And that's exactly why I prefer the way it's done as is.

I know when people are complaining about a supposed lack of roleplaying potential in Skyrim that I can safely put myself in an entirely different category than the rest of this forum. That is just complete and utter nonsense to me, and I have to say, if you feel like you can't roleplay in Skyrim, then you just aren't trying. You just expect the game to hold your hand for your roleplay style, rather than to actually require you to do something about it yourself.

I agree with the "go anywhere, be anything" concept, but I shouldn't be able to do those things as easily as we can in the game. In Oblivion, I didn't like the fact that as a fighter I could join the mage guild, and as a mage I could join the fighters guild. I should have the option of joining in both o those instances, but I should have to be tested before membership is given. For example, I could easily fight my way through the mage guild quests with my sword, I didn't have to cast a single spell.

I'm not a mage in Skyrim, and I only visited the Winterhold college because my ranger dabbles in the healing arts of restoration. I liked the fact that you had to summon a flame atronarch to even get access to the college, so it seems like its more promising. I haven't gone through the quest line though.

On the same account, a mage should be able to join the Companions. But the mage will need to fight (think mage with a knack for swords). A level 5 pure fighter should be able to have enough fighting prowess to be a successful companion, but a mage might have to be 10 or so levels higher because they are focusing on magic, the swordplay is secondary skill that levels slower.

This is one of my biggest complaints as well. 95% of the quests are either "complete or not" with absolutely no options on HOW to complete. It's quite unsatisfying and I would rather just explore and dungeon crawl myself rather than do quests because of it.

The biggest example was dealing with that rebellion in Markarth. I mean, I freaking joined the Imperial Legion, but the only option to complete that quest was to help the rebels bust out of jail and then start attacking all the guards in the city. How does that even make sense?

This is one of my biggest complaints as well. 95% of the quests are either "complete or not" with absolutely no options on HOW to complete. It's quite unsatisfying and I would rather just explore and dungeon crawl myself rather than do quests because of it.

The biggest example was dealing with that rebellion in Markarth. I mean, I freaking joined the Imperial Legion, but the only option to complete that quest was to help the rebels bust out of jail and then start attacking all the guards in the city. How does that even make sense?

Can't you leave the convo? Just press the exit button and you're out. And for the good and bad part...we need karma back!

Erm...

I don't need to vocalize my character's personality. To do so actually doesn't make sense. People don't do this in the real world. It's just not realistic.

However, if someone I'm talking to says something unfavorable and I walk away, that's something that happens in the real world. I think the role you're playing in this RPG is a very unrealistic one and anyone who disagrees is clearly disillusioned and doesn't know how human interaction works.

When Obsidian did NV it was the first time I bothered to listen to conversations in a Bethesda game, now I'm back to skipping most. They need to move with the times a bit and make their plots more varied on how one wants to proceed through a quest. There were way to many times with completely one sided or wrong responses that were forced on my character. Obviously I like their games since I've played all of them, but that has bothered me of late.

Nope, there are other options in that quest.

I actually had a quest ruin an entire 40+ hours character for me. I was playing a mage archer (conj/archery/illusion with a bit of enchanting) and so far I was "the good guy". I helped people I could, refused to screw over others or to lie. I completed both the College quests and the Stormcloak, and everywhere I went guards would go "Well met, Stormblade" or "For Honor!".

Well That was until I found a book and auto-accepted a quest


So I figure hell, who cares right? I dont have to do it, let us just ignore the quest. And I promptly resume my Dungeon Crawling binge.

Then 5 hours later I walked in town...

"I have heard of your honeyed words..."
"I wont talk with men who don't hold to their honor..."

That is all the guards say now. Its either loose 5 hours of gameplay, reroll or re-write my character as a vile honorless liar....

I. I thought the Mass Effect system of Paragon/Renegade was decent, I could skip through if I wanted to and knew that Red was Renegade response, resulting in an intimidation, and Blue was paragon with a persuasion. I am sure die hard RPers loathe this system, but for the vast amount of players, I highly doubt they sit through the dialog and just want what they select to have an impact they can control.

http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/EricSchwarz/20111124/8956/Moral_Ambiguity_and_Choices_in_Skyrim_All_Setup_No_Payoff.php

^ Amazing article on the subject. A must-read.

Completely true issue, and a valid complaint. Anyone who disagrees with this is clearly delusional and doesn't know how RPGs work.

I know when people are complaining about a supposed lack of roleplaying potential in Skyrim that I can safely put myself in an entirely different category than the rest of this forum. That is just complete and utter nonsense to me, and I have to say, if you feel like you can't roleplay in Skyrim, then you just aren't trying. You just expect the game to hold your hand for your roleplay style, rather than to actually require you to do something about it yourself.