'True' size of Daggerfall (and TES) world
Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2020 1:59 pm
I have seen many people assume that Daggerfall in-game world has 1-to-1 scale for some reason. Can't understand really why though, looks absolutely unfounded to me.
If you assume that Nirn still has the same basic physics as real world (force of gravity depends on the mass in the same proportion, etc) and about the same daily/monthly/annual cycles, it's safe to assume that In-game time scale (1 min to 1 real-time sec) already implies Iliac Bay is still much larger than what is seen in a game.
Fast-travel indicates the journey from Daggerfall to Wrathgorian Mountains takes nearly a month, though we don't know how well developed transport infrastructure in High Rock/Hammerfell. Take also into account relatively rapid changes in climate zones, and I think it's reasonable to pre-conclude that Iliac Bay is as large as Mediterranean Sea.
However, it can be entirely incorrect to rely on any in-game data at all, since Morrowind clearly breaks the Daggerfall scaling — ship and silt-strider trips take just few days, that should be impossible given Daggerfall fast-travel timing. I tend to believe that Morrowind/Oblivion/Skyrim world scalling is complete crap though and Arena and DF gave relatively believable estimates.
What do you think? Is there any reliable in-game evidence regarding world size at all? Is there anything in the lore that indicates its world size?
Also, how long do jorneys take in Arena in relation to Daggerfall? Would be interesting to compare trips between the same locations in both games.
If you assume that Nirn still has the same basic physics as real world (force of gravity depends on the mass in the same proportion, etc) and about the same daily/monthly/annual cycles, it's safe to assume that In-game time scale (1 min to 1 real-time sec) already implies Iliac Bay is still much larger than what is seen in a game.
Fast-travel indicates the journey from Daggerfall to Wrathgorian Mountains takes nearly a month, though we don't know how well developed transport infrastructure in High Rock/Hammerfell. Take also into account relatively rapid changes in climate zones, and I think it's reasonable to pre-conclude that Iliac Bay is as large as Mediterranean Sea.
However, it can be entirely incorrect to rely on any in-game data at all, since Morrowind clearly breaks the Daggerfall scaling — ship and silt-strider trips take just few days, that should be impossible given Daggerfall fast-travel timing. I tend to believe that Morrowind/Oblivion/Skyrim world scalling is complete crap though and Arena and DF gave relatively believable estimates.
What do you think? Is there any reliable in-game evidence regarding world size at all? Is there anything in the lore that indicates its world size?
Also, how long do jorneys take in Arena in relation to Daggerfall? Would be interesting to compare trips between the same locations in both games.