I really want to give Skyrim another try with another character, but I have two annoying problems with that ...

First, I had three characters so far. A mage (totally blew because I expected way more spells back then), a warrior/monk with restoration and a thief/assassin with archery. That let me finish all questlines, and invest in most skills with one character or another. I made extensive use of Destruction, Alteration, Restoration, Conjuration, Illusion, Enchanting, Smithing, Two-Handed, One-Handed, Heavy Armor, Archery, Sneak and Light Armor. The perks in Pickpocket, Lockpicking and Speech don't hold up to the other skills in my opinion, which basically leaves me with Alchemy. Sadly, that's not enough to shape a character, and I can't see another combat option I'd like to try - except blocking maybe. But that would force me into One-Handed again ...
Besides the loss of spears, throwing weapons and crossbow from Morrowind, the few spells we have left in Skyrim really makes it hard for me to replay this game with another character. The perk system was supposed to force us into choices, so we couldn't do everything with one character, but I just don't feel it. None of my characters are at max level, and could still easily change their whole playstyle.

Second, Radiant Story is designed for people that only play once. The game directs you into regions you haven't been yet with that specific character, so you get to see as much as possible. While basically a nice idea, this ultimately results in the same experience with every character you make. It's very hard to say "The Reach looks nice, I will save that hold for my Orc character" when the game constantly pushes you into that region.

I put 230 hours into Skyrim so far with several characters, and I have the feeling I ... completed the game. I even did a lot of things several times - I lost count how often I cleared Bleak Falls Barrow, Korvanjund and Shearpoint.

I am now off to play with the character generator once again. Maybe the beast races will inspire me to try something else. Play a totally non-combat thieving Khajiit or something ... :sadvaultboy:

I hear you..

I have a problem with replayability as well - there's too damn much of it. I don't have enough life to spend on all the characters I want to make.

I put 60 hours in and I feel like I've completed it. (I'm playing Saints Row 3 now)

I totally agree with you on the exploring part. I feel like Skyrim's greatest asset is going into a cave or a dungeon and just finding out what was going on in there. If you do it all on one character (like I did) you'll have a very hard time continuing to play the game another time through.

Try a ranger character
1 handed
Block
Archery
Light armor
Sneak

I feel the same way as you do, except I have only put in about 40 hours. It just feels like I've done everything 2-3 times already (and with certain radiant quests, 5-6 times). I believe I read a post on here that talked about a vampire build that only invests points into magicka and gets Illusion perks to turn enemies against each other, which seems somewhat interesting. And if I'm not mistaken, you can use a destruction spell with a shield in your left hand, so you could always try that. I'm just messing around, giving companions insanely powerful weapons to watch them destroy monsters, putting buckets over bandits' heads so I can sneak through dungeons, killing enemies with the traps in dungeons, and things of that nature. I hope I helped in some way.

Faulgor

I know what you mean, but your getting close to 300 hours of play. That's about where i ended my journeys to oblivion as well. It sounds like you squeezed everything you could out of the game. You did play all 3 major archetypes of characters.

Obviously some people are still playing oblivion, especially pc players. My last save for Oblivion on 360 was around 250 hours. Thanks to mods on the PC I stopped playing oblivion right around skyrim came out. I'll probably pick it up again later too.

The game was stated to have about 300 hours of playtime and it just looks like we are starting to hit that ceiling of game play now that the games been out for over a month.

60 hours and you've done it all. I'm calling total [censored]

Omg, really!? Im barely 130 hours in with my 1st guy and Im proud to start a new game with a new race
The thing I did, is create a background for my characters before creation.
My 1st game I modeled after how I would react had I been placed into my dovahkiins boots. I spoke each line giving my hero my voice and when making a decision I make up my own lines. Sure it sounds lame at 1st but when you give it a try it makes the game more enjoyable. When an ancient dragon has my hero sprinting for cover, I usually say "Oh Sh*t!!! Oh shi*t sh*t sh*t!!! Damn bastard almost had me (begin healing) eerrrr....That oughta do it, where you at you f**ker!!!" I enjoy my game more this way

My 2nd guy is supposed to be a descendant of my last champion of cyrodil which was a dunmer named Archaius, The Beholder who rocked perfect madness armor (Shivering Isles Exclusive) and
Shadowrend (also Shivering Isles Exclusive). He was skilled in Heavy Armor, Destruction, Conjuration, Restoration, Blade, Blunt, and Mysticism. He was an evil character and I had a bounty so high, that even the infinite money glitch couldnt aid me in paying it off. I was undefeatable. His descendant living in Skyrim is Maverick, The Darklord. Base skills are Heavy Armor, Two Handed, Destruction, Restoration, Conjuration, Enchanting, and Smithing. I basically wrote a background history how he wants to follow in his ancestors path. Gain the trust of the country, become the greatest hero theyve ever known. Than once youve certified this, reveal your true nature. I also speak for him as well, giving him a more sinister tone. My original character stayed clear of Daedric Princes (with the exception of a few) bc I fear demons as a fact. And my dunmer shall obtain all artifacts of the daedrics princes. Hes level 1 still LoL but has since long needed to level up. I know this as fact bc my two handed is 38, destruction is 43, restoration is 40, enchanting is 54, smithing reached 100 LoL Iron daggers ftw, conjuration is at 34. I have a feeling im around 14-18 if i level up.

LoL I got too carried away talking about Maverick but you should try my method ti enjoy your game more

No no no...I FEEL like i've done it all.

That's what the mods are for... wait until january/february unless you're on a console then play something else.