There's no problem that a sharp sword and a well-aimed spellblast can't solve. ;)

I don't use companions, but in my experience when people are blocking doors they back up when you try walking through them.

The beauty of it is that unlike other developpers who are doing everything they can to close and protect their games, this game can be modded. Therefore everything you don't like about this game can be easily fixed if you are the type of person to go a bit beyond bitching (no offense meant in this statement). There will be modding hubs for different type of players, like cheat-like mods, graphic enhancement mods, realism mods, lore mods, etc. This is pretty much what a lot of people are saying when they are ''waiting'' before they purchase, a GOTY edition with DLC and mods.

They may eventually, but they are pretty slow to realize that they are STANDING IN THE EFFING WAY AGAIN WITH NO REASON. ;) And somehow it's harder to jump past them than it was in e.g. Morrowind. And there#s no way to simply ask them to move - even Morrowind had simple mods that allowed that, all these years ago. The current implementation of companions is rather ... rudimentary, I think.

However, companions aren't even the worst offenders. Atronachs are way worse, they are much bulkier and just stand there, staring at my desperate face, while not moving an inch. In dungeons, I regularly end up blasting my own creations apart to get out of small rooms or dead ends.

Similarly annoying is the dog that you have to accompany in one of the Daedric quests. He won't budge either, and on top of that, he often walks into you and actually pushes you back. One of my most hilarious deaths happened when my mighty mage stood right at the edge of a huge chasm, taking in the magnificent view, and then this accursed canine approached me from behind and nudged me over the edge.

Yeah. Poor AI pathfinding is one of many reasons I generally don't use companions in RPGs of this nature. The other big reason is that I just prefer the loner feel of exploration by yourself. Plus they screw up stealth.

New Vegas was an exception, since they each had quests and stories, but even then I tried to go it alone as much as possible.

Yes, shouts are rather obviously just "magic done differently".
Why not all magic shouted then? Also rather obvious as you could throw the story / plot down the gutter, not to mention that such a change wouldn't fit into the TES lore at all. Just because some of us don't care about "being Dragonborn" / main plot isn't really a reason to take that road. :)
Also don't see Morrowind being more subtle or ambiguous in that department either. Even all guild / side quests aside just doing the mainquest, it's a long way until you discover Azuras involvement. I dare to say most players at that time didn't bothered / cared (hell even missed) that part - and the reward for all your work was..... underwhelming.

Don't see Nocturnal's blessing of luck being contradicted by your actions, as your success is countered by Mercer's action - all the time. So no luck for the guild. You think you work for the guild, but actually only do for Mercer's purse.

I could understand the personal revenge part but frankly put, if guild honor isn't enough for you to go after Mercer you should been thrown out of the guild. ;)
Nightingale powers not given - don't know / can't check at the moment. Though I think the enchantments from the armor set does work, regardless of what Karliah said. Also a "bond" is being made with the three involved, to tie them together agains Mercer.
And yes, the Dragonborn DOES need the help of Nocturnal. That Mercer can counter the mentioned bond by taking two out, wasn't foreseeable - even more you should thank Nocturnal for her (invisible) help. Especially all those who don't care for the whole Dragonborn thing..... :p

Oh and how in the name of the nines one can see the influence of Azura in Morrowind, even granting a more satisfying game because of it, but wanting to deny each and every influence for Nocturnal and take over the Thieves Guild without her at all, is simply beyond words.

Not being able to buy or "inherit" homes - you neglect that NPCs have relatives. That paperwork is involved when someone dies. You don't become owner of a properity by murdering someone. And just because someone died, doesn't mean his belongings are up for sale.
Going down that road you would / could end with owning half or more of all buildings in the gameworld. How that would be a good thing, neither economic / gameplay or roleplaying wise, is beyond me.
To be honest: it's more a "I want it, you don't give, your game sucks" attitude - even trying to fulfill those is impossible. And yes, I still don't see ANY other games outside Bethesdas own, that gets you any closer to that point.

He's playing on console and doesn't like Steam.....

