Check out the original article, and the modder’s website: www.eurogamer.net/the-story-behind-the-oblivion-mod-terry-pratchett-worked-on lovkullen.net/Emma/
So, WAY back in the day, I was a member of the Craftybits forum. A crafting overhaul mod for Oblivion. I was checking out the bugs subforum, and saw quite possibly the best bug report thread, by Sir Terry himself.. "Day one: I think I've stumbled on a method of duplicating cheese wheels. I'll keep you all informed" "Day three: My method is unfortunately repeatable, in that it's a self-perpetuating reaction.." "Day seven: I can no longer reach the door from my kitchen, and I fear I may die in here. Please send help. And salt!" With accompanying screenies of his Oblivion home gradually filling with more and more and more cheese wheels.
This is such a fun story! I've never played the game myself but I was hoping to find the old bug report and read it for the fun of it. I had little luck, however, The wayback machine DOES have some captures of "bug reports - CB" from 2009, including a topic called "now the cheese is repeating..." by Terry Pratchett, along with some others of his. Unfortunately the threads themselves don't seem to be available for reading. I even found one capture from March 26th 2009 showing him as a currently online user...
What a gem XD From my EVE days i remember a site that concentrated stuff like that and one had a somewhat eturbed sounding GM responding to a ticket with the closing line hoping for the ticket feature not be isused like that but would recommend the sandwich first over some other dish. Or randomly encountering a GM in the wilds in classic Wow, sometimes the funnist things happen
This should be one of those random things you stumble across A cabin with a wizard called sir Terry dead in there A barricade of cheese wheels you have to climb through Maybe a side quest that gets you some weird replicating cheese or something And you find the I'll keep you informed and you have to find the second one about the self perpetuating cheese then the others outside his cabin door like he just managed to get it over the cheese pile
There is an absolutely hilarious passage in Terry's Biography about him prefering to play Oblivion instead of finalizing a novel with a hard deadline looming just hours away from total disaster.
I think we can all identify with that (well those of us of a certain age when we played it) - for me, it was avoiding studying for exams and playing Oblivion!
Ha, that resonates. When what was meant to be an essay all-nighter prior to a midday deadline ended up being Oblivion until 6am, followed by a period of intensely desperate speed-typing. Wouldn't have imagined Terry being in the same position at the same time!
@@snograt I'm fairly certain that was Douglas Adams, who once had to be locked in a hotel room with his editor in order to actually finish one of his books
@@turntablestudios that sounds both incredibly awkward and incredibly helpful. I'm literally trying to meet a deadline now. I'd love an annoying editor watching over my shoulder, stopping me from straying onto TH-cam lol
"For Emma ... for helping me understand goblins" The dedication is right there in Snuff. I loved playing with Vilja as a companion in Skyrim. And never did I make the connection. Thanks for sharing this beautiful story!
What a beautiful story. The fact that Terry Pratchett wanted to befriend the goblins made me smile. The only time I can think of that he specifically wrote about video games in one of his novels was in his 1992 kids book 'Only You Can Save Mankind' which is about a boy who finds out that the cannon-fodder aliens in a space battle game are real after they surrender to him and ask him to help protect them. It's so wonderful that the modder helped him fulfil what must have been a long term wish. Pratchett's daughter Rhianna is also a writer and has contributed to a number of video games.
It's an amazing story, isn't it - it's why it stuck with me for so many years! And it's amazing to have a mod that has contributions from such a literary giant. I haven't read that book - I'll have to check it out! Reminds me somewhat of Enders Game, but I won't say anything about that on the slim chance you don't know that plot! But yes, it's probably one of the most poignant gaming stories I've ever come across, which is why I wanted to cover it, get it out to a wider audience, and point people to the writer of the article/Emma and the other modders involved.
you guys are gonna think I'm an ass but I freaking called it the second I saw terry pratchett and oblivion I knew it was going to something to do with the goblins
He used to run a stall at the Robin Hood festival at Sherwood Forest. No announcement, no sign sating "Meet Terry Pratchett", nothing, he just took part because he enjoyed it and it was a nice surprise if anyone recognised him
Me too! The thought of a poor brilliant old man who's mind is slowly beginning to slip losing his orientation in a video game dungeon but being guided out by a fictional character that a friend created partly for him is just absolutely heart breaking 😭
i teared up when i saw this title! my grandpa loved terry pratchett so much! he bought every book until he was diagnosed with cancer. he died on january 2015 on new years day and i still miss him dreadfully. grandpa also loved oblivion! i watched him play after school and i think thats where i felt the most at home. he would’ve loved to find this out and i wish with all my heart i could watch this with him.
"A man is not dead while his name is still spoken." This story and your delivery brought this old man to tears; Thank you Shades, thank you Cian, and thank you Terry, Emma, and Charles.
Terry Pratchett was also a big-time fan of the classic computer game NetHack, which gave tribute to his books through the Tourist role as well as other more subtle nods. So strong was the connection that when he died the developers dedicated version 3.6.0 to Terry's memory with a very extensive collection of tributes including making the in-game cameras imp-powered and changing the squeaky board trap to reference an excerpt from one of his books.
I’m loving the info people are sharing here in the comments - thank you for this. I didn’t know this myself, so I’m gonna go read into this further - and I’m sure others scrolling through will be interested as well!
That game is crazy difficult btw. I have heard of people taking years just to ascend, though that was way back in the day. I think the internet has made it easier due to optimization and guides.
I was privileged to be one of the beta testers for this mod. It is still, after all these years, my all-time favorite Elder Scrolls companion mod (for both Oblivion and Skyrim). Emma's Morrowind companion mods were groundbreaking in their time as well. Very nice video! .
Amazing - thanks for stopping by! You were part of the story as well, then! And yep I wanted to make sure there was a route for people seeing this video to explore further and maybe check out the mods for themselves - and pass on their appreciation to the people who made it all possible!
@PseronWyrd I think I recognize your username from the old TES forums. I was pretty young when I was downloading Morrowind mods, but in retrospect that was such a wonderful, creative community.
I've watched some Oblivion stuff before, but literally just before this I was watching a highlight from the Kill James Bond podcast, featuring the hosts (Abigail Thorne from Philosophy Tube, and November Kelly and Devon from Well There's Your Problem) talking about their favorite YA novels, in which Terry Pratchett featured heavily. So I guess TH-cam got it right in presenting me this.
He was a huge proponent for euthanasia, since there was no real way to know how bad things would get as his condition progressed, only that it would get worse and he'd gradually lose everything that made him who he was... I still remember how devastated I was when I learned he'd passed on, but it was a relief to know that it was peaceful & he was at home with his family, before his worst fears were realised.
@@Blue_Sonnet Yep - imagine losing yourself completely and having no way out of it - I'm relieved also that it ended how it did, but incredibly sad about it too.
I only recently discovered that Emma also made The White Wolf of Lokken Mountain, one of the earliest expansive quest/landmass mods for Morrowind. Its always nice to see how our favourite creators are comnected
@@Nuniixo Mm - I feel you! I subscribe to Nexus Premium out of choice - I always think there should be choice so that if you do have the means and want to show appreciation that way, you can.
I love that Scottish accent and cadence. It's not so heavy that I can't understand it, but it has the bouncy musical quality of the Celtic dialects. Please continue to speak through all the ages, so that we may not be deprived the pleasure of hearing your voice. I miss Mr. Pratchett and his stories. I suppose that is the way of stories though. Life goes on; things change; stories end, begin again, evolve. We carry them in our hearts, and keep them alive in our own stories. On and on, across the endless cascade of creation.
That was a lovely comment to read - thank you for that! I'll make sure to give you a lot more videos then :) and also, a beautiful sentiment there too - I do feel also that the impermanence of life is what gives it meaning.
