The small groups of vampires were never really threatening to me (Mainly because I play Argonian). If they were more plentiful/organized they might seem like a more important aspect of the game.

I found that REALLY strange

Because that clan of vampires have strength in their deception and manipulation. If they wanted to get any more powerful than they were already, they had to starve themselves and risk being exposed to everyone. It's part of the pact with Clavicus VIle.

For a Werewolf I would like to see very animalistic abilities like pouncing and crawling.

They have to have vampire, though I would also really like to see werewolves.

And for balancing purposes made since for that clan. either you can become a all powerful death machine that walks the night and hides from the sun.... or you chat with your neighbour about those pesky mud crabs as you go out and get your morning paper.

i chose death machine unless i had to do quest related things that could only be done during the day.

Not sure if any of you played with the massive OOO mod; but, it made vampires far more interesting, not only to play as; but, to encounter. There were a few times I wondered into a dungeon full of highly powerful vamps at a low level and they [censored] me in seconds. I don't think you necessarily need a dozen vampire factions to make the game interesting; as I'm sure there will be tons of things to do already. What they could do to narrow it down and feed everyone's interests is have two opposing sides to the cause. A guild or clan devoted to fighting vampires and a vampire clan/guild determined to eliminate any opposition so they can have free reign on dinner. In Oblivion they had some small little guild you could become a part of to hunt vampires; but, it never really goes anywhere.

One thing Oblivion lacked that the other ES games had tons of were guilds and with guilds you had lots of quest chains. I love the stories that go along with quest chains; it's so much better than a bunch of random side quests that don't really take you anywhere. I just think having two opposing sides on the issue of vampires is all that is needed if they can create a story well enough around the the two factions fighting. Heck, I'd even be satisfied if the topic was covered at some later point in a nice big expansion. Not really into werewolves personally; because, lore wise they are suppose to be mindless blood thirsty creatures, that need to be put down on sight. If they had the same level of self control as if they weren't transformed, I don't think too many people would be running for their lives when the champion of the world came strolling into town shaped like a dog. That's just not how it works though in the ES world. I think it's a major contradiction to transform a person into a monster and yet they still have the same level of self control as if they hadn't changed. It's like the idea behind modern vampires, giving them all of the benefits of a cursed creature of the night and none of the weaknesses. Seems completely ridiculous if you ask me...

this. i would love too see this included.

I agree completely. And I think having both Vampires and Werewolves as an option to become would be best - gives you a three way choice of human, vampire, werewolf.

A whole assortment of 'werecritters' though? Werewolves are by far the most menacing and well-developed of the lot, and I would much prefer them to be the only werecreature there. Otherwise it becomes a bit ridiculous, with all the things some people suggest - werebear, wereboar, weremudcrab - bleh.

Other than a few specific quests, were there any factions or clans related to vampires? No there were not. Vampires were mostly just hostile NPCs in various dungeons.

I think what is boils down to, are several things:
1. There is no involvement with or against vampires, like being a part of a group for or against, and do a meaningful story;
2. There are no cool scripted vampire abilities beyond simple increase in stats, like turning into mist or something.
3. Vampire facegen problems.

As one of the users noted, there is only one faction of vampires, you and Janus Hassildor. All the rest are by themselves. Player doesn't feel like he/she is a vampire and part of the vampire faction. None of them is. There is a perfect Lore-Friendly setting here: the Emperor is dead, The Elder Council tries to restore the order, a group of elder vampire nobility from the Imperial City is trying to take over, Ocato resists, another rival group of vampires helps Ocato, vampire hunters hunt both. Put on the top abilities to turn into a bat or mist, plus fix the facegen to create a Gothic beauty, and you will have a breathtaking vampire experience!

This.

I definitely want Lycanthropy. Morrowind had it.. or rather.. Bloodmoon (expansion to Morrowind) but that was not the base game as you stated. I think that Bethesda knows we expect it in Skyrim. I doubt we will be disappointed.

I am pretty positive that there will be possibility to turn into werewolf in Skyrim. What would you like to do as a werewolf besides looking for a cure? Should there be factions of werewolves? Whom they will fight? Just curious.

Well, even so, Cyrodilic vampires don't walk around in the day. Many people in-game said vampires are never seen in the day. They can walk in the day, but they are encouraged to avoid daylight by lifestyle. I guess they don't want to compare themselves too much to humans.

Werewolf slayers or crusaders who fight aainst Lycanthropes.

They were underdeveloped because they didnt really do anything.
In Morrowind the factions only had a few quests, and some factions were bugged. A handful of non faction quests for a vampire as well.

In Oblivion they were less developed then in Morrowind.
There was no vampire faction to join, and there was only one quest associated with being a vampire, vampire cure, and that had a serious bug.
They also just hung around in caves being slightly tougher than bandits and with nice loot.
The two vampires posing as humans in the Imperial city were a nice touch, but it would have been better if they had recognised it if the player was a vampire too, and offer different paths for their associated quests.
Hassildor remains one of my favorite characters of Oblivion. He was done very well and had an interesting personality and back story.

They were always more of an afterthought, I feel, and never developed to their potential.

It would be wonderful if Skyrim had a vampire clan to join, with a questline and possibly a vampire merchant or two at their base.
Lycanthropy would also be nice.

To be honest, I'd like to see them focusing on Werewolves rather than Vampires. I believe Vampire's don't fit so much in this game.

i woulnt mind being a vampire as long as you can become one more than once. im also hoping for the ability to become a werewolf

Both?

This, without the lol in the end.

If so, they will be just slightly more than beasts, defending their habitat, boring just like vampires in Oblivion. One need to find much more substance and story to make werewolves interesting. For vampires the story is already created. Plus, vampire culture has much more understanding, and substance, and interactions with humans. Why would you like to be a werewolf?

:stare:

Yes, vampire culture has more understanding, which is why Bethesda has a chance to further the knowledge surrounding werewolves. And werewolves have interactions with humans....why do you people forget that they also appear human almost every day in their lives? A story to make werewolves interesting? Many things can be done. Have a werewolf hunting faction exertminating all werewolves and you(The player) must join with other rogue individuals and survive. Or maybe Hircine can give you some particular hunting quests since you are labeled his hound. Maybe do as the Daedric Prince pleases and be counted among Hircine's champions?


My reaction.

By the Gods I worship I hope that they make the Vampires (and being one) development-able like a separate character class! They started something good with Oblivion, now gamesas just needs to expand upon it.

bliviongate:

Obviously, the ideal situation is that Vampires and Werewolves are both in the game, and both very well-developed with an actual clan structure, functioning as a faction, that you join and can interact with. Failing that, I would like to see at least one of them developed. I'm biased towards vampires, because of that in-game book (Immortal Blood?) that talks about Skyrim vampires... That they can breathe frost that freezes blood and reach through ice without breaking it. Werewolves seem a bit dull by comparison, though I suppose there's no reason that a lycanthrope clan can't be just as interesting.

At the absolute least, I hope they're both well-developed enemies, even if you can't join them.