So we have traveling merchants : V

» Wed Apr 20, 2011 10:02 am

This is what Todd said in a recent interview -> here's the link http://www.oxm.co.uk/26155/bethesdas-todd-howard-on-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim/

Carelessly drop an axe in a forest during an afternoon's bear-slaying, for instance, and a merchant chum might retrieve it for you later. Behead him as punishment for running his filthy, lucre-loving fingers all over your prized weapon, and he won't be able to enlist you as a caravan escort - but his unsuspecting widow might. You get the idea.

^so he just confirmed traveling merchants with and hiring mercenaries, right? I have seen many people talk about how they want this in these forums and I'm glad it's in the game.

I hope, however, many merchants have they own bodyguard(s). I'm gonna be the one ambushing the caravan and I want a challenge.

» Wed Apr 20, 2011 8:27 am

I hope it's not only a quest but a game mechanic that they implemented. If so, I will be protecting the merchants, quite a good way to get from point A to point B will making some money :disguise:

» Wed Apr 20, 2011 5:47 am

depends on current mood, how far away I am from law enforcement, if I'm wearing a mask etc

» Wed Apr 20, 2011 9:52 am

I will protect them if I quests tells me too but if during this quest I meet up with bandits and they ask me to help them I will be happy to oblige. If I am forced to help, after I get my reward I will kill the merchant and loot his stuff.

» Wed Apr 20, 2011 3:30 am

I'll help them as long as my danger money is sufficient. If it isn't he's gonna have an accident.There's nothing worse than a merc who's paycheck is late...

» Wed Apr 20, 2011 11:09 am

Depends on two things: the loot and the guards. If the loot is scaled to my level it's not worth the trouble. If guards in a distant city will know by telepathy what I did when nobody saw me then... no thanks. Otherwise this is a very nice feature that makes the long roads more interesting.

» Tue Apr 19, 2011 11:00 pm

Makes sense. The wilderness of Skyrim is probably pretty dangerous, and the roads wont be patrolled like they are by the Empire in Cyrodiil.

Though itd be cooler to be able to have my own caravan company and hire my own mercenaries.

» Wed Apr 20, 2011 8:08 am

Yay. this will be most enjoyable

» Wed Apr 20, 2011 4:46 am

I'd rather sell my stuff to him. :confused:

» Tue Apr 19, 2011 8:41 pm

Protecting them. I thought about robbing them for a second, but then I figured they may be pretty important to have if I ran into them on the road and needed something from them.

» Wed Apr 20, 2011 12:00 am

Eh, I'll just pick their pocket.

» Wed Apr 20, 2011 5:54 am

If they carry their merchandise in real time robbing them would be very tempting. I want to be able to loot everything they have, and if they have a valuable transport there should be some tough guards in that caravan.

» Tue Apr 19, 2011 9:11 pm

I guess it depends on how I'm playing the game. First time through, I'd do whatever I would in real life--being an honest citizen protecting innocents. Second time through, they had better be watching carefully.

» Tue Apr 19, 2011 10:20 pm

Depends on two things: the loot and the guards. If the loot is scaled to my level it's not worth the trouble. If guards in a distant city will know by telepathy what I did when nobody saw me then... no thanks. .

I highly doubt this will happen
I think Beth learned from Oblivion. I hope...

» Wed Apr 20, 2011 8:50 am

If they carry their merchandise in real time robbing them would be very tempting. I want to be able to loot everything they have, and if they have a valuable transport there should be some tough guards in that caravan.

yeah that's true. i don't want to rob them and only get a fraction of their merchandise

and yeah the nice ones should have a team of merc guards. mages, fighters, and stealthy guards

» Wed Apr 20, 2011 3:10 am

Im hoping Radiant AI will have an effect here. If my character is a known thief then the mercs might attack me on sight or the caravans will get better protection. If im good then I might get offers to help guard. Etc.

» Tue Apr 19, 2011 9:27 pm

Well I hope traveling merchants means larger groups than an old cow and one guard. I′m hoping for real caravans with at least a dozen people heavily guarded and wagons. Than I think it would be fun attacking and robbing them maybe with the help of some outlaws?

» Tue Apr 19, 2011 11:30 pm

I will probably hire myself out as a guard and protect them. Then again if I am very short on money I may be tempted to rob them. But I try (key word is try) to play an honest character.

» Wed Apr 20, 2011 8:49 am

This is good news thanks for sharing, I look forward to playing as a wandering swordsman.

» Tue Apr 19, 2011 11:53 pm

Really depends on the stuff they have and their guards - otherwise I'll protect them.

Except from mudcrabs. Any merchant killed by mudcrabs will instead be given a Darwin award by me.

» Wed Apr 20, 2011 5:29 am

Really depends on the stuff they have and their guards - otherwise I'll protect them.

Except from mudcrabs. Any merchant killed by mudcrabs will instead be given a Darwin award by me.

what about 20 mudcrabs? that'd just be brutal to let him be torn apart

» Wed Apr 20, 2011 12:08 am

what about 20 mudcrabs? that'd just be brutal to let him be torn apart

I saw a mudcrab yesterday
tore a man apart
nasty creatures

are you a dynasty warriors fan by any chance? :hubbahubba:

» Tue Apr 19, 2011 11:57 pm

I saw a mudcrab yesterday
tore a man apart
nasty creatures

are you a dynasty warriors fan by any chance? :hubbahubba:

kinda. more of fan of the novel the game was based off of, Romance Of The Three Kingdoms.

» Wed Apr 20, 2011 12:43 pm

kinda. more of fan of the novel the game was based off of, Romance Of The Three Kingdoms.

But you can't hack and slash your way through weak AI and prove your might in a book

jk haha
works in that game but i hope not so much in skyrim

» Wed Apr 20, 2011 4:41 am

I'll have to wait to see just how it's done, but I like the idea itself. It'd be a great way to use Radiant Story to generate some of the "Fill" quests, a Player who tends to gravitate towards mercenary work certainly could, and would look forward to providing escort to traveling merchants, it could potentially go so far as to increase the economic prosperity of a city, and allow them to offer more goods for barter, that's getting (Way) ahead of myself though.