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Prerelease:The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind/The Settlements

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This is a sub-page of Prerelease:The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind.

This cactus is UNDER CONSTRUCTION
This article is a work in progress.
...Well, all the articles here are, in a way. But this one moreso, and the article may contain incomplete information and editor's notes.
Hmmm...
To do:
  • Add all pre-release screenshots of cities, towns, and most friendly NPCs.
  • Take comparison screenshots in the final release of the game and add them to a comparison box.
  • Note all differences between screenshots between pre-release and the final.

Gen-Gnisis

The first settlement developed by Bethesda went through many documented revisions. Many architectural styles that would be used to build the rest of the game found their first usage in Gnisis. These include the Imperial, Redoran, and Velothi.

Early Construction Set Early Wireframe Early Gnisis Final Release
GnisisEarly6.png
GnisisEarly5.png
GnisisEarly4.png
GnisisEarly7.png
  • The first image shows off a very bare-bones version of Gnisis in the Construction Set. Of note, the cells for Vivec appear to have been chosen at this early stage, and a testing interior cell listed in the Construction Set is presumably an early version of Todd Test. Also the file name for the project is "todd test.esp" chances are this was a section file of sorts that was used by Todd Howard and other developers for testing and developing certain things assigned to be completed before being merged into the main game's .esm file.
  • There are three different versions of the Gnisis Temple shown, with the texture of the roof's dome being the easiest difference to see between each image. An additional fourth revision of the temple can be seen in the prototype movie screenshots.
  • The water pool surrounding the muck sponges in the early build is missing in the final release.
  • The muck sponges have different models and textures in the early build and final release.
  • An entire building right of the strider port was completely removed. This building is completely unique, and isn't seen anywhere in the final game.
  • Minor changes in landscape levels, especially near the strider port.
  • The crates on the roof of the strider port are stacked differently between the early build and final release.
  • Additional scenery objects including trees and rocks are added in the final release.

Houses and Guilds

Early Build Final Release Early Build Final Release
Mwind-pc08.png
Mwind-pc06.png
Mwind-pc07.png
Mwind-pc51.png
  • The Boiled Netch Leather armor is different from the final version and appears to be a darker black. It seems an anti-aliasing method is being used in the screenshots as well.
  • In the second image on the top right, the shirtless male NPC appears to be using the red mohawk hair style; Due to a rendering issue the hair doesn't display correctly, causing the mohawk to cut off at a certain point. Aditionally, the loincloth for the Netch armor is much longer and appears to be reused from the early chitin armor set. In fact, it seems like a lot of the pants, and Dunmer styled cuirasses, use this loincloth integrated into their models. It could be that this was a placeholder for that body part on the various clothing and armor pieces until they could model new ones. (Morrowind's clothing, body, and armor models tend to be divided into segments due to how clothing layering works in the game. A feature that later entries in the series would remove almost entirely likely due to its complexity and the clipping issues it inevitably causes.)
Early Indoril armor in full
  • In the bottom left image, Ordinators were present in Gnisis' exterior. In the final version they are only present inside the temple, guarding the Ash Mask of Vivec that is used for Tribunal Temple Pilgrimages. Also worth noting, the Indoril armor texture work is very different, featuring a much less detailed and arguably more cartoony look. This armor appears bulkier, as the early shoulder pads are positioned to flare the tips of the pauldron upward and outward, making them, and the armor, appear much larger. This is in addition to there being large ring-like bands on the pauldrons, which were shrunken in size and integrated as a single piece in the final version of the armor. This armor design is in line with other early armor designs seen in the well known early Vivec mockup.
  • The final image at the bottom right, shows the player fighting "Todd's Super Tester Guy". It can be confirmed to be him due to his Chitin armor and steel battle axe that he carries in the final game. In fact, it seems that at one point Gnisis was part of a smaller .esp made for testing known as "todd test.esp" as shown from the construction set image above.

Temple Marketplace

This series of screenshots showcase Bethesda's refinement of interacting with a merchant through different stages of the game.

Prototype Movie Earlier Build Early Build Final Release
MwArtbookMov4.png
GnisisEarly2.png
Morrowind-prerelease-2.jpg
Morrowind-final-2.png
  • The color temperature in the earlier build is noticeably more pink and saturated in color.
  • The texture on the back of the Imperial Shield was changed and the handle re-modeled for the final.
  • The dark elf male on the left side of the early screenshot and final release image is wearing a different pair of pants.
  • The temple walls in the prototype movie are bright white instead of the sandy-mud brown of every other version.
  • The earlier and early versions of the temple have a dark, thin trim piece which is not present in the final.
  • The merchant started with the name Vinor Sarin, before the name or NPC was replaced with Shulki Ashunbabi in the final game. Their clothing, appearance, and wares differ substantially between each version.
  • Vinor/Shulki's tent is too small to provide them shade in the prototype; Every other version gives the NPC cover.
  • In the prototype movie, there are two chairs to the right of the merchant as scenery objects. Neither of these chairs appear in any other version.

