[Dustin Brown]

The only thing I have to say about dragons is that they should never, and I mean NEVER become mounts.
:flame:

[Dezzeh]

The dragons should be voiced by Bill Cosby, Arnold Schwazzeneger, Rhys Darby and Tracy Morgan.

[Danger Mouse]

If you need to ride a dragon to complete the main quest, then I will see how many cheese wheels I can collect. If there is a dragon with a joke of an Irish/Scottish/American/[censored] voice [ actor responsible for Sheogorath, I'm talking to you ] then I will play with the sound off.

[Marta Wolko]

So I'm guessing dragon shouts aren't necessary to defeat dragons because then how would we defeat the first dragon we face?

It is possible that we will be forced to make a "tactical retreat" from the first dragon we face. SureAI did something similar in Nehrim where we had to flee from a dark troll. Making us flee would add quite an advantage to setting the plot as it would give us better since of urgency to learn how to defeat the dragons. In Oblivion, I didn't feel like I needed to go to Cloud Ruler Temple and consequently, I did not retrieve Martin until 2 weeks after I saved Kvatch.

[how solid]

I looked around and it doesn't seem as though anyone has yet mentioned the fact that dragonlings were present in Daggerfall (which, if you recall, took place around the Iliac Bay, the body of water separating High Rock and Hammerfall) as enemies. If I'm merely repeating information, then I guess I just didn't look hard enough

SNIP

Very nice. I did see it mentioned somewhere but I thought they were different from these dragons so i didn't include it in the main post. Nice though, I didn't play that game so that was all news to me.

I would very much like a dragon mount. With some good animations preferrably. The point of a dragon mount isn't simply to fly to places, the point is that it's a dragon mount! I'd like to be able to do backflips and barrel rolls on my dragons, I'd like to see the trees sway as I zoom by, perhaps see snow stirred into the air as it gets brushed by the wingtips.

That's cool and I too like the idea of dragon mounts but I just don't think with these dragons being enemies that it would fit the game. You would probably have to raise one from young to have it even like humans enough to let them use it as a mount. Don't think we'll see it in Skyrim.

[Lauren Denman]

I'm certain the devs realise what a huge cliche Dragons are in fantasy worlds, so they need to make it feel "different". Because dragons have been done over and over again in dozens of games they really need to get it just right. It's a big gamble.

[Steeeph]

What I hope for with Dragons in Skyrim-

They should all be difficult
There should be different types of dragon
Alduin should be extremely hard to defeat(hardest boss in any ES game)
I hope some of them have a humanoid form as well(if that fits into ES lore)
Also on another note I hope that there are more unique bosses in general, I hated doing a quest in oblivion to fight an ancient vampire lord and he turned out to be a generic leveled vampire with a different name, nothing unique about him no unique weapon/armor/spells nothing.

[Vincent Joe]

Bump.

[Scared humanity]

If dragons will be anything like they are in the legends I think that they should be very hard to kill, otherwise it just makes everyone look incompetent and weak.

[k a t e]

http://skate-south-whyalla.webs.com/Chry/Bump%20Images/DragonBump%20copy.png

[Emmi Coolahan]

I'm really looking forward to the language.

It really helps with the immersion. I think the only people who don't care much for it re the "dude man bro" gamers.

Dudes and bros can still appreciate a rich game world. You don't have to be a college professor.

Well on topic, I hope they vary the types of dragons greatly. Different colors, horns, and body types.

[Loane]

How exactly would one go about killing dragons? :blink:

[Quick Draw III]

---

On the subject of their appearance, I will be sorely disappointed if the screenshot's wyvern-like concept does not change in the wing department. Wings that small, with almost no trailing edge (membrane connecting the wing to the body), would be unable to produce enough lift to keep the creature aloft. The leading edge (membrane between the homologous humerus and radiulna, assuming they are fused) is also an important factor in determining the angle of attack, which correlates to lift and aerial agility and manovreability. That being said, regardless of how much a dragon's wings resembles that of a bat's, attempting to utilize its phalanges exclusively for the purpose of propulsion is folly. Given the structure of the torso, it seems more likely that the wings would be attached to the sternum, modified into a keel structure, similar to a bird. This would allow the attachment of powerful muscles to generate the requisite energy needed to achieve flight and the forward (or upward, in the case of a hover) momentum through thrust to maintain it. A dragon would then utilize up and downstrokes, then coast for brief periods between each, as opposed to the relatively continuous flapping as seen on a bat.

