview of The Elder Scrolls IV new expansion - Shivering Isles on the February 2007 issue of PC Gamer US with article summary:
Expansions are always difficult for a developer, as giving the same is boring, and departing from the established too much alienates fans.

In an attempt to avoid this conundrum, the expansion for the popular Elder Scrolls IV will add a unique twist to the established formula - it changes little gameplay wise, but adds a whole lot of totally new and unique content.

Rather than expand into another province of Tamriel, Bethesda dipped into the lore and decided to transport players to the 'Shivering Isles' known also as 'The realm of Madness', the daedric realm ruled by the prince Sheogorath. (Just on a side note, if anyone has the played the Sheogorath Shrine Quests, they should set the tone for the expansion - twisted and at times sadistic humor).

The god Juggalef is preparing his 'once-in-an-eon' Greymarch - a cleansing of the land and everyone within, including, by extension, Sheogorath himself. With this premise you are allowed entry to the shivering isles, a place where everything is a bit off - including the plants, landscapes, creatures and NPCs.

The strangeness of the Shivering isles creates a lot of humor - "Not only are a lot of the NPCs downright hilarious, thanks to the insanity that permeates the land, but the humor also lends something of a clasic LucasArts adventure game bent to the Quests you'll embark upon. You'll laugh more in 10 hours with Shivering isles than you did with 100 hours with the parent game".

One quest has you deciding the fate of a group of adventurers who have strayed into a dungeon in search of great riches. You, along with one of Sheogoraths minions get to decide the fate of said adventurers, as Sheogorath has already decided that they are to die. You can kill them outright, or use traps and illusions within the dungeons to drive them insane (ie the adventurers see a locked cage filled with unimaginable riches - you can opt to electrify the cage, killing anyone who touches it, walk in and kill them yourself, or drop thousands of key in the room, driving them insane as they search for the real one).

You will be able to move between cyrodiil and the Shivering Isles at will, and the expansion will be suitable for all level ranges (I guess this means leveled content), with the entrance to the isles located on an island in Niben bay, near Bravil. Ill close with this quote - "If you're still pursing your lips at the thought of playing Oblivion in a land filled with a pink night sky and trees that look lifted from an acid junkies sketchbook, ask yourself if you really wanted more of the same". There's also a scan of the 2 page article, page 1 here (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v18/downloader/ob1.jpg) and page here (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v18/downloader/ob2.jpg)!
Thanks Kencube!
More information. (http://www.rpgwatch.com/show/newsbit?newsbit=3318)

[ToddMcF2002]

Sounds like fun - although they should take the criticism to heart and not level the thing. I wish they would work on an expansion that implemented a political system similiar to Morrowind though - that would silence a host of complainers.

[User Name]

No matter how you slice & dice a pile of shit, it'll still taste like shit.

JFC, instead of fixing some of many inherent, fundamental game mech/problem , these beth monkeys gone off to the lala land.

[Sorcha Ravenlock]

Sounds terrible, like it's all the 'evil' path again.

One quest has you deciding the fate of a group of adventurers who have strayed into a dungeon in search of great riches. You, along with one of Sheogoraths minions get to decide the fate of said adventurers, as Sheogorath has already decided that they are to die. You can kill them outright, or use traps and illusions within the dungeons to drive them insane (ie the adventurers see a locked cage filled with unimaginable riches - you can opt to electrify the cage, killing anyone who touches it, walk in and kill them yourself, or drop thousands of key in the room, driving them insane as they search for the real one).

how is that a choice? So you can kill them, kill them, or kill them, in various different ways. Letting them live or helping them escape, does not seem an option.

Nah, not interested, Bethesda can keep their expansion.

[Garrett]

I have to admit I really thought twice before posting this newsbit, I felt it is an earyl april's fool joke first *g*

anyway, maybe it brings a little life into oblivion after all, could be fun

[abbaon]

Sounds like fun - although they should take the criticism to heart and not level the thing.
They should do nothing of the sort. I have no desire to waste my time on killing things until I level up. If you don't want to enter Sheogorath's realm until you reach level 30 then you can fucking restrain yourself, and let the rest of us get on with it.

[Corwin]

I agree totally with Sorcha; if that's 'choice', then forget it!! I didn't buy any of the MW add-ons either!!

[Unregistered]

This expansion pack sounds alot like the horse armor expansion pack.

Total crap

[Cormac]

Really ? Does the armor make the horse capable of speech ? I have to install it, then.

[ToddMcF2002]

They should do nothing of the sort. I have no desire to waste my time on killing things until I level up. If you don't want to enter Sheogorath's realm until you reach level 30 then you can fucking restrain yourself, and let the rest of us get on with it.

Or you could just calm the fuck down and let me have my opinion. Whatever.

[abbaon]

Sorry, did I take your opinion from you? I thought I'd just stated mine.

[DR490N]

What's funny (in a sad way) with this "scalling the whole world to your level" system, is that it reaches so far into stupidity that many people think it's pure genious...

[aries100]

HI :)

I don't really see how the 'kill adventurers in 100 ways' is a choice ??? To me, it would be more of a choice, if I could help them escape, then kill them, or if I could help them get over the insanity or ???

Also, I don't believe that it is good thing that you are able go into an expansion area at any level. Imo, there should be a level requirement, say maybe 5 or 10, before you're allowed near this expansion's area. I mean, what is the fun in going into the shivering isles at level 2 ?? when you can have more fun at level 10 or 20 ?

