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Easter Eggs are secret jokes put in the games by the developers to give people a laugh when they find them, provided that they notice and understand the joke. Such jokes frequently involve breaking the fourth wall in some way, such as by referencing real-world knowledge and media.
Very few easter eggs have been formally acknowledged as such by the developers; entries on easter egg pages are typically inferred to be easter eggs based on the best judgment of the community.
Editors are welcome to propose anything as an easter egg or historical reference on the talk page of the appropriate gamespace article linked above. But first, consider the following guidelines.
Judging Easter Eggs
- Specificity: The joke or reference cannot be generic (unspecific), such as giant animals or broad cultural parallels.
- Easter Eggs vs. Historical References: All references to the gameplay and world of past Elder Scrolls media belong on the Historical References pages. The joke or reference may not relate back to a previous TES work and also be considered an easter egg. Example: M'aiq the Liar was considered an easter egg in TES III: Morrowind, but in TES IV: Oblivion and TES V: Skyrim, he could only be considered a historical reference.
- Check the archives: Whether it's Harry Potter's giant snakes, the Deathly Hallows symbol, or sweetrolls: We've heard it! Please, in the name of whatever you hold sacred, check the archives before posting for discussions which might address your proposal or concern.
- Don't practice necromancy: So, a conversation has run its course on a proposal, but you didn't like the outcome. Get over it. Drop the stick and back slowly away from the horse carcass. Don't revive a dead or archived discussion unless something substantial has changed or not been addressed. Or at least, don't be surprised if your proposal gets shot down quickly or ignored. Note, however, that this is concerning proposals which have already been discussed in depth. It is common for proposals which did not previously receive substantial attention or consideration to be re-opened.
- Hiding in plain sight is acceptable: Due to the open-ended nature of a typical Elder Scrolls game, the developers can effectively make a joke or reference a "secret" by simply dropping it in a random spot in the game world and not drawing attention to it (see, e.g., the Pac-Man Shelf in Endon's house in Markarth).
- But hiding is still required: Although eggs may hide in plain sight and they are often conspicuous in regards to their immediate surroundings, the question of whether a joke or reference is hidden should never be ignored. If you find yourself proposing an easter egg based on the images or text from a loading screen, for example, then you have done something wrong.
- Prepare for a thorough discussion: The relevant context of every proposed egg should be given full consideration. The popularity of a subject a proposal was referencing, its relation to the developers, hypotheticals about what an easter egg in this situation should look like, the etymology of phrases in popular culture - discussions on a proposal may delve into many topics. Prep accordingly.
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- What exactly is the joke/reference at issue?
- If you cannot state with particularity the joke you're proposing, best drop the matter now.
- Does it involve a historical reference?
- What's that? You've realized that the Prophecy of the Dragonborn is an "egg" referencing the events of Arena, Daggerfall, Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim? Then in that case, I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
- Is it hidden?
- Eggs are secret jokes. If you can't make a compelling argument that your proposal is hidden, stop.
- What are the competing explanations or applicable preclusions for the joke/reference?
- Coincidence? Did great minds merely think alike? Are there competing references? If you've realized that your proposal is a long shot, but you still want to hear other opinions, you've come to the wrong place. Your discussion would not be about making page alterations, but about satisfying your own curiosity. Take it to a forum.
- Despite the competing explanations, is it more likely than not that the proposed joke was an intentional, secret one from the developers?
- Supporting a proposal is your statement that, after appropriate deliberation, you've concluded that the proposal in its current form is probably an easter egg.
- Check your emotions: You are not your position. Other contributors may have harsh words for your arguments without violating our etiquette policy.