I love Pratchetts books, they seem to be so human (something that can be missing from some fantasy imo). There's so much empathy and understanding between some characters. Never heard of this, thank you for sharing
Absolutely. It’s a totally rich vibe, if you know what I mean. Basically I just think I’m saying what you’re saying with different words. Like, a rich and authentic experience. And - no problem - was glad to put this together 🙂
“No one is finally dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away, until the clock wound up winds down, until the wine she made has finished its ferment, until the crop they planted is harvested. The span of someone’s life is only the core of their actual existence.” -Reaper Man, 1991 Thank you for winding the clock.
A big chunk of the Oblivion iceberg that I'd never seen before. Thanks for bringing this story (and the source article) to my attention. As a fan of Pratchett, TES and Vilja, this is a full meal for me.
Knowing that me and TERRY PRATCHETT play games the same way makes me so sadly happy. I would've loved to show him all my notes from all the different games I've played and I would KILL to hear him tell me about all of the things he's analysed/noticed.
TH-cam loves to reccomend videos from smaller channels to me a lot. Most of the time, I don't really find myself drawn to them - typically they're only 30 minutes of unedited gameplay or livestream vods. However, today it's given me a video I truly appreciate having been able watch.
Thanks for this, I really appreciate it! I did do a run through of Fallout 3, but made sure those were edited somewhat so the story of each mission was easier to follow... but truth be told, I've had far more fun making the more recent videos, which are in this style :)
Wow, I never heard of this. I know of Discworld from osmosis and that Pratchett wrote it, but that's about it. I literally thought this video would be some kind of meme or something, but to hear that he literally loved the game and engaged with it in such a creative and pacifist way is so endearing and awesome. It reminds me of how I engaged with Skyrim the first time I played it. I thought I was wanted by the imperials after Helgen and would avoid the roads for hours of ingame time. I even avoided going to Solitude because of this. I thought wearing a robe would hide my face and that I needed warm clothes for the cold (I mistakenly thought frost damage was frostbite). I was completely immersed, and the feeling of that is just awesome! I need to read Discworld now. Your video has made me do so.
Thanks for sharing that story of immersion from Skyrim - there's NOTHING like getting lost in these worlds. I can't help but do so on every replay of these types of games. And - I'm glad you will read Discworld! I'm glad this video nudged you in that direction :)
I distinctly remember, back in my young teenage years, how I too was absolutely fascinated by the Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion goblins, their culture, their tribal identities and how the world around them perceived them. (One in-game book in particular suggests that goblins could not only be domesticated, they could be made to socialize properly with humans and live peacefully, but are instead ostracized and even enslaved by the high elves on summurset.) That's probably something that has always been a part of me since the day I first saw The Fellowship of the Ring. Orcs and goblins always interested me. They were just so vile, foul and violent, but at the same time showcased intelligence, hierarchy and even social understanding. Some of my favorite fantasy rpg's and mmorpg's back in the day were generally picked on the basis of whether I could fight hordes of goblins or orcs in them (which is why Champions of Norrath 1 and 2 were two of my favorite titles. Absolute recommendation. In my opinion the better versions of the diablo games.) While that love for goblin- and goblin-adjacent lore has somewhat diminished over the years, I still feel very bad whenever I have to kill some of them, if I ever choose to replay Oblibion. Not just because warchiefs are an ABSOLUTE PAIN IN THE ASS to fight, but because the creatures just wail and cry as you would expect a living, emotional creature to, fighting for their lives and tribe. And leaving a cave full of furniture and rat farms empty and slaughtered always leaves a bit of a gut feeling behind. That I just destroyed something that was part of nature. Then again, I absolutely have no mercy for bandits and willfully-cave-dwelling necromancers and the like, so maybe I'm overthinking the moral aspect of this particular part of the games. It's such a joy to see how a brilliant mind and imaginative soul like that of Terry Pratchett found the same almost childlike wonder and joy in these silly green creatures and their impact on the world around them. I'm glad that one of my favorite teen-years games brought him so much joy and help during his struggles with Alzheimer. R.I.P. to the absolute legend. And kudos to the modders that enabled that joy.
Thanks for this fantastic, thoughtful comment. I feel similarly to you! I think when it comes to the human wrong'uns in the games, like you mentioned, I feel like they have less of an excuse to be violent than creatures who may have a more primal nature. For instance, animals are wild - they can be trained to be around humans, but if they do something violent, I often think - well, that was always a risk eh! And I don't blame them for that.
I learned about this because of a Skyrim mod called 'Vilja in Skyrim' that had dialogue writing done by him. It's basically the same mod as the Oblivion mod you talked about but for Skyrim.
@@shadesofslay Oh, I didn't mean to imply that video games are somehow not "worthy" of inclusion in a discussion about inspiration. I'm a lifelong gamer myself, and have been inspired plenty by various games over the years.
@@Wishbone1977 ah I didn't get that implication from you at all - I guess I meant goblins in the game itself being a, on the face of it, minor part of the experience - after all, how STP engaged with them was so unique and most people wouldn't have given them the attention! But I appreciate that, I feel the same as you do :)
This is so cool, I've been a huge Pratchett fan for 30 years but I had no idea about this, and it makes a lot of sense that this experience would have influenced Snuff, which is very focused on the idea that these disposable enemies have a meaningful culture and inner life.
@@shadesofslay I think the best thing in his books is the wisdom and compassion of some of his characters. "LORD, WHAT CAN THE HARVEST HOPE FOR, IF NOT FOR THE CARE OF THE REAPER MAN?"
@@russellcollins4291 indeed - and that line in particular makes me sure that in his own mind, he’d have faced death - perceived death - as a similarly necessary and merciful force.
No problem, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Please make sure to say something to the author of the article - I couldn't have made this video if I didn't know about the story. I put my own spin on it, but he did the original work :)
Thanks for making me aware of this little subject. Such a wholesome story. Its a nice glimpse into a great man and also validation of my love for modding.
I played with Vilja back in the days, but I never knew Pratchett had anything to do with it; hell, I didn't even know he was an Oblivion fan! Thanks for shedding light on this story!
Thank you! Though it was the original journalist Cian Maher who dug this story up five years ago - credit where credit is due - there's a link to his article in the pinned comment :) but, I wanted to spread the story out there, and I thought I'd put my own spin on it with the video. I LOVE the story.
This video is an absolute gem.Your voice and accent are fantastic. I really want to thank you for telling me about a part of the life of such an amazing person and author. It's simply a great story. I'll definitely give the mod a try.
It’s a lovely story isn’t it - as I said in the vid, it stuck with me for so long. Make sure to tell the author of the original article too if you haven’t already! And - I’m glad it got recommended to you too - TH-cam is doing well today!
Pratchett's life reads like a delight at times with all the little things he yearned to explore and learn about. He always had an eye for the small, and the rare ability to see how powerful they were.
Terry has been my favorite author for decades. This video sparked some tears, I gotta say. This guy had a thing to tell beautiful human stories and every bit I learn of him seems to show that he made them happen as well. Thanks for telling this bit.
The tale of Emma and Sir Terry remains one of my favourites in gaming.I'd been playing with Vilja a few years before I learned it, and it explained a lot of the unique systems she had that never made it into similar mods.
Never played Oblivian, but I resonate with Mr. Pratchet's interest in the goblins. Its how I feel about the Falmer. I also was intrigued by their culture and still try to observe them and make sense of their underground camps.
Well, your video and the article just made me cry and cry. Sir Terry and his worlds were my safe space when the life got rough and I love him for it. Thank you very much for telling us about this!
I wasn't prepared on this when gods of YT algorithms suggested this to me. I haven't played Oblivion, but this opened so much on the story of Snuff for me. Snuff has been one of my personal favorites of all his books. I'm a grown man in tears. Sir Terry, battling with his personal life on deteriorating his brilliant mind, getting help from virtual character to get out of dungeons. Final nail in my coffin before tears really started flowing was connecting dedications in the book for Emma.
