Pets of Skywind

nice, but in such harsh world it could more probably some hunting beast (analogue of dog).

Interesting idea, lukkar, I like concept you made so far =)

variations of gaur is almost a must   if only  to see the diferents between domestic and wild and war gaurs

scutler would be a cool and the mudcrab

the wasp and little rats i rather fire ball away and i think wouldn't fit that well not as pets atlaest

same for the horses and dogs the would need to be imported  by the empire  because the are not native to vvardenvel  something for skyblivion maby : )

and a fish in fishtank in your house would be sweet to have  but for the rest a fish isnt a intresting pet

I for one feel like if unique pets are added to Skywind then there should be quests to acquire them. Such as doing a favor for King Helseth, upon completion he would grant you a Durzog (like the skinned hound in Oblivion), or by doing imperial quests on Solstheim would give allow permission to buy dogs from the legion, examples such as these could be a nice addition. Horses could be in-game but not acquirable at first, as the mount theme is guars and only the legion could use them (par an exception you get a special horse by doing Legion related quests on Vvardenfell.). Lastly like Lukkar said, Wasps and Scuttlers would be used more useful for hunting and could even grant the player detection abilities.

Nice progress! Some things to consider: Inner Sea Scalyfins, being found in saltwater, probably wouldn't survive in ponds like Koi, perhaps Gourami would be better suited for that purpose (Found in lakes in the Deshaan). Also, I'd expect the wasps to be rather rare, found in some slave plantations, and perhaps in some cave hives. The scale of the wasps for reference: 

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They were sometimes used as mounts by Dres slavers. Other, smaller species exist too, such as this:

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ESO also has some at around the size of the Redguard Origin of Cyrus ones.

As for the use of pets in Vvardenfell, I'd imagine a scuttler could be a useful counter to farm pests.

Also Rats and Scribs are already available to buy in Morrowind's tribunal DLC and with Skwind they could be tweaked to improve their AI as followers. Currently you could purchase Rats, Pack Rats (carry gear), and scribs. 

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I'd imagine training a rat or scrib would be not all that common, but still done to some degree (unless it would be better to keep it unique to Rerlas Mon). In Vvardenfell, Pack Guar and Scuttlers would likely be the predominant pets, with some of the more exotic or uncommon ones appearing mostly in Mournhold and among the upper class (Although the more expensive Scuttler breeds would likely be used by nobles as well). I could give Hlaalu nobles in Balmora some Gourami ponds, imported from the Deshaan. I believe it was Therana who had spiders as pets, those could use the Dragonborn spiders.

Rats and Scribes should remain only buyable in Mournhold, but like you said more dialogue could be added noting the difficulty that it took the salesman to train them. Also the idea that Therana has Dragonborn spiders could work, granted some dialouge would need to be added to her to support the idea, such as a reward of spider scrolls could be added from her quests or quest related to her. (A cool addition could be to aquire pack spiders from her, these were going to be in Skyrim Dragonborn but were later cut.)

idk if it possible to pet any larval stage. Such things are better for aquarium/terrarium habitation.

One thing that might (?) be worth taking into account is that horses will die from the ash in the air. I know I've read this from some reputable source but I can't find it right now. The Dunmer also eat horses/view them as source of food. I really wish I could find that text, it was a good one.

There was an out of game reference that may or may not be directly considered canon that says the Vvardenfell grass upsets the stomaches of horses, and feed for horses would have to be imported. Perhaps there could still be some EEC horse caravans bringing ebony from Caldera to Ebonheart, though. Horses seem to have no problem with the mainland. "First by carriage, then by boat" The carriage that carried the Nerevarine would likely have stopped in Old Ebonheart  or some other mainland port at the Inner Sea, then stopping in Vivec to pick up Jiub, and finally to Seyda Neen for release. 

Edit: Jiub, initially having been imprisoned in Vivec, may have been transported to the IC prison before his ultimate release.

I think it was something about horses having sensitive lungs, or perhaps dying from the ash in the grass they eat, maybe the grass was sharp and cut their stomachs? Something about horses not doing well in Morrowind, and also something about Dunmer seeing them as a food source. 

