Content, yes, but I take everything with a grain of salt. Many of these features could turn to be more simple than they appear on paper.

I absolutly love most of the features listed. I don't care about crafting/cooking much but as log as I don't HAVE to use them, I'm not bothered. And hey, maybe those things will be fun.

Things I'm worried about: Dragons becoming new cliff racers (would kind of svck, if we couldn't walk 3 minutes without them appearing). I'm also worried about no info about vampires/werewolves.

I'm on the highly optimistic end of the spectrum.

No game will ever be perfect. Every game will have flaws and unrealized potential.

But I'm quite content, as you say, in my belief that this is going to be a fantastic game with the features and advances already announced and/or displayed. I understand the gripes so many people had with Oblivion. God knows there were things that could have been better. But none of the problems killed my overall enjoyment. I spent countless hours on that game (and on Morrowind). I've seen no reason to believe this game won't be even better and even more fun to play. This doesn't diminish my expectation. My expectation are high... but also realistic, I think.

No Spears!? Who cares. We can't ride dragons!? So what. Some of the things that people put out there as "make-or-break" content is just ridiculous at times.

Overall, I'm feeling pretty good about what the end product is going to be.

As long as they spend more time on level design (for an emphasis on exploration) then improving combat mechanics. In my mind, combat is the least important part of RPG's. If it's a rich world with plenty of things worth seeing, I'm happy.

I'm very happy with what I've heard about Skyrim so far. The Radiant AI sounds great, the Graphics are (Censored) Awesome, Character creation is going to be even better, Enchanting is back, Dragons, Dragons and more Dragons, Random Encounters, etc. :celebration: :celebration: :celebration:

The only concern I have is the Blocking but I'll wait and see that in action before I jump up and down screaming "WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY BLOCKING". :biggrin:

Edit- How could I forget Duelwielding :facepalm:

More visceral combat... Nuff said.

When I get whacked I want to feel whacked, when I whack I wanna whack... Did that sound dirty?

I've been delighted with everything I've seen so far - new engine, better graphics. The announced mechanics seem to take on board alot of the issues we had with previous games, particularly levelling.

Combat also looks much improved. I just wish people would stop moaning about spears in the game - we've got Halberds, which amounts to much the same. Now what we don't know is how these features are going to operate in game but the ideas are on the right track.

Bethesda's not [censored] enough to cut out the factions -- they've been hinting at the Dark Brotherhood, and lore says there's two different Mage Guilds in Skyrim, during the game's time period. They wouldn't have written that lore if it weren't pertinent. The ending in Fallout was only bad because it was a true end to the game, and should have been more climactic; TES doesn't really have an end. And horses would be nice, but I use fast travel, so meh. :shrug: Like you said, they're not really that likely, and the last one isn't even a big deal to me. They aren't going to cut out the things that made Oblivion and Morrowind such successes.

EDIT: Oh snap, they censored me! I'm such a bad girl. :touched:

Remember, Bethesda is purposely holding back information about Skyrim. We have yet to see the real goods.

I'll be pleased if I can toggle the cutscene-like effects off. You know, those finishing moves, and stealth kills, and STUFF.

Still not going to have high hopes, but I'll certainly buy it. Hell, I'll probably still buy it, but it's on tin ice right now. Just 1 or 2 more, and I go into D: mode.

You can, play Oblivion.