I edit the poll; come on vote!

I like this idea, perhaps something simple like the compass in Minecraft (but one that pointed north of course).

I always used mods to turn off my compass except for quest markers (because it was very hard to discern where to go with dialogue alone in Oblivion).

I don't mind a compass but I don't want no damn arrows ever again!

The green arrow was one of the very worst parts of Oblivion.

The compass markers were really useful. The problem is that Oblivion overused them. If someone tells me 'go to the house of X and steal item Y' then the compass marker should lead me to the house of X, but it shouldn't show me the location of item Y. In Oblivion the compass marker showed you things you simply couldn't know, like both the way to house X (something you know if someone marked it on your map) and the location of item Y (something you can't know if you've never been inside the house before). That is bad. But if someone marks a house or a cave on my map then I don't want to check the map every five seconds to make sure I walk in the right direction. In that case a compass marker is good and just make the game less annoying. So I hope there will still be compass markers, but I also hope they won't be overused like in Oblivion.

Real time menu with a compass you find/buy/make that you hold whilst looking down at your map. Either that or navigate by the stars like a real Nord.

I want to go to a store and buy a compass. If I need to figure out what direction I am going or need to go, then I will use my compass for that purpose. I really don't want to be directed by arrows to where I need to go :shrug:

the only problem with just having the HUD toggleable is that i have a lousy sense of 2d direction. which means i can find my way around virtual mazes fairly easy but for some reason i cant keep my bearings straight on a map as far as whether im facing north or south. i dont what to have it where i open the map to see what direction im facing and get smacked upside the head with an indicator showing me exactly where im supposed to go. at least make it toggleable.

I think it'd be neat if TES took a note from Bard's Tale, and made the HUD components partly the cause of active spells. Imagine having a magic compass ~spell that creates the compass if you choose it, and makes sense to be able to point it an an NPC and have it point to them where ever they go, or to be visible in pitch black caves. (or not be there if you cannot maintain the spell, or choose not to.)

Compass: I'd like to be able to buy an actual compass that points north. I don't want a magic HUD compass (of course, it would be toggleable with the rest of the HUD, but still).

Quest Markers:

1.) I absolutely do not want quest markers that pin-point the quest objective. If they must be in the game in some form, see #3.

2.) Location markers, on the other hand, would be okay. (i.e.: NPC offers to mark the location of 'X' on my map. I can then pull up my map and see the location marker).

3.) Continuing with location markers, they could also be used as a very loose form of quest markers. (i.e.: NPC wants me to find another NPC, and offers to mark a general location where latter NPC is known to be about. This marker would then point to a general area, and it would then be up to the player to search more specifically within the area.)

how about instead of an exact arrow, a circle around the location for a more general approach

A compass that must be equipped, and that cannot be used(seen) while carrying a weapon and shield at the same time.

This would be my preference as well.

I didn't mind the arrows. And I'm sure you can find a mod which hides it.

I think a compass is okay. It would be just annoying to always bring up the map to find out where you are.

When will this argument finally be gone!? If you don't like it, fix it with mods is not an answer to a very large portion of the game's audience, those who will play it on the 360 or PS3.

Poll is a bit moot. There is no compass (quest or otherwise) on the HUD, because there is no HUD.

The quest arrow in Oblivion helped me find the more difficult quest objectives but was also a bit "Hey! Go over there!" when I wanted to relax and roleplay. An optional quest arrow would keep everyone happy.

The actual compass didn't bother me at all.

Man, don't you understand?!

If Bethesda adds a "disable HUD" option, its just for graphics and so that we can appreciate the landscapes.

But how will I look at my life and mana bars?!!

But wrst of all: If the game is THOUGHT to be played with the arrows and the compass like in Obli, then it is impossible to play without.
In TES IV, PNJs just tell you: "Well yeah go to the forgotten cavern (or any name you want), I'll show you were it is on the map".

Then you had to follow the arrows! I think I'm kin of ***** if I display the HUD, because I will never find the cavern with such informations.

So BEthesda should think about introducing the purist and casual gameplay so that they please all there fans because for many old TES fan, Oblivion was a severe deception. We hop Skyrim will be none!

As long as you can toggle the compass, I could care less. In addition, only hardcoe TES players thought the compass "destroyed" TES gameplay. The casual gamer, comprising a very large portion of the people who played Oblivion, typically found the directions to be helpful and aided in streamlining the game. I realize a lot of you hate this streamlining, but that doesn't mean it won't happen.

I'm not saying it's an option. I'm saying that the game has no HUD. The Game Informer article confirms this. It's not a matter of "you can disable the HUD". There's no HUD to disable.

As long as they dont feed us the location of whatever we are trying to find like baby food Ill be happy. Let us discover specific locations ourselvs please?

Sounds cool.

*Also sounds like the first mods might be to replace the HUD

SSSSOOOOUUURCEEEE!!!

Let me guess, you asked Pete on twitter?

It's actually in the GI article, and it doesn't say that you can toggle it. It just says that it's gone.

I wouldn't mind JUST a compass, without the quest arrows, but with the option for no hud it's nearly a non-issue.