Daelon DuLac
How do you backstab a Dragon?
As I'm playing Oblivion, I wanted to share a few likes and dislikes that I've encountered thus far (remember, I'm only at level 2 so I'm not very far in, although I feel like I've done so much!):
Like: That random NPCs will come up to you and ask for your help, opening a new questline.
Dislike: Too many quests at once! Good gravy, I'm only at level 2 and I already have a dozen different questlines going on that I need to get to! I'm trying hard to do the main questline and every time I turn around somebody else is coming up and asking me to help them do something.
Like: You don't need to choose your improvements, they happen automatically. Example: I do a LOT of sneaking (I just hate getting hit) and now I've improved enough that my boots in no way hinder me.
Dislike: You don't get to choose your improvements. You get to chose points to up for your stats, but, frankly, I have no idea how or what these stats actually affect. Sheesh
Like: You can join the mage guild so easily and you don't have to prove anything.
Dislike: That all you have to do is a favor for somebody at the local guild so that you can get a recommendation? The guild apparently doesn't do anything but sell spells? You have to join the university.
Like: That you can actually see the tumblers when you're attempting to pick a lock
Dislike: That you can actually see the tumblers when you're attempting to pick a lock as they move but have no clue when you can actually set the tumbler to open. Apparently it's all about timing. I just can't imagine that you would be able to sit there for 20 minutes messing with a lock without somebody seeing you.
Like: That you can take useful things from barrels and crates.
Dislike: That there is no indication that you're actually stealing from crates and barrels. It just says "take", not "steal"
Like: That there are so many useful items that you can find and that you can sell for a decent price.
Dislike: That there is even a "haggle" option. While I kind of know how it works now on the "persuade" side, it doesn't seem to serve a purpose other than being frustrating and allowing the NPCs to call you an idiot.
Like: That you're expected to figure out how to make it through a quest yourself and not be babied through with step by step instructions. Example: Initial TG, just before you're allowed to join. It's straight forward enough that you have to steal the journal but they don't tell you where it is, only that you should speak with some people for info. Then you don't even get it and have to steal it again, but they don't tell you how or where it is, even though you know who has it. I had to keep reloading because I kept getting caught trying to pick-pocket it off the person who stole it. I figured it out though!
Dislike: That they don't tell you anything and give you random times that even they don't adhere to. Example: Again - "meet me at midnight at so and so place": 1) Such a place isn't even named anywhere, either on the map or when you get there and 2) I showed up at 4:30am and the meeting was still on? What, have y'all been waiting this whole time for me? I know I'm really late. I didn't expect you'd have stood around twiddling you thumbs this whole time. Honestly, you should have gone and gotten drinks.
Like: Random encounters on the road. Sure they're not as robust as Skyrim, but, hey, they're a good opportunity to get some loot and up my destruction skills.
Dislike: What's with all the bandits? Even when there's Legion riding the road, there's bandits poppinig out of the woodwork ALL the time and they do nothing! Well, that's not really true. They do nothing if the attack YOU. They do something if they attack them.
There are so many more re: caves, goblins, burned and abandoned buildings, NPCs saying and doing stuff that means nothing and on and on and on. BTW: what's with all the burned out buildings? Sheesh - do we have an arsonist wandering about?
On a side note: I love the Oblivion Gates! So far I've closed 2 (one at Kvatch and another on the way to the Imperial City up in the hills). It's a great diversion. Sure there ain't pl*** there to collect, but I really get a kick out of 'em and that fiery, lavaie (???), depressingingly corpse-filled realm.
Like: That random NPCs will come up to you and ask for your help, opening a new questline.
Dislike: Too many quests at once! Good gravy, I'm only at level 2 and I already have a dozen different questlines going on that I need to get to! I'm trying hard to do the main questline and every time I turn around somebody else is coming up and asking me to help them do something.
Like: You don't need to choose your improvements, they happen automatically. Example: I do a LOT of sneaking (I just hate getting hit) and now I've improved enough that my boots in no way hinder me.
Dislike: You don't get to choose your improvements. You get to chose points to up for your stats, but, frankly, I have no idea how or what these stats actually affect. Sheesh
Like: You can join the mage guild so easily and you don't have to prove anything.
Dislike: That all you have to do is a favor for somebody at the local guild so that you can get a recommendation? The guild apparently doesn't do anything but sell spells? You have to join the university.
Like: That you can actually see the tumblers when you're attempting to pick a lock
Dislike: That you can actually see the tumblers when you're attempting to pick a lock as they move but have no clue when you can actually set the tumbler to open. Apparently it's all about timing. I just can't imagine that you would be able to sit there for 20 minutes messing with a lock without somebody seeing you.
Like: That you can take useful things from barrels and crates.
Dislike: That there is no indication that you're actually stealing from crates and barrels. It just says "take", not "steal"
Like: That there are so many useful items that you can find and that you can sell for a decent price.
Dislike: That there is even a "haggle" option. While I kind of know how it works now on the "persuade" side, it doesn't seem to serve a purpose other than being frustrating and allowing the NPCs to call you an idiot.
Like: That you're expected to figure out how to make it through a quest yourself and not be babied through with step by step instructions. Example: Initial TG, just before you're allowed to join. It's straight forward enough that you have to steal the journal but they don't tell you where it is, only that you should speak with some people for info. Then you don't even get it and have to steal it again, but they don't tell you how or where it is, even though you know who has it. I had to keep reloading because I kept getting caught trying to pick-pocket it off the person who stole it. I figured it out though!
Dislike: That they don't tell you anything and give you random times that even they don't adhere to. Example: Again - "meet me at midnight at so and so place": 1) Such a place isn't even named anywhere, either on the map or when you get there and 2) I showed up at 4:30am and the meeting was still on? What, have y'all been waiting this whole time for me? I know I'm really late. I didn't expect you'd have stood around twiddling you thumbs this whole time. Honestly, you should have gone and gotten drinks.
Like: Random encounters on the road. Sure they're not as robust as Skyrim, but, hey, they're a good opportunity to get some loot and up my destruction skills.
Dislike: What's with all the bandits? Even when there's Legion riding the road, there's bandits poppinig out of the woodwork ALL the time and they do nothing! Well, that's not really true. They do nothing if the attack YOU. They do something if they attack them.
There are so many more re: caves, goblins, burned and abandoned buildings, NPCs saying and doing stuff that means nothing and on and on and on. BTW: what's with all the burned out buildings? Sheesh - do we have an arsonist wandering about?
On a side note: I love the Oblivion Gates! So far I've closed 2 (one at Kvatch and another on the way to the Imperial City up in the hills). It's a great diversion. Sure there ain't pl*** there to collect, but I really get a kick out of 'em and that fiery, lavaie (???), depressingingly corpse-filled realm.