Sounds like a near perfect youtube-video for me. :p

Most of the time I back up a bit so they follow me away from the doorway, then I can move past them and get through. The rest of the time I manage to find a gap just wide enough for me to squeeze through. They don't move anywhere but forward and won't turn to face away from me unless there's an enemy near enough in the right direction (or their path to me turns (eg. stairs going back and forth) so they have to look elsewhere - remember, they can only walk in the direction they face so they must face the direction they're walking).

Well, Bethesda doesn't give a crap about lore, so it doesn't matter whether or not it fits. And if you want a lore-friendly explanation: After the dissolution of the Mages Guild, the Thu'um could have become the common magic taught in Skyrim (anyone can learn it with study, after all). It's always been the "magic of the north" anyway, so it wouldn't be too drastic a change.

I remember when the Dark Brotherhood venerated Mephala, when Cyrodiil was said to be a lush jungle, and when dragons were said to have been allies of the Empire, but Bethesda seems to have forgotten. ;-)

The Emperor commands that you be sent to Vvardenfell because you were "born under a certain sign" and might fulfill the prophecy (of course, many would have been born at that time, but for one reason or another, the Emperor believes you capable of fulfilling the prophecy), and Azura opens the game speaking to you in your dreams and telling you that she has chosen you as champion (perhaps implying that she had a hand in your being sent to Vvardenfell, nudging the Emperor or his advisors to notice you, etc). That's it, tho: It's all up to you from there. No special powers, etc. You come to be named the Nerevarine but it's always ambiguous whether or not you are actually Nerevar reincarnated.

But I won't argue the point too much, because it does have elements of pre-ordained destiny, too, and I don't care much for such things. Just saying that Morrowind doesn't hit you over the head with it like Skyrim constantly reminding you that you are special only because you happen to be Dragonborn.

Sure, but it's *Mercer* working against the guild, not some mystic bad luck. If anyone should be having bad luck, it's the man that betrayed his duties to Nocturnal and desecrated her holy place, but he seems to be doing just fine with his schemes until you come along. Seems more like Nocturnal is all bark and no bite, if you ask me. She can't even prevent Mercer from using the power of her Skeleton Key for his own ends. ;-)

And sure, Mercer has stolen the loot, but the more important thing is that the Thieves Guild is respected again (guards/citizens mention this if you hadn't noticed).

Important? Yes. Worth selling my soul? No. :-P

The "trinity" could have ventured forth together in pursuit of Mercer without involving Nocturnal. No mystic bond needed. The enchantments on the armor work, but they certainly aren't worth my soul. Nightingale powers aren't granted until the Skeleton Key is returned to the Twilight Sepulcher. Also not worth my soul.

Rather than Nocturnal's aid, all I needed was Unrelenting Force. ;-)

So Mercer's brother is going to inherit and move into Riftweald Manor, huh? A Thane of the Rift and Guildmaster of the Thieves Guild can't swing getting that property somehow? And Alva's house in Morthal is still empty... guess it'd be too much to ask for the Jarl to sell it to a Thane of Hjaalmarch? :-P

Well, don't mistake me: I'm not saying Skyrim sucks as a whole or as a game because of any one thing. I'd call it a mediocre game, but that judgement is based on the whole rather than a particular gripe like the above nitpicking. Poor writing, unbalanced mechanics, a shoddy implementation of level-scaling, a lot of bugs, general unfinished or half-assed feeling of several aspects, etc. BUT it does have its charms, and it's nowhere near the f***ing travesty that is Dragon Age 2.

