So, now that the honeymoon period is over... (Skyrim thread)

[Windcaler]

Played it once only, couldnt be bothered to do it again. Mostly for all the random crappy missions you kept picking. Morrowind and Oblivion i must have played 3 or 4 times each. They have more character and charm, especially Morrowind. Skyrim, not so much. Plus the fact they are making Daedric weapons/armour worthless now. In Morrowind their was one set or armour and the weapons were hidden. Oblivion, get to a certain level and every random character wore it. I feel in there next game, you will start off with a suit of daedric armour and choice of weapon.

Did you mean just regular daedric weapons/armor or are you talking about weapons from the daedric princes? because I can think of a few Daedric prince weapons that were subpar (and IMO those should be better then the daedric weapons)

 

[GoaThief]

How are people's reaction to Skyrim these days.

Love it, although I'm currently playing Amalur. Will return to Skyrim afterwards.

Loads better than Fallout 3/New Vegas.

 

[Mauso88]

Now that I have learned all the basic aspects, (levelling etc.) I find that I have made more consistent progress, as when I first started I was a little over-whelmed. The Adventures of Mauso the Khajiit Wizard and Lydia the Ever Spirited Scapegoat are more exciting now I can play the game without being confused all the time. :>

 

[MASTACHIEFPWN]

My laptop overheats if I play skryim over a 2 hour period. I'd still love to play it, and those occasional times that I do bring it out to play it, I have a lot of fun. So I'd say our love is still going well.

 

[Best of the 3]

Still love it and still playing it. Played a bit today. What I will say though is that the game requires you to have quite a good imagination. I just sort of fill in and make my own story to my character and his actions. Currently I'm playing a grizzled war veteran Wood Elf who's had enough of the wars. So he refuses to directly kill anything. THis means either companions or conjuation or enviromental kills only. It's a nice challenge that adds to the game.

If I just take the game for what it is, it's slightly bland gameplay wise and could get a bit repetative. But challenging myself and adding things with my imagination keeps things fresh and interesting.

 

[Jitters Caffeine]

Exactly. It's colour text, nothing more. It doesn't change anything about how you interact with the world, not even merchant prices. Morrowind had a complex and satisfying faction reputation system - I miss it badly in Skyrim.

All Morrowind's reputation system did is change the text that appeared when you first opened the dialog box with a NPC.

Beyond that all the price fluctuation and ability to get information ate still handed through speech in Skyrim.

Also the reputation system in Morrowind meant nothing because you could join every possible faction, even all 3 great houses if you knew how to do it.

And Skyrim is EXACTLY the same.

Now I cant really speak on the civil war sides since I havnt completed either of them. Ive only done the join up quests with both factions. However, as a person I tend to want to stand with the stormcloaks more. Freedom of religion and the right to govern ourselves are two causes that I feel very strongly are worth fighting for. On the other hand the imperials seem to just want to keep the status quo but I suspect entropy is taking its toll on the Empire. They may be the best option for standing against the elves right now but that doesnt mean that they will always be the best option for Skyrim.

Spoiler alert, literally nothing changes after you do it. People hardly react to it at all past them shouting ambient sounds at you.

Then what would be an appropriate reaction?

Them climbing on top on buildings and screaming our name in joy for all the heavens to hear?

People VASTLY over-expect what the reactions to events would be.

Something besides just a random line of random ambient dialogue that gets jumbled in with all their OTHER random ambient dialogue. In fallout 3, if you cleared out Paradise Falls, you hear people talking about how there are fewer slavers in the area, Three Dog talks about how you handled them on the radio, traveling merchants lower their prices for you. The world FEELS like it reacts to something that was a legitimate issue. Nothing like that happens in Skyrim.

 

[SajuukKhar]

Something besides just a random line of random ambient dialogue that gets jumbled in with all their OTHER random ambient dialogue. In fallout 3, if you cleared out Paradise Falls, you hear people talking about how there are fewer slavers in the area, Three Dog talks about how you handled them on the radio, traveling merchants lower their prices for you. The world FEELS like it reacts to something that was a legitimate issue. Nothing like that happens in Skyrim.

Well considering there is no radio to constantly fed the player self-assurance that their actions had consequence, in Skyrim AND the fact that various NPC will lower their prices and occasionally give you free gifts if you help them out Skyrim did do that.

