I think it'd be nice if we, assuming we had possessions when we were captured, could have them returned to us at some point in the beginning of the game.

Basically, that's the story behind giving us some starting equipment that isn't awful, so we can jump right into the world a little more prepared instead of immediately trying to scraqe together enough gold for a basic set of armor and weapons.

Allow us a sort of points to "buy" from a limited number of basic items - armor, weapons, minor enchanted clothing, ingredients/potions and so on. Whatever points leftover would be converted into moneys.

I think the best part of the game is at the beginning when you struggle to find 10 gold coins.

Same here. I like to start from scratch with next to nothing.

in daggerfall you could start off with somethings depending on how you answerd the questions at the start, i like that kind of idea

Doesnt Jauffre give you some gold to buy stuff for your journey? I know Caius Cosades did in Morrowind and I am pretty sure Esbern in Skyrim will as well, does that count? But that being said I think I have to agree with the first 2 posters and starting with nothing and having to aquire your own equipment through whatever means you deem necessary is part of the fun.

Wasn't really a struggle, at least in Morrowind - you could grab reasonably valuable things from randomly strewn about barrels with and crates random loot in them.

Could easily make it optional though, by having a question like "did you have anything taken when you were apprehended that might be useful" or whatever.

I hope a character creation like daggerfall

Let me keep the shiny akavari katana this time please.

You could start the game with an Ebony Dagger in Daggerfall, and around 1000 coins if you answered the questions right.

I'd like something similar to this to be in Skyrim too. Ofc, ebony items are kinda overkill, but having a boost from the start would be a help.

That was by the time you got to Pelagiad or Balmora. I'd usually explored a few tombs and caves near Seyda Neen by then. Besides which I don't think there should be crates lieing around with valuable items in them. The MW method was fine. You got a little money, maybe stole from stuff from the C&E office, enough to buy a weapon and some armour. The Oblivion method was fine. The tutorial dungeon gave you some basic gear you could use or sell. We don't know if what you suggest would fit the story. It might make sense if Esbern has enough authority to cancel the execution but if we have to escape with his help we wouldn't neccessarily have the opportunity to get our own stuff back.

I like the nv pre order starter packs I collected up 3 different ones(connections ) so I could rp different pasts for my character with something to rerepresent that in the game world. Even if it's only a choice in a couple of cloths and a few weapons.

The blade couple have already grabbed your stuff and give u it after the break out.

Sugested sets:

Mythic: spell tomb, ruggid cloak n hood, few potions.
Regal: silver dagger, high class outfit, some gold pieces.
Woodsman: old bow, leathers, rusty hand axe.
Arma: Steel helm boots n goves, tunic, claymore.

Its those initial levels when you have nothing that are the best. Its probably one of the main reasons I always make a mod to slow leveling WAY down. Unlike the modern trend of games that try to get you to be a superhero with megapowers and lots of cash to spend in as little time as possible, I actually ENJOY the struggle to survive with few possessions. It makes finding that first piece of really useful armor very thrilling.

I don't think we will get a choice this time around.

It might be nice to have a goal (jail for those in the USA) break where you get the chance to take one item from the armoury.

Personally, I'm happy with starting out with nothing.

The less starting equipment, and the worse the quality, the happier I will be.
Let's face it though, there will be the usual suspects, a sword, mace, axe, bow, dagger, shields, some scrolls, a few ingredients, heavy and light armour, and sell what you don't use. Wouldn't be surprised if there is a pretty useless magic item, just for the enchanter types to break down and get a start.

One thing i would like to see is a special set half-way through the game.

Finally finish an arduous quest and when you get back to Esbern he relates how he finally managed to liberate your gear now that you are becoming more famous.

then the game takes 3-6 pre-made sets and gives you one of them (like an Enchanted Ebony set for warriors, Enchanted Blackened leather set for rogues, Enchanted Robes and rings for Mage)

And maybe a couple other sets for inbetweeners (ie. Mage/Warrior Rogue/Warrior)

that might be cool.

Sorry, but I think this is a terrible idea. An open world game should reward you for exploring, this would reward you for ignoring everything but the main quest. And if your gear was that good at level one, how did you ever get captured in the first place.

First, You do get rewarded for exploring by finding rare items, doing this is a semblance of balance and creating options for you. Why is it that only explorers would get the best of the best, while my idea gives half decent stuff to someone (they don't even have to have good enchants, things like +5one handed skill isn't good, but a nice little bonus for people who like questing)

Second, when someone is level 1 they aren't THAT skilled in anything, perhaps the armor is an heirloom given to you before you were ready to wield it's true power. being unskilled with sub-par high-end item how could you NOT get captured?

third, it could add UNIQUE LOOKING sets to the game, as they said we have more armor options than ever before (by that i assume just Oblivion)

BGS would only get grief. Either it is fixed level, and everyone complains the game is broken because you can rush through the main quest and get overpowered stuff at low levels, or it is scaled to your level, in which case everyone goes mental because of scaled uniques. It's a no-win for the designers

Well, let's see, you have been captured that we know. You are being led to your execution. It is highly likely you are barefoot in a tattered sackcloth shirt and pants and nothing more as your being dragged to your death. Since we don't really know how the player character escapes it could be that a dragon attacks and everyone scatters and in the mayhem you pick up a dropped sword, loot a dead soldier's body getting enough gear and a few coins to get you going from there the story opens up and you are on your way. Personally I don't want some uber set further on in the game "just because". Part of what is enjoyable is the treasure hunting and especially the finding of awesome loot, not just having it handed over without any effort. But, to each his own, we will just have to wait and see what Beth has in store for us. :tes:

actually I love starting with nothing

There is no such thing as a goal break.

Its time. Dyslexics UNTIE!

I too am happy starting out with nothing. It makes that accumulation of gear very enjoyable. Then you get to a point where you have too much crap, and you just think "Pah, I'll dump this all in the paranoid bosmers house in Skingrad and start again with what I have on my back"

Yeah... he never got killed in my saves. I left him alone, and used his house as a general dumping ground as a hint that he was a messed up individual.

Ok, we can have good starter gear but in order to obtain it you have to kill a dragon with the Fork of Horipulation in a sack cloth outfit.

Yeah me too. It's fun to scrounge for a little bit to get some things together.

All this one needs is my claws and my alembic.

In fact, I will even go as far to say that sometimes getting special over-powered gear for pre-ordering games has really diminished the enjoyment of the game. I have found myself not installing those pre-game 'reward' bonuses many times because they often break those lower levels that are the most enjoyable.