So we have it confirmed that we will get a compass in Skyrim, and some people have complained about it making things a bit easy, but then again do we even need a compass when we get to see ourselves on the map with an arrow pointing where we are going ? I mean we all know what directions north (up), south(down), east(right) and west(left) are on a map right ? So this has always been a bit unrealistic and easy, even in Morrowind we all had a "compass" to be fair, since we knew in what direction we were facing.

So how do we address this ? I say let′s remove ourselves from the map, personally I want there to be no quest markers at all and that you should not appear magically on the map, the map should just be empty. Looking at how it is in real life if we look at a map we don′t know where we are because we appear magically as an arrow on it but because we know that we are at location X and to reach location Y we must go maybe north, and even in real life most don′t even need a compass, they see location Z with their bare eyes and see that it is to the north of their current location on the map and reach the conclusion of "If I go in the direction of location Z I am going north, and if I go north I will reach location Y", and yes before you point out GPS systems I′d like to point out we don′t have any satellites on orbit around Nirn that I know of and much less functional GPS systems.

I will not rule out "magical maps" seeing how this is a world with magic but I will rule out that it just so happens that you start out in prison with a "magical map" and no one even bothered to take it from you before you were put in.

So do you think we should have a map that is like a real world map and a compass to go with it (heck I don′t even think I′d need a compass but let′s have it anyway) while not having magic markers and magic arrows on our map ?

Let′s not forget it would be pretty immersive to have to actually look at your surrounding and you′d most likely end up absorbing more of the beauty of Skyrim that way and you′d get to know the land better.

don′t want to bother with finding my way or anything like that.

Clearly a biased poll. Why vote?

Yeah you should change the poll so that it's just: "Yes I want the magic map back"
"No, I don't want any magic map"

The reason you should change it to this is because different people have different explanations and reasons for why they would or wouldn't like a magic map.

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Anyway, I voted no. I don't want a magic map. I hate GPS.
I want to be able to feel like I'm exploring, feel like I'm trying to find my way, rather than walking around like an all-knowing robot following an arrow or a marker, constantly knowing exactly where I am and where I'm going.

I like maps... They don't necessarily have to mark where the quest is.. but I would definitely like to know where I've been already. It makes it much easier for full exploration of the open world. I'm a directionless person and get turned around easily. Without map markers to tell me where I've been I'd wander familiar paths too often and most likely miss half the world.
But that's kind of an option that's up to you personally as a player. You don't have to look at the map or use fast travel or any of things.

Just like all things I think there just needs to be more customization options for the players these days. Wider range of people playing the games. Toggle map off and on, Toggle compass, Toggle for how potions work, The more options they have for a game the wider the audience they would be able to sell the game too. Toggle kittens....

It′s not biased if it′s true, I edited it anyway since people get steamed up about it.

Edit: To clarify why it′s true at least in Morrowind and Oblivion you never had to find your way around, in Morrowind it was just...
1. Strap on boots of levitation.
2. Levitate to some decent height.
3. Read quest description.
4. Open the map and turn to the direction you are supposed to go.
5. Press auto walk.
6. Read a book with one eye and glance at the map with the other stopping your character when you see it has reached its destination.

In Oblivion it was just Auto travel to nearest place + turn towards the quest marker and auto walk while reading a book.

You can only take realism so far until I object. It's a video game, guys. Having an arrow on the map showing where you are and which direction you're facing is there for the simple convenience of gameplay. If having an arrow pointing the direction you're facing is breaking immersion for you, then you have some serious problems suspending your disbelief and I don't see how you ever manage to roleplay in the first place.

I don't want a magic map, but it should be optional. I'm sure many people would be angry if they couldn't mindlessly follow arrows because many people just want another action game. I see this refinement fitting for a hardcoe mode for those of us who want the extra immersion.

Well, I agree about map markers. I don't mind map markers to show that you've been there before. It's logical that the player marks an interesting spot on his map when he has been there. And it's quite useful too ^^

Indeed, there is nothing magical about markers after all, just pen the location of a place down and you′re good to go, editing the map should be possible I say.

It's not just about immersion. To me, it's about it being a bit logical, and it being fun as well.
I don't find it fun to walk around like an all-knowing robot following an arrow or a marker, constantly knowing exactly where I am and where I'm going. I want to be able to think a bit for myself when I'm exploring.

No offense, but you should really change your attitute, instead of accusing everyone who oppose you of "having serious problems suspending your and I don't see how you ever manage to roleplay in the first place."

