I have seen many times where the notion is posted that Fast Travel could be more 'immersive'.

I see this on both sides of the divide (those for and against its use). Many games implement it (Most Black Isle games had it); Morrowind had stilt striders, Oblivion did not (none that I ever saw anyway).
I've never seen the practical difference myself between any game I've played that used it. I see no significant [fast travel] difference between say Icewind Dale, Lands of Lore, and TES.
When I read, "it could be more immersive", I wonder, "What does that mean exactly?" (gameplay-wise)

I would love to read member ideas of what that must mean, or in some cases, what you meant when you wrote it. How exactly (or even in theory) it could work.
Can fast travel be improved in your opinion. (and what does it do currently that seems wrong to you?)

**What exactly would you like them to do? (and why would that be a good thing?)

For myself ~my list:
Fast travel in all Bethesda games that I recall playing had on nag for me (only one). I did not like that it did not account for dangers or good fortune along the way (during the trip); Otherwise I see nothing wrong with it, nor how it might be improved beyond fixing my one peeve with it. Adding in statistical (or even just random) encounters IMO would better reflect their ordeal between points A & B.

When I try to imagine other improvements (besides the one I mention above), I cannot envision any practical means to do it another way ~while still remaining fun. :shrug:
So I would love to read somebody else's idea of how it could work. If you have a theory (or solution), please explain how it works. :wave:

Personally the only fast travel system I have a problem with is Oblivion's, or systems similar to Oblivion's. Basically a magic button that takes you anywhere with no explanation of how you got there and no penalty for using it. There's no immersion because it's just a gameplay mechanic that's... "tacked on" for lack of a better term. There's no silt strider, no bus, no airship, just a click this and you're there button.

A truly immersive fast travel system would have the fast travel medium physically and visibly take you from point A to point B. Like if you actually hopped on the silt strider and it actually walked the entire distance, preferably rather quickly, as opposed to having all that implied. But even having it implied is ten times better than Oblivion's magic button system.

If you could ride the silt stiders and they galloped like fortify speed by 300 or something....and the operators had to clean up after them. That's the way it should have been done. What were the devs thinking?

Would an explanation suffice (beyond the current one... One with additional details I mean). Basically he's walking the whole way and they don't require you to watch. :shrug:
Do you mean (for example) that there should be like a pop-up that recounts your route(?) mentions when you swam, mentions where you rested?

That's sort of what I meant when I mentioned that I could not think of a way that remained fun. I didn't think that players would want control wrested from them while the strider or transport made the trip, and/or I didn't think that a coach seat, or even an eight foot walkable area on a Stil Strider's back would be fun while it walked the land in real time. :shrug:

Is that something you would want? Most people that use Fast travel often seem to do so because they want to skip the implied trip and resume when they get there.
(that's why I use it when I do)

Actually, fast travel that gives you the option to sit and watch it all happen in real-time (with the option of interacting in some way especially), while also giving you the option for time compression at any time is very nice. GTA comes to mind with taxis, and RDR with stagecoaches.

OB did not have stilt riders.

what this topic usually comes to is whethor or not fast travel should be included or removed. those in favor of removal point out that people who want fast travel could get a mod to put them in and they wont be forced to use fast travel (which they aren't, but thats what they believe). while the people for fast travel say that there's mods that take them out.

my opinion is the more options the better, because they are optional. OB was just too small to actually NEED fast travel (while it could take a full half hour to get to some points in MW) but the devs forsaw that some would still want the ability to get some where without having to cross the same path for the hundreth time.

if you don't like fast travel don't use it (we have all heard this argument before, if you can't resist you need to find some free will)

That's not what its about though (this thread I mean).
I (personally) have yet to get an explanation of why Fast travel is bad ~except that its an immersion breaker; and since its not an immersion breaker to me, that doesn't help me understand.

This thread is a for ideas (since I couldn't come up with any), ideas of what players think could be a better way (and why); and also what is lacking in the current way (and why). Like I said, I do not "get" what the point of contention is.

Personally, I have no issue with Oblivion's fast travel. I thought it was apparent that you walked, avoiding encounters to the location. Considering time passes during fast travel, and you can only go to places you've been before. The only thing I would consider changing it is that nothing ever happens during fast travel. Even if you tried to avoid encounters, you would still likely get caught by an ambush or an animal stalking you. But in my opinion, Oblivion's fast travel does not break immersion, it just takes the tedium out of walking everywhere by automating it. Of course, I have no issue with Morrowind's style either, with the whole 'taxi' approach. Both systems are good and work.

I as well have yet to see any reason why Oblivion's style of fast travel is bad.

I would be happy if it returned to the way it was in MW, with the OB version as well. but over all these topics almost need their own page because there are so many of them. (not saying that this one shuld be closed or any thing) I just get so weirded out when people complain about having a choice.

you can find carriages walking on roads, or in citys, and they can only take you to other citys. or on the road nearest to your destination

Basically, this. I never use Oblivion's fast travel system because, for me, it shatters immersion. It's just a gameplay mechanic; nothing more. I much prefer Morrowind's system--it fits in with the world, costs something to use, and isn't all-encompassing--the silt strider isn't going to take you to an out of the way ruin, but it will take you to the town closest to it. I like that.

As for actually sitting and watching while the boat or silt strider takes you from one town to the next...eh. :shrug: That just seems like a waste of time, for me. That's how travel works in LotRO (when you're not going by swift travel, which is an instant teleport), and well...the plus side is that while my character's busy taking five minutes going from one place to another, I can go make some tea.

I would be fine with a system like that of MW's or Red Dead Redemption. Still I'm fine with the current one in OB.

Admittedly the system I described is overkill which is probably why it isn't used very often. Also if it takes longer than a minute to get somewhere, it isn't fast travel. I can get most anywhere in Cyrodiil on horseback in five minutes.

I like how RDR does it. You can either ride and sightsee your whole way there or just take a nap till your stop.

I would add more options though. A cheap but deadly option with many encounters of thieves/etc that coud hassle you.
A medium option that pays mid price but you have to do arbitrary stuf but decent safety from encounters.
And then top dollar for a luxorious ride, and is moderately fast with hardly any chance of encounters.
This is what I would use for a fantasy setting. Cart, Wagon/Caravan, and Coach.

Also many other types of FT travel like Boats, Skyships, etc.

All while having a sightseeing or nap option.