:blink:

Er... you do know that there are, in fact, a fair number of women who play elder scrolls games? It isn't all blokes - although I get the feeling that women are under-represented on these boards. Possibly because they're not made to feel especially welcome :shrug:.

As for me personally, if I do get my character to romance NPCs, I tend to go for whatever NPCs seem the most interesting, and the most plausible for my character. So my Garret Hawke went for Merril (someone to protect) and my half-paragon/half-renegade Jane Shepherd went for Garrus (a tough fighter).

For Skyrim, whether my character romances a man or a woman, I reckon they'd be looking for a fellow adventurer, not a homebody. So, mage warrior or thief, they'd better be capable in a fight. As for personality, that's hard to say.

My Breton battlemage is likely to be a bit of a Robin Hood character - hot on justice but a bit hazy on the law - especially as it applies to small trinkets finding their way from rich families vaults into his pockets. So, a fairly easy-going thief would be a good match for him, one who'd always be ready to go on a quest together, but who also had her own shady 'business' dealings going on in between times.

My disgraced former imperial guard would be looking for a really good mage to watch her back and help neutralise any necromancers she may run into; because frankly magic worries her and she wants as much of it as possible fighting for her rather than against. She'd probably go for someone a bit creepy, who she could rely on to keep quiet if she... err... "used excessive force on defeated enemies" as it said in her dishonourable discharge papers :whistling:.

Someone to do quests with so I don't get lonely like in oblivion. they will also be a meat shield against dragons if they are insanely diffuclt to kill.

i'm not gonna marry/ have kids with pixels ever.

The poll had such a decidedly negative tone overall that I expected the OP to be about how much the entire concept svcked.

A few options I could have voted for include the spouse being a new source of quests related to his or her background and the possibility that they might even be a good companion on adventures where one could use the help.

It might be a perk to have things like food/ingredients/materials that respawn as long as you pay an upkeep (giving the spouse a budget to work with). This would represent either the spouse shopping while you're away (and possibly getting great deals) or a spouse that has a profession such as smithing, mining, or tailoring. In the case of professions, it might even provide additional income.

Depth is about story, and story is presented through both conversation and quests. The quests don't need awesome rewards if the story behind them is worth the effort.

To the best of my ability to do so, each of my characters will lead a "life" as how I imagine it for them.

They will each have an individual moral code, and gameplay will be based on how I perceive that character.

They will be created and guided by me, but they will not be "me in the game," but rather characters with their own story and life.

I will create both male and female characters, and some may want relationships, romance, and even possibly, marriage.

For your poll, in the top section, I selected:


- Depth of character.

- Expressive emotion.

- Interesting personality.

- A chance to explore romance plots.

I am looking forward to seeing just how much "depth" the relationship feature adds to gameplay. I hope it is a lot.

Don't you want to kind of just let go of the control aspect and see how things turn out. I mean half the fun is dealing with the unexpected right?

I just want to have a wife in every hold who has lots of kids. That's all I ask.

I'm not sure if there will by polygamy (multiple partnerships) in Skyrim. I mean you could try. But I was under the impression there are limited NPCs to pick as spouses and once you pick one there will be a wedding.

Dude you need to chill. Did someone steal your pre-order of Skyrim or something?

Not near enough choices in this pole.

My experiences with game spouses has been poor to average. About the best I can think of interactively was the spouses you can get in the Rune Factory 3. I think there were 11 to choose from. A lot of dating, sub quests and approvals before the marriage, then some more dialog (not much) and even kids.

I don't want Skyrim to be a dating simulator, but at the same time I don't want a robot wife at home either. I suppose if she still basically keeps her daytime schedule and all she will seem more alive. Maybe even involve her in some of the radiant quests.

I don't know, it's so easy for this part of the game to totally fail I'm not sure they should put much effort into it. Maybe Bethesda can add it and modders can expand on it (we know they will anyway).

For those who would take their spouse with them, the modders would need to make a revive spell because our spouses would die a lot especially with dragons roaming the countryside.