I'm aware that dragons do not exist in reality, but that by no means is an acceptable excuse. I must continue to entertain the idea that physics and biology pertain to a world that has given me little cause to doubt their existence in the first place, at least until they have been thoroughly refuted by an official, and current, source. Aside from this, it is also a highly aesthetic issue in that these wings are simply blunted and ugly in comparison to the rest of the body. Were they to keep the wyvern appearance (as opposed to using a Western Dragon, with two wings and four legs), then I would be happy if they did something similar to the Reign of Fire dragons: http://www.milesteves.com/gallery/d/1170-2/ROF-big-Ashley-72.jpg (note the extension of the olecranon, or the protrusion of the ulna), http://www.milesteves.com/gallery/d/1108-2/ROF-crouch-6.jpg, http://www.milesteves.com/gallery/d/1189-2/ROF-crouch-5.jpg, http://content7.flixster.com/skin/profile/68/78/29/6878297_profile_mbox_background.jpg?version=20070506113735

More nitpicking: despite their scaly coverings, those hind legs are neither distinctly reptilian nor avian. They do not splay out to the sides and are directly positioned beneath the body, and the thigh is clearly distinct from the rest of the body. What is perceived to be a bird's "backwards knees" is actually the articulation of the lower leg and foot, to draw parallels to human anatomy. I cannot accurately judge whether or not there is an opposing digit on the feet (not all birds do, nor the same positioning or amount of digits either), though I would imagine there would be one, if only for the sole purpose of allowing them to pick up enemies or objects in their claws, rather than the mouth. You are, however, correct in that is a digitigrade (walking on toes) configuration.

Amen! you just hit the nail on the head. Reign of fire dragons look perfect in my opinion. I know theres no turning back for the game now and their probably done with all the dragon stuff but hopefully they see this thread just for a little piece of mind

[LADONA]

Dragons will be a big thing for Skyrim. But will they actually be free roaming creatures that you can go and fight and loot during exploration. Or will they only show up in the mainquest.( I know there is a Dragon Shout that actually calls a Dragon, but iam not counting that as a free roaming Dragon,its more of a summon.) Now i am thinking that the Dragons will be free roaming because you must kill one to gain its soul for the Dragon Shout.
"Upon defeating a Dragon,Skyrim’s hero absorbs the soul of the fallen creature, which fuels his ability to learn a new shout" Todd Howard said in a recent interview with gameinformer about the mechanics and lore of Dragon Shouts. But wait, it gets better "Later, players can search out long lost walls covered in Dragon script. Upon these walls, individual runes stand out to the hero because he or she is dragonborn. There are these words of power, and if you learn how to say them right, they have a powerful effect,”-Todd Howard. So,will Dragons roam Skyrim with the power of Legend? Or will they appear in epic and quest set instences? Post what you prefer and what you think will be implemented.

P.S. If you havent read the gameinformer arlticle on Dragon Shouts then heres the link- http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/01/20/skyrim-s-dragon-shouts.aspx?PostPageIndex=1 Read up

[Jordan Fletcher]

Creatures as far as I know, they say they'll be somewhat of a common appearance.
EDIT:
I want them as plentiful as cliffrunners only uber powerful!
Nah not really but I would like to see them as a free roaming threat to be nastily scared of.

[Sierra Ritsuka]

They will be free roaming. You could encounter them randomly at any time. They are also not scripted, as Havok Behavior makes them unpredictable and function more realistically.