Iceflame542 and I are probably talking about the same thing.

I really do wish I could find the source for this information...

"Why are there no horses in Morrowind?

For two reasons. First, Dark Elves like them as a foodstuff. Second, native grasses of Morrowind give horses a bad, and often terminal, case of tummy ache.   Source: Ken Rolston in one of his pre-Morrowind online interviews. Reproduced from memory. If anyone has the original text, please let site staff know." http://www.imperial-library.info/content/general-elder-scrolls-weaseling

That's not to say the East Empire company can't invest in importing some horse feed for the convenience of horses in the ebony trade.

Yes, thank you, that was the thing I meant yet couldn't find.

If horses are going to make a appearance in Skywind then as many are stating, they should be only around Imperial settlements and forts. Horses should be considered a rare creature to encounter compared to the guar, meaning no wild versions and only imperials of the higher command should have them to go along with the limited import of horse feed. This would also allow the player to acquire a horse (as a special mount) as a reward when reaching Knight Bachelor status, so to mirror acquiring shadowmere in the Oblvion DB quests. 

Have you seen all the rats around here? It's making me crazy! Anyway, unlike in the Niben, in Morrowind, rat meat seems to be consumed more commonly, mainly within the lower class. So I think to have them as pets would be more rare, with only a few doing so (Rerlas Mon, Arvena Thelas). I'll be adding Rat Necrom as a recipe, as with rat stew (Ratmeat stall in the Balmora Labor Town?).

"Rat meat is tough and greasy, with an unpleasant odor and taste. Nonetheless, it is cheap, abundant, and nutritious, and palatable when cooked in a stew and masked by strong strong spices."

Speaking of rats, the Guilds Act included a Ratcatcher's guild. So there's dialouge potential there with ​Drarayne Thelas:

"Why didn't you just hire the Ratcatcher's guild?"

There could also be a reference to Arvena, about how Drarayne can't stand how much the former loves those vermin.

iceflame542

"Why are there no horses in Morrowind?

For two reasons. First, Dark Elves like them as a foodstuff. Second, native grasses of Morrowind give horses a bad, and often terminal, case of tummy ache.   Source: Ken Rolston in one of his pre-Morrowind online interviews. Reproduced from memory. If anyone has the original text, please let site staff know." http://www.imperial-library.info/content/general-elder-scrolls-weaseling

That's not to say the East Empire company can't invest in importing some horse feed for the convenience of horses in the ebony trade.

Of course this is if you consider the pre-Morrowind online interviews as lore theres been interviews like this that have later been contradicted in game and if take this as lore theres also this "Why are all Dark Elves so skinny? Where are fat Dunmer?" "For the very same reason. Since there are no horses in Morrowind, the locals have to run to get to places. As a result, they get a lot of exercise and stay slim."...Which would imply that the the Dunmer on Morrowind don't use guars as mount which would mess up some of our plans for them. I am hesitant to consider anything on the imperial library as definite lore. Honestly, some of these lore concession were probably because they didn't have the resources to fulfill certain addition to the game.

Am I the only one who isn't totally into the pet idea? It might make sense to make use of a pet companion like in Fallout, but even in that case it is something unique. Having too many variations would break the emotional bond you have to the companion. In my honest opinion, just because something is lore friendly doesn't mean it should be implemented.

I think there needs to be a focus on the purpose of these, because I agree that it shouldn't be overdone. I can't see the player buying a wasp that follows him or her around, it would probably be better to have a few guarding plantations, and perhaps some more, non-domesticated ones in hives (maybe these?)

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Scuttlers, I'd imagine, would be employed by farmers to keep away pests, and would only serve as pets among nobles in terms of npcs (perhaps a house-favored 'breed' could work, but again nothing too overboard). That's not to say the player can't purchase a scuttler though. Perhaps in the Balmora Bazaar. Also, nice gourami update, I could add ponds in some of the Hlaalu manors, and I'd expect them to be most common in Mournhold (they come from the Deshaan).

I'm okay with scuttlers, but they definetly need a way more alien design. As of now the look kind of goofy, like monsters from 80's TV shows.

They could use more influence from the Morrowind/Skyrim art style as a translation from ESO's design, with some aspects of similar Morrowind creatures. Although, they aren't related to Alits or Guar, but instead are more leathery, almost like the skin of a cliff racer (although not directly related to a cliff racer, either, but similar in those terms).

"The scuttler is a small, docile species of biped the size of a common housecat. They have no apparent forelegs, and survive on eating smaller insects and groundworms. Having completely different reproductive and growth cycles, they are not related to the guar or alit. Scuttlers are more similar to the cliff racer family of leathery flyers than their form would suggest. Smugglers have sold them as pets in ports from Daggerfall to Haven."

The fact that they eat small insects and worms means that they could be used on farms against pests, and they are also smuggled out of Morrowind as exotic pets.

Also, this is kind of unrelated, but what is the current plan for Ash Hoppers? Are they going to be implemented?

Very true, Drago. Most of this pet/online stuff need to be morrowindized.
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They should be look like they can live in harsh environment, and optionally - they can be useable for owners.
Except fishes of course.

 

not sure if this has been addressed yet, but nix hounds can be tamed. in eso you can find npc's with pet ones.

ESO probably shouldn't be #1 source of lore knowledge, but then there is actually a cave in Ascadian Isles in Morrowind that has ashlanders banites in it, and a pen for tamed nix hounds.

Tamed nix-hounds is suits better, than this scuttler thing.
It looks too cartoonish, maybe it need more flavor of Guar or some features of small lizard creature as chameleon.

The wasps would be perfect as mainland Dres mounts, but now I'm not so sure they work as Vvardenfell pets. I think Nix Hounds would work better for use by slavers and as guard hounds. Celestial-Polydegmon made a great depiction of a tamed Nix Hound:

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Another thing, this unused concept was the first sketch done for Morrowind

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I'm not sure what it was going to be for. Although there is what appears to be a flock/swarm of cliff racers in the background, they don't seem to be going in and out of the hive. This could potentially be used as a wasp hive for hostile wasps.

Originally from what I remember it was supposed to be a Dunmer City, before lore and architectural styles were nailed down for each culture.

And also, I think that was already modelled by Siberian Crab (based on Jorsoran's concepts), for a Russian mod for Morrowind in which it was an abandoned hive turned into a city. I don't know what happened of the mod, if it's continued or if assets are still usable, but Daedric Lord might be the one to answer ;) Few months ago we were considering including it in Skywind (together with underwater Dreugh city), but it kind of vanished in the flood of other ideas.

scuttler of yours is too disprop. IMHO this variant from some mod is more close to 'reality'

Nice work, I don't think they need the cliff racer ridge though, the similarity with the cliff racer was implied to be more with leathery skin than the form. Somewhere between the new and old versions could work, I'm not sure the face needs the 'covering' part. The proportions are likely what make the ESO one look a little weird.

mostly proportions
also it looks much more 'guar-related' that 'clif-related'. why should it?

i think that this is a good compromise in terms of design

Lukkar I really like your the final concepts, the overall compromise between variety and consistence is great.

No need for any objection or constructive criticism here, it just works.

Eh, so did some of this when eso was released and did work lately and I essentially made the scuttler.

Got the second pet in while i'm waiting for some files for the scuttles to get ready. Not to far atm just threw some colors on it for fun. 

Maybe guars are better instead horses

tamed nix hounds? sounds neat, how about guar as mounts, and perhaps a more inclusive silt strider mechanic.

like this guy's mod..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRUadDc1onc

we're trying to include something like this in TR, if you could pull it off, it would show them it's possible.  

We've got ridable guar, already.

Horses will spoil atmosphere then

@Shushine: please, if you are making "giant wasp for exotic island" try to avoid all features of common earthling wasp.
Color, quantity of legs and wings, mouth and eyes can be more different.
It must not be just wasp from planet earth, multiplied in 20x times.

alysander

@Shushine: please, if you are making "giant wasp for exotic island" try to avoid all features of common earthling wasp.

"just threw some colors on it for fun. "- Fatty brains