A change of heart? (Dragonborn spoilers)

[Crusader's Amour]

Has anyone ever felt like their character has undergone a change of heart unexpectedly (even to you, the player?) I just finished Served Cold with my Altmer, who has completed the Thieves Guild questline, Dark Brotherhood questline, and numerous Daedric quests (although a couple of them were too evil even for her), and wandering around Raven Rock hearing all the "your actions have blessed this village", "you've been a good friend to me; that means something", combined with the fact that I now have a house in Raven Rock made me all of a sudden think that my character might decide she belongs on Solstheim and that it's time to put her murdering, thieving ways behind her and settle down as a pillar of the community. It took me quite by surprise and I still haven't worked out what to do about it. Does anyone else have experiences like this?

[CBR JGWRR]

The only part of Skyrim to have a similar feeling to the C of C after the end of Oblivion's main quest that bit.

No reason why your character's heart can't change like that. (You could also include the event of Skaal village into the reason why.)

[Crusader's Amour]

Yeah, the Skaal stuff was also kind of touching.

If I were going to play it out, I'd have to dismiss the Dark Brotherhood initiate I have as a follower (I still have a bunch of quests on Solstheim left to do). I guess I could replace her with Whatshisname (Neloth's apprentice). And also perhaps give up on completing No Stone Unturned.

I'm not even normally much of a roleplayer, but somehow Raven Rock got to me.

[Mauin]

Hm... Let me think about that. Nope. The three mains tend to use the good acts to cover up their evil (in other words, they look good to the general population, but in actuality, they're mostly evil and not even remotely harmless), so it's a perfectly normal thing to do. One in particular would sit there and smile because they wouldn't suspect her of doing anything (she does enjoy messing with the mortals). So, no. No 'change of heart' for any of them.

Another character, the only good character (and who has yet to reach Solstheim), won't experience a change of heart either since that's just what she does.

Meh. It really depends on how you play your characters. Mine are rather set in their ways.

[Hrolf Alfblod]

I have things in the game get to me all the time. I'm sure role playing is a big part of it though. I get sad when NPCs get killed. Well, unless it's someone like Idolaf or Nazeem.

[Crusader's Amour]

This character is already Thane of Whiterun, Falkreath and the Rift, but of those she only ever really connected to Riften (since it was home of her fellow thieves). I mean, in Falkreath she murdered the Jarl's housecarl shortly after being made Thane.

[NLN]

I did try to play an evil character in Skyrim, but it seems impossible in the long run. I even finished the Dark Brotherhood questline with one character, and that was actually what stopped me in my evil ways, sadly before I could finish some quests like Boethiah's for example, that I never managed on my previous, kind of neutral character. Same thing goes for Morrowind, strange that I never had this problem in Oblivion. Seems like the NPCs in this game are very good at guilt tripping you into becoming a hero... And I always roleplay, that might really have something to do with it.

[Ebony Dragon]

Well, even though I don't do much roleplaying, unless it's goofing off and whatnot, I do try to make a story or something.
As for my main Nord, I guess that would've happened during the Forsworn Conspiracy questline. I have a love of Markarth, so when I had to do that escaping with Madanach (I think that's how it is spelled), I didn't do much to help.
This also happened, but in reverse. I hate Solitude, and now, nearly everytime I can do something illegal and not get caught, I do.

As for my Orc profile, if there is ever a time when I need a Dragon because I angered a Giant, I'd consider that a change of heart.

[Khali]

I have a theory about this since I noticed it myself a few times. Morrowind had so so graphics so every one was fairly ugly. Oblivion had better graphics but every one looked fat, at least in the face, and still fairly ugly. Then comes along Skyrim where the graphics have made a huge improvement over the other two. Add in a few graphics and character mods and they are getting closer to reality and they all look pretty good. Hence the NPC's are starting to look closer to real life than every before causing players to make more of a subconscious connection with them.

In my case I despise Ulfric Stormcloak because i view him as power hungry manipulator who does not care one bit about Skyrim, just his own power. Hence I notice myself instantly disliking any NPC that wants to be a Stormcloak or saying something about admiring or agreeing with Ulfric. People have a similar feeling about the Empire because they tried to execute them right at the start. In my case I did not blame the whole Imperial Legion, I blamed the female Captain in Helgen so its easier for me to get past that incident since the Captain never shows up again.

Think about it, you may start off not caring one way or another about a npc but after a few interactions you are making connections in your mind like you would with a real person. Thus you have second thoughts about the evil deeds you are considering inflicting on them. Then add in voice acting that hits the emotional tone just right and the next thing you know a computer generated image is tugging at your heart strings.

