One thing I thought was an improvement to rpg's in Fallout New Vegas was that having a high enough speech skill, or similar non-combat skills, gave you the option for special answers and options when interacting with NPC's if leveled up enough. Do you think Bethesda will carry this over to the new TES as ways to make Speech and Mercantile and skills like that more important to game play and quests?

Mercantile was extremely important to have early on in the game, but as you level up it becomes less useful. Speech is useless with a charm spell 100pts on touch for 3 seconds, it could be cast at level 25 illusion. So I don't think it will be too much different in Skyrim.

I think in Skyrim, you shouldn't be able to get a guard or cultist to reveal all of their deepest secrets by telling them a joke and handing over 10 coins.


For instances where you need to get some quick information out of someone, you should be able to bribe or use a charm spell,

Speechcraft itself should be used to make long-term friends and relationships.

I hope they do that too. Speech worked out really well in fallout NV. The problem though is how do you level speech?

I guess your speech level could increase a tiny bit every time you communicate with someone, in general.

I know this sounds dumb but I always thought it would be cool if others were speaking another language if you'r character studied it or got better at speech he could unlock subtitles or something to understand what they say.

I dunno. I've been awake all night and... yeah.

If mercantile were combined with speech you could level the skill my negotiating prices. The skill could then take a passive role in dialog.

I know one thing... speechcraft is completely useless unless they get rid of the charm spell exploits.

They are having the Dragon Language in the game, and the main character will be able to decipher the language, its something.


And the ability to bribe any one, even a count or other wealthy person.

Speechcraft needs to be overhauled in a huge way. It's the worst skill in Oblivion by far.

Well now that we are not locked in to conversations and can move around freely new options arrive. For example when you are having a conversation with someone and he is being tight lipped. You could then have the option to charm or bribe the answer out of him. If the conversation continues and you are confronted with another speech check you may not be able to charm him again, or maybe your out of mana, you would then have give him more money, take a potion then charm again, or you can get rough with them.
See now speechcraft would be useful, as you can bypass all that nonsense.

Also it was stated that you can make friendships with NPCs, giving you new quest, that ability alone makes speechcraft possible a powerful skill. Not to mention if it's combined with mercantile.