[Jessica Nash]

It has been stated that dragons are "A regular and real threat to the world." and that they will fly around and attack cities, so yes, I'd say they're free roaming creatures, though I think it's safe to say we'll at least have to kill a few during the main quest. I think the main question is are dragons going to be like Oblivion gates in that they only start appearing (Or at least only start attacking towns.) after reaching a certain point in the main quest, or do they appear from the start even if you completely ignore the main quest? I hope it's the former as I don't want to keep finding that major cities are under attack by dragons if I choose to ignore the main quest, since I am assuming that the only way to permanently put an end to dragon attacks will be to complete the main quest.

[Julia Schwalbe]

hmmm.thanks for this new information. iam glad to here there free roaming, but iam definetly guessing that they will attack towns or mabey even show up at a certian point in the main quest,becuase the dragons returning is old Skyrim Lore,so it wouldnt really make sence if they just showed up without you even starting the main quest

[Richus Dude]

*Dragon flying around, breathing fire onto the external of the city. It lands on the door and pauses. It slowly disappears until it is loaded into the city cell.*
That would be hilarious. Although I think Dragons attacking cities almost confirms 'open cities'.

[Emzy Baby!]

Here's hoping they have some random one's floating around, for the sake of the experience of slaying a dragon after you've completed the main quest and collected all of the dragon shouts.

[krystal sowten]

*Dragon flying around, breathing fire onto the external of the city. It lands on the door and pauses. It slowly disappears until it is loaded into the city cell.*
That would be hilarious. Although I think Dragons attacking cities almost confirms 'open cities'.

No, I'm pretty sure it just means that while you are in a city, it may get attacked by a dragon.

Open cities, while they would be an amazing addition, would be a HUGE resource hog. The game would have to handle the "Radiant AI" for all the creatures in the world, AND all of the NPCs in the world, while also running every script in the game, all at the same time.
I just don't see that happening, it doesn't seem possible.

[Jessie]

They are also not scripted, as Havok Behavior makes them unpredictable and function more realistically.

The dragon's flight is not scripted. Havok Behavior is an animation blending engine. The dragon's decision making is still controlled by Radiant AI.

[Dezzeh]

No, I'm pretty sure it just means that while you are in a city, it may get attacked by a dragon.

Open cities, while they would be an amazing addition, would be a HUGE resource hog. The game would have to handle the "Radiant AI" for all the creatures in the world, AND all of the NPCs in the world, while also running every script in the game, all at the same time.
I just don't see that happening, it doesn't seem possible.

There is a mod for Oblivion that makes them open and the performance loss is negligible. I don't know whether it has something to do with the capabilities of consoles (limited ram maybe, no idea), but on PC there is no real reason to put them in a closed off worldspace.

EDIT: And the dragons are obviously part of the main quest, but I think you will be able to encounter them at any time if you didn't finish the main quest already. Just like you could encounter random Oblivion gates and Daedra before finishing Oblivion's main quest.

[Lyndsey Bird]

No, I'm pretty sure it just means that while you are in a city, it may get attacked by a dragon.

Open cities, while they would be an amazing addition, would be a HUGE resource hog. The game would have to handle the "Radiant AI" for all the creatures in the world, AND all of the NPCs in the world, while also running every script in the game, all at the same time.
I just don't see that happening, it doesn't seem possible.

Never played the Open Cities mod in Oblivion?

It certainly is possible, and will most likely be done.

EDIT: Blah, ninja'd :toughninja:

[+++CAZZY]

No, I'm pretty sure it just means that while you are in a city, it may get attacked by a dragon.

Open cities, while they would be an amazing addition, would be a HUGE resource hog. The game would have to handle the "Radiant AI" for all the creatures in the world, AND all of the NPCs in the world, while also running every script in the game, all at the same time.
I just don't see that happening, it doesn't seem possible.

Especially if Beth ups the number of NPCs in cities.

There is a mod for Oblivion that makes them open and the performance loss is negligible. I don't know whether it has something to do with the capabilities of consoles (limited ram maybe, no idea), but on PC there is no real reason to put them in a closed off worldspace.

That's exactly why, Xbox360 and PS3 both have only 512mb of RAM.