 

[Jitters Caffeine]

Something besides just a random line of random ambient dialogue that gets jumbled in with all their OTHER random ambient dialogue. In fallout 3, if you cleared out Paradise Falls, you hear people talking about how there are fewer slavers in the area, Three Dog talks about how you handled them on the radio, traveling merchants lower their prices for you. The world FEELS like it reacts to something that was a legitimate issue. Nothing like that happens in Skyrim.

Well considering there is no radio to constantly fed the player self-assurance that their actions had consequence, in Skyrim AND the fact that various NPC will lower thierp rices and occasional give you gifts if you help them out Skyrim did do that.

You have to level Barter and buy perks to have Merchants lower their prices or have any deeper interaction with them. Barter was a PAIN to level if you weren't in the Thieves Guild and sold every last bowl and platter you found in someone's house. In Fallout 3, you talk to a guy and he tells you he can pass oon the word if you want to invest in a particular Merchant that sold a certain kind of equipment. After you did, your prices would be SIGNIFICANTLY lower and they would outright treat you getter and repair your stuff cheaper and better. Not to mention give you some much needed equipment.

 

[theevilgenius60]

Loved it since I got it on opening night, but played it too much. I stopped playing it ~mid December because I'd done all of the non-radiant quest lines multiple times. I'm actually thinking of jumping back in(maybe get ME3's ending's bad taste out my mouth?)

 

[DalekJaas]

Skyrim is the best game ever made.

 

[Jitters Caffeine]

Skyrim is the best game ever made.

Aside from the nonexistant characters, uninspired story, intrusive skill system, and general crippling boredom.

 

[Jitters Caffeine]

For me it was the lack of choices within the quests.

In New Vegas nearly every quest could end in several different ways, but in Skyrim your choices are limited to either "do it" or "don't do it".

The whole world of Skyrim itself also felt like a beautifully constructed maquette; It was highly detailed, but it lacked any sense of live. This was again a result of the game not allowing much choice in how you interacted with the world.

I feel the same way. Asides from graphics, Skyrim was a step down in every way from New Vegas (not a Bethesda game, but you still think they would learn something). It's a beautiful looking game, but it's all so very soul-less.

I had fun in my one playthrough, but I was roleplaying heavily. Everything I did, I did it in character. I wrote up a backstory and my motivations for moving forward in the game beforehand. I think that's the only way I can really enjoy the game.

I don't think either looked that much better than the other.

It's just that the quests in New Vegas were intertwined with all the goings on of the world. All the NPC's were up to date to all the big events you had set in motion. This sense that the NPC's were aware of your influence made the whole setting feel more alive.

In Skyrim no one seemed aware of anything. Like how I'd become head of the Dark Brotherhood yet the Thieves Guild (which has close ties to the Brotherhood) still treated me like some wet-behind-the-ears whipper snapper when I first joined them. Stuff like this makes everything feel disconnected.

I return to Skyrim every few months or so, but only to go on random dungeon raids.

I don't know...the weather effects really do it for me in Skyrim. Even if the the people in the game look like carved wood statues, the environment is gorgeous.

You're right about the lack of awareness. It's even worse when you complete the civil war story and whatever side you're the head of still treats you like a nuisance. I was a Legate and some Imperial soldiers threatened me when I walked by them and their prisoner. What the hell?

You have no idea how happy I will be when they finally make a Fallout game out of the Skryrim engine. I'll never leave the Wasteland

 

[black_knight1337]

That's the problem with the skill system. Grinding. Want to get better Smithing? Better make Iron Daggers for two hours. Want better Barter? Better sell all those iron daggers ONE AT A COCKING TIME. The skill system dictates what you're doing at any one time. The Fallout system is entirely non-intrusive. Need more Lockpick? Dump some points into it on your next level up. If I want higher Lockpick in Skyrim, I have to sit there and break a shit load of Lockpicks so I can buy a perk that makes Lockpicking easier.

Also, I don't think I said anything about being locking into a particular playstyle. I said the game stonewalled me from playing a character with any aesthetic because of the lack of viable clothing/armor options, because you felt handicapped if you didn't have appropriate gear.

