Skyrim FAQ & Topic Guide (let's make one!)

[KrisCrash]

Hello everyone!

I can't help noticing a lot of people come here for knowledge on Skyrim, and they may be speculating "should X be in Skyrim?" but about things we've already had confirmed/denied from Bethesda. I want to help.
And second, we have a loooot of double topics, and I can tell people don't like the clutter. At the same time, I don't expect anyone will want to read through all 600 topics here to see if there's one that suits them!

So I want to make an FAQ about things we already will and will not be in Skyrim, and a list of topics worth visiting.
And maybe a list of topics you really don't want to see again

--------- Frequently Asked Questions --------
Q: Should there be a Dark Brotherhood?
A: Bethesda confirmed a Dark Brotherhood questline, however it not counted among major guilds in Skyrim.
If you would like to discuss it, check this thread... http://forums.uesp.net/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=22942

Q: What is the size of the game map?
A: In an interview Todd Howard described the playable land to be approximately the same size as the Cyrodiil map, however it may feel different because there are more mountains and the landscape is harder to traverse.

Q: About the map - what is the capital of Skyrim? What regions will we see? What towns and cities?
A: We can't answer the capital thing for sure. This is one of the most detailed maps we have at the moment. 5 cities are considered major cities.

Q: That's a lot of map. Can I have a horse?
A: Yes, horses are confirmed, and what appears to be a draft horse can be seen in some screenshots.

Q: What skills are making it into the game?
A: Enchant, Restoration, Destruction, Alteration, Conjuration, Illusion, Light Armor, Sneak, Speechcraft, Alchemy, Smithing, Archery, Heavy Armor, Block, Two-Handed, One-Handed (plus two more unknown skills.) Here is a handy infographic of the changes. (spoilers!). There are 280 skill perks.

Q: What races will I be able to play?
A: Same 10 as in Oblivion and Morrowind. It has been confirmed that it will be possible to adjust the body types between slim and muscular types, and that races will look different in this regard. There aren't many images out showing Mer and Beast races yet, however.

Q: Tell me more numbers?!
A: 280 skill perks to unlock, five major cities to explore, over 300 books to find, 150 unique dungeons, and some 500 individual activities (whatever that means). Main Quest is approximately 30 hours of gameplay.

Q:....

(Please add more facts)

There are things we don't know. Please discuss them in threads and look for info before posting here, as this thread is not for speculation.

--------- Great threads about the following topics: --------

What would YOU want from Skyrim? The wishlist thread http://forums.uesp.net/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=19907
Having a fancy for that handsome orc? Race, Sex & Marriage thread http://forums.uesp.net/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=23170
Did you just spill my beer?! Tavern Brawls thread http://forums.uesp.net/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=23374
Joining a guild? Check Factions of Skyrim: Unofficial Guide http://forums.uesp.net/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=22932

(Recommend a thread and I'll add it here)

--------- Please don't make new threads about... --------
Fast Travel http://forums.uesp.net/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=23001
Things you don't want to see in Skyrim, rant here http://forums.uesp.net/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=22892
Killable children? http://forums.uesp.net/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=23404

These topics tend to be very opinionated, and we see them turn bad more often than others. That doesn't mean they don't contain good argumentation, but enough already, if you want to discuss those topics, stick to those threads and read them through before posting. If there is a topic you are sick of, let me know.

----------
SO, post here if you want to add helpful facts and recommend great threads I'll add it in and in the end I'll clean up the thread.

[KrisCrash]

Guys :/
It's a recap thread, and as such, there is no room for speculation. But I will include the best map in the FAQ. I'll also include the "What don't you want to see?" and killable children thread then.

[Pandamatak]

So we can't ask questions anymore?

Only give answers?

If we can, I'll edit this post into a question

[BootySweat]

did all of our posts get deleted? or is this a different thread?

very strange

[Arch-Mage Matt]

Your posts got deleted I assume because Kris didn't want any discussion here. So let's keep the thread clean for only advice for what to add to the thread, meant to deter anyone from making duplicate topics.

[giskard]

Kris

A new interview has a lot of solid facts, there is a recap at the end of the interview if you want the stats and not the long read.
Cool stuff too

http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/118/1181905p1.html

PS a spell is mentioned earlier thats worth reading about, it might a be replacement for the quest arrow system which made Oblivion too easy and morrowind too hard.

