Its hard to get into Morrowind--Am I doing something wrong?
 

I wanted to play Morrowind GOTY for xbox in case I buy the new one for the 360. It was only 5 bucks so I picked it up. Well, its REALLY hard to get into--And I usually like RPGs. I loved KOTOR and the Deus X games and some old school ones too (bards tale, phantasy star, ultima series etc)

Ive got a few hours into it and it seems pretty convoluted and confusing and it looks like a lot of 'errand' missions--'Take this item here then go here, then go there'.

Does this game get better?

I rented Morrowind GOTY when it first came out and only played it for about two hours. I too couldn't get into the game. Missions were boring and navigating the world was a real pain in the ass. I'll never know why it was so popular but there is no denying that it was a hit.

I hope Oblivion on the 360 is better. I never played Morrowind on the XBOX; however, Oblivion looks DAMN cool. I'm not the biggest RPG fan, I think I've played 2-3 in the past coulpe years. I enjoyed Final Fantasy X and FABLE (yep, I really enjoyed it)

I thought the same thing about the game. My main complaint was the errand type missions and my biggest complaint was the fighting. Swinging the sword sucked. I couldn't hit a thing.

From what I've played, you have to completely devote yourself to this game. It's so huge and there's so much to keep track of, you need to play only this game. I was playing several games at once and had a hard time with Morowind, but once I shut out everything else, it was much better.

There are some games that are hard to get into to, but are usually really worth it if you do. Now if you don't, you don't. You're not doing anything wrong it's usually just an indication that that style of game isn't for you. For instance, Rogue-like games like Torneko: The Last Hope and Nightmare of Druaga are difficult for people to get into, but I can play the hell out of these types of games. I really couldn't "click" with Morrowind either, as much as I wanted to (back when I had only an Xbox and wanted a damn RPG to play).

I really wanted it to tide me over until I had my 360. I may have to find something else.

If you force yourself to enjoy it you'll end up hating it even more.

After clearing 3 out of 16 identical looking dungeons in Arena, I quit out of boredom, and I've refused to play any of the Elder Scrolls games since. Sounds like I made the right decision...

Not for everybody. Unlike most console RPG games where you're "on a rail" and don't deviate much from a set path, Morrowind gives you complete freedom to do and explore what you want. It can be overwhelming.

Morrowind is a long game; easily 100+ hours. I didn't play anything but that when I played it on the Xbox. It took me a couple of hours before I got used to everything in the game. Once you leave the first city, things do get better.

It's easily one of the best games I've played on the Xbox and I can't wait for Oblivion.

I played the game for about 200 hours and only got through half of the main quest. There were so many things I could do. I concentrated on building up my character, and getting a house. I really enjoyed playing this game as it was similar to a MMORPG, but without the idiots. I'm really looking forward to Oblivion, but I'll have to play it on my PC since I've gotten rid of my Xbox.

Oblivion is Xbox 360 or PC, no Xbox.

Well then I guess it's a good thing I got rid of my Xbox. ;)

I may have to try playing through the main Morrowind quest on my PC. I have a couple of copies of it from previous video card bundles.

Does it matter where your 'crosshairs' are pointing when you slash at someone? ie do you aim for exposed flesh or the face or it just has to be on them when you pull the trigger?

I just aimed my sword in their general direction and started slashing. The combat is a bit crude though. I don't recall crosshairs in the original Xbox version.

I think you just need to be near the person and looking at them. All of the calculations are done by the engine behind the scenes so it's not really related to your actions but to your character's stats.



Here's some info from the Developer Q&A #7 from IGN:

"Jonric: Please summarize the real-time combat system in Morrowind. Are there any major differences between first-person view and third-person? Does it include targeting specific areas on opponents and localized damage? Will it be possible to pause during combat?

Todd Howard: The combat works the same in both, though it is much easier in first-person to do various things like aiming a bow or crossbow. We had body location hitting in an earlier version of the game, but it became a huge exploit, such as only hitting guys in the head who weren't wearing helmets, or if a guy wasn't wearing gauntlets, to hit him in the hand. It also made managing your armor more difficult. You got really penalized for not having your whole body covered. So we changed it to just apply the hit to the whole body, and it randomly selects an armor piece you are wearing to degrade. But you have one overall Armor Rating for your whole body. You can pause the game at any time, and change armor weapons, spells, etc.

Jonric: In terms of the series, what were the main strengths of the combat system in Arena and Daggerfall that you wanted to retain and build on in Morrowind? And what were the aspects you most wanted to add and/or improve?

Todd Howard: We liked the fact that it was real-time, and had action to it. That you felt like you were really hitting someone with a sword. We also liked that different ways of swinging the weapons, and that certain swings did more damage, but had less of a chance of hitting and such. The main things we wanted to add were easier control, and more hitting, which is why we added blocking with shields.

Jonric: Are you prepared to disclose the nine combat-related skills yet? How do they relate to things like specific weapon types, armor types, bows versus thrown weapons, shield use, blocking, parrying, backstabbing, repairing weapons and armor, et al?

Todd Howard: Sorry, I can't give away all the skills yet. There are several "weapon" skills like Axe and Long Blade. Blocking is also a skill.

Jonric: Okay, fair enough. What's the control system during combat? How does the player control the type and strength of attack? And how do you move while fighting?

Todd Howard: You control it like any other first-person game, you can continue to move and strafe as you fight, but the attacks are not just a "click", they are a "hold and release", the longer you hold, the harder you hit. The direction you are moving determines the attack type, as each weapon is rated for damage in three attacks (slash, thrust, and chop). It feels really cool - daggers actually feel different than axes.