Really want to test this theory of mine out? Go download the Vilja mod from http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/26393/? and spend a day or two with Vilja as your follower while doing the quests that come with the mod. See how you feel about her after finishing the quests. The voice acting and accent easily fit the story line and you will find yourself thinking of Vilja like you would a real person without realizing it. I think something similar happens with Serana during the Dawnguard story line. Hence why Serana is so popular, at least with the male segment of the Skyrim gaming community.

[Pilaf The Defiler]

The quests and people of Solstheim have helped move me closer to godhood, and I thank them for that, but I won't stop walking in Tiber's footsteps until I get where he went.

[Crusader's Amour]

Well, I went through with ditching the Initiate. Now Talvas Fathyron is my follower. At least he doesn't call me Mistress; that was awkward when the Initiate did it.

EDIT: Well, I see to have run into a game-breaking bug trapping me in Apocrypha (as detailed over in the help forum). So I guess my poor Altmer will never find her redemption as guardian of Solstheim.

[Avron the S'wit]

Oh, definitely - my main character gets his heartstrings tugged around quite a lot, particularly with Dragonborn, although I think it was in the opposite direction of your initial post, OP. He was a good-leaning fellow who didn't bother with the Dark Brotherhood or the Thieves Guild: he just tried to do what he had to do to make people's lives more enjoyable. Dragonborn is tough because it sort of jerks you into a path with no real alternatives or choices, and it's a pretty dark path. The things you have to do, particularly in the Skaal village, just become a bit much to digest unless you harden up a bit. And your future? Man, that's a shaky path...

It wouldn't be so bad if the Blades didn't end up being such big let downs. That really broke my heart. All we went through, man, and then you just toss me aside...sniff...sniff...

[Dohva.]

Felina Imhatius, Listener to the Dark Brotherhood, retired her assassin's blade after a personal incident took place (speaking in roleplay terms here). Its been a difficult transition, but she mostly did it for the sake of her husband and children. She'll always be a cold, often brutal, manipulative, skooma drinking babe, but she's never been one to kill without meaning before (even if it was just a contract). Hearthfire DLC changed all that. So yes, it happens.

[Crusader's Amour]

Well, my Altmer's file is now messed up, trapping her in Apocrypha. But I refuse to accept that as her fate in roleplay terms. I'm going to pretend that Talvas wrenched the Black Book away at the last minute and she'll have a long and happy life in Raven Rock.

-sob-

[CBR JGWRR]

Sadly, that is the fate of the Dovahkiin according to lore...

[Pilaf The Defiler]

You're left with a choice actually. The lure of knowledge and power is addictive to the Dragon of the North though.

[Street_Assassin]

It depends how much u role play. I still wish many of quests would have more options,for example thieves guild is a crime faction so why can't we fight against them? Like when u choose to destroy dark brotherhood instead of joining them. Many quests have no other choices than doing them so it ruins role playing in one way or other. Plus its weird how u become all there is in the game: mighty dragonborn, leader of assassins, boss of the thieves etc etc.. Its just kinda unrealistic to be this super hero and super villain at the same time

[Crusader's Amour]

^ I spent a long time on my first file wondering when I was going to get to do a "take down Maven Black-Briar" quest. I stole all the suspicious letters from the meadery and whatnot in the hope that that might do something, but alas, the worst you can do is steal her horse (and kill Sibbi and Ingun, I guess).

[Pilaf The Defiler]

Is it just me or is there a bugged/missing quest in Dragonborn? On my first playthrough Delvin wanted me to find him a recipe for advanced Bonemold armor. Never got that quest to trigger on subsequent playthroughs.

[sinister]

Do you mean Glover?

[Street_Assassin]

Yep its quite a disappointment when this is such a huge game. One would think there would be such option but I guess then the game would become so big it would have less miscellaneous quests and smaller game world maybe. Who knows. Just doesn't feel like u have many choices,cuz even of u choose not to like daedra gods u still become their servant or champion. Its like chooses u make don't matter in many quests lol

[Pilaf The Defiler]

Do you mean Glover?

The brother who is a smith.

[Avron the S'wit]

You might get more help if you make a separate topic - let's leave this thread to the question poised by the OP.

[legoless]

Is it just me or is there a bugged/missing quest in Dragonborn? On my first playthrough Delvin wanted me to find him a recipe for advanced Bonemold armor. Never got that quest to trigger on subsequent playthroughs.

You need to be a member of the Thieves Guild first, might be the problem (sorry Avron).

[Mattbott]

yes, my Dunmer character had gone through all the Daedric quests and was gradually becoming more and more corrupt. SO he went to Solstheim wearing the ebony mail and wielding poisoned blades, to destroy an enemy

but reconnecting with his culture and dealing with Miraak has healed him, he's now back to a more peaceful and constructive lifestyle. Any racism hes encountered in the Grey quarter is more than nullified by the friendliness of the Nords in Solstheim