Rebuilding Skyrim I like this. But don't just limit it to replacing buildings. You need to expand your horizons if you want to see stuff done. Tit-for-Tat. It's a lot like diplomacy. They're are a lot of talented people out they're and by a massive margin – even more people who want to see something specific done. The talented modders are going to appease ether what they want done or what the larger/more common demands are. If you want to see something you want done but you don't have the talent on hand, find those that do, see what they're interested in and then decide if your willing to recruit them, offering them a place on your team, to help each other out. Just remember not to give them everything THEY want right away. That way you make “progress” too. Just don't expect it to be immediate. And for everybody's sake, TALK! Talk about the directions the mods going and if it's going in a good direction. People who actually do make these games, debates them to death and back again just to make sure it's going in the right direction. First off let me say that I like the idea of renovating some towns but I cant agree with the direction your taking it. From what you have seen, it seems that “Thane” is just another way of saying “Jarl”. Your are not the Jarl!!! Why should I dump volumes of MY gold into rebuilding the forts that Jarl has no interest in maintaining the upkeep on? Why should I waist my precious gold on remolding someone else's shop? I wouldn't see any tax revenue from it. The Jarl would. Further more the shop owner might not even want this! His income might not be enough to keep up with the newly increased tax's a more extravagant building would bring in. I see the Assassins Creed inspiration your taking on this. But this is not Assassins creed. It is not my intention to Flame, but rather give constructive criticism. A few other interesting things have been said in here and a few good points of consideration have been brought up. I'll cover as much as I can and throw in some of my own 2 coppers worth of ideas. Town Renovation! A more impressive store does you no good if they're are no new customers. My idea is a MUCH more simplistic and a realistic one. They're are bandit camps all over the place and most of them are at crossroads and major points of travel. So for the sake of avoiding misinterpretation, here is a scenario. There are two towns, each with they're own goods and tourist highlights. But between them is a large bandit camp preying on the merchants trying to get to and from. If the Dragonborn were to destroy this nest of scum permanently and possible threw a thane quest or such, establish an outpost they're for one of the city's, trade could then flourish and with the new and potentially massive influx of people buying stuff, a shop might then feel the need to become more extravagant to open up more variety and depth of ware to sell the new masses. After all, if given the choice, would you rather buy something from a run down building or an imposing building that speaks of success!? Going about things this way, you can achieve what you set out to do with out making it feel wishy-washy and you get to kick peoples @$$es at the same time. Not only that but it gives the game a more human feel to it. Like your actions have an actual affect on the games environment. (people like this kind of thinking{hint-hint}) Renovating Ruins! BAD #*%$ing idea. Under no circumstance should you fork out gold just to renovate some broken down ruin or crypt. It just doesn't make since and frankly is a horrible waste of time. It's a Crypt! A Dungeon. Why would I want a Cleaner Dungeon to kill drauger in? On the other hand. If this is being suggested in a different light. Such, simply to improve the quality of them so they are a more enjoyable experience. By the gods! Please and thank you!!! They suck! The dungeons in this game can learn a great deal from the “Tomb Raider series”. Frankly I could add a good 2 or 3 whole pages of input on this single topic alone. But I think most people reading this right now just nodded they're heads in understanding to the whole Lara Croft reference. Political Power Well lets look at the title Thane for a moment shall we! I could give a huge explanation but for the readers sake ill leave it as this. Depending on how you look at it your ether a clerical Administrator (secretary) or the city's most badass Warlord. I think I know where 99% of you just pointed. I honestly HOPE! Ether way it's completely irrelevant. WHY!!??? Because your not of NOBILITY! THATS WHY! Yes the Dragonborn for all his/her worth is still just a damned commoner rabble with a not so common title with “privileges”. In other words what I'm trying to say is that you don't actually have much political power at all. The very best you could hope for is having some minor weight with the Jarls decisions. (such as who's side Whiterun picks{nudge-nudge}) But you are the Dragonborn. The most badass dragon killing bastard to ever walk Skyrim in thousands of years. As the last of the Dragonborn, born into a time of great strife you have an unusual option. FANFAIR! This in and of it's self is it's own political power. People will listen to a Hero and a Champion, and with that the ruling class will ether have no choice but to fallow suit or will struggle with it's self to gain favor and thus giving you your political power. Unless they just want a glorified trophy. It wont necessarily grant you a Fiefdom but it will keep you busy and open up more avenues of advancing your self's importance. Thane – My two copper. I do believe they're should be more for the thane but in doing so I also believe they're should be limitation placed upon it as well. For instance. You should only be able to become the Thane of one (1) city. Yes a single location. But with that single location a while barrage of unique experiences and quest for the particular city that you have chosen. If for no other reason than conflicting compatibility issues with other towns. Here's a few examples of what could be done as a thane. - Whiterun. *Rebuild the Walls *Quest to expose or overthrow ether the Battleborn or Greymains then seize they're holdings(land{house}) - Winterhold. *EPIC Quest chain to rebuild the town, which could include rescuing a family of carpenters and securing trade routes to bring in more income as well as opening up and improving relations with the mages academy. *Lots of land development and immigration related quest including the building of your own grand house as the Hero of Winterhold. *Bonus and dependency related quest dealing with the Blades and Winterhold if a current or previous student. - Riften. *Killing the Black-Briers!!! *Opening up trade routes via destroying/clearing out bandit encampments and establishing guard post. *Adopting a child from the orphanage.(possible adding permanent Mara buff as a result) *A massive extension-renovation to enlarge your houses living space. If you have made it this far a congratulate you on having survived and hope that you have kept an open mind. An imagination is a terrible thing to waist and sadly few people are capable of tempering theirs so to think and work out they're ideas clearly. I hope that my views and ideas have helped many of you find a newer or greater means to mod this boring but other wise potential game. With that I leave you with these simple words to live by. Skyrim is full of nords, vikings. The Norse peoples and views and religions and culture. Please keep that in mind. That's all I'm asking.
