This didn't have to just do with one game by Bethseda, just a lot of games published by Bethseda recently. Essential NPCs need to go....somewhat.

Look, I get it, when a NPC dies and causes people to not be able to complete a quest because an NPC to that quest died. And that can be very difficult. But I don't think Essential NPCs are the way to go. Kind of.

Now remember Skyrim, and I think in F4 as well. You know, how companions cannot be killed by other forces than beyond our heroes hands?

I think instead of making Essential NPCs unkillable. Or give them limited immortality. Essentially anyone who isn't our hero cannot harm our Essential NPC. But! If our hero kills them or attacks them, they die.

I want to kill Preston Garvy.

I want to be able to kill Mercer Frey before he goes ham and "betrays" us. The dude read suspicious from the god darn get go. But this is also means that companies like Bethseda need to work harder on multiple paths. They claim this is too much work. But that's what works into an evolving game that feels like it shapes itself to your choices.

By not giving those choices, the game is limited, and set in a game that claims it changes by your choices.

-Mercer Frey dies, you get exiled from the thieves guild, you get picked up by that one lady, she helps clear your name and exposes Mercer Frey's lies

-Preston Garvy dies, Minutemen suffer, no more Minutemen support, maybe Sanctuary settlers leave, etc.

I know these games take forever. But games like Witcher 2 and Witcher 3 are nearly as big, nearly took as long. And I remember even the smallest of quest you might think is insignificant is ignored, it changes the progress of the game. And I think that's neat.