| The following "interview" is an Ask Me Anything. This page collects all comments with responses from the interviewee in chronological order, cutting each thread off at the last reply by them. The original source has been copied and may contain errors, spelling or otherwise, that are not individually marked with [sic]. |
| Tori Schafer Twitter Ask Me Anything | |
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| (link) | |
| Medium/Format | Online Forum |
| Date | July 24, 2019 |
| Interviewee(s) | Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer |
| Interviewer(s) | Twitter Users |
| Hosted By | |
🍀Tori Schafer🍀 @Tori_Schafer: 800 followers! Seems like a good time for an Ask Me Anything!
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- Warning: No spoilers about upcoming releases for ESO Shushing face*
The Elder Memes @TheElderMemes: What writings inspire you?
- 🍀Tori Schafer🍀 @Tori_Schafer: Growing up, Tamora Pierce was a huge inspiration with her badass female heroes! Neil Gaiman and Diane Wynne Jones come to mind as well.
- @Tuttle_Power's work in Clockwork City was very inspirational for my work in ESO (but don't tell him I said so, he'll get a big head :P)
- Leamon Tuttle @Tuttle_Power: Too late! (Thanks, Tori. Face savouring food)
UESP @UESP_net: How did it feel to be nominated for and winning the GLAAD award?
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: An absolute honor! I actually requested ZOS submit the quest to #GLAAD once I heard about the category. I got tremendous support right away! And then I was just super nervous about it for like MONTHS. When the night of the announcement came, I was at PAX East
- I saw it announced on twitter and FLIPPED OUT! Wrote out my twitter post about it in somewhat of a haze and couldn't stop smiling all night. I was just SO honored! And of course I got lots of love from the #ESOfam as well, so much support!
UESP @UESP_net: What inspirations did you draw from for CWC?
If you're feeling super nice, could you tell us what kind of furstock Zamarak is?
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: I took a lot of inspiration from Morrowind lore for my own work, but also science fiction in general. CWC is very dystopian in a lot of ways. They eat paste every day! They can't leave! There's a bunch of robos trying to kill them! How does that affect a population?
- It was also super interesting to me to have a god living directly in the city, who could basically help at any time but just didn't. Slag Town was built out of that resentment. A lot of taking bits a pieces from other dystopian pieces. (2/?)
- As for Zamarak's furstock, I'm not sure? I can do some digging and get back to you though ;)
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- UESP @UESP_net: That would be fantastic!
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- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: Official confirmation, my fine UESP. He is a Cathay-raht! Just a bit larger than most :)
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- [Semi-Sentient Internet Creature] @TomTesoro: Gotta ask, is his name a RuneScape reference?
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: I don't believe so? I didn't help write for/concept Zamarak so I couldn't tell you for certain Smiling face with open mouth and cold sweat
- [Semi-Sentient Internet Creature] @TomTesoro: Gotta ask, is his name a RuneScape reference?
Lady Nerevar @LadyNerevar: What Star Trek character would adapt best to suddenly being transported to Tamriel, and vice versa?
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: Data never loses his cool, and even though he's weird I feel like people would just assume the Dwemer created him. I would actually really love to create a Clockwork City character based on Data one day!
- Oh shoot, didn't see the vice versa at first!
- Harry Kim would adapt the worst. He would just be too nervous about getting home, haha. Barclay would probably have a tough time of it as well, because he ... has a tough time doing anything, honestly Face with tears of joy
@PreciseNebula: Oh I have one! How do you feel about an LGBTQ villain appearing in ESO? I’ve always wanted one, I know that we’ve had pretty poor representation in the past across most media but would really like to see how it’s done in the modern era, thoughts?
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: I would hope that we built enough trust with our fandom and representation within our world that a LGBTQ+ villain wouldn't be a huge deal! And we would do as we generally do, make the character first and then decide their sexuality later. So yeah, I'd be all for it!
- @PreciseNebula: Oh yeah defo! Not like they’re a villain because of who they are etc but it bringing another level of complexity to the character as such. Thought it would be interesting anyhow, hopefully involving The Adamantine Tower (my dream continues)
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: Yeah, I think there's always a worry doing representation with a LGBT+ villain cuz you don't want to be disrespectful to the community! So I would say it needs to be a game with multiple examples of representation as well, which luckily we have!!!
