There is no recognition that the civil war is over and that Ulfric is rebuilding Skyrim. There is barely recognition that my character is a wood elf except the occasional rude comment and another wood elf in Windhelm that says he'd like to get to know her better but he's not even available to marry or as a companion. I love the open world and the environment but there are just too many loose ends. It's like what you do doesn't have an impact on the people either way and there are no benefits to being a thane in a city. I mean a thane has power and is respected but once you become a thane, that's it. Why bother? I know it's been said, but I've spent over 100 hrs in the game and I'm just puzzled as to why Bethesda left this all out along with all the other things they left out like companions not being able to ride horses. In Oblivion when you do something for an npc, they always recognize it and thank you every time they see you. In Skyrim it's forgotten the next minute. I guess I'm going to put it away and play New Vegas which has a great story so I'm told.

I mean, I've already completed the thieves guild and there is no follow up, no one recognizes that she's the next in line to be the guild leader and is a nightingale. I'm left with an empty want more feeling. Impact. I want to see impact. I want my thane to be able to make it better for the elves in Windhelm even if she has to do it with her own septims but there is none of this in the game.

I know others have said the same, but I have to say I'm disappointed. I did get my money's worth though. That's a good thing.

I'm not really sure what you mean, anytime i do somethiong for the npcs they treat me better. Especially in Whiterun.

I mean once you're thane it doesn't make any difference in the game. The members of the thieves guild act as though you're still the rookie though you've killed Mercer, etc. They don't even recognize that the civil war is over. 100+ hours in the game and these are the things I've noticed.

I'm tending to find that there is a very good subplot underneath it all...and somewhat paralell to the main plot/questline.

I understand what you're getting at. I feel it too at time during the game, where I want to be beloved by npcs for saving their hides. I remember at the beginning of the game I spoke with Gerdur who was the sister of the rebel that I fled Helgen with. She was thankful for me saving her brother, and said she'd be very grateful if I went to Whiterun and told the Jarl of their town's predicament. I come back later to Riverwood and she talks to me as if i'm a newcomer to the town. I even had the key to her house that she gave me earlier in the game!

I just finished Archmage quest line and well, getting same vanilla answers so I understand your woes OP.

This first Bethesda patch is gonna be interesting. Will it be a big content patch, adding stuff in they weren't able to complete on release or will it be a small bug and optimization code patch. Should be interesting....

I've noticed that as a thane, (atleast of Whiterun) people do treat you better, but not all of them. I actually like it. It makes it seem more realistic. I mean, no matter what you do, there are always going to be people who don't care about you or don't respect you.

As I've said before, its a testament to the game that people feel cheated when it can't do everything for everyone.

They can only have so much content.

IT CAN'T DO EVERYTHING.

ya i wish the dialogue was a little more in depth so as to actually acknowledge my actions.

if i get in a fist fight with someone, i don't want them talking to me like nothing happened

I'm not holding my breath for them to release the rest of the game.

I could mention a 100 examples of "faulty" npc dialog scripts. Unfortunately they did not do a good job with them.

I am a little disappointed in the way the Thieves Guild still treats me. As well as my disappointment in the guards having absolutely no recognition of me being a high ranking officer, the dragonborn, and a thane. Oh well, it'll be a little while longer before "maybe I'm the dragonborn?" ceases to amuse me.