Yeah, I know. I've made and shared several mods for both Morrowind and Oblivion, some of which have over a thousand downloads. Not a "popular" modder, and my stuff isn't revolutionary, but my mods are quality and I have my niche. If not for Steam, I'd probably be too busy modding to bitch much about the game here. If the patches/DLC/GOTY polish up the game a bit, perhaps I'll consider using a cracked no-Steam version and get back to into it. Prob not, tho, as I don't see myself wanting to replay to any of the questlines I've completed so far. But then again, I felt that way about Oblivion and modded for it anyway. ;-)

"The brotherhood's origins lie with the Morag Tong, but some time after the assassination of Potentate Versidue-Shaie by the Morag Tong in 2E 324 the Dark Brotherhood split away."
Uesp.net - Lore:Dark Brotherhood
Dark Brotherhood != Morag Tong

Cyrodiil was changed into a temperate climate by Emperor Tiber Septim

You don't really need an explanation for the dragon part, do you? Allies part ways, dead dragons, not all joining an alliance, Alduins influence.... the possible explanations are plenty.

Which is pretty much just a technical reason. Behaviour/reaction of the world/people inhabiting it, has come a long way from Morrowind over Oblivion to Skyrim. There's really not even a comparison here.

"You see, I have known of Mathieu Bellamont's intentions since he was just a boy. I knew of his thirst for vengeance. I could have informed my Listener. But I refused! Refused to reward such incompetence!"
Uesp.net - Oblivion:The Night Mother

Why should Nocturnal reward the incompetence shown by the thieves guild/former Nightingales? Karliah knew she wouldn't which is the reason going the Nightingale road, bringing two new ones along, as the former Nightingales failed/betrayed, to reattain Nocturnals trust.

The achievement "One With the Shadows - Returned the Thieves Guild to its former glory" doesn't unlock until you took care of Mercer and brought the skeleton key back. Merely doing the needed special jobs, isn't enough. Yes, you need Nocturnal, regardless what the guards/citizens think - the people are just one part, Nocturnal's trust and the thieves self-confidence the other.

You pretty much sound like a contract or temporary worker, not a thieves guild member. Even more one of those who thinks to know all better and wanting the top position without doing what is necessary. Your heart isn't into it - I'd claim failing to roleplay here. :p

You kill the Emperor. Does that mean you take his position? That you can buy or inherit his castles? That his loyal servants now loyally serve you?
Shall we talk about meaningful choices/consequences and a believable gameworld again or can we let it be as it is? ;)

You pretty much come over as if Skyrim is a close second to Dragon Age 2, to say the least.
... and yes, I'd still like to know the game that offers as much as Skyrim and manages to get even a "good" in your book. :p

See the book The Brothers of Darkness. Prior to Oblivion's changing of the lore, the Dark Brotherhood venerates Mephala but is less of a cult than the Morag Tong and more of a murder-for-hire business.

If I'm not mistaken, that was fanon until recently. Even if it is an idea introduced by Bethesda, it's clearly a rather poor attempt to explain ditching lore in favor of a more traditional fantasy setting for Oblivion.

Prior to Skyrim, Alduin was just the old Nord name for Akatosh, from the time before the Elven and human religions merged into the Imperial religion. (I'm fighting a severe cold or sinus infection and don't feel like trying to find the references, but I'm 99% sure on this.)

Also pretty sure that the Empire and dragons were pretty tight considering the Imperial emblem is a dragon and that the Empire is big on Akatosh. ;-)

No, it has nothing to do with the engine. Morrowind is all about you being able to use the prophecy as a tool to do what needs to be done regardless of whether or not you are actually Nerevar reborn (a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy). Skyrim is all about you having happened to be born with special powers and being the only one in the entire world who can defeat Alduin.

But like I said before, you are half right: Morrowind does have some elements of pre-determined destiny, too, and I'm not 100% happy with it either. It is, however, a whole heck of a lot better than Skyrim's story.

Why should anyone care what Nocturnal thinks if one of her servants can get away with stealing her holy relic and taking a whiz on her altar? If not for Karliah's desire for vengeance for Gallus, Mercer would have gotten away with his plans and be living good life while Nocturnal fumed in Oblivion. ;-)

Still don't want to compare game x with Skyrim, but there are games that I rank as more-or-less good... tho I will admit that my best friend often jokes that I'm impossible to please when it comes to games. ;-) For example (using a different type of game, namely turn/party-based rpg to avoid comparisons with Skryim), I consider KotOR good despite its flaws.