Jonric: How action-oriented is combat? To what extent will player ability impact success or failure versus character ability? What considerations have been incorporated to keep combat accessible to players who don't have rapid reflexes or don't like to rely on them?

Todd Howard: It's a little more action oriented than Daggerfall and Arena, mainly because the interface has changed. Now you can move while swinging. It feels better and is closer to other first-person games which people are used to. The ability to actually score a hit and do damage is purely skill based though. So if you suck with a dagger and that's what you have equipped, you'll be missing like crazy. To make it all easier there is an option you can use that makes all weapons do their best attack, so your movement doesn't affect the attack type. So spears will always thrust, for instance.

Jonric: What are the main strategic elements in the combat system, and how much impact do they have on success or failure in battle?

Todd Howard: You'll want to choose a weapon you have a high skill in, or you won't be successful. Then depending on that weapon, you either want to do small quick attacks, or big ones. I also recommend shields. Blocking is a good strategy against other NPCs, but has no effect with creatures."

I enjoyed the game for a decent amount of time up to the part where I became pretty much god-like. I became so strong that I had no problem disposing of numerous guards at a time in the towns, and it got a little too easy for my liking.

Yeah...it did get pretty easy if you spent time building up your character.

I haven't devoted time to the game, but my wife is hooked for now. She's always been a fan of first-person RPGs such as the MIght and Magic series though. I know she struggled to get into it at first but soon found herself really enjoying it. She said she did not even know what the main quest was for a long time, but enjoyed all the side things to do.

One of my female friends that was into it was always out picking herbs and flowers to use as reagents for potions. That was her thing.

I just really dislike first-person anything, and the third-person for Morrowind is <b>awful</b>.

Morrowind is a game that if you approach feeling the need to do everything, you'll quickly get overwhelmed and bored. If crawling through dungeons bores you, stop doing it. It really is a RPG in the sense that I think the greatest enjoyment comes from thinking like your character, and not thinking on how to "beat" the game. Wander around and talk to people out of curiousity. See an interesting looking shipwreck or ruin? Go out and check it out. Curious what a certain region of the land is like? Make a trip. Visit some cities and talk to the people. Read the many books that tell you the history of this land and its people. Yeah, many books don't do anything for your power, but they were all interesting. The graphics are good enough that just sightseeing can be entertaining. What about cash? You can be a traveler and bounce from place to place having adventures along the way. Or you can settle in a major city, and try to make yourself part of high society. Or you could become a villain (or even a monster like a Vampire or Werewolf). Try not to even think about the main quest -- think about what you're character might want to do (you know, role-play) and do things that you as a player enjoy. Of course, some players might not like the graphics, think sightseeing is stupid, hate reading the books, interacting with NPC's, think combat is annoying, or hate the interface, or think the main story is stupid, or the game is too easy/hard. Even people who love the game have things they don't like doing. But the game is big enough they can find something they do like, and get hours of enjoyment for their money.

I didn't think the game was perfect by any means. I thought NPC's were generally lifeless, I didn't like the combat, and it did reach a point later that I had godlike power (and I wasn't even trying to powergame). But there was enough to me to enjoy and I think back on the game fondly. Oddly I remember the simple things most -- just bumbling about in the jungle and finding a weird ruin, or checking out a bay and finding a shipwreck. Reading all the books and enjoying the vast backstory (which doesn't come out so much in the regular gameplay). Doing odd little missions that didn't seem to matter in the grand-scheme of things, like collecting a type of flower to impress a catwoman. And bumbling about cities and buildings, going places I wasn't supposed to go (and sometimes getting in trouble for it). Or sometimes just stopping to "smell the roses" -- like standing outside when a sandstorm kicks up, thinking "this looks cool". It's not a game for everyone, and there's nothing wrong if you don't like it. And if you give it a fair shot and still don't like it, it's silly to force yourself to finish (though I've done that -- you start a game and feel compelled to finish even if you hate it, like I did with "Pool of Radiance"). But I'd think you can see why people like it, even if you don't.

An existential experience for the video gamer:) I am curious if this game would be for me, I may have to check it out for 360 if I get one.

I wouldn't have liked it on an xbox. Most of the fun for me was adding new content.

I had the opposite experience that the OP had, as soon as I started playing the game (PC) I was hooked, I probably put 80+ hours into it before I decided my skin was becoming too pale and my eyes were completely bloodshot all day, also the shaking from all the caffein wasn't a big help, I had to put the game down. I have cravings to play it sometimes still but it really is too time consuming for me. I loved it:D and I will be getting Oblivion but I'm going to try being a little more casual this time around;)

My little cousin is playing it now and he's loving it. Definately one of those games you have to devote yourself too.

Yeah, it's strange. I'm a HUGE Morrowind fan, but I actually had a similar experience to the OP. I had a hard time getting into it at first--it was a bit overwhelming and uncompelling, lots of boring wandering around, and worst of all--I couldn't fucking hit anything!

So I dropped the game for a few months, but once I started playing it again, I got really hooked. I found the lore really interesting, once I started reading some of those books that you find lying around, and the world can be incredibly immersive if you let it. The combat didn't bother me once I started understanding the mechanics of how it worked, and I loved all the different things you could do--creating potions, having my equipment enchanted with all these different spell effects.

It also helps to have some imagination and role-playing your character, like coming up with a backstory for them, thinking how they would react in certain situations, etc.

And like someone else said, it does help to have the PC version, because all the different mods out there--they add a lot of new life to the game.

got the game, played it for an hour and never touched it again. im always playing a couple games at the same time and don't want to devote so much time into one game.