Well, this quite an interesting topic! (and this is my first post in the forums!)

I feel quite strongly about the inclusion of fearsome underwater mobs and bosses. I have always been afraid of water (especially deep, blue water), and I am always a bit let down when exploring the shores around Anvil in Oblivion. I expect there to be danger, and I will often go out of my way to find it. Time after time I have explored the ocean floor in various parts of Oblivion, hoping to be the first to discover that there really is a Leviathan down there!

It shouldn't surprise anyone to hear that I'm just another Morrowind junkie who has quite a rocky relationship with Oblivion. I feel that this is one instance when my sense of wonder and curiosity led me to utter disappointment. I'm planning to start a thread on the 'magic formula' I feel was lost in the upgrade, but a great deal of it relied on the fact that players ENJOY PUSHING THE LIMITS AND EXPLORING THE BOUNDARIES of a game. Why make so much coastline available if there's no treasure at the bottom? (Not counting that one tiny glass hat off the island west of Anvil...) And why make it possible for me to explore to my heart's content just to realize this fact? If I'm not supposed to be exploring the ocean floor, then there had better be a great deal of trouble involved in getting there.

Now, how should this work out in Skyrim? Oh my God, the possibilities! I'm excited to see what Bethesda chooses!

I believe that there should be a book or two in circulation around Skyrim about creatures of legend. Enormous, vicious or incredibly powerful creatures (on par with or beyond the dragons of the main storyline)! The texts should direct the player to certain vague locations, and many of these should be underwater. I love the idea of descending into open blue territory as the ambient light diminishes, only to realize that you are being drawn (almost gravitationally) toward a behemoth with an open maw and eyes that have been watching you since your dive.

Doesn't it make you shiver?! Yes! This is the moment I've been waiting for! Now to try out this weapon I just enchanted! (Yay, enchanting!)

Anyway, I do believe that not all ocean life should be enormous and threatening. I also disagree that there should be random aquatic flora and fauna taking up disc space. 5-10 underwater life forms similar to the sea-floor shells would be sufficient to keep me interested in the ocean floor. I don't want to waste my weapon's charge hunting clown fish, but I wouldn't mind testing it against the occasional wereshark! (Yeah, I went there.) Well... at least a great white shark with some weird gills and scar action going on. Something to fit the Nordic fantasy of Skyrim.

Finally, I agree with the comment about underwater grottoes. Water is a very real place in a game world that was almost entirely ignored in Oblivion (to my constant disappointment). I would love to see how this might play out with freezing conditions and how they affect gameplay (as per a previous thread). Could you imagine casting a fireball spell to break through the ice of a hidden lake, donning a cold-resistant water-breathing kit and descending into the depths in search of a hidden grotto or ancient evil?

Am I the only one that is so incredibly excited about this concept? Even just talking about it?

You don't have to be bored, just need a large ball bearing to put on the W key.

Bethesda has said that the game will not have any invisible barriers like Oblivion; what the player sees, the player can go to. This lets me think that we'll be able to swim very far and deep into the Padomaic Ocean, just like we could in Morrowind. This is their cue to add in some giant sea monster like J?rmungandr. This dude needs to roam the waters, waiting to eat anyone careless enough to venture so deep.

Haha. Brilliant. I take it that's a confession.

Welcome to the forums
Also may i add....a great first post :thumbsup:
I share your enthusiasm and i agree ,i enjoyed reading that.
Well done sir....well done indeed :thumbsup:
Hows about: Megalodon....the prehistoric shark.....oh yes i can see a pants change right there!

Antarctica actually has some pretty spectacular coral.

Yes, yes, and yes. Monster Hunter for the Wii got Underwater monsters/battles right beth/tes can do a better job if they want.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdHHepi8UJo
Encountering the Lagi for the first time was a wow factor. Can't deny Monster Hunter has the best bosses because they do... however that and Armor/Weapons/Equipment is pretty much all game has... Another game that I'm in love with is Demons Souls.