It's always nice to hear about the more heartwarming stories in gaming, and this is has been one ofym favourites since first hearing about it a couple years back
This video made my week. Ended up teary-eyed. I've had Terry Pratchett on my to-read list for a long time now, but the humanity within this video has bumped him up to the top... AND I want to give Oblivion another go. AND you're a hero for giving so much credit to good, human journalism. Gonna check out the article and author for sure, and you've got a new permanent subscriber. This is the type of video I come to TH-cam for.
Thank you! Bumping Terry Pratchett to the top of the list and rekindling a desire to play Oblivion? My work here is done! And thanks for acknowledging the credit given - I think it’s totally fine to create work based on others (after all, what are lets plays, lore videos, heck some people read our articles word for word) but in some cases, I feel like a bit more of a spotlight should be put onto the original author. So I’m glad you mentioned that 🙂
Just imagine writing a little mod the next thing you know a world famous author is emailing you dialogue to help out...this is fanfiction on a whole new level.
I knew this story, yet it's nice to see it presented in a well watchable format. It still makes me cry, I really hold the Discworld series close to my heart. Hope you're resting in peace, Terry
It was strange seeing my words in print, but surreal hearing them in that great Scottish accent. You've done a wonderful job of relaying some of the magic I felt while helping to bring Vilja to life.
Charles! Great to see you here! I'm glad you found some value in my retelling of this amazing story :) I can only imagine what it must have been like to live it! Thank you for stopping by to leave a comment - having someone from the tale itself stop by is a surreal moment for me!
This was a video i really needed rn Ive tead through his biography, and ive grown such an admiration for this man. The fact that he played this game that shaped my own childhood and loved it is so amazing Im definitely looking into this companion mod
This was a beautiful story. Terry Pratchett's been a household name for my family for as long as I can remember, so hearing that he once had a passion for my current favorite pass time feels pretty fantastic. Thank you for sharing this, I appreciate it more than you could ever possibly know.
This made me so happy and so so sad at the same time. I LOVE the discworld and Oblivion and how I didn't know about this is beyond me. Thank you so very much for this. I have Sir Terry's biography but I still haven't been able to read it due to it making me so damn sad we no longer have his light. His characters live in my head and I am overjoyed that he found Oblivion and he enjoyed it so much. I was heartbroken when he started to forget his characters and he decided to leave us. Such a terrible thing to happen to such a geniously creative mind.
You’re very welcome. I think for a lot of people who didn’t know this (and have a love for oblivion) it adds another layer of connection to someone they’ve admired ❤️
I remember hearing some version of this story in the past, but not as complete as this, I'm glad I found this video. Terry is my all-time favourite author, I've read his books since I was a child and they absolutely shaped my world view. The fact that Snuff was born from his experiences here, and dedicated to Emma, is heart-warming. I need to re-read that book soon! I also need to get around to reading The Shepherd's Crown, but I keep putting it off because then I'll never have a new Discworld book to read, and that breaks my heart.
I’m glad you found it too 🙂 and - I feel you. It’s hard to face endings. Knowing there’s still something new that you could preserve forever is torturous but also comforting. If that makes sense.
Goblins, the most despised smelly little creatures in the disk world, Terry made one a modest humble misunderstood, often trod upon diminutive candle maker. Happy not just to contribute but do other's jobs while they take credit all because it was the logical way things will get done. Sustaining abuse from inferior overlings w/a smile & never an ill word. Fighting back his dark nature for the betterment of the whole. He turned a Goblin into an angel. Never knew he was a fan of Oblivion, thanks for posting this. I tried the link but alas I don't do cookies, so replied here. This choked me up a bit. Terry Pratchett & Nigel Planer, never has there been a better match.
Thank you for recording this video! watching it legitimately made me bawl, i love moments of genuine connection like this, where people come together over something they're passionate about and just create for the joy of creation.
No problem! And aw, yeah, it really is a story that gets you in the feels eh! I felt it in my voice when I was reading it out - like, I felt it a bit more hearing myself say what I'd written than I did when I first read about it. There's something about speaking and storytelling that's so primal and communicates/inspires emotions around things, don't you think? And, of course, it's the story itself too which is one of the most poignant gaming tales I've ever come across.
@@shadesofslay Yeah, for real! The part where you talked about how they added Vilja being able to lead you out of the dungeon is the part that got me especially.
@@forest-goddess Yep, it's just so touching isn't it, that someone with his illness was being helped and had ways to keep playing even when he felt helpless
Vilja rules and the Pratchett connection is what made me check out the mod. I’m so grateful to Emma & Co for creating her and adding her to Skyrim as well 😊
First year at university I was in the bookstore, desperately trying to find a book that would help me understand analogue electronics, and instead I picked up the Colour of Magic, which had just been published. For someone who had been mining 40s, 50s, 60s Fantasy genre fiction for the last few years I was the perfect target for the parody and blown away by the invention. A few years later I got to meet him at NiCon, the first science fiction convention in Northern Ireland (shout out to Tommy Ferguson who organised it!) He was such a geek. Man had a ZX81. I knew his daughter was in the gaming industry, but had no idea he was a gamer. Apples, trees etc. Great video! Very much enjoyed it.
this is wonderfully wholesome, I lost myself in Oblivion years ago when it came out I played on 360 so I was not privy to mods, and I just couldn't get the same feeling from Skyrim, I played hundreds of hours and have skyrim on pc and my switch, I love the game, but nothing peaked my curiosity, my creativity, my feeling of being truly immersed, as much as Oblivion. I'm gonna go download it again, and I'd love to meet Vilja
Sir Terry’s involvement in the Oblivion community, and in gaming communities online more broadly, reminds me of the late Steve Albini and his participation in various poker and music production forums. Just a consummate poster and somebody who gained a reputation for being both humble and enthusiastic, and giving with his time and insight.
Mm! It goes beyond humanising, eh - it's like... they're not just normal people. Very, very special and rare people. They're extraordinary in abilities but also extraordinary in their hearts.
Thank you so much for this. I've read all the Discworld novels and love them dearly. I've also played a bit of Oblivion, though more Skyrim to be honest. I'm a middle aged man and found myself blubbing while watching this. Sir Terry was a truly amazing man and a true humanitarian.
If there's one thing I love more than Fallout content, it's Oblivion content. Oblivion was my first Elder Scrolls game back in 2007 when I was 10 years old
Such a tragedy to be such a creative mind with one of my worst fears Alzheimers. In the increasing shadows in the labyrinth of his mind, there was Vilja to be his guide. May he rest in peace and find himself in the worlds he created. Bless those modders.
Pratchett sounded like such a beautiful person & soul ❤ I knew he died in 2015, but it's only now that I see how much losing him really affected me. Like a loss of showing my appreciation for the man before I truly understood his worth, my own ignorance pains me to admit
@@shadesofslay Whoops! Links are disabled here aren't they. The BBC story is titled "My disabled son’s amazing gaming life in the World of Warcraft". It came out on 7th february 2019.
mind = blown i'm on my first time discworld binge and literally finished snuff last week. can't believe he was inspired by goblins from oblivion. this game when modded is to this day one of the best games of all time, but if you watch any video essays like retrospectives or "is it worth playing in current year" everyone just dunks on the vanilla version which has some mechanics that aged like milk and weren't even good back then. and yes, i remember vilja. terry pratchett is so unbelievably BASED.
I'm with you - I run a lightly modded Oblivion, which is where I got my in-game shots from - I think it's *beautiful*. Runs like a dream. And I'm a huge fan of radiant AI, I wish they'd gone even further with it. It's the most living world of all their ES games, imo, tho I'm sure others may disagree with me.
Despite only having played Skyrim, I saw the title and was intrigued. Was not expecting to have tears form hearing the story, but that is exactly what happened. Never would have known any of this without your video, so thank you, it was beautiful ❤.