[BootySweat]

Kris

A new interview has a lot of solid facts, there is a recap at the end of the interview if you want the stats and not the long read.
Cool stuff too

http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/118/1181905p1.html

PS a spell is mentioned earlier thats worth reading about, it might a be replacement for the quest arrow system which made Oblivion too easy and morrowind too hard.

The Clairvoyance spell is visible in the E3 gameplay demo footage from last month, if you want to see what it looks like in action.

The only new info that I noticed from this article is Lafferty's comment about there being "probably over 500 individual activities to do in the world" - whatever "individual activities" means. I suppose it is a metric used by the devs to measure the specific actions the player can perform.

[KrisCrash]

I've added those numbers.

[MyJuliet]

I assume, because Kris did not want any discussion here. So, let's keep the thread to add comments to the thread the only purpose is to prevent any repetition of the theme.

[BootySweat]

I suggest adding this link to the OP - it contains every single Skyrim related video to date: http://frostywolf.com/index.php/topic,145.msg368.html

[POMC S117]

Pickpocketing has been confirmed as a skill.

[Kerr]

Pickpocketing has been confirmed as a skill.

Really? When they said that thing about pickpocketing skill I assumed it was just sneak.

[BootySweat]

Pickpocketing has been confirmed as a skill.

Really? When they said that thing about pickpocketing skill I assumed it was just sneak.

All 18 skills confirmed - Stealth skills are: Light Armor, Sneak, Lockpick, Pickpocket, Alchemy, Speechcraft

[OblivionDuruza]

Here's a pretty good guide of the Races of Skyrim, and one covering the armour, weapons, locales and beasts of Skyrim. Perhaps a link in the FAQ would be helpful?

[MasterRokon]

A question of mine is, is dual wielding considered one or two handed, cause in my head it could be one handed in the fact that you are using one handed weapons while on the other side it could be two handed because your using both hands.

[BootySweat]

A question of mine is, is dual wielding considered one or two handed, cause in my head it could be one handed in the fact that you are using one handed weapons while on the other side it could be two handed because your using both hands.

one-handed

[lou9x9]

there have been some leaked pictures of werewolves. this maybe be a hoax. there has been some argument on the art work used for the picture. it doesn't really look like todd howard would've issued it. it's a little to cartoony.
this one i know for a fact but there's a group of wizards at the top of the highest mountain in skyrim who are masters of the voice and speak the language of the dragon. this makes it so they don't speak very often. these guys are called the grey beards. cool dude in my opinion.

[lou9x9]

A question of mine is, is dual wielding considered one or two handed, cause in my head it could be one handed in the fact that you are using one handed weapons while on the other side it could be two handed because your using both hands.

one-handed

is it? because i've seen a few arguments on this. i think it might just be it's own class of being dual wielded. but i guess you wouldn't find that on a weapons description so maybe not.

[Wolfie]

Its been shown as one wepeon in one hand and another in the other


same with spells you can assing a spell or wepoen to the left hand and another to the right hand provide it takes up only one hand

[lou9x9]

Its been shown as one wepeon in one hand and another in the other


same with spells you can assing a spell or wepoen to the left hand and another to the right hand provide it takes up only one hand

it's a skill set though correct? duel wielding. i'm totally blanking here.

[Morrovion]

Its been shown as one wepeon in one hand and another in the other


same with spells you can assing a spell or wepoen to the left hand and another to the right hand provide it takes up only one hand

it's a skill set though correct? duel wielding. i'm totally blanking here.

Please check the wiki before posting. All 18 skills are confirmed there.

To answer your question, there is two handed, and then there's one handed.

Dualwielding falls under one handed as your are using 2 one handed weapons for double the damage, but trading that for no blocking, thus its appeal.

[the Savage Hippie]

I have a quick question that doesn't need to be debated and therefore won't need a separate thread.

We know that Skyrim will have a 3d Map I figure that's the all Skyrim map, but does anyone have any ideas on how Skyrim will handle local maps? Will they be in 3d?

If this already has been discussed and such - my apologies.

[nemanjanv7]

I think I've heard in one of the videos (can't remember which one, so sorry can't back up my answer) that local map will be very similar to the Oblivion LM, just in color. Although I'm not 100% certain it's true, yet.

[Overwatch]

the local map will be black and white i think, otherwise similar to oblivion -> not a 3D map

[scribbane]

Here's a pretty good guide of the Races of Skyrim, and one covering the armour, weapons, locales and beasts of Skyrim. Perhaps a link in the FAQ would be helpful?

Can those threads, if they haven't already, be copied here? It's a private forum, so anyone not registered there can't see the links.