That just doesn't seem feasable to me. In know in DA:O if you romanced Lelianna she mentions traveling with you after the MQ, but she is basically your level and equiped with the best items you can give her. I doubt they could set up a spouse in Skyrim that would do this.

I mean I guess they could have her level with you and they could let you equip her, but who would pick her perks and such? Would it end up like leveling and designing two separate characters? The spouse wouldn't be like a temporary companion, she (or he) would stay with you throughout the entire MQ and afterwards. I think you would literally have to play two characters to make it work out and I just doubt we'll get that much freedom in the spouses' development.

I haven't voted because it would be all of the above and more, I will be playing more than one persona and without variety it gets stale fast including non-attached avatars.

I want complex characters that will surprise me, sometimes in good, and sometimes in bad ways, the more diverse the options are - the better

The way you pictured her, she seems like an antagonist. I would much rather have a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deuteragonist for a spouse.

Why have her betray me? I think be more interesting if she betrayed her entire faction for one man.

A lot of people expressed they wanted to quest with their spouse. But that said its confirmed that you cannot select perks or level up bits and pieces and what not for any companion. That means that no matter what, they are gonna die at some point and you'll have to save and reload or use a mod to revive them.


This.

Mindless obedience. Offers nothing more than their ear to my command. Must always look presentable. Must defend the home while I'm away. Must keep herself well-trained and exercised. Must wear the best of armor and clothing. She is nothing more than my pawn. Cooks any meat. Assembles my alchemy. Doesn't touch any of my goods unless told to. :thumbsup: Need at least one of this type could tolerate a couple or so at home.

Then, I need one for adventure. One I can take on a journey. Who will also listen to me. Maybe spontaneous. If too spontaneous, I will cut her down where she stands. She needs not know what goes on at my home life. :thumbsup:

Need a go-to-gal at the local tavern. Yes, the stereotypical, all attractive, non-cognitive woman. She can watch me throw some fistycups and cause some havoc. Then, she can relish in all my barbaric glory. :thumbsup:

I also need a mage. For magical purposes. For various mysterious reasons. :thumbsup:

And a Necromancer spouse, again for various mysterious reasons. :thumbsup:

Seriously, sure. Complexity is what we aim for, is it not? To mirror reality, one which engages fully in all the dynamics of deep cognitive, cognitive-social, abstract, and social dynamic thoughts and qualites characterizing each individual. Throw in a little Id, ego, and superego. We got ourselves the workings of a fine specimen.

I want a spouse where truthfulness and honesty are traits I have to worry about. I want where her honesty actually affects me. She can decieve me. Steal from me. Plot my murder. Defame me. Give me a foul imagine. Make the town despise me. Tell lies about me. Inflict conflict within my quests. Poison me. Cheat on me, and I mean, cheat cheat cheat cheat, promiscious like. Or, just cheat with a single other. Hire assassins to get me. Leave me wondering why I'm always being attacked. Go to sleep in my bed, only to find out I was murdered while I fell sleep, "autosaving" ouch. One which steals my loot in my house. One that'll dull my blades. Make deals with Daedra lords to have me killed. Push me into Oblivion. Etc.

Or, I could have one who is morally and cognitively rich. One wondering the mysterious of the world. One attempting to justify our existence and why we live, how we should live. One trying to understand the correlation of good and bad and the inbetween. One always wondering why I am doing something, why I did what I did the way I did it. One who wants to follow me, to understand me better. One which is helpful, optimistic, altruistic, and seemingly good-natured. Will defend me. Would die for me. One which likes the dynamics of my character, is proud I am a warrior. Understands the actualization, I am a hero, and I have a destiny. Loves me not because I'm a hero or dragonborn, but because I am who I am.

Then, lets mix those types together for a nice gray matter. Mhm. That'll be nice too.

I think for this game. I'm gonna stick with my first choices.

Oh, and I have yet to cover dynamics of personality and personal interest.... -someone in shadows knocks me out, everyone starts clapping. Audience says, glads that's over.-