I've played a couple of RPG lately that don't have the "the hold my hand thingy",and I must admit it felt like true exploring.So what would you guys prefer in Skyrim & why?

Inb4 "Console casual players are ruining my game!"

I like exploring too, but even in Oblivion there was tons of stuff to explore that doesnt have to do with quests(not to mention you need to do a lot of exploring to find the quests too). I like Morrowind too but to me its more of a voiceovers vs. detailed text and directions, and Id rather have VOs.

Edit: Its not as bad as Fable 2/3 and its follow-the-yellow-brick-road, but even in those games you can turn it off.

I would be okay without it. If it is in I hope it isn't like the red/green thing in OB, but more subtle.

I would like no quest markers , i am playing Baldur's Gate SoA again and the feeling of exploration is awesome like Morrowind, for me he quest markers kill the sense of exploration and discovery

I would like to still have a quest marker for general locations. For instance if a quest item is in a cave, it would be nice if the cave is marked on your map/compass.; however, once inside the cave it would be better it you were not led directly to the item you are looking for. I think it would make it necessary to check every little nook and corner of a dungeon to find something as opposed to the Oblivion system where you would know just by looking at the quest marker exactly what container it is in.

Make it an 'turn on/off' option and everyone is happy. I am pretty certain that is not much work when considering everything ells that has been done.
(that is pretty much my opinion to a lot of such things, just make let the player choose, why would you not give options if it is easy to add?)

i would be okay without quest markers, we dont need them, but i like the compass

I'm hoping for this option also,but being that it hasn't been a major complaint it might not happen.

I honestly don't care either way.

I'd like the green arrow completely gone and get directions from npcs, trails, clues in the quest notes.

Yep, I block the compass in the HUD in obilvion but still have it when I open the inventory, which feels to me like checking the compass for directions when I need them rather than having it out all the time.

Well, most markers were used to find a specific item or a npc. Which in my opinion leads people to skip reading the journal and just follow the marker. Morrowind actually forced you to read your journal, thoroughly. And if you failed to the find what you were looking for, you had to read it over and over again, till you got the clues right. Back then, you actually felt good about yourself, when you had finished a quest.

If you ask me, the map markers are sometimes more confusing than they would help you. If you are doing a quest while a in castle, the marker can not tell the difference between a door and another door right above that one. A well written journal entry saying: "Go up the stairs and take the second door to your left." on the ohter hand is a whole lot more functional than an immersion breaking quest marker.

So, in my opinion the whole marker thing should either be removed or revised. A marker like object in your hud that starts to light up when you're getting close to your objective seems better to me.

For finding specific NPCs to whom you need to talk to advance a quest I think that the quest marker should actually only pop in when you're in their general area. Nothing annoyed me more in Morrowind than getting to the inn where I knew the person I needed to speak to was and having to check everyone's name before I found my person. It was a complete waste of time.

The best use of the quest markers is to cut down on meaningless chores. In that respect they were overused in Oblivion. I think that they should guide the player to the dungeon/cave/fort/mine that they need to get to (assuming that finding the place isn't a significant part of the quest), but once inside there should be no markers. Likewise, if I need to return to my quest giver to tie up a quest, the quest marker should lead me directly to them: considering NPCs roam their towns and villages now what with their schedules and all, what is looking for them without any guidance really going to add to my exploration? If I need to speak to someone else to advance my quest, I should have to deduce where they are and the marker should only kick in when I'm in their vicinity.

Think about trying to find master trainers after you had done their quest. That was not fun. That added nothing to Oblivion as a gameplay experience, and that is the kind of tedium that markers can cut out.

If they made the journal/directions more clear I would definitely play without it.

Or something in between the morrowind no compass and the all-seeing oblibion compass. if its a little more balanced.

But we cant just turn it completely off and have NPCs give is ridiculously vague directions

Game Informer mentioned a HUD-less mode when they previewed the game so maybe the compass/markers will be removed if you turn that mode on?

I reckon it would be better if you got it marked on your map so you know where it is but can't fast travel there (similar to when asking about 'goblin hunting' in the Skingrad Fighters Guild) instead of markers on the compass although they essentially do the same thing.

I don't really care either way though...

If I have a journal and a map of what Skyrim looks like and an NPC tells me where a cave is located, then ofcourse I want the game to show me it is there because I was just told it. Some quests might even fool you, an NPC tells you Bandit Camp Cave is located south of riverwood, when it is infact north of it, meaning you'll get a journal update when you followed the false map marker. If the NPC doesn't know where something is, then you could get a large cirle around where the place is, to represent that the NPC doesn't know exactly where it is, but about.

Just plop the marker in the map and keep it off the hud. People who want to just use the dialog can go get lost just like in Morrowind when that West turns out to be South South West, and those who want the marker only have to pull out their map.

Besides, I could get lost with the marker whenever I felt like it. It was just an arrow, its not like you had to follow it. I always just wander through the woods going in caves to clear em out as I passed by.

Yea I like that actually. Mark it on the map, but make people stop, and look at the map. Now just constantly be holding a magical compass up to your face and know 100% of the time where to go even while you are walking or fighting.

what rpg?

I've played a couple of RPG lately that have the "the hold my hand thingy",and I must admit it still felt like true exploring.

If you've been told the exact location of the place you're supposed to go, there's no reason why it shouldn't be marked on the map. It really doesn't ruin exploration more than when you're told to where to go. Still, it should only show you the entrance, and places you supposed to know, not the exact position of the item you seek, except maybe a wandering NPC as they can be annoying to find...

dont care for quest markers but i do like being able to place my own

I *REALLY* hope that those markers are out as the quest markers ruined quests for me and point of interest markers ruined the exploration, as there was no sense of surprise of stumbling on some interesting places or items, and there was no sense of accomplishments on finding the target of a quest by looking around and using my mind to decipher the scenery and use my detective instincts to find what is needed to continue with the quests.

The most interesting item on the screen was just a marker on the compass, ugh. :yucky:

People in this thread are forgetting what quest markers are good for. I agree - nobody enjoys being led straight to the treasure that's supposed to be tucked away. Nobody enjoys that sense of discovery being spoilt by the quest marker telling you where everything is in advance. However, there are unavoidable moments of genuine tedium in RPGs that can be cut out with quest markers.

Yes, and no......Some people just cant' play like that....it might turn away alot more people than you can imagin.....If there is they should have a "switch" that would allow you to turn the map markers on or off.....

So people could play it the way they want..... :celebration: Everyone WIns :celebration: