Its clear beth is influenced by modders with alot of their ideas...So far I've spotted:

Duke Patricks Combat Archery -back peddling, less arrows, more damage

Deadly Reflex- bashing, finishers

MMM - creature factions/ hunting

anybody spot any others?

i think that one craftybits mod.

Abandoned Ranger camp by Miltiades. Oh wait, I never released that one to the community (as it was just a tent with a bedroll, campfire and chest on a hill in the wilderness)

I can see a clear influence from http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=20734. I mean they pretty much stole the whole idea. Hope they are credited.

Was the ranger camp any good?

plagiarism!!!

Get them sued. Now. 100 big ones per camp, PLUS royalties.

Edit: I acutally really liked that crafty bits mod, bit glitchy though

For me it was great, but it wasn't anything special. I wanted to play a Ranger and live in the wilds (making my own arrows and armor with some fletching and skinning mod which I can't remember). So I found a spot south of Cheydinhal on a hill overlooking the area to the west where it would be perfect for a small camp. So I just put a tent, bedroll, chest with an old bow on top, campfire and a stool there for my ranger

I like the little details which breathe life to the gameworld, so a small abandoned camp suited my purposes on that particular playthrough

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6z8ydDV4HI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUEtV1sB1b8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YgcLrbbW5A
http://bethblog.com/index.php/2007/07/31/interview-with-akatosh-mount-mod-creator-saiden-storm/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BqKwtkmXmI
http://bethblog.com/index.php/2008/04/21/mod-interview-keter-sephiroth/#more-588
SM Regional Bounty and I hope Reneers Guard Overhaul
Midas Magic Spells of Aurum and other mods thats greatly use scripted spells
And many other modders ideas maybe thats why many honorable modders give interview
http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1062093-oblivion-modder-interviews-for-bethblog/

I would say the duel weilding was alot more like this other mod I played, let you use ALL weapons in both hands (like in UV)
Akatosh mount? 0_o you mean just cos its draggons?
And yeah, NPCs with jobs fo sho!

Ummm, that mod looks to me to be basically just the basis for Skyrim. So Bethesda is stealing a concept that they created, from modders who took that concept and worked with it a little ?

buddy it was a joke Skyrim was planned from the moment oblivion was released I belive. Modders made Skyrim, Hammerfall, Morrowind, Elsywere, Vardenfall and tottaly new places all playable- there is no way bethesda could have a released a game without ripping them off if thats what you call "stealing". modders didn't make the thousands of models, textures, characters, quests, locations, animals, spells, combat moves, weapons and armors and more that will be in Skyrim, did they? Or is that covered in "worked with it a little"?

It looks like they took some cues from alot of very popular mods like inventory increase mods... alchemy mods to visualy show you have harvested something already...weather mods...alt start mods that speed up the start of the game...and simular mods.

Frankly it looks like they went and found all the mods we liked that wernt pormy and took a good long look at em.

Well UV uses many animations what was done by Seph, before mods work like shields or torches Seph was one of first modders who create new first person animations and import mocap into game
I hope they also take look at Animated Clothing and Hair what Seph and Alex Scorpion work before
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0_FJyUF02E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-RrLowTRlA
Some times ago they release public beta but then quit from modding by some unknown reason, anyways some of their work still available like enhanced skeleton now part of Maximum Compatibility Skeleton or animated clothing can be seen on priests in Gates to Aesgaard mod.

Akatosh Mount is byproduct from first custom creature mod for Oblivion and one of most popular mods, so it like testing of dragons for TES besids there is another mod what need to be mentioned to see full picture
Reign of Fire: Attack of the Dragons
http://usuarios.multimania.es/razhkul/
and of course GIANTS for Morrowind


Well I don't quite understand, but I believe you agree with me.
NPC with Jobs even unfinished is outstanding, besides many modders start in their way at NPC with Jobs project like Mr_Siikas
http://www.youtube.com/user/mrsiika

As well need to add Better Cities and Unique Landscapes also.
I hope there will be more details revealed soon.