[Sorcha Ravenlock]

Also, I don't believe that it is good thing that you are able go into an expansion area at any level. Imo, there should be a level requirement, say maybe 5 or 10, before you're allowed near this expansion's area. I mean, what is the fun in going into the shivering isles at level 2 ?? when you can have more fun at level 10 or 20 ?

But you won't have more fun at level 10 or 20. When your level goes up, the creatures go up to exactly (or almost exactly) the same level as you. So no matter what level you are, enemies are always an exactly balanced challenge, that you can always handle if you set the difficulty level at the appropriate level for you. All creatures have the same levelled loot, so you will never find any item too high or too low for your level either. Heck, even the shops stock items just right for you. Spooky, isn't it? :D

So the game plays the same at level 1 or 2 as it does at level 20, and so you can enter the expansion at level 1 or 2 if you want.

At least PC users can download OOO, which seems to solve the levelling problem. (doesn't get rid of the no-choice questlines though).

[GothicGothicness]

Like it wasn't boring and tedious enough to get through the original game ?!?!?! people are acctually willing to pay for MORE ?!?!

[Cormac]

Yes I want more.

[TheMadGamer]

I would like more too please.

[Dez]

But you won't have more fun at level 10 or 20. When your level goes up, the creatures go up to exactly (or almost exactly) the same level as you. So no matter what level you are, enemies are always an exactly balanced challenge, that you can always handle if you set the difficulty level at the appropriate level for you. All creatures have the same levelled loot, so you will never find any item too high or too low for your level either. Heck, even the shops stock items just right for you. Spooky, isn't it? :D

So the game plays the same at level 1 or 2 as it does at level 20, and so you can enter the expansion at level 1 or 2 if you want.

At least PC users can download OOO, which seems to solve the levelling problem. (doesn't get rid of the no-choice questlines though).

Yep in a nutshell the leveling system and no-choice questlines are the biggest flaws in oblivion. I'd like to enjoy oblivion as much as ppl in tes forums, but i simply can't. Its fun to play in short bursts, but in the long run..oblivion is a tedious game.

[TheMadGamer]

I'd like to enjoy oblivion as much as ppl in tes forums, but i simply can't. Its fun to play in short bursts, but in the long run..oblivion is a tedious game.

Are you referring to the official Bethesda TES forums? If you are we must be in different universes. In my universe, Bethesda's forums are the angriest forums on the planet.

[txa1265]

In my universe, Bethesda's forums are the angriest forums on the planet.
I dunno ... there is some stiff competition out there ... but any forum heavily populated with hordes of over-privileged teenagers is bound to be rife with vitriol ...

[TheMadGamer]

I dunno ... there is some stiff competition out there ... but any forum heavily populated with hordes of over-privileged teenagers is bound to be rife with vitriol ...

Hmmm. No. It's the angriest forum on the planet.

[Dez]

Well it used to be a decent place.. But I'm not reading it much nowdays, because the forums are populated with so many blind fan-boys, angry teens and alike.. However there are sane people, who are civilized like we here. Not everyone is an arse there. I for instance got some great help with morrowind back in the days there. And I have seen great discussions about tes-lore and so on...And just take a look at the moddin section. its stunning to see such an enthuasism for a game.

[JemyM]

Sounds cool! I look forward to this one. :)

[TheMadGamer]

Well it used to be a decent place.. But I'm not reading it much nowdays, because the forums are populated with so many blind fan-boys, angry teens and alike.. However there are sane people, who are civilized like we here. Not everyone is an arse there. I for instance got some great help with morrowind back in the days there. And I have seen great discussions about tes-lore and so on...And just take a look at the moddin section. its stunning to see such an enthuasism for a game.

Oh I don't think every single person that posts on their boards is a jerk. There are a lot of helpful people there. Sadly, they are overshadowed by all the jerks. But yeah, you can get some good help there if you can tolerate the meanies.

[txa1265]

But the volume is such that the poor signal-to-noise is hard to deal with ...

[Awesome]

Bethesda do the world a favour and stop just stop already lol.

[txa1265]

Bethesda do the world a favour and stop just stop already lol.

But would *you*? It is like printing money!

[TheMadGamer]

But the volume is such that the poor signal-to-noise is hard to deal with ...

We're saying the same thing. You just take the 'blunt' out of it.

[Awesome]

But would *you*? It is like printing money!

I'm Awesome.

lol @ the meanie / jerk posts that would be me =)

[TheMadGamer]

lol @ the meanie / jerk posts that would be me =)

That's awesome. Pun intended.

[Awesome]

That's awesome. Pun intended.

<3Viking_Berserker<3

[Corwin]

I never would have guessed!!

[DArtagnan]

I don't think I can immediately recall an expansion that sounded worse than this. That's bad enough, but did it have to be for a game that had so much room for improvement, while still being of high quality, and with a potential to be one of the very greatest CRPGs of all time. I guess so.

Fun and weird?

Public school outsourcing for this idea, it seems.

[Awesome]

I never would have guessed!!

Yeah i'm pretty awesome grampa <3

[Corwin]

Yep, I guess being banned twice is pretty awesome!!

[txa1265]

Yep, I guess being banned twice is pretty awesome!!

You miss the point - it is because of his awesomeness that we who are huddled in our parents' basements have to ban him to compensate for our own sense of inadequacy in the face of his vast superiority ....

... either that of he's a loser ....

[Awesome]

Yep, I guess being banned twice is pretty awesome!!

It was but its more awesome that grown men can't handle comments over the internet and cry over it <3

[fatBastard()]

... either that of he's a loser ....
I vote for loser ...

What? What sign? ... wait hang on ... "Don't feed the troll" ... oh THAT sign. Okay I'll just shut up now.