First, I'm going to say that I'm playing with an Xbox 360 controller. Some of these ideas may not be of much consequence if you're using mouse and keyboard, although some of them will.
These changes all make the interface better without sacrificing any of the existing features or benefits.

1. 7 hot-keys and a favorites menu
Currently there are only two hotkeys (D-pad left and right), and the favorites menu can be accessed with D-pad up or down. Instead, you could have D-pad up be the favorites menu, and the other 7 directions (this includes diagonals) be used for hot keys. Alternatively, you could have both up and down be the favorites menu, in case you want to satisfy people that have gotten used to either way, but have the remaining six directions be used as hot keys.

2. A quick way to back out of a skill on the skill menu
Instead of repeatedly pulling back to get out of a particular skill tree, why not have the X button pull my view out to show all skills?

3. Turn book pages with triggers
When reading some of the longer books, I set the controller down at my side. It is much easier to turn the page using right trigger than using the control stick when I do this. Why not let us turn pages with triggers in addition to using the control stick as an option? In fact, if you happen to be reading a book while it is in a container, you can still use triggers. Why can't I do this anywhere else?

4. Map filters
Pressing RB or LB on the map screen could pull up filters. Then I could select to show only cities, or only show dungeons that I haven't cleared, or don't show places I've already visited, or whatever combination I want.

5. Categories for containers in homes
Containers in the wild don't have much use for categories, which I imagine is why containers in general don't have them, but it would be nice if containers in my home could have their items grouped.

6. Use the same button for putting items into containers as for pulling them out
Press X to put in container. Press A to take out. If you mix it up, you accidentally eat your nirnroot (reload your last save), or you emptied the entire chest into your inventory (either sort it all back out, or reload your last save). I'm up to 30 hours of play time, and I still haven't gotten used to this button swapping. The screens for looking in a container vs in my own inventory aren't any different, so it's hard for the brain to register that the controls are different, leading to frequent mistakes.


Bethesda, these are all fairly simple to patch in. You've made a game so great that my only complaints so far are with little UI things -- but why not make those UI complaints disappear?

They made a game that had to deal with consoles and the type of person who uses them typically.

Just be patient. Many of us are already working on UI interface mods or atleast planning them out so as long as you have a PC, things will get fixed.

If you have console, well getting stuck with the same interface is your punishment.

I tried to phrase things carefully to avoid PC/console debate, but I guess I forgot that this was the internet.

He's just stating a fact

He can state a fact without being completely condescending.

I would add being able to press X to eat food or potions that's on a table directly instead of picking it up and then going to inventory to use. You can use them directly out of containers but not if they're sitting in the open

Great points Chris. Wish I had some constructive comments to offer. It is ashame that PC [censored] had to muddle the thread a little.

PC Version: I onyl wish they would add the *option* of adding a bar to the bottom of the screen, with buttons for less commonly-used abilties, like racials, potions, shouts

I like the favorites system, but I'd like to have a few "Hotkeys" so I can get dual wield spells instantly instead of having to scroll through all the favorites.

For example:

1. Ironflesh and Fast healing
2. Scimitar in the left and Scimitar in the right

Just some examples of dual wielding that would be effective to have in hotkeys that instantly bring them up. In the manual there was a one and two (that could be used as hotkeys on the controller left and right on the dpad), but I couldnt figure out how to use them.

I approve of these changes, especially the hotkeys and container buttons.

I totally agree with point 1, and I am playing on the PC. I use a controller for this game, and it svcks only having 2 hotkeys and no way to set left or right hand with them, like you could if you used the keyboard.

Also categories in containers.

And same button to take and place items in containers.

Everything else wouldn't really matter.

A lot of the UI makes no sense and I'm really not sure why it was implemented... I mainly agree with you on the weird button swapping. It's bad on PC too. R to store, E to take, but R to take all? Wat. Why can it be like Fallout? E to close the menu, A to take and, and NO button to take a single item, you must click on it. (Oh no!) Or maybe spacebar?

Also, why is ENTER the 'yes' option for all the menu's!? When the hell is either hand near the enter button? Why can't they make it spacebar?

On Xbox, Oblivion and Fallout 3 both used A to store and A to take, with X to take all. They now have the option to use the item on the same screen that lets you store it, but I would much rather have use be on a trigger, or for it to not be available in that menu at all. This button swap is ridiculous.

Bump, for great justice.

It's very rare a UI is gonna get an overhaul for just one platform after release


btw, as a pc gamer I think the UI is awesome

About Books, I've noticed that if you're trying to read a book that is not in your inventory, then you can't use the triggers, but if it is in your inventory, you can use the triggers.

Then why did the OP put this thread in here then? To the OP: if you want better results for your thread send it to the pc forum. Since here more often than naught console players are gathered and they are, for the most part, happy with their UI.

Yeah, they had to be drunk when the designed the UI.

Kinda funny hearing how the UI is non-PC friendly, when most of these problems are already fixed on the PC version without any problems.

Fixed? In what way?

Thought I would say, I discovered that if you hold a direction (or key on keyboard) it keeps going without pausing. So you can quickly scroll sideways through the skills, and if in a perk tree, holding S backs you out all the way quickly.

I voted for "container categories" and "same button for putting in / taking out". In my opinion those are the most annoying UI issues by far. The third thing that really bothers me is that the container menu gets closed if you click somewhere beside the category text. Missing the text by a few pixels should not close the whole menu.