LE [REQ] Game Logic vs Choice & Consequence

[Thingamajig]

I was reading an interesting article a moment ago here

 

To quote a small portion of it:

 

In my version of Oblivion, the hero should be exiled from Cyrodill. He’s been locked up more times than anyone can count. He saunters up to random people in the middle of city streets and beats them half to death with a club. Then he stands still and waits to get arrested. Over and over, the same cycle – beating, arrest, jail, breaking out of jail. Then, when the time comes, he’s warmly accepted into The Blades and handed weapons so he can ‘save the world’, without so much of a discussion about the psycopathic idiot that’s frequented the Black Horse Courier’s pages so often.

 

It goes on. It’s game logic, or rather, a lack of. There is a clear disparity between what a player does or wants to do and what game environments or characters know how to handle.

 

Now i feel this is something that wasn't fully addressed in Skyrim. NPC's are far too trusting -- all too willing to share their troubles and secrets with a complete stranger (whome is probably the worst one, given how some of us play ;) Brotherhood member maybe?) Such quests should only start if the player proves to be trustworthy - say, buys a house in town, is made "Thane" and/or has proven to the Jarl they can be trusted, etc. Then it's citizens should open up to the player more. Just walk down the street in a newly discovered town. You soon get bombarded with requests, regardless of your past.

 

Hell even the Winterhold College seems to trust me far too much. Granting me access with a simple Ward spell. Then all of a sudden, referring to me as an apprentice and giving me permission to meddle in with very delicate and sensitive affairs that could have major consequences. It's all very silly.

 

To top it off, I'm a Nord Warrior. I hate magic, and i hate Mages. Figure that one out.

 

 

So what am i asking for here? Well as i said previously, having citizens less trustworthy is a good start. Perhaps having their quests only start if the player has proven to be trustworthy in that particular town (again, has done a few quests for the Jarl -- or definitely when they've secured a home, etc)

 

Now this sounds like an ambitious request (and, well, it is) but i feel that this is really required to make Skyrim what it should've been. This is a massive immersion breaker for me (just as it was In Oblivion) and i assume it is for many others. It really needs to be changed/fixed. something i may even attempt myself once we get our hands on mod tools.

 

 

A few other things that troubled me in Skyrim:

Lack of any negative effects on the player in harsh environments (Diving into freezing water, climbing high peaks). Doesn't need to be a massive penalty, a mild stamina drain, etc would suffice.

 

No item durability. Even I must admit it was annoying repairing things all the time. Having it completely removed wasn't a good idea though. They should've just reduced it much more. It would also make Smithing a more rewarding/deeper skill.

 

Horse riding is disappointingly slow.

Different breeds of Horses have no different traits. (that i've noticed)

Unable to lead horses on foot via tack/reins (Would make engaging potential targets easier as you don't need to dismount to do so, and no have to worry about leaving your horse alone open to attack)

No first person view while riding (What were they thinking?

 

Apologies for the long post.

Edited November 21, 2011 by Thingamajig