It's mostly sub-conscious grinding in skyrim. Whenever I have played it the skills that I'm putting perks into are the ones I am using all the time. So when I level I don't go "I've got to get my light armour up another 10 points", I almost always can put perks straight into what I want. If you level your skills the way you are suggesting then of course it is boring as all hell. All your doing is the exact same thing over and over. They way I level my smithing isn't by spamming iron daggers. I loot a cave, usually collecting plenty of ingots, then go back to town to sell off the stuff I don't want, upgrade the equipment I do and THEN I use the resources on making extra stuff.
That Fallout system also involves a hell of a lot of grinding. "I need 10 more points in science so I'll go to this cave to kill some stuff so I can level". Its pretty much the same in terms of grinding and for me, the system used in Tes actually makes sense and further immerses me in the game.
The playstyle thing must of been someone else then.
While I don't like the extent at which your armour customisation is limited it still however allows you to dress how you want. Want to be a Jester? You can. Want to be an Alik'r Warrior? You can. and so on. The handicapping is the same in Fallout. In both you usually choose between what you like the look of and what will actually save your life. In Skyrim (and probably the other Tes and Fallout games) there are some that have the best of both worlds, like the Nightingale Armour. With Tes it is much more viable dressing how you want because you can enchant your clother/armour with stuff that will actually help you. In Fallout everything has its bonuses pre-selected which reduces customisation that have benefits. eg. Cowboy looking clothes but you like the that shiny new minigun. The bonuses don't work. In Skyrim its more like getting the Jester clothes and then wanting to wield a warhammer so you enchant you clothing.

 

[Jitters Caffeine]

That's the problem with the skill system. Grinding. Want to get better Smithing? Better make Iron Daggers for two hours. Want better Barter? Better sell all those iron daggers ONE AT A COCKING TIME. The skill system dictates what you're doing at any one time. The Fallout system is entirely non-intrusive. Need more Lockpick? Dump some points into it on your next level up. If I want higher Lockpick in Skyrim, I have to sit there and break a shit load of Lockpicks so I can buy a perk that makes Lockpicking easier.

Also, I don't think I said anything about being locking into a particular playstyle. I said the game stonewalled me from playing a character with any aesthetic because of the lack of viable clothing/armor options, because you felt handicapped if you didn't have appropriate gear.

It's mostly sub-conscious grinding in skyrim. Whenever I have played it the skills that I'm putting perks into are the ones I am using all the time. So when I level I don't go "I've got to get my light armour up another 10 points", I almost always can put perks straight into what I want. If you level your skills the way you are suggesting then of course it is boring as all hell. All your doing is the exact same thing over and over. They way I level my smithing isn't by spamming iron daggers. I loot a cave, usually collecting plenty of ingots, then go back to town to sell off the stuff I don't want, upgrade the equipment I do and THEN I use the resources on making extra stuff.
That Fallout system also involves a hell of a lot of grinding. "I need 10 more points in science so I'll go to this cave to kill some stuff so I can level". Its pretty much the same in terms of grinding and for me, the system used in Tes actually makes sense and further immerses me in the game.
The playstyle thing must of been someone else then.
While I don't like the extent at which your armour customisation is limited it still however allows you to dress how you want. Want to be a Jester? You can. Want to be an Alik'r Warrior? You can. and so on. The handicapping is the same in Fallout. In both you usually choose between what you like the look of and what will actually save your life. In Skyrim (and probably the other Tes and Fallout games) there are some that have the best of both worlds, like the Nightingale Armour. With Tes it is much more viable dressing how you want because you can enchant your clother/armour with stuff that will actually help you. In Fallout everything has its bonuses pre-selected which reduces customisation that have benefits. eg. Cowboy looking clothes but you like the that shiny new minigun. The bonuses don't work. In Skyrim its more like getting the Jester clothes and then wanting to wield a warhammer so you enchant you clothing.

That's the thing about fallout, you DON'T have to grind your skills. You can allocate your points how you choose when you level up. You don't have to put yourself in a situation to level up a specific skill you want. The skill system in Skyrim is the same as it is in Runescape. Need higher Smithing? "Better forge a bunch of shit I don't want so I can sell it and level up my Barter."

The clothing options in Fallout MAY be predetermined, but they fit the play style you would want. Nothing says you CAN'T grab a minigun while dressed in a Sun Dress, but you probably wouldn't want to outside of screwing around. And I don't have to grind my Enchanting first to do it either.

 

[R Man]

That's the thing about fallout, you DON'T have to grind your skills. You can allocate your points how you choose when you level up. You don't have to put yourself in a situation to level up a specific skill you want. The skill system in Skyrim is the same as it is in Runescape. Need higher Smithing? "Better forge a bunch of shit I don't want so I can sell it and level up my Barter."