I've read all of his books multiple times, Sir Terry Pratchett took genuinely an important part in forming my moral framework and fundamental view of the world.. I did not think i could love this man any more BUT NOW YOU TELL ME THIS!! thank you.
Vilja is a HUGELY famous Oblivion mod-- and in addition to being a staple of a lot people's Oblivion playthroughs, was very influential on future companion mods in Oblivion and Skyrim. IIRC Vilja herself was influenced by Morrowind's Julan companion. The community nature of modding is so essential to how it evolves and advances and what the new standards become.
Fantastic video, thanks for sharing this story. I never knew this about Pratchett. (Maybe he would’ve liked doing a pacifist playthrough as much as i did 😢)
he was a real one. few celebs made me sad with their passing. he was one of mine and its fitting in that he spent his working life making me laugh often.
Finding out such a subtle aspect to Pratchett's life feels very insightful and somehow wistful. It's like finding out about Robin WIlliams gamer roots and how much it meant to him. Making me love them, and miss them, even more. Pratchett's diagnosis and death was really painful. Thank you for sharing such a heartwarming story!
You're most welcome - and I agree completely, wistful is the perfect word. I didn't know about Robin Williams' gamer roots - I'm gonna look into that, as I loved him as well!
wow, I wasn't expecting this to make me cry, My grandfather had Alzheimers, and it's such a tragic thing to watch as a person slowly unknows everything and everyone, losing day by day what one might call their essence, those traits, beliefs, ideas, quirks, idiosyncrasies, all of that "self" disintegrating... And you see a person now trapped in a mind they cant command, inside a body they dont recall, passing through confusion to confusion, and behind their eyes you can see the pleas of someone truly frightened and alone. here or there the old person makes it up for a quick gasp of air and then its gone again. I would sit by his side as he rocked in his old chair, and I'd tell him what we where doing on the farm that day, and he'd sometimes come roaring back to himself and let out a belly laugh and ask how long its been since we last had a chance to catch up like this, and then he was gone again. It's a cruel thing to be thrown into this world, work a hard long life, only to have it all ripped away in such an ugly way. I can empathize so much with helping Pratchett out, and forgoing any thought of it being anything other than just some people sharing their worlds with each other. Today, I needed to be reminded of the good we do for each other.
Thank you for sharing your own experiences and insights. It is, indeed, a cruel affliction on both the person and those around them. I've watched a few channels covering this disease and the decline in the people is rather shocking to see over time. Immense respect for those caring for, or dealing with this sort of thing in their lives
Wow. I have used Vilja for a long time. Even played with the mod a bit in Oblivion before I moved on to Skyrim (I use the Skyrim version now). She has always had a permanent place in my load order. This makes it even more special. I am glad that this video was recommended out of nowhere. Subscribed.
![ลองสุ่มไอโฟน 990 โกงมั้ย? [ โกงมั้ยครับ ep.101 ] | DOM](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/bfsWe0j492k/mqdefault.jpg)
Check out the original article, and the modder’s website:
www.eurogamer.net/the-story-behind-the-oblivion-mod-terry-pratchett-worked-on
lovkullen.net/Emma/
So, WAY back in the day, I was a member of the Craftybits forum. A crafting overhaul mod for Oblivion. I was checking out the bugs subforum, and saw quite possibly the best bug report thread, by Sir Terry himself..
"Day one: I think I've stumbled on a method of duplicating cheese wheels. I'll keep you all informed"
"Day three: My method is unfortunately repeatable, in that it's a self-perpetuating reaction.."
"Day seven: I can no longer reach the door from my kitchen, and I fear I may die in here. Please send help. And salt!"
With accompanying screenies of his Oblivion home gradually filling with more and more and more cheese wheels.
That is absolutely fantastic! I'll bet that's a bug report you'll remember forever.
❤ Love this story 😎👍
This is such a fun story! I've never played the game myself but I was hoping to find the old bug report and read it for the fun of it. I had little luck, however, The wayback machine DOES have some captures of "bug reports - CB" from 2009, including a topic called "now the cheese is repeating..." by Terry Pratchett, along with some others of his. Unfortunately the threads themselves don't seem to be available for reading. I even found one capture from March 26th 2009 showing him as a currently online user...
What a gem XD
From my EVE days i remember a site that concentrated stuff like that and one had a somewhat eturbed sounding GM responding to a ticket with the closing line hoping for the ticket feature not be isused like that but would recommend the sandwich first over some other dish.
Or randomly encountering a GM in the wilds in classic Wow, sometimes the funnist things happen
This should be one of those random things you stumble across
A cabin with a wizard called sir Terry dead in there
A barricade of cheese wheels you have to climb through
Maybe a side quest that gets you some weird replicating cheese or something
And you find the I'll keep you informed and you have to find the second one about the self perpetuating cheese then the others outside his cabin door like he just managed to get it over the cheese pile
There is an absolutely hilarious passage in Terry's Biography about him prefering to play Oblivion instead of finalizing a novel with a hard deadline looming just hours away from total disaster.
I think we can all identify with that (well those of us of a certain age when we played it) - for me, it was avoiding studying for exams and playing Oblivion!
Ha, that resonates. When what was meant to be an essay all-nighter prior to a midday deadline ended up being Oblivion until 6am, followed by a period of intensely desperate speed-typing. Wouldn't have imagined Terry being in the same position at the same time!
“I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.” - Terry Pratchett.
@@snograt I'm fairly certain that was Douglas Adams, who once had to be locked in a hotel room with his editor in order to actually finish one of his books
@@turntablestudios that sounds both incredibly awkward and incredibly helpful.
I'm literally trying to meet a deadline now. I'd love an annoying editor watching over my shoulder, stopping me from straying onto TH-cam lol
"For Emma ... for helping me understand goblins"
The dedication is right there in Snuff. I loved playing with Vilja as a companion in Skyrim. And never did I make the connection. Thanks for sharing this beautiful story!
You're very welcome. And - thanks for putting that dedication here - I knew someone would eventually!
That's great!
I just finished re-reading Snuff last week (one of the best IMO)... always wondered what that line was about!
I dont know Snuff or Terry, but I loved the Vilja mod alot
oh my god just checked my copy and youre right!! thats so cool!
Honestly, finding out Snuff is largely based on Pratchett's Oblivion experience explains so damn much about that book.
Did you see some commenters noted that the dedication of Snuff is to Emma, the modder?
What a beautiful story. The fact that Terry Pratchett wanted to befriend the goblins made me smile. The only time I can think of that he specifically wrote about video games in one of his novels was in his 1992 kids book 'Only You Can Save Mankind' which is about a boy who finds out that the cannon-fodder aliens in a space battle game are real after they surrender to him and ask him to help protect them. It's so wonderful that the modder helped him fulfil what must have been a long term wish. Pratchett's daughter Rhianna is also a writer and has contributed to a number of video games.
It's an amazing story, isn't it - it's why it stuck with me for so many years! And it's amazing to have a mod that has contributions from such a literary giant. I haven't read that book - I'll have to check it out! Reminds me somewhat of Enders Game, but I won't say anything about that on the slim chance you don't know that plot! But yes, it's probably one of the most poignant gaming stories I've ever come across, which is why I wanted to cover it, get it out to a wider audience, and point people to the writer of the article/Emma and the other modders involved.
makes me wonder what sir terry would have thought of undertale, lol
you guys are gonna think I'm an ass but I freaking called it
the second I saw terry pratchett and oblivion I knew it was going to something to do with the goblins
@@heehoo3685 I think he’d have LOVED it
@@tictacterminator I believe you!
He used to run a stall at the Robin Hood festival at Sherwood Forest. No announcement, no sign sating "Meet Terry Pratchett", nothing, he just took part because he enjoyed it and it was a nice surprise if anyone recognised him
Just a great human being. I think that's what comes across in his writing, for me - genuine.
