Darkshines (working title) is well underway, and to supplement our planning we have made a short survey that I hope everyone with an interest in mods take the time to answer
This has also been posted on The Nexus and on The Escapist, with 100 replies so far.

Follow https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dEtfbHB3QUhfRFpGU1daRXFRaVlmSEE6MQ to participate.

Thank you to everyone who helps!

Note: The final question is not required, but by answering you will receive credit on the finished mod.

EDIT: Also http://www.thenexusforums.com/index.php?/topic/313854-darkshines-will-finally-come-out-with-skyrim/ has a video for the old Morrowind project and some background info.

Just out of curiosity, why are you starting on your mod before the game is even out? How do you plan it when you really have nothing to plan around?

It's good to be prepared. Get your initial thoughts down, brainstorm what you want in it, so they don't have to start from scratch.

Personally, I am working on the script. When the script is finished, I can easily start collecting voice over work, and contributors in other fields. It's also viable to do some model and texture work already, and if something ends up needing to be changed, it will require less work than if we had started from scratch once Skyrim comes out. The philosophy is, the more work done beforehand - the more time we save and thus can get the mod out there sooner

On the 1st of August, wheels will be in motion to assemble everything we need to start as soon as Skyrim comes out (with time to spare to play the actual game, of course )

That means a good 2 months and 12 days to finish the music, framework of cutscenes (if we decide to use them), voice acting and key models/ textures.

I took the survey, and just wondering, what exactly is this "Darkshines", and how big will it be??

I'd ask/offer to be involved, but I don't even have a gaming PC yet ( getting one in about 5 months ) and I don't know Jack about mods or anything of the sort.

Anyways, good luck!

If you want to just follow the project and decide at a later time if you have something to contribute, that is fine. A website with forums is in the works (very near completion) and will have both user sign ups as well as a contributor application form. I already have a list of people interested in the project who have asked to be informed through PM's on the 3 communities the survey was posted, and I could add you as well if you want

EDIT: Forgot your other question. The size in terms of disk space will rely on the volume of voice acting and other media used. The http://www.thenexusforums.com/index.php?/topic/313854-darkshines-will-finally-come-out-with-skyrim/ was only 150 megabytes, but was half finished. If BINK videos is the way cutscenes are handled in Skyrim, I would expect a good 300 megabytes for just this type of content. (if we choose to do these)

As for length, that is largely up to the result of the survey and the direction we take, but we wouldn't call it an "Unofficial Expansion" if it was just a 5 hour side quest.

As for what the story exactly is like, you're going to have to wait unfortunately - as we want to make sure everything meshes with the existing lore beautifully (and I'm still deciding what to keep/change/toss out from the old mod)

Looks like a very interesting project (and was an interesting survey, too ... but why didn't you translate the German word "Erforderlich" in the foot note ? Guess it's a misstake, hu ? )

Looking forward on keeping track of your progress ! (have marked your project in my favourites B) )

Bsds: Since it's obvious, that you / some guys of your team are German ... will there also be a German version of your "expansion" (probably with German voice-recording, too ? <- this would be even more awsome, since I'm a German native, too ^_^ ) ??

Anyway: I also wish you only the best with your project and really look forward to see it "alive" (no matter, in what language or with whatsoever dowmload-size) :tops:

Thanks for answering my questions!

I'll definitely think about getting involved, but I'm going to have to wait to get my new PC before I'll know if I have a knack for this sort of thing. I'll have about 3 months to play with OB's toolset.