Eventualy make it optional , but I want to see you trying to find the damn spot of a small item of a quest out there in the wilds and then scream out loudly Why the hell you asked to have no compass for it !!!

I am for compass ..

It should probably be optional yes, but have you ever searched for a single block of lego in a huge box full of lego ? Or lost something white in the snow during winter, or perhaps anything similar ? The needle in a haystack thing is evident here but you can′t say that it doesn′t feel sweet when you finally find what you are looking for after a real search

At least I love it!

I can understand the different opinions about it. I think some of these things should be options for people that don't want things spoiled. I do however think it unlikely that your character wouldn't know where major cities are. I think more options are a good thing and this would be an easy thing to make an option, especially if they are making it so NPCs give you better directions this time around (which they said).

I voted other, though I do like the map. I think it makes sense for some things to be marked, and I like seeing where things are that I've visited.

As far as I know directions to quest locations will be given verbally and hopefully a marker(or at least the ability to add one) that shows up in the compass will also be included.That should satisfy both sides.

That comment was not directed at EVERYONE who opposes me. It was to the OP and only on this specific topic. His complaint was that it broke immersion, and if having a marker on your map breaks immersion, then I fully stand by my comment.

If you don't find it fun, well okay, but I would have hated Morrowind if I had no map marker of where I was. I hate when I open a map just to see it blank, especially in such a big world like Morrowind. Where the hell am I? I've spent hours just searching for where a specific quest location is, but if I also don't know where I am then how the hell am I ever going to find this location as well? I would have tore my hair out and just started using coc "location" for EVERYTHING.

Not having a map marker show where the player is would appeal to a very small portion of the community, I think. Not everyone has a good sense of direction and not everyone has the patience to get lost for HOURS just trying to get from point A to point B. "You are here" markers on the map make all the difference in the world. I dare say it's possible I would have never beaten Morrowind if I had no map marker, and thus would never have gotten Oblivion and would never have been able to enjoy the ES series like I do today. It's that big of a deal to me.

Maps are one of the BEST things in RPGs. I can look at the map and plan ahead what place I want to explore. But obviously I'm going to have to know where I am before that, and the magical arrow thing is simply something our character has come up with by observing the enviroment and looking at his compass, not wasting our time on trying to find out what way is up on the map. Morrowinds text only quest markers have so far given me nothing but a half an hour walk to point A mentioned and from there to point B. In Oblivion I could go straight to point B, without wasting my time on point A.

This.

Since the exterior and time is compressed it's never realistic or immersive if you get lost anyway.
A "magic map" makes traveling time more realistic, not having to spend a full day in-game-time finding something in tiny patch of forest that would take a real person about 30 minutes to find.

This is TES, not boyscout simulator.

Wait what ? Please point out the line and paragraph I said that, I remember saying something about it adding to immersion if we had to really get to know the landscape but where did I complain about my immersion being broken by it ?

You want to get rid of the arrow that represents "you" on the map?........ No. Your character, being a adventurer should be able to take into account landmarks and area's to get a "idea" of where he is in the game world. There's my explanation for it. But it does not need one because it's a simple gameplay mechanic. That's taking "realism" too far for my taste.

That is a fair point, perhaps my suggestion would be better suited for a hardcoe mode or as an option you can toggle on and off, but this poll shows there is not really a shortage of people who would like to be removed from the map, about a 50/50 ratio as I write this post.

Quest markers=bad.
Knowing where you are=perfectly sensible.

No Magical quest arrow it svcks..

I cant pick yes or no on that poll. Why? Because its not a magic map. The OP himself said that you should know where you are on a map just from sense of direction(wich is completely untrue by the way), so you would know where you are and where you are facing anyways. Also, if the map didnt tell you wich was north, south etc. there would be no way of knowing. You cant just sense the direction you are facing in a video game. If there was no quest marker, AND no compass AND you didnt know where you were facing on the map, it would be impossible to not get lost.

Personally I wouldn't like to know exactly where I am on the map either... but that's just me
But I wouldn't be disappointed if you know where you are on the map. I'd definitely be okay with it. It's not the biggest deal in the world.

Quest markers need to burn though :flamethrower: , no matter what
This is something I just can't live with.

I wouldnt care whether the map was magical or not if they would only MAKE IT BIGGER. give me a break todd, I don't want it to feel bigger, I want it to feel less like a laytex suit.