Pratchett is one of the only celebrities whose death genuinely affected me. He truly was a treasure
bump.
i was at work when I saw that he had passed away. I had to excuse myself to the restroom and have a quick cry.
Agreed. Just agreed.
Him, and Iain. M. Banks, for me.
GNU Terry Pratchett
Vilja helping him out of dungeons makes me cry
It’s very touching isn’t it!
Me too! The thought of a poor brilliant old man who's mind is slowly beginning to slip losing his orientation in a video game dungeon but being guided out by a fictional character that a friend created partly for him is just absolutely heart breaking 😭
I know right? I clicked on this thinking "Huh, interesting!" didn't know it was going to make me cry!
i just know it's going to be one of those things i remember at random times and start crying about, it's so sweet, and so sad
i teared up when i saw this title! my grandpa loved terry pratchett so much! he bought every book until he was diagnosed with cancer. he died on january 2015 on new years day and i still miss him dreadfully.
grandpa also loved oblivion! i watched him play after school and i think thats where i felt the most at home. he would’ve loved to find this out and i wish with all my heart i could watch this with him.
I feel you, I lost my Grandfather in 2016 so about the same time ❤️
"A man is not dead while his name is still spoken."
This story and your delivery brought this old man to tears; Thank you Shades, thank you Cian, and thank you Terry, Emma, and Charles.
You are most welcome - and I thank Cian, Terry, Emma, Charles as well, and yourself for the kind comment :)
What's your definition of "dead"?
@@platogkrone7161 multitudinous.
@@platogkrone7161 read Dune
As soon as you mentioned goblins I thought "This is going to be relevant in Snuff right?"
By the end of the video I was, of course, crying.
Terry Pratchett was also a big-time fan of the classic computer game NetHack, which gave tribute to his books through the Tourist role as well as other more subtle nods. So strong was the connection that when he died the developers dedicated version 3.6.0 to Terry's memory with a very extensive collection of tributes including making the in-game cameras imp-powered and changing the squeaky board trap to reference an excerpt from one of his books.
I’m loving the info people are sharing here in the comments - thank you for this. I didn’t know this myself, so I’m gonna go read into this further - and I’m sure others scrolling through will be interested as well!
Wild, I always thought the tourist from nethack and two flower were related somehow.
That game is crazy difficult btw. I have heard of people taking years just to ascend, though that was way back in the day. I think the internet has made it easier due to optimization and guides.
My god, I always assumed the nethack Tourist was based on Discworld. Never checked the dates
I was privileged to be one of the beta testers for this mod. It is still, after all these years, my all-time favorite Elder Scrolls companion mod (for both Oblivion and Skyrim). Emma's Morrowind companion mods were groundbreaking in their time as well. Very nice video! .
Amazing - thanks for stopping by! You were part of the story as well, then! And yep I wanted to make sure there was a route for people seeing this video to explore further and maybe check out the mods for themselves - and pass on their appreciation to the people who made it all possible!
@PseronWyrd I think I recognize your username from the old TES forums. I was pretty young when I was downloading Morrowind mods, but in retrospect that was such a wonderful, creative community.
@@ian-something He was also a moderator there for a long time, and regularly wrote posts, I found both interesting and insightful 😊
It makes me so happy to hear that Sir Terry enjoyed Oblivion. I always used to play as Rincewind.
It's such a brilliant crossover of worlds, isn't it?
@@shadesofslayIt is! I always imagined the Ivory Tower might be another guise of the Tower of Art as well.
Never played Oblivion so I gotta ask, can you put a brick in a sock?
@@fangoram29 Gonna steal the sock of the arch mage (in lieu of arch chancellor) and see what happens
High athletics/acrobatics build? Not a single spell known but doing the mages guild quests?
Dont know how this was recommended but im glad it was
I'm glad too!
I've watched some Oblivion stuff before, but literally just before this I was watching a highlight from the Kill James Bond podcast, featuring the hosts (Abigail Thorne from Philosophy Tube, and November Kelly and Devon from Well There's Your Problem) talking about their favorite YA novels, in which Terry Pratchett featured heavily. So I guess TH-cam got it right in presenting me this.
@@Benu54321 a sort of nexus point recommendation eh! Glad it brought you here 🙂
I dropped so many things to watch this
@@charleshammel8541 I'm glad you did, thank you for watching!
I didnt know this story, Sir Terry was an absolute legend, taken too soon.
Absolutely - a massive loss, indeed.
He was a huge proponent for euthanasia, since there was no real way to know how bad things would get as his condition progressed, only that it would get worse and he'd gradually lose everything that made him who he was...
I still remember how devastated I was when I learned he'd passed on, but it was a relief to know that it was peaceful & he was at home with his family, before his worst fears were realised.
@@Blue_Sonnet Yep - imagine losing yourself completely and having no way out of it - I'm relieved also that it ended how it did, but incredibly sad about it too.
Omg.. The algorithm for once worked out with an absolute blessing of an upload to watch. Thanks for all the work you went to into sharing this.
You’re most welcome - thanks for taking the time to write this, I really appreciate it 🙂
I only recently discovered that Emma also made The White Wolf of Lokken Mountain, one of the earliest expansive quest/landmass mods for Morrowind. Its always nice to see how our favourite creators are comnected
Indeed - I myself spent some time exploring her modding website and being thoroughly impressed by everything I found!
Modding really is a blessing to the gaming community, no matter what form it takes.
Yep - it’s a big part of why I love these particular games. The modding communities are huge.
Too bad some companies and authors are trying to make it a corporate industry
@@Nuniixo Mm - I feel you! I subscribe to Nexus Premium out of choice - I always think there should be choice so that if you do have the means and want to show appreciation that way, you can.
even lovelab ?
@@siluda9255 not familiar with it, myself
I love that Scottish accent and cadence. It's not so heavy that I can't understand it, but it has the bouncy musical quality of the Celtic dialects. Please continue to speak through all the ages, so that we may not be deprived the pleasure of hearing your voice.
I miss Mr. Pratchett and his stories. I suppose that is the way of stories though. Life goes on; things change; stories end, begin again, evolve. We carry them in our hearts, and keep them alive in our own stories. On and on, across the endless cascade of creation.
That was a lovely comment to read - thank you for that! I'll make sure to give you a lot more videos then :) and also, a beautiful sentiment there too - I do feel also that the impermanence of life is what gives it meaning.
I kept hearing Teddy Pratchett.
I love Pratchetts books, they seem to be so human (something that can be missing from some fantasy imo). There's so much empathy and understanding between some characters. Never heard of this, thank you for sharing
Absolutely. It’s a totally rich vibe, if you know what I mean. Basically I just think I’m saying what you’re saying with different words. Like, a rich and authentic experience. And - no problem - was glad to put this together 🙂
I’ve often thought that Terry Pratchett will be remembered as one of the most important humanists of the late 20th-early 21st century.
“No one is finally dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away, until the clock wound up winds down, until the wine she made has finished its ferment, until the crop they planted is harvested. The span of someone’s life is only the core of their actual existence.” -Reaper Man, 1991
Thank you for winding the clock.
@@rossstewart9475 beautiful. Thank you!
R.I.P. Terry Pratchett. I loved your stories as a kid. Wish you could have been with us longer.
A big chunk of the Oblivion iceberg that I'd never seen before. Thanks for bringing this story (and the source article) to my attention. As a fan of Pratchett, TES and Vilja, this is a full meal for me.
You are very welcome 🙂
The fact that Snuff is partially inspired in Oblivion goblins gives me joy
Did you make the connection with the book's dedication and the mod author Emma?
@@shadesofslay Pride and extreme prejudice.
Knowing that me and TERRY PRATCHETT play games the same way makes me so sadly happy. I would've loved to show him all my notes from all the different games I've played and I would KILL to hear him tell me about all of the things he's analysed/noticed.
