A few months ago I got OB on PC, so that I could try out some mods. I must admit that I've always felt that OB is a bit empty and could do with some extra content. Nevermind graphic mods, they're just for aesthetics, it's adding new content that really enhances a game and of course fixing bugs etc. But I don't feel the same when it comes to FO3, for me FO3 certainly doesn't feel empty and feels a lot more fleshed out, yes there are some mods that would add to the experience but modding to the same extent as OB really doesn't seem necessary, e.g. Mart's Monster Mod in OB is a must have mod in my opinion and really brings the game to life but I just don't feel that Mart's Mutant Mod is a must for FO3, the world is populated enough ([censored] Rad Scorpions).

Skyrim has a lot more content than OB, from an extensive crafting sytem, to more wild life and even different types of fish. All things that mods added to OB and I bet there's more enemies to fight too, not to mention Dragons flying overhead. Of course there will be some good mods for the game but I just don't feel they're as necessary compared to OB. But we'll all find out in a few weeks, if my hypothesis is correct.

It does sadden me to think that some people will add mods, long before even finishing the first playthrough but that's their choice, some people just love mods.

I should point out that I don't think OB needs mods, just that they can enhace it, more so than FO3 and Skyrim.

Need THEM? No.

If they are going to be a nice addition? Yes, they always are.

Need? No. I hardly ever use any mods, if any, in my Elder Scrolls, and they haven't gotten old yet.

Mods aren't needed. They are a nice added bonus. Unfortunately, they have led to a very spoiled sense of entitlement amongst many in the gaming community, which in turn turns me off of mods. But no, mods aren't needed, but can breathe new life into a game.

I play on a PS3, Oblivion didn't even need mods, Mods improve a game not make it playable. In fact they sometimes do the opposite. Nope i don't think i will care about mods.

Killable children is a day one for me download so yeah.

Yes, this. What I bolded is one reason why I rarely even bother with mods. They are often times more trouble than they are worth.

Depends upon how you like to eat your Reece's... Skyrim will be insane cool right out of the box, yes, but there are a few things which I will be altering with mods before I even play. Namely, the off-centered 3'rd person camera while no weapon is drawn and the mere presence of achievements. They're like pickles and relish on an otherwise perfect hamburger.

Well, in Bethesda's credit, I've used fewer and fewer mods in each game they release.

In Morrowind, I had about 100 mods going.
In Oblivion, I had about 60 mods going.
In Fallout 3, I had about 12 mods going.
In New Vegas, I have about 5 mods going.

It's a testament to their games that I feel less needs fixing or tweaking with each new release. I imagine most of the mods I use in Skyrim will be aesthetic or add content. I predict I will need very few, if any, to actually FIX things.

Unofficial fixes would be the only truly needed mod in my opinion.

How Ironic in that I have 250+ mods in my Oblivion game and only 65 in Morrowind.

I should point out that I don't believe OB needs mods, just that they enhance the game more than they do for FO3 and Skyrim (prediction).

I only had about 10 mods in Morrrowind, but well over 100 in Oblivion. I thought Oblivion really needed help.

Ideally Skyrim will not need any, but I can already see that I would like a portable campsite for role play purposes.
My first character though will be all vanilla.

No game "needs" mods, unless it can't be completed.

Bethesda svck at balance so yes Skyrim will need mods if a player wants balance. (Actually most developers are completely awful at balance, some more than others. But I doubt Bethesda has found the sweet spot.)

Balance is a personal preference.

You honestly call Fallout 3 balanced?
Or Oblivion for that matter?

Yes, Skyrim will need mods. Lots of mods. I might learn XML just to try to deal with that monster they call an inventory system.

Fallout 3 was okay, I don't remember being too annoyed with the balance.

Oblivion was just sad.

Yes, Skyrim will need mods to fix the obvious flaws that I've seen so far.

Please enlighten us?

It won't NEED mods. Oblivion doesn't NEED mods. BUT that's part of the wonderful strength of Elder Scrolls games and the ultimate expression of play as you like it. The mods I run and have made for Oblivion deeply enrich my experience and after 5 years my version is truely tailored to me. My wife, son, daughters and I play all play Oblivion but our games are tailored to our personal preferences and in many ways very different within its base framework. It makes Oblivion more fun and with almost infinite replayability. It'll be the same with Skyrim. First vanilla. Then a tweak here or there. Then something I missed being in thegame will be posted. Some will work some won't but give me ideas.

Yes, it will need mods in my opinion. There are a lot of games out there that no longer fit the mold of what I enjoy. Oblivion was one of them. If I couldn't have modded out POI markers for instance.... I would never have played the game and I wouldn't be buying Skyrim. At least, Bethesda understands that many people don't agree with the choices they have made, and they provide one of the most powerful tools out there to mod their games for that reason.

How peculiar. Very few of us have played Skyrim for even a few minutes. We can be sure from many reports that is a lot of fun to play for a short time, We have no idea what sorts of problems it is going to have, or how many of those problems Bethesda will ever patch. Until we've had a chance to play, there is no way to say whether it might need mods like the Unofficial Patches for Oblivion and Oblivion's DLCs. The notion that someone might be saddened by someone's attempt to fix problems or remedy oversights or which have crept into Skyrim under Bethesda's radar boggles my mind, especially when one considers that no one is forced to use any mods. There most likely will be bugs because there always are bugs, but any PC player can wait/hope for Bethesda to fix them. There is no point in being sad because someone else didn't want to wait., there is no way to say whether it might need mods like the Unofficial Patches for Oblivion and Oblivion's DLCs. The notion that someone might be saddened by some

Your idea of balance is different from other people's.

Some people think gaining two perks per level is balance. It's personal preference.

It's like fine dining, seasoning your food before even tasting it is an insult to the Chef. That's just my opinion, don't read too much into it.