What Would You Change About Skyrim's Main Quest?

[philfredobob]

what did you think of skyrims main quest ? was it good or bad or somewhere in the middle ?

but more importantly ... if you could change skyrims main quest, would you? and what would you change ?
would you completely rewrite the whole thing, with different events and characters?
would you keep the characters ingame and simply change the events ? or do the opposite and change characters and keep events ?
or would you do something completely different ?

i will post my own ideas later, as they are quite numerous, i plan on rewriting almost the entire thing, and posting it here for folks to judge

so please!! share your thoughts on this matter !

[CBR JGWRR]

Make the end a bit less of an anti-climax, otherwise not much.

[SithisIsMyCopilot]

I would've cribbed from FONVs story structure, and made it possible to finish the game in multiple ways, as well as making the seperate factions and questlines more interconnected.

As for the second main storyline, the civil war,I would've made the two sides far less mirror images of each other.

[tatortodd22]

I would've cribbed from FONVs story structure, and made it possible to finish the game in multiple ways, as well as making the seperate factions and questlines more interconnected.

As for the second main storyline, the civil war,I would've made the two sides far less mirror images of each other.

Yeah, it's mostly as if you're picking aesthetic as opposed to picking the cause. Both come off as jerks to begin with, and only devout fans and lore junkies understand the inner workings of the politics of the conflict.

Otherwise, its just two equally sized, equally [&@%!], and equally prejudiced armies bickering over land.

[Alarra]

Make the end a bit less of an anti-climax, otherwise not much.

This for me as well. The final battle was pretty easy considering you've got the three others with you; I think Alduin should have gotten considerably stronger what with the souls he's been munching on. After fighting a million Draugr Deathlords on the way, the final battle wasn't much.

[Travalanche]

Idk, I think it was a decent main quest really. There could have been a bit more development with the main quest NPC's I guess? I mean nothing really stood out in the main quest but it wasn't terrible either, it just could have used a little more meat to it or something you know? I hardly even remember my fight vs Alduin because it was so easy and I was on normal difficulty at level 25 at the time with like badly crafted Glass armor so I wasn't OP or anything, I'm not even that great of a gamer, maybe a 6/10.

What was a bigger issue for me then the main story was the Radiant quests and Dragons killing half of the population of the towns on my game file and making the game kind of empty and have no ambiance unlike when I started. Not to mention the high level dragon attack inside Whiterun while I was heading to sell stuff to Belethor, that was some fakked up stuff right there and there were bodies all over the place!

Sorry about getting off topic ^. I just think that the main story could have been a bit more fleshed out and it was rather short in all honesty, I beat it in the first 2 days after release and was exploring most of the time so that's saying something. Then again I have no life unlike most people so my opinion might be different lol.

[urthdigger]

Probably the biggest thing I'd change would be to make it so starting the main quest isn't a death wish for any NPCs that spend time outdoors.

[philfredobob]

still thinking of the perfect story for me

but here is one thing i hated and wish i could change:

The fact that i fight Alduin twice, and that both times i have Help, AND that in the final battle, despite having ''devoured the souls of Nord dead'' he was no tougher in Sovngarde than he was the first time !!

i would have made one final Climactic battle, just me and him ... and i would have made Alduins fight incredibly difficult

also, i never felt threatened by alduin as i never really witnessed any examples of his supposed power ... I would have made alduin do more things in Skyrim before the actual fight, like wiping out entire Armies alone with one shout

[Vahrukiv]

i thought the MQ was perfect, very epic and very rewarding... which i consider killing Alduin as the climax, so at that moment i was satisfied immensely. And the places you go during the MQ were also spot on.

I am a fan.

[Jo'than]

I enjoyed the Main Quest and feel that it was well-conceived, varied, and of a satisfying length.

The one thing I would change is the forced choice between the Blades and Paarthurnax. I would have preferred a third path that could resolve that unhappy situation.

Anyway... If Serana can hang out at Fort Dawnguard, why can't Paarthy hang out at Sky Haven Temple? Or at least visit?

[Zuzu]

I would've cribbed from FONVs story structure, and made it possible to finish the game in multiple ways, as well as making the seperate factions and questlines more interconnected.

As for the second main storyline, the civil war,I would've made the two sides far less mirror images of each other.

These are my feelings.

The only choice I can even remember in the Dragonborn quest line is the one with Paarthurnax, which isn't even a choice! You can't side with him, you can just not kill him for now and let the quest stew in your inventory. That's not choice; that's Bethesda holding your journal hostage.

[p-sto]

I think Alduin could have seemed more imposing if you interacted with him more. He seems rather flat as a main villain. I suppose it could be said the whole Paarthurnax thing was included to make the player feel more sympathetic towards dragons and give the story more depth but even Paarthurnax's musings on his brother don't do much to evoke any feeling around Alduin.

[Dirty Spaceman]

I would've cribbed from FONVs story structure, and made it possible to finish the game in multiple ways, as well as making the seperate factions and questlines more interconnected.

As for the second main storyline, the civil war,I would've made the two sides far less mirror images of each other.

These are my feelings.

The only choice I can even remember in the Dragonborn quest line is the one with Paarthurnax, which isn't even a choice! You can't side with him, you can just not kill him for now and let the quest stew in your inventory. That's not choice; that's Bethesda holding your journal hostage.

And you don't even need to make that choice if you avoid getting the quest, making the MQ entirely linear. So yeah, I definitely would have liked alternate outcomes like in Daggerfall. The only problem is, then Bethesda would have to do some Dragon Break or other lore retcon to explain it away for the next game.

