In a month or so this is probably a non issue with the CK being released and all... but in the mean time, i just want to let some steam out.

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TL:DR version: For a series that's all about free-styling and freedom, it does a pretty good job at limiting you outside the quests. I love the game but I had to vent a bit.
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I love this series ever since Daggerfall. But for every thing made of awesome this series does, there's another that outright pisses me off to no end.

I have started a few toons to try out difernt builds and playstyles. My current character is (supposedly) a bandit. I follow roads looking for NPCs that I can mug/extort money from. Now I knew and didn't expect the game to have an implemented system that would cater to this sort of gameplay (it simply svcks that it doesn't but I was fully expecting that) but nevertheless I tried using the awesome power of creativity and roleplaying or make belief and use pickpocket isntead of comming out of the bushes screaming "your money or your life". And until the CK comes out I was fine with this.

But the game simply doesn't let me. I pickpocket some lone farmer in the middle of nowhere, and I get caught. I'm prepared for bounty increase, possible jailtime if the guards catch me later on and the whole deal. Actually I want to make it something I work to avoid or live with in this character. First pet-peeve of the series... everyone has a dagger/sword/great warhammer of doom in their pockets and even the freaggin beggars charge WHATEVER mildly annoys them. I knew this from previous titles and was fully ready to strike that guy down... you know.. roleplaying their unwillingness to part with their hard earned gold a la hillbilly with a shotgun. But woe is me for I have unwittingly pickpocketed an essentialNPC that doesn't accept surrenders.

So summing it all up... the game limits me at every turn,

- I can't engage in thug activity through dialogue like intimidation or brawl that's already there for a VERY small number of NPCs. SO I use the pickpocket ability instead to Roleplay-Fix it until the CK comes out.
- I don't necessarily want to kill NPCs because I want their valuables, not their lives. But in Tamriel every one is expected to fight. So I try to make use of the wield system as if after a few hits they cowered and begged for their lives...again Roleplay-Fix it until the CK comes out.
- They don't accept surrender.. so i have to kill them... finally something I don't have to RP.... I'll kill them and take the heat for it... except most of them are essential. So I quit the game, typed my vent here and went to bed.... to Roleplay, and perchance, to dream I'm playing the Skyrim it's going to be when the CK comes out.

Cheers.


PS: I'm soooooooo glad I didn't try to be a murderer isntead.

Well, one day there will be games that will scale up to our personal expectations. When I jump into the river and let myself be dragged to the bottom I don't get hurt or drown. That svcks. I don't like Disneyland dangers. But, as you said, we have to wait for the CK to more or less custom tailor our experience.