I'd also like to see slightly bigger camps, where there might be a few other adventurers at the camp with you, trading stories and whatnot

Heh. What gave it away?

Most of Oblivion's "major cities" were small enough to be called villages IMO. Anvil and Skingrad were basically just one road and a couple of small alleyways... The Imperial City was really the only true city. There are two or three main cities in Skyrim, and I hope each has at least as many buildings and citizens in the IC. I hope the other notable towns are slightly bigger than the average city in Oblivion. And then I hope there are various villages and communities that are slightly smaller than Oblivion's cities. And also some secluded villas, manors, farms, and such...

Since most of Skyrim is uninhabitable or unsuitable for a city I would think we won't see too many small towns scattered about.

Only in the west do the mountains abate to the canyons and mesas of the Reach, by far the most cosmopolitan of the Holds of Skyrim. The rest of Skyrim is a vertical world: the high ridges of the northwest-to-southeast slanting mountain ranges, cleft by deep, narrow valleys where most of the population resides.





The Region or Hold known as The Reach is one of these places where most of the cities and towns are.


So atleast there will be some diversity in the population. The common idea is all we'll see are Nordic people and I don't think that will be true for the towns and cities in The Reach.

As for the Old Holds, like Windhelm, I don't think you'll see too many other races within these settlements and cities.



And I'm not too sure how many actual Nord's, in number, will reside within these settlements.



Outside of Settlements, Towns, and Cities they can always do scattered Farm Houses, Encampments, and other places where a few Nordic families dwell.


One of the towns I think that will be the biggest and most populated, mainly by Nords though, is Haafingar (Solitude).



I can picture this city in my head, A larger city, one of the most influential and wealthy in Skyrim. The northern most in all of Tamriel, along the coast of the ice-choked Sea of Ghosts with Viking-esque longships at port and some oaring out to sea. Throughout the city I can picture all kinds of buildings built partly underground made with stones, with wood used for support, and roofs of straw above the wood. Ranging from small to larger citizen homes, a marketplace distract for all the towns shops and blacksmiths. A castle where the Wolf Queen Potema once lived. And of course a larger building for the Bards' College. With the streets being filled with bard students, , of varying races, who invade the marketplace for a week of revelry. Holding lively and noisy festivities with every citizen; man, woman, or child out enjoying themselves. All with a flagon of Nordic Whiskey in hand.

The other major city I definitely think will play a role in quests and possibly the main storyline is Windhelm.


And last but certainly not least, the most famous place I want to see for sure is, High Hrothgar on top the Throat of the World Mountain.



I wonder how many caves and tunnels and stuff we'll see in the mountains too considering they cover most of Skyrim and make a huge portion of the playable area. That would be some fun exploring climbing the long lost mountain paths and finding a cave or a long tunnel that leads you into a dragon's secret lair. :flamed: :dead:

If the gaming area is as small as Oblivion, there isn't much room for additional settlements...
However, Oblivion is far too dense. Artificially dense, creating roads that irl would be impossible to use.
Stretch by a factor of 10 (100x in area), then it could be possible. Increase draw distance though.
If it has magic markers, they should fade away as you get close, as they point to a general area rather than a specific one (imho).

Anyone seen 30 days of night?
I think it would be pretty awesome if there were a small deserted village, and you arrive during a blizzard and u enter the towns inn but nobody is there. Maybe some blood stains on the walls to keep things interesting. Add in a unique quest (werewolves or vampires perhaps?). I think would add quite alot to the gameplay. Its things like things (unique quests/details) that makes the elder scrolls series stand out from the crowd.

Oblivion always felt too empty. I agree the area should be a bit larger, but only 1.5 to 2 times the size, and also have larger and more numerous settlements. 100x? That's insane and would be hell to get anywhere.

I think small settlements should have twice the size and depth of Bleaker's Way from Mephala's Daedric Shrine Quest from Oblivion. And that representatives from the nearest major city should visit the settlements for imports and exports and ( if applicable in Skyrim ) collect taxes. And to further keep in line the relation of the Nord religious leaders with the ruling body.

this

what's important is to give each small settlement something unique to remember them by, maybe some sort of nordic settlement/fort trying to survive in one of the coldest areas and therebymaking it extremely notable... Besides that, if anything skyrim SHOULD feel a bit deserted in some areas, considering the climate

I want the villages and settlements to feel like they exist where they exist for a reason. Morrowind had this: Seyda Neen was a port village, Balmora was built on a riverbed, Pelagiad was there because there were mines nearby, etc. Oblivion doesn't really have this: only Hackdirt comes to mind with a logical explanation (wanting to be isolated, the caverns underneath the city, etc.) The Infernal City mentioned a new city called Ione, which started off as the fortifications built around an Oblivion gate.

If http://www.imperial-library.info/sites/default/files/gallery_files/cyrodiillargelowrescr7.jpg is any indication, it's not all ice and snow, and there should be plenty of space for villages and settlements. There's already plenty of them labeled.

This. I've played Oblivion far more than Morrowind, but I can't remember the name of ANY village. In Morrowind I still remember Scyda Neen, Hla Oad, Gnisis, Dagon Fell and many other small settlements. They felt a lot more alive.

What strikes me as most odd is that they have pretty much ignored the whole grassy area of Skyrim for settlements.I mean you've got all that grass but basicaly every settlement is in the mountains? Stupid Nords.


I want to see a town built almost vertically into the side of a mountain.

I'd be seriously suprised if there's not some snow elf settlement hidden away somewhere.

You know what this means, right?

Lots of lonely young Nord women in those settlements. :drool:

They'll probably have plenty of snow elf ruins, serving as a parallel to Ayleids in OB and Dwemer in MW. I think it's not very likely there will be a Falmer settlement.

It should be more random like Morrowind - instead of having large towns all the same size and many tiny towns, have towns of varying sizes.

How can you tell the difference?

j/k :happy:

They must feel more a life. An absolute must.
And they need to do some actual realistic work too..
REAL farming, and perhaps some real lumberjacking... tending the fire, etc