Morrowind was straight forward. You get off the boat, make your character and stats, grab the papers and BOOM welcome to Morrowind!

Oblivion and Skyrim on the other hand had tutorial dungeons which were really long and very annoying.

For their next installment, I think they should just go Morrowind style and actually have players look up the commands. You can't say mainstream players don't go for it because Minecraft pretty much plops you in the world and you're left to your own devices without heads or tails on what to do.

Also, in regards to character customization, I think characters should be allowed to choose pre-selected backstories that can change the variables of my game. Thus adding more to Skyrim's idea of "Never having the same game" ideology. HOWEVER if you do not wish to have a backstory, you can simply op for the "I'm a simple traveler" method and simply state whether or not you want to be associated with a guild for have pre-determined relationships. You can have a clean slate and go Skyrim style if you wish.

Let's say my character is a thief. Is he a freelance thief or is he associated with the guild? if not, the TG might send thugs after you or if you are associated with the TG, then you start off in their home base with their questline. Also, if he's part of the Theives Guild, then unless he has an infiltrator backstory, he will not be able to join the Fighter's Guild or the Merchant's Guild etc.

You could also choose whether or not you have family members. They will be your race and have pre-set faces, but they're entirely optional. If you want to have family members, you may encounter them in different factions or what not and you will be unable to join those factions depending on whether or not your backstory states you have a good relationship with them (again optional). Perhaps if your sibling is on good term with your character, then they may be able to join the Fighter's Guild even though you're a member of the Thieves Guild because they vouched for you etc.

I think pre-made backstories would allow us to make even more wildly different characters if they implement faction involvement, different NPCs (one could be your sister or brother and they will be the same race as you.), location, etc as variables associated with those backstories.

Though I understand if they cannot do this simply because of the complex coding and player reception.

How would all of you improve the prologue and character customization for the next game?