Non skill based character development.

So perks add a new level of customizable depth on top of the normal skills but what else could be done to develop characters other than buff this or that. I would like to see slight changes to the characters physical appearance and persona with the people of skyrim.
Things I think would work well or would like to see would be;

Opportunities to help out certain factions or populations and through hard choices they would like you more or less the consequences of this maybe have be to get some ritualized tattoo or scars for your troubles.

Supporting a settlement to develop, actually expanding and improving dependent on how we help or maybe even exploit.

Faction identity and significance, example, highest faction rating identifies you as such and progression in it sculpts your play style, say for instance you may take training in the fighters guild and study to perfect certain style of fighting, you can only choose one and it takes time and training but once complete allows a new competence in the aspect you studied , the same could be applied to other guilds and factions.

Speech change in the populous, as I gain fame without repeat annoyance, probably keep to subtle and have some kind of check in place so as not to have three people in a row or in the same area say the same thing.

Choice in house ascetics.

Developing a crest, shield or heraldry.

Keeping a journal that i could type in(ie this key opens, go hear find this, i love sweet cake ect) and organize my random ingame notes and pictures(maps, drawings ect) ect.

Non corny statue (small) or painting, event tapistry of an epic depiction of your heroism.

Hair growth for my epic skyrim beard, nothing major just say couple of variation or just variation you can pick that logically could grow into each other, and the facilities to keep it in check or not mwahahha(maybe a barber for a change in style or a bathroom in the more epic house for a shave(bathrooms?? Do they exist; do TES ppl even have bum holes??)).

Body mass change as you beef up. Not anything ridiculous, just a steady increase of a few % , modified by your original build so if you play slim and sleek you just gain more tone and definition, but if you play a hulk he would gain more size and definition. Nothing fable esq hated balancing out the changed they were a good idea but to extreme and characterourish.

Stance change as your fighting ability increased so you would have a meaner stance and more flourish, even voiced enthusiasm, as your skill increases. Same with magic maybe even more visual penuche as your fire off spells.

Which would help you visualize your character better and which would tip u over the edge, which could be done better or are just plain done well enough all ready??

I like the idea of making your own coat of arms (though it'll cause hilarous moments in real life)

"Why did you make a coat of arms that's hot pink?"
"uhhhh.... for no reason?"

lol yeah they'd have to be some restraint with user created stuff other wise you end up with a feild of phalis and boobs ala BlkOps

I don't really like the Fable style, you'r body changes as you swing bigger swords kinda thing. I want to be in full control of my characters looks. I d want more customization options though, for the face and body.

Also, two words. Bust slider.

And being able to name you'r weapons would be cool.

"and now I name you........."


that's a cool idea!

There is something that stud out to me in your post OP.
And that was fighting styles.
I know this would be alot more work and animation etc.
Ok we have finishing moves now depending on weapon,enemy etc,new combat animations =more moves.
But ( and this is my main point ) different fighting styles: as in stances or certain fighting arts etc.It could add a hell of alot more to combat,and a hell of alot more combat moves,this would be awesome.
But like i said maybe alot more work....anyway,just a thought.

i agree the fableesq version is bad but alittle bit of it wouldnt hurt i see where your coming from, id still like my stealthy guy to be killi but not be a tank so yer there needs to be modifiers just seems a little silly you dont age or grow even if it was only slightly and done more in the way you where skinned and toned.

you may have your bust slider, id go for oblivion not in the way bust tho,

Being able to age might be cool if not done overboard. Like age realistically. If you spend an actual ten game years in game you age ten game years.

I always loved that the games had their own days and months and years. I just wish they did more with that like having seasons ad holidays ad timed events that are triggered as the years go by. Like maybe 2 years after finishing the main quest something else happens or something. I dunno.

I kinda have a Harvest Moon vibe in mind but more complicated.

Time based event would be cool, actualy having seasons where more plants of certain type appear and I'm sure there's some kind of celebration that could spread the land, necromass for all. Yeah body change would need to be very subtile but very cool. As for fighting styles they could do it in very different ways from a few finishers and power attacks which is basically what we have just split up properly intergrated. A full rework for fight styles would be alot of wrk one for tes vi maybe.

Not an issue here as it will have the Creation Kit available and isn't an online game. People will be able to make whatever they want regardless of if they made some kind of in game restraint for that feature.

yeah but creation kit is pc only and i cannot aford a new pc for a while, customization for all(not that u can have the console on console, lol). as it is off line u are correct content exsplicit as you like i kind ment just more in theme with the game giving you layer of set iconography to build up to be your crest.