---

In between typing the above bits, I watched this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e7GrPUKKcE

Made me laugh, and the top comment at this time is a Skyrim reference ("Guard might get nervous...") that made me laugh so hard I squirted a bit of blood out of my nose (sick, remember). So funny. At least to my addled brain. See, I am easily pleased after all! :-P

... while some scholars argue that when the Morag Tong was banished from the rest of Tamriel, they were allowed to continue to operate in Morrowind when they replaced their worship of Mephala with that of Vivec. As a reaction to this the Dark Brotherhood was formed, being led by the mysterious Night Mother, who some insist is just another form of Mephala. Book Fire and Darkness: The Brotherhoods of Death.
Even more insightful as well as more confusing is the known Lore of Sithis.

We could go on, but the nature of a good lore is, that not everything is clear. Theories get writen down and become facts, as biased and wrong they may be at that time.

... you don't want to know how many of your "alternative approaches/solutions" and justifications for them I'd consider weak or not working at all. I doubt I would play the game with you being in charge. :p

You refer to the book Varieties of Faith in the Empire. Which appeared in Morrowind. I'll quote:
Akatosh (Dragon God of Time): Akatosh is the chief deity of the Nine Divines (the major religious cult of Cyrodiil and its provinces), and one of two deities found in every Tamrielic religion (the other is Lorkhan). He is generally considered to be the first of the Gods to form in the Beginning Place; after his establishment, other spirits found the process of being easier and the various pantheons of the world emerged. He is the ultimate God of the Cyrodilic Empire, where he embodies the qualities of endurance, invincibility, and everlasting legitimacy.

Alduin (World Eater): Alduin is the Nordic variation of Akatosh, and only superficially resembles his counterpart in the Nine Divines. For example, Alduin's sobriquet, 'the world eater', comes from myths that depict him as the horrible, ravaging firestorm that destroyed the last world to begin this one. Nords therefore see the god of time as both creator and harbinger of the apocalypse. He is not the chief of the Nordic pantheon (in fact, that pantheon has no chief; see Shor, below) but its wellspring, albeit a grim and frightening one.

Alkosh (Dragon King of Cats): Pre-ri'Datta Dynasty Anaquinine deity. A variation on the Altmeri Auri-El, and thus an Akatosh-as-culture-hero for the earliest Khajiiti. His worship was co-opted during the establishment of the Riddle-T'har, and he still enjoys immense popularity in Elsweyr's wasteland regions. He is depicted as a fearsome dragon, a creature the Khajiit say 'is just a real big cat'. He repelled an early Aldmeri pogrom of Pelinal Whitestrake during mythic times.

I'm also pretty sure Alduin wouldn't fit it. Neither the Skyrim one, not the one described above nor the Khajiit version. :p

I'm not counting how many times in TES history one or several daedric lords lost/misplaced a holy relic or gotten robed.... though you should realise you've just thrown the complete Oblivion Thieves Guild questline over board too, don't you?
And yes, I'm aware that's also Nocturnal. Well, if you hang around with thieves, somethings are bound to happen from time to time.

Why YOU should care, I can't say. I doubt anyone can. Though why do you for Azura, be it in Morrowind or any other of the series, yet can't for Nocturnal?


I wish you well, though I fear you've been cursed by Nocturnal for your incredulousness and constant mockery of her....

AFAIR Cyrodiil was (pre-Oblivion) explicitly described as a tropical jungle (and large, sprawling cities with a somewhat Roman-like architecture).

One major gripe that many lore-buffs had with Oblivion was that it simply scrapped and rebooted that and turned the province into a generic medieval fantasy setting.

It was described as a 'lush jungle' and I think it was retconned in Oblivion by saying Talos came from Skyrim and made the climate more temperate by using his amazing powers.. or something like that.
Perhaps because the Gamebryo engine couldn't do jungles justice?

My memory has become a bit fuzzy on the details, but I think Speedtree (the middleware they licensed for the trees) actually had a jungle component available, Bethesda just didn't buy it. I think they were consciously aiming for a generic setting that everyone could get into easily.