Check http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NX-MvnYUEs&feature=related graphical overhaul of Morrowind and pay attention on parts when night falls.
Notice how actually dark it is?
I really hope that darkness in Skyrim is something like that.
Darkness in Oblivion is something which always irritated me because:
A - It wasn't actually dark, but it looked like you are wearing shades during day.
B - Torches, Light and Night-Eye were almost useless (I used Night-Eye only on few rare occasions while diving in some dark cave and that's that).

So, would you prefer a more realistic darkness like this?

And please don't say that it wasn't that dark in previous games because of two moons, since it's not true.
I've been in forests many, many times during during night when full moon was up and I can tell you that it's still pretty damn dark.
True, not dark like when there is no moon or start at all, but still much, much darker than in Oblivion.
Also, second moon, while it could make things a bit lighter, it wouldn't help that much (especially in a tick forest).
But still, even if two moons were a valid reason for unrealistic darkness in Oblivion, there is still no excuse for you being able to see almost perfectly well in some basemants, caves or dungeons which don't have any source of light in them at all.

Well, discuss!

Confused - the video is really dark, but unless the inhabitants of Tamriel are lacking rod-cells in their eyes, they'd be able to see more than that...? Not to mention the heavens were particularly bright in Oblivion.

Plus it's a video game, making it that real might damage the experience?

I think it'd be a cool mod idea though.

Who would say no to this?

realistic darkness especially in dungeons makes games better

light out of nowhere-vile makes games svck

Anyway, I would hate for it to be that dark in Skyrim. It's not even that dark in real life, especially after your eyes have adjusted. While yes, it should be darker than Oblivion, you shouldn't need to carry a torch to see until about midnight.

Darkness really svcks if your a non-magic user. If it's too dark to see and you can't cast night-eye or light on yourself, your options are either to walk/fight completely blind or equip a torch which forces you to use a one-handed weapon. Yes, there are potions of night-eye but they usually last about 30 seconds, not very useful when going adventuring at night.

Unless there was some specific mechanics or gameplay tied to it being night, i really can't see a good reason other than adding tedium for having it be so dark at night. You'd have to lug torches around, someone might actually play a khajit, and otherwise doesn't serve any purpose other than deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep roleplay.

Darkness as a spell would be epic, but thats about it.

I think it would be cool if darkness was appropriate to the amound of reflected light. During a full moon I can navigate through the woods without a problem. But throw in some clouds or half moon and it's a different story.

as long as its a level playing field I'm fine with it, but realistic darkness generally makes it harder for the player to see opponents at a distance, the same cannot be said for enemies, they see just fine.

darkness is great for certain games! the STALKER series for instance where night/darklness was really a place you didnt want to be found outside and without a deent set of NV goggles!!
but for Skyrim/Oblivion? not so sure...there are no gameplay mechanics/ethos that make nighttime require total darkness for story/PC interaction. in short its a design feature that isnt required.
In STALKER etc darkness was something to fear and be wary of...you really rushed back to camp/base in the hope that you wouldnt be caught out at night.
Now if Skrim had "timed" NPC's/Monsters...for instance wraiths and draugs that only spewed forth from their dungeons at night to lurk about and generally scare the living crap out of you id agree that darkness would be awesome! but chances are it doesnt.....

can just imagine a scene in a mountain camp...maybe you and couple of NPC's sitting about as night falls....only to be swarmed by Draugs and having top fight them off in the glow of your camp fire...would be awesome.
dont think Oblivion had time-of-day monsters did it? so chances are Skyrim wont either, not seen or read anything that hints towards its

It should be realistic darkness. In real life, if you go outside (no unnatural lights) just moon light, you can still see perfectly fine. As long as there is nothing over your head casting a shadow. Moonlight lights up the entire area enough to be visual(but you still would want a torch or something). You can't see far in the distance though.

What I'v noticed with a lot of games, its either turn up the brightness. Or don't see at night. Witch isn't realistic.

Also, snow, water, ice and things like this reflect a ton of light, meaning it will be brighter if you are near a river. A snowy area, or ice. Witch should also be accounted for.

Although in a building. You still would want to bring a torch.

I honestly hate turning up the brightness on a game. It looks decent at night, but during the day it just messes with the colors. Also my eyes are very sensitive to bright colors.

The Darkness on a Dovahkiin? We already got magic and dragon shouts and now you want to add a demon and two extra arms?

sounds kinda cool actually...

It can only improve experience in a RPG.
There is practically no purpose to night or darkness unless it's actually dark.


Isn't that kinda point of darkness?
It would improve gameplay a lot and would actually give sleeping a purpose.


They can simply implement more powerful night-eye potions and that's that.


Erm, darkness itself gives you specific gameplay.
It would also improve the game since there would actually be difference between night and day.


True, I can do that too.
But still, even during full moon, it's still much darker in a rl forest than it was in Oblivion.
Lot of times, even during full moons, I found myself in total darkness and had to find way out by following my guts.


Actually, enemies have hard time seeing you in darkness also.
That's why it's much harder for them to notice you while you sneak in dark corners than in light ones.

That would mess with the whole balance of potions in the game. If they made longer-lasting potions, what would stop people from making super-powerful heal over time spells that last for huge spans of time?

I understand why having more realistic darkness is appealing, but it shouldn't come at the cost of gameplay imo.

It was too dark in the video for me. I think its even darker than in real life <_<

I recall having mods in Morrowind, Oblivion, and Fallout 3 which made night-time relatively dark. It was dark to the point you had to walk around with a torch, night eye, or the pip-boy light on. It was cool at first but the novelty wore off as I found myself getting stuck on random [censored] and having to focus more on the compass, rather than appreciate the beauty of the environment as it's illuminated by the night sky. I'd definitely like realistic darkness, but within reason. Not pitch black but a medium between the two.

What does a more powerful night-eye potion has to do with anything you said? >_>
I'm not saying that each and every effect should have buffed duration, just night-eye.
Of course, it doesn't mean that it should last 96954939694 years, just buff it from 30 second to 45-60 - problem solved.

if not its pretty obvious that it will be modded in like the darker nights and dungeons mod for Oblivion

Yeah, human sight doesn't work like that, our eyes adjust to darkness over time. HDR should make this a reality.

A 60 second potion isn't going to make it fair for a melee character that has to deal with hours of pitch-black darkness. The character would have to be constantly popping potions, or like i mentioned before, carry a torch and be forced to use a 1h weapon. It doesn't seem fair that they would have to use a potion - which costs money/ingredients - every minute in order to fight and explore in the darkness, as opposed to a mage who could simply cast the spell. If you really wanted a viable alternative for melee characters you'd need a nighteye potion that lasted minutes, not seconds. But it would break the alchemy system if you could make all potions that long, and it seems like a cop-out to only let one type of potion last longer than the rest.

Can't stand when games are too dark. I turn the brightness up in every single game.

Darker nights than OB and MW is a good thing IMO.

I'll be playing a Khajiit, apperently night eye is inate.

Having to carry a torch or use night-eye would make things interesting. An option to drop a lit torch would make two-handed weapons viable at night.

The torch should light up a good area if you have it, though... a lot of the darker nights mods for Oblivion and Fallout have wimpy torches that take the fun out of exploring at night.

Lighting up a torch should attract monsters, but maybe scare away certain enemies such as wolves?

Doesn't nirn have like a bazillion moons? I'd say it's pretty bright at nights outside unless it's cloudy.

As for dungeons darkness etc, why not?

(but not like tomb of giants in dark souls: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTMYKTGMqKY )