This city just freaks me out. I dont know why exactly. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that the city is associated with vampires but its not only this. The scenery around the city is spooky. Fog is common, swamps are everywhere and you have the sense that if you walk in the wilderness something bad will happen.

Morthal? Normally people don't like Markarth (me included), but Morthal? Damn, I like that village sized hold

I prefer to think of Morthal as "atmospheric."

For some reason I am reminded of the Dead Marshes when I travel northwest, headed toward Solitude. I think Morthal does feel kind of not-exactly-sinister but not-exactly-normal-and-inviting either. My Witch characters often live there.

lol, i've heard others say the same thing.

personally, all it took was my first character beginning the game in morthal and living there on a daily basis to get accustomed to the small town and look at it as normal as any other area.

it has all types of terrain nearby and lots to do.

When I went to Morthal for the first time (and even after the completion of the Laid to Rest quest) I thought the place was haunted and that in a certain place ghosts were trying to speak to me.

Later I found out from Ingun Black Briar that nirnroots can emanate sounds.

Morthal freaks you out? Then you'll have heart attacks if next game is set in Black Marsh.....

I remember having that same feeling when I played the game the first times; now I somehow like Morthal. And I like the old lady Jarl; she's a sensible character.

For the longest time, Morthal was my least favorite town/hold. Then I came to like it was out of the way, and the manor you can get in that hold is actually really nice for the secluded character.

Still not my favorite, but I've grown to appreciate it. The alchemist there is one of the my favorite shops in the entire game.

I love the look and feel of the place - so well done Beth! My favorite Hearthfire house is Winstad Manor out in the swamps. It's a perfect spot for alchemists or mages. The marshes are loaded with ingredients but there are many, many dangerous creatures. I've spent many hours creeping around cautiously looking for plants but ready to run away at the drop of a dime.

I'm only sad that the town doesn't really have the usual set of vendors or any kind of local guild. It feels like a back-water spot (which it is).

Morthal would make a great location for an Alchemist's guild. While it isn't a guild that can have a big questine, it could function like the bards college.

or, there could absolutely be an alchemists guild and bards college questline that is deep, meaningful with skill/level specific requirements and part of a more over-reaching faction aspect of the game.

What irritates me is that Morthal has no carriage/stables... That was a LONG walk back to Whiterun...

I don't mind Morthal, though I've never played the Laid to Rest mission. As an alchemist I like Lami, but also the Jarl and Fallion. What I really can't stand is Markarth, specifically the Silver-Bloods. At first I hated Riften too, but after spreading the word of Mara I felt better about it, like there are actually a few decent people there.

It grosses me out because its such an ugly town with unlikeable people.

Ooooh I want ! I want!

That's gonna be pretty hard when fighting is a big part of the game and you can't play music, and alchemy needs to be simple and intuitive.

Morthal "bugs" me, too. I am just not a fan of swamps. But, I do not dislike it. I like the area and the differences it has from most of the rest Skyrim. It makes for a great change of pace and does, indeed, feel "spooky." Add in Chauris' (Chaurisi?) just outside of town and it goes to 11

It's just like Falkreath, Winterhold, and Dawnstar in that respect. It's the lack of a smith and a general store that's more annoying. When Riverwood has both, it's incomprehensible that a Hold's major town doesn't..

I think Morthal is a calm little town. With the old wizard, and the magical Jarl and the vampires.