- @PreciseNebula: Yeah it’s tricky as you don’t wanna come off as insensitive etc, I’ve always viewed it as “we’re people at the end of the day & we have flaws too with some going to the extreme” but you’re right with ESO being very decent in representation, beyond appreciated Smiling face with smiling eyes
- UESP @UESP_net: What about Regent Cassipia and Little Leaf from the Upper Craglorn questline? I always thought they were supposed to be a couple. Maybe they're not supposed to be "villains" as such (Little Leaf in particular is a sweetheart!), but Cassipia actively murdered Kelmen Locke.
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: She's kind of like an anti-hero, but yeah I'm hearing what you're putting down. For me, I think villains as in "the player actively kills or has them arrested" in my game dev brain!
- UESP @UESP_net: What about Regent Cassipia and Little Leaf from the Upper Craglorn questline? I always thought they were supposed to be a couple. Maybe they're not supposed to be "villains" as such (Little Leaf in particular is a sweetheart!), but Cassipia actively murdered Kelmen Locke.
- @PreciseNebula: Yeah it’s tricky as you don’t wanna come off as insensitive etc, I’ve always viewed it as “we’re people at the end of the day & we have flaws too with some going to the extreme” but you’re right with ESO being very decent in representation, beyond appreciated Smiling face with smiling eyes
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: Yeah, I think there's always a worry doing representation with a LGBT+ villain cuz you don't want to be disrespectful to the community! So I would say it needs to be a game with multiple examples of representation as well, which luckily we have!!!
- @PreciseNebula: Oh yeah defo! Not like they’re a villain because of who they are etc but it bringing another level of complexity to the character as such. Thought it would be interesting anyhow, hopefully involving The Adamantine Tower (my dream continues)
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- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: I love me some werewolves, so it was awesome to work on the Wolfhunter DLC! I also love dragons and witches.
- For ESO, the aardvark will always have a special place in my heart. It was the topic of the first book I wrote!
- Sci-fi wise, I gotta give a shout out to Vulcans!
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- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: If I can call witches creatures, I can call Vulcans creatures lol. Least I know they won't get upset about it! : P
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@OspreySenpai: Favorite school of magic in Skyrim?
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: Magic? What is this magic? An Orc warrior has no need for such trifling things!
- Though ... perhaps Destruction magic may be to my liking, given the opportunity ...
- @OspreySenpai: Ah a fellow Orcish warrior. Curious on your usual equipment now!
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: A big old axe. It was so hard to give up the The Rueful Axe to save Barbas! But I did it, because I wasn't pure evil haha.
- @OspreySenpai: Ah a fellow Orcish warrior. Curious on your usual equipment now!
Rykoth @Rykoth1: If you could help make another MMO for a pre-existing fantasy setting OR sci fi setting that has yet to see an MMO made for it, what would it be?
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: Lately, Star Trek comes to mind! I would love to do something a la Mass Effect.
- Fantasy wise, the worlds of @TamoraPierce would be amazing. Creating stories for the Tortall Universe in particular would be a dream come true!
- Oh shoot, I broke the rules, you said MMO! Star Trek already has an MMO. Ah, ah ...
- Lets double up in fantasy, I would love to do an MMO set in the world of Howl's Moving Castle as well! That's such a kooky world, I feel like it would be a lot of fun!
@Sailorpalutena: Are we getting a Southern Elsweyr to follow up the story or next dlc will be in Covenant lands? (following the wheel: Craglorn > Murkmire > Elsweyr > ...)
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: I cannot speak about future content for ESO. You'll just have to wait and find out!
@Sailorpalutena: Ok, gotta ask an opinion. If you were to work on a chapter with a Daedra prince being the major antagonist, which one would you pick? I wish Bethesda give some love to Jyggalag and Sanguine.
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: Hircine or Trinimac! My buff monster bois.
@veledir: Who’s your favorite Elder Scrolls Dragon? ... and why is he Alduin? Face savouring food
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: My main man Paarthurnax of course!