[DikaSmausha]

I am seriously getting tired of these threads with people wanting something to be better. The main quest is fine how it is. Just like everything else.

[SithisIsMyCopilot]

I am seriously getting tired of these threads with people wanting something to be better. The main quest is fine how it is. Just like everything else.

Man, I'm sure glad that I don't have people forcing me to read threads about things I don't care about.

Edit: anyhow, back on topic, when I said I wish Skyrim was more like NV. What I meant was that I'd like to have multiple ways to finish quests, be able to make more actual choices, and for the quests and the world to feel much more interconnected.


For instance, compare these two quests, selected for their similar themes:

Beyond the Beef (NV)

The Taste of Death (Skyrim)

Look how many variations there are in how to complete the New Vegas quest, from wiping out the cannibals to feeding your own follower to them.

Also, I think there should be lasting repercussions from quests: for instance, there's now way I should be allowed to start or complete the Imperials side in the civil war after

Spoiler:

murdering the Emperor.

Also, I wish the Good vs Evil choices were more varied and nuanced than "press Square to save the puppies, or press Triangle to set them on fire."

I found that New Vegas supported RP to a much greater degree because I could usually finish quests in a way that supported my characterization.

I'd also like to have less followers, but each one actually be unique.

Finally, on a gameplay related note, I really, really wish Beth would borrow the Skill/Perk based dialogue choice idea from fallout into the Elder Scrolls series.

[philfredobob]

I am seriously getting tired of these threads with people wanting something to be better. The main quest is fine how it is. Just like everything else.

i disagree entirely, i thought Skyrims main quest was very lackluster, i was expecting so much more and instead got this short little questline, with a Villain who has no personality and an Anti-climactic ending
these threads are bound to happen, i personally like to discuss what could have been

i dont want multiple endings or anything, i just want one well made ending

[Mod-Loving Wood Elf]

While I don't agree with DikaSmausha's claim that everything in Skyrim is fine, I do agree that we have way too many threads where we just whine about stuff.

But to contribute to the topic, I do admit that I wish there could have been some branches in the Main Quest.... But then again, that's not what the Main Quest is really about.

[philfredobob]

While I don't agree with DikaSmausha's claim that everything in Skyrim is fine, I do agree that we have way too many threads where we just whine about stuff.

But to contribute to the topic, I do admit that I wish there could have been some branches in the Main Quest.... But then again, that's not what the Main Quest is really about.

Whining is just another word for Criticism , and Critcism can be constructive

what im saying is, maybe if we give what we want, someday bethesda will listen, and even if that doesnt happen, we can read each others Ideas and discuss them

[SithisIsMyCopilot]

Upon reflection, I think I realize one of the hang ups Bethesda has about choice: if they gave you more choices, they might actually have to say that some choices aren't canon when the next game comes out. Fallout traditionally has done this, but TES won't.

[DikaSmausha]

Yeah that is what I mean though, I know Skyrim is not perfect, but we can't do anything about it. So we don't need to whine over every single thing.

[Br3admax]

You have to admit though Dika, wouldn't it be pretty sweet if Dragons attacked cities more as part of the main quest. You know, Go to Riften, have some type of second Dragon War, something. Not fight this, get that, boom.

[Pilaf The Defiler]

Spoiler:

After you defeat Alduin's dragon form in Sovngarde, you latch onto his soul and follow it into Aetherius, when you finally see him as the Eldritch Abomination he is... untold thousands of miles of writhing scales and tentacles. You enter his belly and destroy eight of his hearts with Keening, and then grab ahold of his soul and punch it into smithereens the way Kratos did to Zeus. Then everything explodes and fades to white, and you wake up on the Throat of the World, naked and bloody. Tiber Septim stands before you and bestows the title of Stormcrown.

[Br3admax]

Spoiler:

After you defeat Alduin's dragon form in Sovngarde, you latch onto his soul and follow it into Aetherius, when you finally see him as the Eldritch Abomination he is... untold thousands of miles of writhing scales and tentacles. You enter his belly and destroy eight of his hearts with Keening, and then grab ahold of his soul and punch it into smithereens the way Kratos did to Zeus. Then everything explodes and fades to white, and you wake up on the Throat of the World, naked and bloody. Tiber Septim stands before you and bestows the title of Stormcrown.

Now where have I see that before....

[CreeperX]

Things I would have liked:

- Alduin not being a complete pushover during the last battle. It all felt like a cakewalk since my mage had had more trouble with some regular enemies than this. The scenery and everything else was brilliant but the battle itself just didn't give a sense of accomplishment.

- More emotional impact. Though this is pretty much the problem with all of Skyrim. All the choices are mostly illusion since your actions don't really have impact on anything and your interaction with the NPCs is rather shallow as well. I honestly didn't really give a damn about a single character during the MQ. Well, excluding Paarthurnax since he was pretty much the only character who made me really think. I have played several other games where I have grown attached to the characters and really thought about my actions. That sort of emotional impact would be very welcome since it would make the MQ more immersive.

[Dohva.]

I liked the main quest but I wish Alduin would have been more wicked. He had a fragment of a role in it, was my opinion. Battling him wasn't even that hard which was disappointing. Pluuuusss....I would have liked more training sessions with Paarthunax. The more time with him, the better.

Ps: I agree with you, Creeper. There really was nothing holding me emotionally during the I would have enjoyed it a lot more had there been more culpability for my characters somehow.