This is the greatest, most awesomely, mindbuggeling heartwarming story.
I loved that guy.
This left me with a lump in my throat
❤️
TH-cam loves to reccomend videos from smaller channels to me a lot. Most of the time, I don't really find myself drawn to them - typically they're only 30 minutes of unedited gameplay or livestream vods. However, today it's given me a video I truly appreciate having been able watch.
Thanks for this, I really appreciate it! I did do a run through of Fallout 3, but made sure those were edited somewhat so the story of each mission was easier to follow... but truth be told, I've had far more fun making the more recent videos, which are in this style :)
This made me both sad and happy thank you.
No problem - it's a story that's quite affecting, isn't it?
We call that feeling "bittersweet".
Wow I've heard of Vilja for years, I knew she was the biggest oblivion companion, but I didnt know Terry helped on the mod. Thats really awesome
There you go, a TIL moment :)
Wow, I never heard of this. I know of Discworld from osmosis and that Pratchett wrote it, but that's about it. I literally thought this video would be some kind of meme or something, but to hear that he literally loved the game and engaged with it in such a creative and pacifist way is so endearing and awesome. It reminds me of how I engaged with Skyrim the first time I played it. I thought I was wanted by the imperials after Helgen and would avoid the roads for hours of ingame time. I even avoided going to Solitude because of this. I thought wearing a robe would hide my face and that I needed warm clothes for the cold (I mistakenly thought frost damage was frostbite). I was completely immersed, and the feeling of that is just awesome!
I need to read Discworld now. Your video has made me do so.
Thanks for sharing that story of immersion from Skyrim - there's NOTHING like getting lost in these worlds. I can't help but do so on every replay of these types of games. And - I'm glad you will read Discworld! I'm glad this video nudged you in that direction :)
I distinctly remember, back in my young teenage years, how I too was absolutely fascinated by the Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion goblins, their culture, their tribal identities and how the world around them perceived them. (One in-game book in particular suggests that goblins could not only be domesticated, they could be made to socialize properly with humans and live peacefully, but are instead ostracized and even enslaved by the high elves on summurset.)
That's probably something that has always been a part of me since the day I first saw The Fellowship of the Ring. Orcs and goblins always interested me. They were just so vile, foul and violent, but at the same time showcased intelligence, hierarchy and even social understanding.
Some of my favorite fantasy rpg's and mmorpg's back in the day were generally picked on the basis of whether I could fight hordes of goblins or orcs in them (which is why Champions of Norrath 1 and 2 were two of my favorite titles. Absolute recommendation. In my opinion the better versions of the diablo games.)
While that love for goblin- and goblin-adjacent lore has somewhat diminished over the years, I still feel very bad whenever I have to kill some of them, if I ever choose to replay Oblibion. Not just because warchiefs are an ABSOLUTE PAIN IN THE ASS to fight, but because the creatures just wail and cry as you would expect a living, emotional creature to, fighting for their lives and tribe.
And leaving a cave full of furniture and rat farms empty and slaughtered always leaves a bit of a gut feeling behind. That I just destroyed something that was part of nature.
Then again, I absolutely have no mercy for bandits and willfully-cave-dwelling necromancers and the like, so maybe I'm overthinking the moral aspect of this particular part of the games.
It's such a joy to see how a brilliant mind and imaginative soul like that of Terry Pratchett found the same almost childlike wonder and joy in these silly green creatures and their impact on the world around them.
I'm glad that one of my favorite teen-years games brought him so much joy and help during his struggles with Alzheimer.
R.I.P. to the absolute legend. And kudos to the modders that enabled that joy.
Thanks for this fantastic, thoughtful comment. I feel similarly to you! I think when it comes to the human wrong'uns in the games, like you mentioned, I feel like they have less of an excuse to be violent than creatures who may have a more primal nature. For instance, animals are wild - they can be trained to be around humans, but if they do something violent, I often think - well, that was always a risk eh! And I don't blame them for that.
I learned about this because of a Skyrim mod called 'Vilja in Skyrim' that had dialogue writing done by him. It's basically the same mod as the Oblivion mod you talked about but for Skyrim.
As soon as you mentioned goblins, I thought of Snuff. It's interesting that the inspiration for the book was a video game.
Just goes to show how many experiences one might consider to be innocuous can have a massive impact!
@@shadesofslay Oh, I didn't mean to imply that video games are somehow not "worthy" of inclusion in a discussion about inspiration. I'm a lifelong gamer myself, and have been inspired plenty by various games over the years.
@@Wishbone1977 ah I didn't get that implication from you at all - I guess I meant goblins in the game itself being a, on the face of it, minor part of the experience - after all, how STP engaged with them was so unique and most people wouldn't have given them the attention! But I appreciate that, I feel the same as you do :)
This is so cool, I've been a huge Pratchett fan for 30 years but I had no idea about this, and it makes a lot of sense that this experience would have influenced Snuff, which is very focused on the idea that these disposable enemies have a meaningful culture and inner life.
Reading Terry's books made me feel close to him, his wit and imagination made my life better.
Now I know he was a gamer, I miss him even more.
Yet another commonality he shared with so many of his readers ❤️
@@shadesofslay I think the best thing in his books is the wisdom and compassion of some of his characters. "LORD, WHAT CAN THE HARVEST HOPE FOR, IF NOT FOR THE CARE OF THE REAPER MAN?"
@@russellcollins4291 indeed - and that line in particular makes me sure that in his own mind, he’d have faced death - perceived death - as a similarly necessary and merciful force.
@@shadesofslay Agreed. We better ourselves through our relationship with death, because it is the ultimate cause for life to have meaning.
That was a beautiful story...you made me cry a little. Thanks for sharing it. Also the Long Earth is seriously underrated. GNU Pterry
No problem, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Please make sure to say something to the author of the article - I couldn't have made this video if I didn't know about the story. I put my own spin on it, but he did the original work :)
You’re an absolute legend for bringing this story to the masses via TH-cam
Liked and happily happily subscribed. Absolutely cathartic video what with the music and scenery and brilliant narration + script. Very eloquent.
I have the article as a permanent window in my browser. When I'm feeling down i read it, to remember Pratchett
Fantastic - I’ve had it saved in various places!
Thanks for not using ai voice. Big love+peace.
All real, all the time on this channel!
The voice is far too good to hide
@@shadesofslay It is a fantastic voice, would be a shame to replace it
he has a great voice, but this comment comes off whiny
SorcererDave is doing a Modded Oblivion LP with Vilja while roleplaying as a Khajiit. Nice to hear the story of the mod!
Very nice, I'll check that out!
@@shadesofslay It's been on hold for a good year, but it's good so far!
@@BlazingLee0610 What's it titled as btw? I was trying to find it! I'm already subbed to SorcererDave, just need to know what vid I'm looking for!
@@shadesofslay there's a Playlist. Let's Play Oblivion Again j'zirr's Story. Has 39 episodes.
@@shadesofslay it's a while before Vilja enters the series. At least until Episode 9-10 I think
Thanks for making me aware of this little subject.
Such a wholesome story. Its a nice glimpse into a great man and also validation of my love for modding.
me, hearing about the guide feature for Pratchett after his diagnosis: *I'm not crying, you're crying!* 😭
oh come on! we're ALL crying!!
🥲
I played with Vilja back in the days, but I never knew Pratchett had anything to do with it; hell, I didn't even know he was an Oblivion fan! Thanks for shedding light on this story!
Thank you! Though it was the original journalist Cian Maher who dug this story up five years ago - credit where credit is due - there's a link to his article in the pinned comment :) but, I wanted to spread the story out there, and I thought I'd put my own spin on it with the video. I LOVE the story.
This video is an absolute gem.Your voice and accent are fantastic.
