Just curious; how long do dragon bones last?

[Pandamatak]

So I just killed a dragon in the middle of Riverwood and it sort of ruins the game for me when I see people just walking through its bones, so should I just restart from a previous save or leave it there.

Also another random question: What are dragon bones and dragon scales used for? If it involves even the slightest spoiler, don't tell me.

[BabyKiller209]

I'm pretty sure the skeleton lies there indefinitely. As for the bones and scales its for Dragon Armor, which you can make if you rank all the way up at Smithing and unlock the perk

[Musicman247]

I've read that it takes 30 in-game days for things in an area to reset (plants to regrow, etc.). There is a patch out for the PC to change it to 1 or 2 days. I think.

[Pandamatak]

I'm pretty sure the skeleton lies there indefinitely. As for the bones and scales its for Dragon Armor, which you can make if you rank all the way up at Smithing and unlock the perk

After your advice, this is my fourth time restarting the dragon fight to get it to die somewhere else.

[Talamare]

I'm pretty sure the skeleton lies there indefinitely. As for the bones and scales its for Dragon Armor, which you can make if you rank all the way up at Smithing and unlock the perk

So the stuff are useless if you dont bother with wasting perks on smithing?

[conquistador]

I'm pretty sure the skeleton lies there indefinitely. As for the bones and scales its for Dragon Armor, which you can make if you rank all the way up at Smithing and unlock the perk

So the stuff are useless if you dont bother with wasting perks on smithing?

They fetch a fair bit of coin, and the armor advancements are enough incentive to smith, unless you're content with your regular stuff. Or, I suppose, intend to find better armor throughout the land.

[BabyKiller209]

I mostly sell them for coin as conquistador stated. And now that i think about it I also killed a dragon in the middle of Riverwood. The bones are gone. So I guess they do disappear eventually, but it might take a long time.

[Cornerman]

I killed a dragon just outside Whiterun (near the waterfall from Riverwood). I picked up the bones and scales and got overencumbered, so I dropped a few heavy items in the dragon. I went to my house in Riverwood, put a lot of items in a chest and wanted to pick up my items, which I left in the dragon.....

When I came back to the location of the dragon, it was gone! This was within a quarter of an hour after I killed it, so sometimes they do disappear.

[conquistador]

Yeah I have noticed some disappear. I don't think I've gone back to a couple of the locations, or at least haven't thought to look. I should go back to the Lost Tongue Overlook and see if the two dragons I destroyed after visiting the wall are still there. Still can't believe taking out two dragons in one sitting didn't net me a level up.

I want to say I've noticed a half decayed pile from a dragon I killed shortly before ... but I may be mistaken. All this play time is coming through the night .... >_>

[Talamare]

I'm pretty sure the skeleton lies there indefinitely. As for the bones and scales its for Dragon Armor, which you can make if you rank all the way up at Smithing and unlock the perk

So the stuff are useless if you dont bother with wasting perks on smithing?

They fetch a fair bit of coin, and the armor advancements are enough incentive to smith, unless you're content with your regular stuff. Or, I suppose, intend to find better armor throughout the land.

Playing a True Mage, so no armor and no weapons

but yea ill be selling my bones now <3