This matters to me hugely as a Bethesda fan and it should matter to a lot of fans as well. It's actually just as important as having a diverse, and interesting world to explore that's full of things to do. I'm talking about the NPCs. Their behavior and intelligence don't get talked about much in either Fallout or Elder Scrolls, as if they aren't as important, which is just silly.

Anyway, I was wondering if in Fallout 4, the world feels alive with a lot of NPC's going about their lives and having their own schedules and errands to run independent of you being there? Oblivion did the simulated living and breathing world of NPCs better than Skyrim because in Oblivion, the npc's were a little less scripted. You never saw any of the main inhabitants of say Riverwood or Whiterun ever leave on an errand or journey to another place like in Oblivion. In Skyrim, you don't really see them get into random out of nowhere fights like in Oblivion.

These are just examples in using, I'm talking about Fallout 4 and if anyone can tell me about how the npcs behave in the world. Is radiant ai back and random encounters and events in the wild back for this game? For example, in Skyrim a relative could take over a dead relatives business. Do the npcs in Fallout 4 mourn the dead and look after their relatives business?

Hello? I'm genuinely curious about this from anyone who has played the game or knows a bit about it. It's a big immersion factor for me.

Oblivion was a unique case and as much as I criticize that game it was little touches like that that give it a special place in my heart.

Watching npcs have affairs, go on vacation, chat with their friends and travel across the world was amazing, even if the dialogue itself was reused and terrible.

Skyrim seriously lacked in this regard and I can't see Fallout 4 bringing this back, though I can't confirm whether or not this is the case.

*Countess of Chorrol travels all the way to Bravil to visit daughter*

"I ran into a couple of mud crabs not long ago, annoying creatures..."

For some reason I don't really notice the NPC AI as much in Fallout as I do Elder Scrolls. In Fallout I'm too busy focusing on surviving and the wasteland vibes, so I'd be fine if it was like Skyrim's AI.

Oblivion is very, very special in this regard though, definitely. I love Oblivion so much, as you can see by my profile pic (that's my character)

I';m sure you'll have NPCs walking around on mini-schedules like in Skyrim, but I would highly doubt we see anything like the NPC randomness in Oblivion.

1. It would take a lot more coding and work on Bethesda's part to make sure the NPCs weren't randomly getting themselves killed or unfindable by the player.

2. I don't think Oblivion level of radiance would really fit as well in the FO universe anyway. This is a post-apocolyptic world where life outside of settlements is very dangerous, and the vast majority of people who find shelter in these towns or shelters likely wouldn't be taking walks around the local area or journeys to other parts of the world. They'd be more likely to stay confined to the safety of their settlements with only a select few people venturing out to hunt/salvage.

Fair enough. I just hope it's at least a step up from Skyrim, even if not much. The simulated living and breathing towns and cities and other settlements is an important immersion factor for me. I hope they improve on the npc recognizing when a relative is dead and expand on that too.

"By the Gods, this can't be happening!!" *runs away frantically and aimlessly*

I read this in an Oblivion guard's panicked voice and I died laughing and imagining it.

For various reasons of my own and those brought up by others in this thread, I think it'll probably be a bit of a step down.