I really want to thank you for telling me about a part of the life of such an amazing person and author.
It's simply a great story. I'll definitely give the mod a try.
Thank you, that means a lot to me! You're very welcome. I'm glad you're going to give the mod a go! I'm sure you'll love it.
So glad this popped up in my recommended and I'm definitely chopping onions right now.
It’s a lovely story isn’t it - as I said in the vid, it stuck with me for so long. Make sure to tell the author of the original article too if you haven’t already! And - I’m glad it got recommended to you too - TH-cam is doing well today!
Even now, Terry Pratchett surprises me with his brilliance. Truly the GOAT.
Pratchett's life reads like a delight at times with all the little things he yearned to explore and learn about. He always had an eye for the small, and the rare ability to see how powerful they were.
I played with Vilja a LOT back in the day, learning about this is a real treat
Good lad for reminding everyone about this. I had totally forgotten about this. Time to get back into Oblivion.
It had to be done! And - super pleased you're gonna get back into Oblivion!
The feels from this are strong.
Color me intrigued, I had no idea Sir Terry Pratchett modded Oblivion. Amazing
I was too, when I first read about it!
@@shadesofslay Yeah, add another feather in the late legend's cap
Terry has been my favorite author for decades. This video sparked some tears, I gotta say. This guy had a thing to tell beautiful human stories and every bit I learn of him seems to show that he made them happen as well. Thanks for telling this bit.
You're most welcome, I'm glad you enjoyed the video :)
The tale of Emma and Sir Terry remains one of my favourites in gaming.I'd been playing with Vilja a few years before I learned it, and it explained a lot of the unique systems she had that never made it into similar mods.
Never played Oblivian, but I resonate with Mr. Pratchet's interest in the goblins. Its how I feel about the Falmer. I also was intrigued by their culture and still try to observe them and make sense of their underground camps.
Well, your video and the article just made me cry and cry. Sir Terry and his worlds were my safe space when the life got rough and I love him for it.
Thank you very much for telling us about this!
You are most welcome 🙂
I wasn't prepared on this when gods of YT algorithms suggested this to me. I haven't played Oblivion, but this opened so much on the story of Snuff for me. Snuff has been one of my personal favorites of all his books. I'm a grown man in tears. Sir Terry, battling with his personal life on deteriorating his brilliant mind, getting help from virtual character to get out of dungeons. Final nail in my coffin before tears really started flowing was connecting dedications in the book for Emma.
The algorithm does seem to be working quite well lately :) I'm glad you've learned something new about a book you love!
It's always nice to hear about the more heartwarming stories in gaming, and this is has been one ofym favourites since first hearing about it a couple years back
Yep, we need more heartwarming stuff! And yep, I love this story. It's so unique.
This video made my week. Ended up teary-eyed. I've had Terry Pratchett on my to-read list for a long time now, but the humanity within this video has bumped him up to the top... AND I want to give Oblivion another go. AND you're a hero for giving so much credit to good, human journalism. Gonna check out the article and author for sure, and you've got a new permanent subscriber. This is the type of video I come to TH-cam for.
Thank you! Bumping Terry Pratchett to the top of the list and rekindling a desire to play Oblivion? My work here is done! And thanks for acknowledging the credit given - I think it’s totally fine to create work based on others (after all, what are lets plays, lore videos, heck some people read our articles word for word) but in some cases, I feel like a bit more of a spotlight should be put onto the original author. So I’m glad you mentioned that 🙂
Just imagine writing a little mod the next thing you know a world famous author is emailing you dialogue to help out...this is fanfiction on a whole new level.
I'd have fallen off of my seat if it were me.
I absolutely love Vilja mod! She feels like a real person. Truly a mind blowing mod. I dont think i can ever play oblivion without the mod.
As someone else said, it became a staple mod didn’t it!
I knew this story, yet it's nice to see it presented in a well watchable format. It still makes me cry, I really hold the Discworld series close to my heart. Hope you're resting in peace, Terry
It was strange seeing my words in print, but surreal hearing them in that great Scottish accent. You've done a wonderful job of relaying some of the magic I felt while helping to bring Vilja to life.
Charles! Great to see you here! I'm glad you found some value in my retelling of this amazing story :) I can only imagine what it must have been like to live it! Thank you for stopping by to leave a comment - having someone from the tale itself stop by is a surreal moment for me!
This was a video i really needed rn
Ive tead through his biography, and ive grown such an admiration for this man.
The fact that he played this game that shaped my own childhood and loved it is so amazing
Im definitely looking into this companion mod
Totally, it's that blending of two worlds isn't it - when you love him, and the game, and you find this out, it just elevates them both!
This was a beautiful story. Terry Pratchett's been a household name for my family for as long as I can remember, so hearing that he once had a passion for my current favorite pass time feels pretty fantastic. Thank you for sharing this, I appreciate it more than you could ever possibly know.
You're most welcome - I appreciate your kind words :)
I had no idea about this. As a Swede, Oblivion player and (most of all) huge fan of Pratchetts work, it brings me joy to see.
This video genuinly made me tear up. Humans are beautiful.
You actually got me to shed a tear by reminding me of the magic of creativity.
This made me so happy and so so sad at the same time. I LOVE the discworld and Oblivion and how I didn't know about this is beyond me. Thank you so very much for this. I have Sir Terry's biography but I still haven't been able to read it due to it making me so damn sad we no longer have his light. His characters live in my head and I am overjoyed that he found Oblivion and he enjoyed it so much. I was heartbroken when he started to forget his characters and he decided to leave us. Such a terrible thing to happen to such a geniously creative mind.
You’re very welcome. I think for a lot of people who didn’t know this (and have a love for oblivion) it adds another layer of connection to someone they’ve admired ❤️
I remember hearing some version of this story in the past, but not as complete as this, I'm glad I found this video.
Terry is my all-time favourite author, I've read his books since I was a child and they absolutely shaped my world view. The fact that Snuff was born from his experiences here, and dedicated to Emma, is heart-warming. I need to re-read that book soon!
I also need to get around to reading The Shepherd's Crown, but I keep putting it off because then I'll never have a new Discworld book to read, and that breaks my heart.
I’m glad you found it too 🙂 and - I feel you. It’s hard to face endings. Knowing there’s still something new that you could preserve forever is torturous but also comforting. If that makes sense.
Goblins, the most despised smelly little creatures in the disk world, Terry made one a modest humble misunderstood, often trod upon diminutive candle maker. Happy not just to contribute but do other's jobs while they take credit all because it was the logical way things will get done. Sustaining abuse from inferior overlings w/a smile & never an ill word. Fighting back his dark nature for the betterment of the whole. He turned a Goblin into an angel. Never knew he was a fan of Oblivion, thanks for posting this. I tried the link but alas I don't do cookies, so replied here. This choked me up a bit. Terry Pratchett & Nigel Planer, never has there been a better match.
You’re most welcome 🙂
I hug to myself the thought that Terry loved and enjoyed The Young Ones and Filthy Rich and Catflap as much as I did. I hope he did.
Thank you for recording this video! watching it legitimately made me bawl, i love moments of genuine connection like this, where people come together over something they're passionate about and just create for the joy of creation.
No problem! And aw, yeah, it really is a story that gets you in the feels eh! I felt it in my voice when I was reading it out - like, I felt it a bit more hearing myself say what I'd written than I did when I first read about it. There's something about speaking and storytelling that's so primal and communicates/inspires emotions around things, don't you think? And, of course, it's the story itself too which is one of the most poignant gaming tales I've ever come across.
@@shadesofslay Yeah, for real! The part where you talked about how they added Vilja being able to lead you out of the dungeon is the part that got me especially.