The clothing options in Fallout MAY be predetermined, but they fit the play style you would want. Nothing says you CAN'T grab a minigun while dressed in a Sun Dress, but you probably wouldn't want to outside of screwing around. And I don't have to grind my Enchanting first to do it either.

You still have to grind XP in Fallout. In Skyrim you can always pay for training, it's not like money is a problem after a few hours of play. Most skills don't need grinding, they will level up as you go. Combat skills level up naturally as you do quests. So does sneak and even persuasion depending on how you play your character. You focus on Smithing and Enchanting alot, but these skills are like all the others, optional. You can have them if you want but they are non-essential. If a quest does turn out to be too much you can always leave it and come back later. Skyrim is one of those games where you never need grind.

 

[Jitters Caffeine]

That's the thing about fallout, you DON'T have to grind your skills. You can allocate your points how you choose when you level up. You don't have to put yourself in a situation to level up a specific skill you want. The skill system in Skyrim is the same as it is in Runescape. Need higher Smithing? "Better forge a bunch of shit I don't want so I can sell it and level up my Barter."

The clothing options in Fallout MAY be predetermined, but they fit the play style you would want. Nothing says you CAN'T grab a minigun while dressed in a Sun Dress, but you probably wouldn't want to outside of screwing around. And I don't have to grind my Enchanting first to do it either.

You still have to grind XP in Fallout. In Skyrim you can always pay for training, it's not like money is a problem after a few hours of play. Most skills don't need grinding, they will level up as you go. Combat skills level up naturally as you do quests. So does sneak and even persuasion depending on how you play your character. You focus on Smithing and Enchanting alot, but these skills are like all the others, optional. You can have them if you want but they are non-essential. If a quest does turn out to be too much you can always leave it and come back later. Skyrim is one of those games where you never need grind.

I focus on those because they feel like the most important after your Combat skills, and they're also the most obtrusive to level up. You don't have to grind xp in Fallout because you're under fire quite a bit. It makes the world feel that much more alive when I'm desperate to find a settlement only to be attacked by a Legeion Death Squad in New Vegas or see an Enclave airdrop coming to take my head. You don't have to go find a cave or castle to raid for experience. The enemies feel so static. You always know what's just around the corner in Skyrim.

 

[Exius Xavarus]

After a while, I got to the point that I wasn't capable of getting through Helgen Keep. I just got bored and played something else. Even if I started up halfway through Helgen Keep, I can't finish it. It was at that point that I decided it was time to give up on Skyrim and trade it in to get something else. Which I traded it in for 30 bucks toward my Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning pre-order.

 

[Joccaren]

Same way I felt about it a week after its release:
Overrated and boring.
Its graphics were bleh and at times made my eyes bleed.
Whilst the world was large, there wasn't a lot to get immersed in for me. Do one quest and it felt like I had done them all by the end, one dungeon, done them all. Quests were really short and few people had anything interesting to say.
Combat was a mess, overly imbalanced and lacking any skill requirement.
UI was terrible and made the game annoying to play.
Bugs and glitches bursting at the seems that annoyed me on my playthrough.
And numerous other problems I had with it. I enjoyed discussing the politics of Stormcloak vs Imperial for a while, but got bored with that too eventually.

 

[Fasckira]

When it came out I played it solid, completing the main quest lines and all but the mage's guild line. Tried to jump back into it yesterday and just cant find the motivation; I saved the whole world and ended a civil war, Ive saved places loads of times from dragon attacks and Im clad entirely in ebony armour that emits a black obscuring fog.... yet no one in the world reacts to this.
Everything feels so disjointed and seperate, may be my imagination but at least in Oblivion the NPCs registered it even in an off-hand way like when the guards would remark that you're the arena champion when you spoke to them.

Still, overall I think it remains my favourite TES to date so thats something I guess.

 

[rubinigosa]

My biggest problem was that: for me roleplaying did not work for exampel I was playing as Khatiji...ehhm, cat-thingy and I meet an other one (the bunch outside the first major city in the main quest) and one of the question options to the trader was..."how's your homeland" (or something like that).
All of the races have the same questions and questst so it just fealt weird when it get's decribed that they don't like Orcs but when I'm an Orc it's fine.
It all just fealt so...strange, Like I'm the most important person in the whole of the land...or so they sometimes say when I play the mainquests because I can't see it.