The Morrowind Prophecies: Game of the Year Edition Official Strategy Guide [Paperback]

Peter Olafson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2000

Contains strategy tips for The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, Tribunal, and Bloodmoon.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Bethesda (2000)
• ISBN-10: 0929843320
• ISBN-13: 978-0929843322
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #297,694 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

91 of 91 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The new standard for gaming guides., June 16, 2004

By 

Chris B (Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Morrowind Prophecies: Game of the Year Edition Official Strategy Guide (Paperback)

As most gamers know, most stategy guides that are printed in paperback form are a mixed blessing. While the benefit of having a solid physical book to use when playing is a tangible boon, the content contained in them has typically been of poor quality. Oftentimes, content is missiQng (at best) or incorrect (at worst). Most serious gamers tend to instead look at online gaming guides, designed by and for other gamers. While far more in-depth, the drawback of having to print out 100+ pages is daunting.

Peter Olafson's Morrowind Prophecies is the type of game guide that gamers, both serious and casual, are looking for when they purchase a game guide. Given the complexity and detail of the game - ignoring the expansions - it would be understood if some content was missing.

I'm very happy to say this is not the case. This guide not only covers the primary quests and missions for both the Main Game and the Expansions, but explores even the most obscure and small facts and situations possible. Take every guide you've read for Morrowind, combine them in a cohesive way, and add 20+ more hours of content, and you have the Morrowind Prophecies. I've played this game off-and-on for over a year, and this guide has helped me discover things I'd previously wasn't aware of.

Not only is the content nearly perfect, but Olafson writes it in such a tounge-in-cheek manner that practically makes the reader forget he's reading a game guide, but a commentary on a myraid of situations. Imagine Mystery Science Theater 3000 were to 'watch' Morrowind, and you'll understand the intended tone - admiring it as a quality game, but unafraid to point out some peculiarities as they arise. Either pointing out that many Imperial Legion missions seem to be about fellow soldiers who stole one unique item or another ("Apparently the Legion needs to screen its Knights a little bit better."), or that a character seems to be a cocaine-addicted Santa Claus, Olafson makes you laugh at the game, and at yourself for not realizing it. No matter how silly a situation is, it is obvious Olafson likes this game quite a bit.

The guide seems to be written using the console version of Morrowind, mentioning the one or two minor situations in which the console version differs from the computer version. Only one situation is omitted, but this is understandable - a miscellaneous quest within the game does not work as it is intended on the computer version.

The only frustrating portion of the guide is the maps. While detailed well, sometimes certain locations are far from any other landmarks, and are not makred on the map.

When all is said and done, Morrowind Prophecies is the essential guide for such an intricate and complex game like Morrowind, and the expansions.

There is one final flaw in the book, although it is to be expected - reading it after you've decided not to play the game anymore may lead you to be playing for another 6 months. I would argue, however, that that isn't much of a flaw at all.

63 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Thorough, January 14, 2006

By 

Mr. Good - See all my reviews

This guide is immense. However, immenseness is neccesary for an equally immense game like Morrowind.

The guide to the the original Morrowind game is set up like this: First there's information about weapons, enemies, classes, races, and birthsigns. Then there's maps, a guide to the main quest, guides to the faction quests, (Which are further subdidvided by faction, area, and quest assigner) and finally miscellaneous quests. The two expansions, Bloodmoon and Tribunal, are set up the same way.

The guide does not have a complete walkthrough for the game (meaning it doesn't tell you exactly what to do step-by-step from the time you boot it up), simply because Morrowind is a game that relies very heavily on exploration. Also, Olafson writes very tongue-in-cheek. In an early Mages' Guild quest, you have to go pick some mushrooms. He says, "What is this, my daughter's science project?" Like that. One minor quip: A guide to where to find spells would have been very helpful. Those take a lot of hunting to find.

Additionally, if you're looking for general gameplay tips, or any gameplay tips at all, you're screwed. It has guides to every quest in the game, which is saying a lot, but no more than that. Ah well.

P.S. Please rate this review!

79 of 88 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This guide is a must own for the serious Vvardenfell adventurer!, October 5, 2005

By 

David Lehwalder - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

As most gamers know, most strategy guides that are printed in paperback form are a mixed blessing. While the benefit of having a solid physical book to use when playing is a tangible boon, the content contained in them has typically been of poor quality. Oftentimes, content is missing (at best) or incorrect (at worst). Most serious gamers tend to instead look at online gaming guides, designed by and for other gamers. While far more in-depth, the drawback of having to print out 100+ pages is daunting.

Peter Olafson's Morrowind Prophecies is the type of game guide that gamers, both serious and casual, are looking for when they purchase a game guide. Given the complexity and detail of the game - ignoring the expansions - it would be understood if some content was missing.

I'm very happy to say this is not the case. This guide not only covers the primary quests and missions for both the Main Game and the Expansions, but explores even the most obscure and small facts and situations possible. Take every guide you've read for Morrowind, combine them in a cohesive way, and add 20+ more hours of content, and you have the Morrowind Prophecies. I've played this game off-and-on for over a year, and this guide has helped me discover things I'd previously wasn't aware of.

Not only is the content nearly perfect, but Olafson writes it in such a tongue-in-cheek manner that practically makes the reader forget he's reading a game guide, but a commentary on a myriad of situations. Imagine Mystery Science Theater 3000 were to 'watch' Morrowind, and you'll understand the intended tone - admiring it as a quality game, but unafraid to point out some peculiarities as they arise. Either pointing out that many Imperial Legion missions seem to be about fellow soldiers who stole one unique item or another ("Apparently the Legion needs to screen its Knights a little bit better."), or that a character seems to be a cocaine-addicted Santa Claus, Olafson makes you laugh at the game, and at yourself for not realizing it. No matter how silly a situation is, it is obvious Olafson likes this game quite a bit.

The guide seems to be written using the console version of Morrowind, mentioning the one or two minor situations in which the console version differs from the computer version. Only one situation is omitted, but this is understandable - a miscellaneous quest within the game does not work as it is intended on the computer version.

The only frustrating portion of the guide is the maps. While detailed well, sometimes certain locations are far from any other landmarks, and are not marked on the map.

When all is said and done, Morrowind Prophecies is the essential guide for such an intricate and complex game like Morrowind, and the expansions.

There is one final flaw in the book, although it is to be expected - reading it after you've decided not to play the game anymore may lead you to be playing for another 6 months. I would argue, however, that that isn't much of a flaw at all.