"in a fantasy mystical way that they should" is a GREAT way to describe it.

this whole line of thinking that "i play games to get away from real life" is ridiculous, since, sleeping in a game has absolutely nothing to do with sleeping in real life. i'm tired of that illogical rationale.

you state it perfectly that it makes no sense to be able to do certain things in the CONTEXT OF THE GAME itself. non-nords being able to swim in skyrim is ridiculous unless they've countered the cold in some way.

and, besides, is it so much to ask that people wearing heavy armor not be able to swim? is it so incredulous to ask that non-nords experience consequences with cold weather, despite, the fact that the very game itself offers gameplay options to counter the cold?

It's the mead/ale. It's so strong, it keeps you feeling warm.

I think, if Bethesda adds heavy roleplay elements like all of you are talking about, they should add it in a different setting. A lot of players (not necessarily myself) don't want to be bothered by being weighed down by water or having to worry about freezing to death. Personally, I play separate characters where I apply these rules; sometimes, though, I play characters where I don't have to worry about eating and drinking or drowning because my armor is too heavy to possibly be buoyant in a realistic world.

So basically, I think they should implement something similar to Fallout: New Vegas' hardcoe mode for future TES titles.

lol, I've actually used my "imagination" that way to give myself a few xtra minutes

THAT has been my EXACT position for years.

i have never asked that they NOT make it optional. (the opposing opinion has.)

i, too, play lots of characters without heavy self-imposed rules/restrictions. (though, these do highlight the weaknesses of a game.)

my main point, however, is that newvegas barely scratches the minimum "hardcoe" mode, since, the consequences are so weak.

however, i will add this: if you're going to side on one or the other, the heavier emphasis IN A RPG should be the more immersive, ROLEPLAY side.

I have to agree with this. While I never tried FO:NV hardcoe mode (pretty extreme with all that radiation crap everywhere) I would like to try something like that in Skyrim.

the "hardcoe" mode of newvegas had almost zero true consequences. it was a great idea that was badly implemented.

like I've said before: eat/sleep/drink is MINIMUM "hardcoe." without real consequences it becomes a novelty.

as well, the things we are discussing for "hardcoe" mode USED TO BE part of the normal, regular gameplay of past tes games and past rpg games.

now, i know tes isn't a rpg in the TRUE sense, but, still...

You've never heard of those crazy http://www.outsmarthormones.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/ChicagoPolarBearClub-028.jpg people? You're talking about Nords who grew up on frozen briast milk

No, I'm not talking about Nords, I'm talking about non-Nords (see my post). Nords shouldn't have a problem at all. Non-Nords, swimming up North without a resist cold item or potion should kill them. But, we wouldn't want to have to think about that. Pretty soon things like time stops while in inventory, eating 40 heads of cabbage without our guts bursting, etc. and etc. would start to bother us.

i thought bigwooly's rule was great: if you're non-nord and not on a horse, you die, in seconds.

if on a horse, you're good until your find a boat in the game. then, "our imaginations" can make up for the devs deficiencies. no heavy armor obviously.

oops...well maybe those non-Nords were raised in Skyrim and also raised on icy briast milk

Skyrim= Dragon's Dogma customization

I'll keep saying it

Alcohol makes you lose body heat faster. You might "feel" warm but you're actually "dying" faster from hypothermia.

Also, I don't care if you're a Nord: swimming in the northern sea of Skyrim will kill anyone within minutes. Just takes a bit longer for Nords

http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Fisherman%27s_Journal

http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Skeggr

http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Advard

Just Sayin'