I am one who thinks a relationship will be good for the game. I am not talking about fade-to-black intimate scenes, I am talking about a love interests that doesn't have to be on a physical level.

Picture getting to know a couple people in town. Learning that one person likes red flowers, or has trouble gathering wood and you bring the flowers or wood a couple of times. The interaction should not be initiated by the character and you will have to see if whatever efforts you take will benefit something more meaningful.

You would be able to test if you have a connection by trying to hold her hand. If she rejects move on. If you succeed in the hand hold, you may be able to lead her in a walk to a garden and sit for conversations.

So now you have a relationship and someone that you 'care' about. Now Skyrim can test your relationship by causing that town to be attacked and see if you come to the aid. Or if you try to care for other individuals, the character may find out about it and ignore you, leave you, or try to take revenge on you or the third wheel. (poison/assasination etc) If you are away for too long, the character could lose interest.

Anyway, all this can be up to the player's choice on whether or not they want to be tied to a character. But I think it would add to the realistic fantasy of the game and add to morality decisions.

I'm not sure about relationships. I certainly don't want it on too deep a level, but I would like the relationships with NPCs to be more than one basic 0-100 slider.

EDIT: But a relationship system needs a noticeable and useful gameplay bonus, or only the most story-based of RPers would ever get into them.

no relations really isn't an ES thing

Sure. It hasn't been. But recall in Oblivion one could have a maid in the house. So in this scenario, you would have to work a little bit harder for the companion because money can't by that type of connection.

The lack of relationships also builds character development.

And that would be the beauty of the player's choice:)

I guess
but they said that companions will have less of a story than they have in NV
the character wasn't really attached to anyone

I'm hoping Emma picks up a copy of Skyrim as soon as its out, because her companions are, flat out, the best I've ever seen in a game. There are other companion modders that are close as well - so I'm expecting that if Bethesda doesn't manage it ( and I'm guessing they won't), modders will pick up the slack.

This is a shame, because deep companion stories add a lot to a RPG. Beyond the companionship, and making the game feel less lonely, there is that second bonus - the additional quest lines that go along with the story. I still remember the relationship with Jaheira in BG2 - now THAT took some effort, and it also took the crew on some strange, and wonderful, adventures. It was all the more interesting because I was playing a female PC.

As an aside, I had Minsc, Keldorn, and Aerie on that crew as well, and by the end of the game, they would just kick back and relax while an entire horde of summoned creatures softened up the bad guys. I would send my familiar in under cloak to let me direct the horde, which worked pretty well. By the time they rolled in, usually when my PC and Jaheira were out of juice, the survivors were in pretty rough shape. Something like that with dragons would rock.

I've long believed that either full parties, or at least a companion, add tremendous depth to the game. I really can't imagine playing without at least one NPC alongside - even if it's a wolf.

I've already hinted (and when I say hinted I actually mean demanded) that Emma make a Skyrim companion. She has no choice.


More on topic, romance, sure. Though I wouldn't want it to be with some random NPC but with someone who comes along on my adventures. And I'd rather it be more dialogue oriented than the more fable style of giving presents till they marry you. I'd rather get to know someone as opposed to them just flinging chocolates and lilies at my head till I swoon. Though I do like lilies ;D

Relationships are very complex, if they're tacked on it'll be painfully obvious.
If they're going to include them I'd hope they put a good amount of time and effort into making them relatively plausible and entertaining, otherwise just not worth it.

Ahnassi worked well enough. More NPCs like that would be good.

I'm not too bothered with my character having a relationship, but it would be pretty cool to see NPCs who are actually in a relationship interacting more like a couple. In Oblivion, the most interaction that you would see between husband and wife is that they lived together. When they talked to each other, their conversation would be as if they were talking to any old random on the street. It would be cool to see lovers acting like a couple when they're talking or around each other. For example, you could catch them talking about having children, family issues, or even what to have for dinner that night

I assume that's probably expecting a little too much from Bethesda, but with this new AI system, you never know :shrug:

Relationships? I'll take my concubines and mercury pills, please.

I loved the scripted ambient conversations in Vampire: Bloodlines. Every one of them was hilarious and I hope they have things like that in Skyrim. Obviously they couldn't have every NPC interacting with scripted conversations but maybe two or three eccentric NPC's per town could just have little banters with their neighbours about mundane things that progress their own little dramas. Like two neighbours could hate each other for whatever reason and if you're paying attention each time you go through town you'll hear their arguments until one eventually sets the other on fire or something.

I agree.

At least we have heard so far that NPCs that like you don't ask you to leave from their house. Also they may allow you to sleep in their house.

I agree. The personal dialogues would be available, but only after your courting actions were accepted.

I definitely in on I want a companion/romance crowd. I didn't think I would get to this point and say it, but I am tired of playing the lone wanderer character. I want some friends/romance character that I can interact with and form relationships with. Something to give purpose to what your character does.

Yeap thats a strong point. If someone is brave enough to attempt a relationship, then they better had be prepared to defend it.

Todd Howard on companions...from the podcast at 25:10:

“We are approaching it in a different way. I would not expect the deep personalities and uniqueness with a low number of companions.[/color] We are aiming for a much, much higher number of companions that you can hire or they become your friends and they come with you. The general direction is to make it a bit more dynamic, and have more people that you can decide to have come with you. And in that we sacrifice them having a lot of depth or personality or individual stories. And there still will be some like that. But that’s kind of the direction we’re headed right now. We don’t know the exact number of NPCs in the world that could become your companion, but we’re hoping it’s a big number.”

It sounds to me like there may be some unique NPCs. "And there will still be some like that." Perhaps these unique NPCs will have the potential to be a more in-depth companion than many of the "standard" NPCs.

Just guessing here....Perhaps someone else reads this differently?

I DO NOT want Skyrim to become a party based RPG. I flat out hate these types of games,you have to micromanage on a [censored] level,then you have 3+ tag-along's that don't add a [censored] thing to the game play. I am just happy with my character and his story,the other npcs can do as they please just dont make me carry around dead weight. This game is about killing dragons and not pix-elated emotional baggage. They can go deal with their own problems,I got a date with a world eater. bliviongate:

I am not that much interested in the fighting companion either, and probably wont use them unless there is some unsurmountable odd that I cant do without help. I figure if I can fight a dragon alone, why bring others to my victory. The original topic was more in line for a trophy girlfriend/ flame that can be left at home.

Hmm.. Seems like it would give Novaklin a strong reason to save the province of Skyrim. I just don't know if this ES would add this dynamic.

TES does get awful lonely out there all alone at times. I did appreciate the efforts made in FO to add some interesting companions but kinda felt like they only went half way with it. Companions like those in FO and NV only more developed, better longer personal quests, etc. would be great. Tag a few with an additional romance angle and I think i'd be pretty happy overall.

I still want the option to go it alone when I feel like it, but also the option to use these companions as well. Would be a great way to flesh out Skyrim and add life to it while creating an stronger emotional attachment to my PC character.

Relationships (and not just romantic) are really the only thing I feel is missing from TES.

This. A rival would make the world feel...well, less about you. Like there are other people out there not just waiting for us to show up and save the day. It would make the game feel less like a stage and more like world.

I Don't feel like saving the world when i have no friends. And maybe even Relationships! But i don't want no: Here is gift now you like me 2 percent more........