Silt Strider and Fort Darius

Strider

The Strider port provides travel services and inspires the people of Gnisis (and it's developers) with the promise of adventure, freedom, and safe travel to the many other cities and points of interest in Vvardenfell.

Early Build Final Release
GnisisEarly3.png GnisisStrider2.png
  • Colors are more saturated and vibrant like other screenshots of builds in this time period.
  • The terrain in the background of the first image is quite unfinished and indicates minimal work has been completed to the wilderness surrounding Gnisis.
  • The strider port is no longer aligned with the passenger carriage of the Silt Strider in the final version. The terrain, NPCs, and structures were significantly lowered.
  • Kwama eggs, crates, baskets, and other clutter has been removed from base of the support beams.
  • A flag on the structure has been removed.
  • The rocks near the eggs have a much darker brown color and are slightly moved around.
  • Positioning of the Nordic Battle Axe is slightly different in the player's hands.

Fort Darius

Fort Darius serves the dual purposes as the entrance to the city of Gnisis and as a ever present reminder of the Imperial Legion's control over the economic development of the region.

Early Build Final Release
Mwind-pc17.png
Mwind-pc01.png
  • The night time screenshot of Fort Darius shows much larger/brighter stars in the night sky.
  • The illumination of the fort and surrounding scenery at night is much darker than the final release.

Construction Set

Being made so early in development, Gnisis served a valuable role in showcasing the features and usability of the Construction Set with the gaming press and public before the release.

Early Construction Set Final Construction Set Early Construction Set Final Construction Set
MWCS GnisisOrdinator.png
MWCS GnisisOrdinator comp.png
MW GnisisTemple.png
MWCS Dwelling.png
Mwind-pc26.png
  • The Guar in the last screenshot has an earlier 3D model than the final game.
  • The Ordinator placed in the marketplace is wearing the early version of the Indoril armor. He is also equipped with what looks like a Steel or Iron Katana indicating that it wasn't decided if they should use Ebony Maces yet or not. Ebony weapons may also not have been made yet alternatively.

Pelagiad: An Oasis of Traditional Fantasy

Hmmm...
To do:
  • Separate the screenshots into sub-sections like the Gnisis section of this article.
  • All the above mentioned "To-Do" items in the "To-Do List" at the top of the article.
Early Templar armor in full
Early texture work of the Templar armor.

Pelagiad served as another early development area for Bethesda, opting to establish what the Imperial colonization of a volcanic island would look like. The Imperial architecture seen in early Pelagiad served a vital role of showing off some of the more traditional medieval buildings that previous entries in the series were known for. This is further evidenced by Pelagiad's prominence on the artwork for the Morrowind CD itself. Many of the screenshots of early Pelagiad are deeply saturated in color, looking more akin to the art direction of the previously released Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard than the final release. A member of the cut Red Templars faction is also proudly shown off in front of the entrance of Fort Pelagiad. This Templar is wearing an early version of what became the Imperial Templar armor in the final game, and serves as the armor for Imperial Legionnaires that are the rank of Captain or higher. Also worth noting about this armor is that it seems the red bits of cloth that were one the upper arms were already scrapped by this point. (see image to the right) the pieces of the red cloth for the upper arms are still in the game data of the final, albeit unused. An early version of the Templar cuirass as well as other textures were actually shown off as part of Hugh Riley's portfolio, albeit in Jpeg format which is where the texture on the right comes from.

Early Build Final Release Early Build Final Release Early Build Final Release
PelagEarly1.png
PelagEarly2.png
PelagEarly3.png
PelagEarly4.png
PelagEarly5.png
PelagEarly6.png
PelagEarly7.png
PelagEarly8.png
PelagEarly9.png

Ald'Ruhn, or is it Ald-Ruhn?

Hmmm...
To do:
  • Separate the screenshots into sub-sections like the Gnisis section of this article.
  • Write an introduction that provides developmental context for the city.
  • All the above mentioned "To-Do" items in the "To-Do List" at the top of the article.
Early Build Final Release
AldCity.png 320px
Early Build Final Release
AldAldSkaar.png 320px
Early Build Final Release
AldAldSkaarInt.png 320px
Early Build Final Release
AldRuhnArgonSkaar.png 320px
Early Build Final Release
Morrowind-prerelease-1.jpg Morrowind-final-1.png
  • The trama shrubs to the left of the staircase are missing.
  • The plants on the upper level were originally higher.
  • There's no NPC in the area matching the appearance of the NPC from the early screenshot.
Early Build Final Release
Morrowind-prerelease-4.jpg Morrowind-final-4.png
  • The crates under the awning on the left are replaced with jars.
  • The NPCs have different clothing and appearances compared to their final versions.
Early Build Final Release
AldHomeInterior.png 320px
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