@@forest-goddess Yep, it's just so touching isn't it, that someone with his illness was being helped and had ways to keep playing even when he felt helpless
Vilja rules and the Pratchett connection is what made me check out the mod. I’m so grateful to Emma & Co for creating her and adding her to Skyrim as well 😊
First year at university I was in the bookstore, desperately trying to find a book that would help me understand analogue electronics, and instead I picked up the Colour of Magic, which had just been published. For someone who had been mining 40s, 50s, 60s Fantasy genre fiction for the last few years I was the perfect target for the parody and blown away by the invention.
A few years later I got to meet him at NiCon, the first science fiction convention in Northern Ireland (shout out to Tommy Ferguson who organised it!)
He was such a geek. Man had a ZX81. I knew his daughter was in the gaming industry, but had no idea he was a gamer. Apples, trees etc.
Great video! Very much enjoyed it.
With Snuff being one of my all-time favourite Discworld novels, this is incredibly interesting and endearing context.
Adds to it a lot doesn’t it? 🙂
this is wonderfully wholesome, I lost myself in Oblivion years ago when it came out I played on 360 so I was not privy to mods, and I just couldn't get the same feeling from Skyrim, I played hundreds of hours and have skyrim on pc and my switch, I love the game, but nothing peaked my curiosity, my creativity, my feeling of being truly immersed, as much as Oblivion. I'm gonna go download it again, and I'd love to meet Vilja
I'm glad this has inspired you to go back into that world :)
Sir Terry’s involvement in the Oblivion community, and in gaming communities online more broadly, reminds me of the late Steve Albini and his participation in various poker and music production forums. Just a consummate poster and somebody who gained a reputation for being both humble and enthusiastic, and giving with his time and insight.
Mm! It goes beyond humanising, eh - it's like... they're not just normal people. Very, very special and rare people. They're extraordinary in abilities but also extraordinary in their hearts.
Thank you so much for this. I've read all the Discworld novels and love them dearly. I've also played a bit of Oblivion, though more Skyrim to be honest. I'm a middle aged man and found myself blubbing while watching this. Sir Terry was a truly amazing man and a true humanitarian.
I'm glad you put this out, I literally just shared this info the other day on Tiktok to a guy trying to make the whiterun guard companion.
If there's one thing I love more than Fallout content, it's Oblivion content. Oblivion was my first Elder Scrolls game back in 2007 when I was 10 years old
You've come to the right place, then, since it'll mostly be this if it isn't Fallout!
Such a tragedy to be such a creative mind with one of my worst fears Alzheimers.
In the increasing shadows in the labyrinth of his mind, there was Vilja to be his guide.
May he rest in peace and find himself in the worlds he created. Bless those modders.
That poor man had to suffer wyre bash. God luck and good speed mr pratchett
Pratchett sounded like such a beautiful person & soul ❤ I knew he died in 2015, but it's only now that I see how much losing him really affected me. Like a loss of showing my appreciation for the man before I truly understood his worth, my own ignorance pains me to admit
There was a norwegian boy, who played WoW with a serious illness. His story is touching, like Terry Pratchett's
I don’t think I heard this story. Got a link to somewhere I can have a read/watch something about it? 🙂
@@shadesofslay Whoops! Links are disabled here aren't they. The BBC story is titled "My disabled son’s amazing gaming life in the World of Warcraft".
It came out on 7th february 2019.
@@crapbasletz Thank you - I will check it out :)
Sure. Since folks are already crying at this, why not another beautiful story about how much the little things are actually the big ones?
mind = blown
i'm on my first time discworld binge and literally finished snuff last week. can't believe he was inspired by goblins from oblivion. this game when modded is to this day one of the best games of all time, but if you watch any video essays like retrospectives or "is it worth playing in current year" everyone just dunks on the vanilla version which has some mechanics that aged like milk and weren't even good back then. and yes, i remember vilja.
terry pratchett is so unbelievably BASED.
I'm with you - I run a lightly modded Oblivion, which is where I got my in-game shots from - I think it's *beautiful*. Runs like a dream. And I'm a huge fan of radiant AI, I wish they'd gone even further with it. It's the most living world of all their ES games, imo, tho I'm sure others may disagree with me.
Despite only having played Skyrim, I saw the title and was intrigued. Was not expecting to have tears form hearing the story, but that is exactly what happened. Never would have known any of this without your video, so thank you, it was beautiful ❤.
You’re very welcome - I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Oblivion is my favourite game of all times, and I had no idea about this story. Time to mod Oblivion a bit and add Vilja to the list
Sir Terry was a personal hero, discworld taught a young audhd me so much about how the world actually works vs how people say it does.
I've read all of his books multiple times, Sir Terry Pratchett took genuinely an important part in forming my moral framework and fundamental view of the world..
I did not think i could love this man any more BUT NOW YOU TELL ME THIS!! thank you.
Every new piece of information seems designed to make people love the man more, eh :)
I never knew this. Man's my favorite author and Oblivion's my favorite TES game.
Vilja is a HUGELY famous Oblivion mod-- and in addition to being a staple of a lot people's Oblivion playthroughs, was very influential on future companion mods in Oblivion and Skyrim. IIRC Vilja herself was influenced by Morrowind's Julan companion. The community nature of modding is so essential to how it evolves and advances and what the new standards become.
I love the modding community. In particular with New Vegas - I play with hundreds of mods.
Fantastic video, thanks for sharing this story.
I never knew this about Pratchett.
(Maybe he would’ve liked doing a pacifist playthrough as much as i did 😢)
Thank you :) and - I reckon he would!
he was a real one. few celebs made me sad with their passing. he was one of mine and its fitting in that he spent his working life making me laugh often.
This is a wonderful story; thank you so much for bringing attention to it.
I'm glad you enjoyed it - you're welcome :)
Glad TH-cam recommened me this video! Amazing story!
The algorithm is doing well today :)
Finding out such a subtle aspect to Pratchett's life feels very insightful and somehow wistful. It's like finding out about Robin WIlliams gamer roots and how much it meant to him. Making me love them, and miss them, even more. Pratchett's diagnosis and death was really painful. Thank you for sharing such a heartwarming story!
You're most welcome - and I agree completely, wistful is the perfect word. I didn't know about Robin Williams' gamer roots - I'm gonna look into that, as I loved him as well!
i never knew the goblins in oblivion were so cool
I remember when I saw the original article five years ago, I instantly started going into oblivion and investigating them myself 😂
wow, I wasn't expecting this to make me cry, My grandfather had Alzheimers, and it's such a tragic thing to watch as a person slowly unknows everything and everyone, losing day by day what one might call their essence, those traits, beliefs, ideas, quirks, idiosyncrasies, all of that "self" disintegrating... And you see a person now trapped in a mind they cant command, inside a body they dont recall, passing through confusion to confusion, and behind their eyes you can see the pleas of someone truly frightened and alone. here or there the old person makes it up for a quick gasp of air and then its gone again.
I would sit by his side as he rocked in his old chair, and I'd tell him what we where doing on the farm that day, and he'd sometimes come roaring back to himself and let out a belly laugh and ask how long its been since we last had a chance to catch up like this, and then he was gone again. It's a cruel thing to be thrown into this world, work a hard long life, only to have it all ripped away in such an ugly way.
I can empathize so much with helping Pratchett out, and forgoing any thought of it being anything other than just some people sharing their worlds with each other. Today, I needed to be reminded of the good we do for each other.
Thank you for sharing your own experiences and insights. It is, indeed, a cruel affliction on both the person and those around them. I've watched a few channels covering this disease and the decline in the people is rather shocking to see over time. Immense respect for those caring for, or dealing with this sort of thing in their lives
Just take my like, before I start to cry!
Wow. I have used Vilja for a long time. Even played with the mod a bit in Oblivion before I moved on to Skyrim (I use the Skyrim version now). She has always had a permanent place in my load order. This makes it even more special. I am glad that this video was recommended out of nowhere. Subscribed.
I'm glad it got recommended to you too :) and thank you for the subscribe!