Libertarianism in Video Games

[AnCap Dave]

Yeah but how are you going to pay foir it? Honestly I always find the Civil War a bit of a trick to deal with. i'm pretty skeptical of the Stormcloaks but I absolutely can't stand the empire.

I'm not talking about joining a specific army. I mean doing a quest where you personally take down the Thalmor.

Honestly, both sides of the Civil War are garbage. You have the Empire who are just sniveling cowards who obey the Thalmor because they got their asses handed to them and want Skyrim to surrender to them, and on the other hand you have the Stormcloaks who want their independence, but are also massive racists.

It sucks there isn't a third option where you try to stop the war without joining either side.

[nilecroc]

What about Morriwind?

[dallen68]

What about Morriwind?

Morrowind is a theocracy.

[nilecroc]

Morrowind is a theocracy.

I mean the game, not the country.

[dallen68]

I mean the game, not the country.

The two things aren't really separable from each other.

I'm going to go ahead and presume you meant how much is the government involved in Morrowind.

Unlike other provinces in Tamriel, the province of Morrowind has a strong centralized theocratic government that controls much of the citizen's daily lives. (You are not a citizen, therefore you aren't affected that much)

In most other parts of Tamriel, the only government you actually have to worry about at any given time is whoever the local noble is; except for when your on an Imperial Highway, which for all intents and purposes is about the only Imperial Service in existence. In Morrowind, however, with the exception of the Telvanni District, the local government really doesn't mean much.

Lucky for you, by the time you show up, Morrowind is having a constitutional crises involving the emergence of a long lost faction. You don't know this at the time, but that's the reason the Emperor sends you. In any case, when you get there the temple has more important things to worry about (like continuing to exist) to actually enforce most of its laws.

Also, it should be noted that your sent as the Emperor's personal representative, not as an agent of the Imperial Government.

[nilecroc]

The two things aren't really separable from each other.

I'm going to go ahead and presume you meant how much is the government involved in Morrowind.

Unlike other provinces in Tamriel, the province of Morrowind has a strong centralized theocratic government that controls much of the citizen's daily lives. (You are not a citizen, therefore you aren't affected that much)

In most other parts of Tamriel, the only government you actually have to worry about at any given time is whoever the local noble is; except for when your on an Imperial Highway, which for all intents and purposes is about the only Imperial Service in existence. In Morrowind, however, with the exception of the Telvanni District, the local government really doesn't mean much.

Lucky for you, by the time you show up, Morrowind is having a constitutional crises involving the emergence of a long lost faction. You don't know this at the time, but that's the reason the Emperor sends you. In any case, when you get there the temple has more important things to worry about (like continuing to exist) to actually enforce most of its laws.

Also, it should be noted that your sent as the Emperor's personal representative, not as an agent of the Imperial Government.

I meant as player freedom goes. I should have specified. I own Morriwind, but have yet to get past tge first wuest where you find what's his face. From What I've heard, there are more factions, choices, spells, weapons in Morrowind than in Oblivion and Skyrim.

Not to mention the way Bethesda butchered magic in Skyrim (specifically destruction magic) and took out spell creation.

[dallen68]

Oh, in that case:

There's about the same number of factions as there always is, except they have different names. Unlike the other 2 games, joining one faction does prevent you from joining the other.

It's difficult to compare the number of choices to be made.

The number of actual spells is consistent, but there is a different school of magick. Enchanting is actually easier, and more worthwhile

There are more weapons (and 2 entire classes of such).

And finally, Bethesda finally got magic right in Skyrim. Now, you don't have to invent spells that it's been known for centuries don't work. :p

[Lord T Hawkeye]

One of my faves is Persona 4.  Though not strictly libertarian, it has a central theme of "truth vs deception" and how persuing truth is difficult and often painful but in the end, you'll be better off.

Great game to play or if you don't want to do that, watch the animated series which captures the game perfectly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1bYSlAbRLI


One of the most notable moments is a part in the game where you're given a VERY hard choice.
-Take justice into your own hands but never learn the whole story
-Stay your hand and take the harder road but ultimately learn all

And believe me, the way it's set up, you are VERY tempted to take the "evil" choice which gives you the worst ending.

[nilecroc]

One of my faves is Persona 4.  Though not strictly libertarian, it has a central theme of "truth vs deception" and how persuing truth is difficult and often painful but in the end, you'll be better off.

Great game to play or if you don't want to do that, watch the animated series which captures the game perfectly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1bYSlAbRLI


One of the most notable moments is a part in the game where you're given a VERY hard choice.
-Take justice into your own hands but never learn the whole story
-Stay your hand and take the harder road but ultimately learn all

And believe me, the way it's set up, you are VERY tempted to take the "evil" choice which gives you the worst ending.

Reading this helped me get through work. Thanks.

[Lord T Hawkeye]

Reading this helped me get through work. Thanks.

You mean just the post or did you actually check out the animated series?

[nilecroc]

You mean just the post or did you actually check out the animated series?

The post.

[nilecroc]

Pokemon. In gen 1 (and its remakes) you take down team rocket singlehandedly and free Saffron City while the police are nowhere to be seen. In D/P/Pt, you take on team plasma and stop them from destroying the universe. Pokemon, shpwing that a ten year old and his super powered pete are more competent than the government since 1996.

[ArtemisVale]

I really like the open world and game play of the saints row series.

[dallen68]

"When it comes down to it, there isn't that much of a difference between the stormcloaks and the imperials. They both want to tell you how to live your life. I guess if I have to hear it, I'd rather hear it from a true Nord, than some Emperor down south."

-Eorland Gray-Mane
Armorer to the Companions.

[FeatheredTerror]

Sorry for resurrecting this somewhat old thread, but I've thought of another example in the form of South Park: The Stick of Truth. The government characters in it are, in typical South Park fashion, portrayed as complete idiots who are all too willing to abuse their authoritah. In the end the day is saved by a group of LARPing kids instead of the incompetent agents.