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When you spell it out like that they do sound pretty pathetic.
I've noticed that too. I felt like the Vigilants were really poorly done. Encounters with them are very bland and seem to lack actual visual skills- seeing a Daedric Weapon and not reclaiming it EVERY TIME, completely oblivious to vampires talking to them, literally seeing a dremora and ignoring it. Its really no wonder the vampires destroyed them so easily in Dawnguard. I feel like the only positive thing the Vigilants have ever done immersion wise is give Vampire Dragonborns an ironic meal.
As for why they are so bad, I honestly think it has to do with Bethesda's storytelling elements themselves. If we're honest, theres a lot lacking in the game. I think the Vigilants of Stendarr was just a faction the creators didn't put much time or effort in to. Afterall, they weren't even a big deal when compared to The Dawnguard or Harkon's Court, so they didn't need to spend extra resources on making them top tier. I haven't dug much into their lore but from dialogue in Dawnguard, I gather they were fairly weak. Might be because the Dawnguard likes to think of themselves as better, but my monies on the idea that Bethesda just wanted an easy reason to write them out and dismiss them. I mean the sole survivor of the attack on the Hall of the Vigilants dies before you even make it in the cave. Sounds like lazy writing.
The positive side to their writing means that modders can come in and make up for what the game lacks. I haven't researched it much myself, but I have seen a few mods dealing with the Vigilants on Nexus. I know for sure theres a mod keeping Keeper Carcette alive and moving the group to Stendarr's Beacon. As far as making them better fighters, I wouldn't know.
On the topic of Daedric weapons, I believe if you encounter the Vigilants with a Daedric artifact equipped they’ll demand that you surrender it.
To be fair most of the Vigilants’s hardcore members left with Isran and formed the dawnguard. They differed on what was the greatest threat facing Skyrim and the rest of Tamriel. The vigilants would argue the Daedra, which is reasonable considering they were formed during the Oblivion Crisis. Obviously the Daedra aren’t as big a threat for now, but they underestimated the vampire menace.
The mod Better Vampires may help. It features an option which when enabled will cause vampire hunters from both the Dawnguard and Vigilants to seek you out and destroy you.
I wanna say the mod Skyrim Reputation has an option which will cause the Vigilants to be hostile to players known to summon and/or worship Daedra.
That sounds amazing Curse. I’ll give those mods a look right away.
I have 2 theories: Actual, and Lore wise.
The Actual Theory is that they were thrown in last minute so you won't completely forget the Oblivion crisis- 'cause there are no gates AT ALL throughout Skyrim despite the fact that in Lore, Skyrim was very badly hit by the Oblivion Crisis, yet there's nothing to show for it in game. So the Vigilants where an easy answer to that. Also, it just makes sense to have a Spanish Inquisition-type guild in Skyrim, and Nirn at large, for the Divines.
My Lore Theory: It's a completely decentralized, unorganized band of devout followers of the Divines, self-proclaimed holy fighters, wanderers, warriors, spellswords, spellcasters, and radical scholars that are all united in their extreme hatred of Daedra, their minions and worshipers and see them as a blight on Nirn; believing that the world would be a much better- more peaceful- place without them and anything of their ilk.
I would imagine this hate, and these feelings, would have been brewing for centuries, but came into full force after the Oblivion Crisis- when people started to see the Daedra as a very real threat- and thus, I believe that during and after the Crisis somewhat organized groups of mages, misfits, and warriors began to prop up, and battle Daedric forces; first– at their doorstep- in their homes and towns, and then into the fields of war. Of these bandit-like, guerilla groups, of many names and leaders, rose the Vigiants of Stendarr, who became the most prominant, and most dominate force of them all, and so, seeing their power, and success, as well as wanting to make their group the most powerful, these guerilla groups started to change their names from whatever it was to: The Vigilants of Standarr– the very name sounds like a Holy League of seasoned warriors, and skillful scholars, that strike fear in the hearts of Daedra and their kind- Stendarr himself is a perfect character/Divine to fight for in this instance.
I have no doubts that the original founder of the Vigilnats tried their to unite all tribes to form one, centrelized and effective fighting force, but, whether it be the sheer number of the different groups, or the vast land in which they were spread out, they could not do it.
Thus, we have the Vigilants as we see them in Skyrim, a weak and clumsy group of self-proclaimed Divine crusaders, who are too busy looking to fight Daedra, and Vampires, they fail to learn and study them- not knowing what they can do, or look like, and so they're clueless when they meet an actual follower or vampire- to call them an 'Order' is laughable.
Even their outfits seem jumbled together, because, again, there's a lack of a centralization, meaning a lack of funding, so they could only afford so much. Some enchanted robes, a hood, steel boots and gauntlets, along with a steel, or iron mace is the best they can do in having a 'uniform.'
In the end, the tale of the Vigilants of Stendarr is of a staunch Idealist, who saw the world around them– crumble; torched towns and ruined cities, sonless-fathers and fatherless-sons, grieving mothers and depressed daughters, hills of once evergreen turned ashy-grey. From this devastation they vowed to create a new world- in which these vile beings dare-not tread- where rulers are just, and the people are pleased. And so, they took this Vow- a vow of blood, honour, and sweat- to fight for this world in life... or in death– peacful bliss though brutal blood. Ultimately, while successful, their daring dream of harmoic happiness succumbed to the realities of Nirn– harsh, chaotic, and ever-changing– and the greed of the powerful to become a grotesque, savage, barbarous-beast of blinding-beauty. Despite their deranged dedication, their unwavering attempt at unity and peace– they could do nothing, but watch... their dream... die...
And so... their attempt is forever framed on the woeful walls of: What-was-once Never-was.
Excellently said. Personally, I think it's due tk the fact that vampires blend in too well. I mean, practically no one comments on the glowy eyes, so it's likely, that with some exceptions like the LDB, that most can see them as, albeit pale-ish, normal folk
^ An example of this point: Sybille Stentor, court-wizard of Queen Elisif the Fair, is a vampire, yet no-one knows. She'll even comment on how 'well aged' she is. So, that's terrifying.
Speaking purely from the stand point of the vanilla game, I cant see how a dude who looks like this blends in anywhere.
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