Shepard runs to jump on the ship after destroying the collectorbase in the last mission of Mass Effect 2. Imagine that without music. Worthless.

I'm hoping they take the Media Location Controller system that Obsidian devised and put it to use in TES5.

The most epic, heart-pounding, terror-inducing theme ever should kick into a soaring crescendo . . . but only when a mudcrab draws near.

I don't want combat music, I hated how I magically knew I was in combat. But now I turn the music off, sure it's quiet, but not magically knowing that I am in combat sure as hell is worth it.

I was simply stating as to where it'd be useful. Unlike some of you, I loved every piece of Jeremy Soule's music in Oblivion (and morrowind and all of the guild wars ). It is a helpful system that adds to the drama and immersion (unlike a custom 'rock' soundtrack, ugh, or no music...baffling??). End of story.

Wow. Just... wow.

Anyway, I personally think it is a good and simple solution to just make the music start when you join the fight, as many others have said already. Don't overcomplicate things, if that is even a word.

So true.

But to each his own, of course.

Unless its a boss fight of sorts I dont want battle music. Nothing to ruin the immersion than to have the current track die down and some up beat crap pop up telling you a bad guy is going to "ambush" you. Thankfulyl we have mods right? right? i hope

I have been playing without music after reading some comments on another thread here. Have to say that I've come to enjoy the quiet, and all the things that come with it. I can see how some people would not enjoy it, so a simple toggle for battle/ambient music would work best.

I loved Oblivions battle music, I hope Skyrim has something that sounds similar. The only music I didn't like was the Dungeon music in Oblivion as it was the same for every dungeon and now granted it doesn't have an annoying sound or anything but every dungeon had the same music thats something that I want changed in Skyrim.

I always play with music off, I would rather hear the sounds of the slash and hacks than some fiddle or tuba. What gets me is some games you need the music on to hear stuff in the cutscenes. The only exception that I can remember was Silent Hill, background music in that game added so much to the atmosphere and creeped me out even more.

I agree they got the music wrong to an extent where it was only fitting for a small handfull of occasions. You should never under estimate the impact that carefully selected and engineered music can have on a situation. The music selection should be circumstantial as mentioned above.

I never understand how games throw huge resources at a game and then really water down the music content. Imagine some of the best movies ever without the soundtracks, music sometimes playing in the back ground that fits so well it goes un-noticed, and other times adding the emotion to the scene's. If they want to make the best game yet, then they need to get the best guys in for the soundtrack, John Williams, John Murphy, Enya, why not?

(I know i said Enya - dont shoot! But soundtracks such as Lord of the Rings)

It has to be improved for Skyrim.

Edit: Don't get me wrong i liked the general background music by the way.

Removing music? NOOO! Pay the court a fine! :meh:
The biggest challenge for the composer is to craft a battle/confrontation melody that blends with all the other themes. It has to start smoothly and then...explode!
Anyway, I see your point. It is a bit annoying in oblivion when you hear terrific soft music like "Auriel′s Ascension" and then drums kick in

It pretty much does. The Better Music System mod for Oblivion changes the battle music so that it won't alert you of enemies, and makes the transitions smoother too (not to mention dungeon type, location, day and night, and region specific playlists) and it makes it much better than the default system. It's also possible to switch any of them off.

Oh, and if you still play Fallout 3, try exploring downtown without background music. The fatigue sounds of the destroyed buildings are music enough.

Something like that, yeah. For fights with mudcrabs and rats I'd rather have it not initiate combat music at all, so whichever explore track was playing just continues.

I don't mind the music in the background usually, but what I do mind is how bad it sounds after being interrupted ten times in the past five minutes. I guess I wouldn't mind at all of it was better implemented, but if it wasn't I would like the option to turn off just the battle music.

Better music and many different types of combat music, it depends where you are, not who you fight.
And combat music, this is important, should only get on if you see your enemy and have engaged yourself in combat with it by doing damage or something.