@individualchic: (Not asking for ESO future spoilers) but if you could pick any part of Tamriel to set stories where would you choose and what aspect of the lore would you investigate while there?
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: Would be cool to do a Daedric realm! Going to Hircine's realm for our Wolfhunter DLC was awesome, but I would love to do something more story content heavy.
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- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: I'm not sure about that one Woman shrugging
[suspended]: Was Darien a Demiprince? He said he doesn't remember his mom, but says Meridia brought him into the world
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: I never got the chance to work with Darien, so I couldn't tell you! Maybe Jason Barnes might have some insight he's willing to share ...? ;)
[suspended]: With the dragons kicking about now, since Nafaalilargus is still alive in ESO, are he and Nahfahlaar the same dragon?
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: I'm not sure about that one Woman shrugging
@LotusOfDoom: Have you played more in the overall TES series and if so which game would you consider your favorite?
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: Just Skyrim, and I obviously loved it lol. Very well deserved accolades on that one ; P
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- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: I think they're both great powers who want control. The consequences, however, were definitely "evil" on the Daedra's side because it meant a lot of civilian deaths and whatnot. Whether the Tribunal actually cared about stopping those deaths or just keeping the power they had? Woman shrugging
--- @frazzled_fox: Which of the Daedric Princes is your favorite, and who would you like to write for?
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: Hircine and Trinimac. I actually DID get to write a bit for Hircine in Wolfhunter, but I would love to do a far longer, more narrative heavy quest with him. I've never gotten to write for Trinimac, but I would love to!
@SamuraiAstur: Why hasnt Eveli Sharp-arrow return to Tamriel?
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: Not for lack of me trying, believe me you!
@AzureAlay: What is one place in Tamriel that you would like to see one day? For me it's Necrom cause hello giant city of the dead!
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: Azuras realm would be cool! It was very strong in Skyrim, I wanna see our take on it!
@soundsnotstr8: What's been your favorite thing that your written that out right now?
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: Manor of Masques, Riverhold Abduction, Hulkynd's Heart/Bantering with Bandits, Art of the Nisswo, The Astronomer's Apprentice...
@skymagpie: Oh man one of my fav writers had an AMA I (almost?) missed! What to ask-- Alright, do you have TES characters that are your own and you write them for fun and if yes, how many and have you shared them online ever?
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: Not really? Any character I think of ends up populating the cities of Tamriel or end up as IC characters. With so much content being created, I can't afford to keep them to myself : P
[suspended]: (?)
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: I would love for more women in lore. There's a fair amount now, but a lot of Tamriel's legends are definitely male dominated.
@Valkyriedown: If you ever decide to go back to any part of Morrowind in a future DLC, what house’s would you want to culture would you want to explore the most?
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: My personal favorite is the Ashlanders, cuz screw mainstream society, am I right?
(private): (?)
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: MY CHARACTERS - Alchemy, Mizzik, Manacar
- OTHER CHARACTERS - Varuni, Luciana, Xukas
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- @vonFawks: oh, i loved mizzik!
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- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: I definitely hope we bring him back :)
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UESP @UESP_net: What is your favorite piece of TES Lore, that you did NOT work on? What is your favorite piece of TES Lore, that you DID work on?
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: Did NOT work on - Trinimac. I would love to do a quest with him one day!
- I DID work on - Clockwork City, hands down. Mnemonic Planisphere in particular! Hircine and his Great Hunt comes in at a close second, though :)
- @Akselmo: Clockwork City was one of my favorite DLC's. (I like em all but it's on the top there :D) Everything felt very different from "normal" TES, but it was just right kind of different!
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: I loved the world building so much @w@ We haven't done anything quite like it since!
- @Akselmo: Clockwork City was one of my favorite DLC's. (I like em all but it's on the top there :D) Everything felt very different from "normal" TES, but it was just right kind of different!
[suspended]: (?)
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: TES lore is so big and so mysterious, and up for interpretations of all kinds. So I don't really know if anything in the game can really be called "canon" unless the player sees it happen!
[private]: (?)
- Tori Schafer @Tori_Schafer: I'm afraid that is up to bigger wigs than I in the company! Sorry, but that's just not something I can answer Smiling face with open mouth and cold sweat