How could/should Bethesda add longevity to the next ES game? The obvious answer is adding online multiplayer, but I don't want to discuss that here. There are other threads discussing online multiplayer and I would prefer to leave it out of this thread as the topic usually leads to arguments/bickering/heated discussions etc. So leave it out please. Thanks.

With that said, what other ways are left open for Bethesda to go beyond the 'normal' playing experience? By that I mean, obviously, we expect the main questlines, factions, exciting characters, awesome 'creatures, immersive stories/quests etc, as standard. The Elder Scrolls VI, basically.

But after you have did all that, spent 100 or 200+ hours playing and got your moneys worth, is there anything Bethesda could add, a feature, to keep you playing hundreds of hours more?

Bethesda are always looking to add stuff. With Skyrim they added things like Woodcutting, Mining, Werewolf, Shouts etc (All of which I like)

For the next ES I would like to see, and expect, more. I think Bethesda should look to other games. Take Archery on the Wii Sports for example. Why not make it your character can earn some extra coin by entering archery competitions in cities? The people of Skyrim must be bored it always strikes me. No Arena? No sporting contests or competitions?

Why not add a good card game? One with D&D type gameplay. Could the npc's not get excited over locally held horse racing events? Run around a racetrack a la mario kart (only on horses) throwing juniper berries at fellow racers and trying to finish 1st to earn coin?

What about instead of me just buying a house, I build it myself? I collect my own wood or stone. I buy a plot of land. I can choose a menu to go in to a sort of 'The Sims' GUI interface. Finish the design. Back into ES World.

The last idea. Shops. Instead of just 'I would like to invest 500 coins'. How about I actually buy the shop, can choose opening/closing times, can put items from my personal inventory into a shop inventory. Can choose where to display them in the shop. Can set my own prices, get 10-20 randomly generated npc shopers/buyers to visit my shop every day so that I can earn a bit of coin etc

Now all this may seem a bit far fetched. But if anyone can, then Bethesda can! If you dont dream or imagine then it wont come true. I remember very vividly, 1990's, playing zelda alttp on the SNES and I would fantasize 'What if you could really get into Hyrule, you know, see the game through Link's own eyes. That would be amazing!' Look where we are now in 2011, my dreams are being realised.

Might and Magic had one game where you "reconstructed" a castle.... it was kind of a "gold sink". I never really appreciate that sort of thing....

Thing is.... I never have any issues with a bajillion hours of replay in SPMR games. Each toon is a new person in my mind, with a whole backstory and a new reason for adventure. So it's never old to me....

I have no issue pouring too much time into them, so I'm good.

It's just a game mate. It's not meant to be played 24/7 for the rest of your life. If you get tired of it get a new game. I still play Skyrim but I also play some MMOS and other games that I like. And once the CK comes out in January there will be tons of new stuff coming out from the modding community that will add new life to it. Eventually though, you will move on to something else. It's the cycle of life.

I am on the PS3 so"modding" does not do me any good. There aren't many good RPG's on the PS3 so it's not like Ican go play a different game (that I haven't completed 10 times already)

I know that some people, once they've completed most of Skyrim, are happy just to role out a new character and complete quests with a different play style. I would like to keep the same character and do lots of little extra roleplay stuff to keep me playing. I dont play Skyrim 24/7, more like 5/7.

Another idea, you could be a bard who plays at Inn's to earn extra coin. A Guitar Hero type feature where you have to press the corresponding buttons speeding towards you for your lute to play properly.

And for the card game I mentioned earlier, you could find cards scattered throughout the land which are extra good/powerful cards.

I was thinking of a business upgrade. Own yoyr own blacksmith and eventually build up to owning half a city and may be becoming the Jaals personal blacksmith..

I asked this same question a couple weeks ago on these forums. A lot of people suggested that I play dead is dead. I am very grateful for that because playing through with this play-style has led to hundreds of additional hours of entertainment in Skyrim. -thumbsup-

I haven't tried deaed is dead but I will try it sometime. I'll probably play on Novice though to stay alive longer lol

So far I have played as a mage (lvl 56), a warrior (lvl 53), a thief (lvl 45), and a Non-Combat Trader (lvl 21)

I am just starting a Librarian (Who will collect all da book) and will roleplay a Vampire too, at a later date.

Creating different characters is a great way to add 100's of hours, but I want more in the next ES game!

Am I being greedy saying I want my own shop? To build my own house? Archery competitions? Card games? Horse Races? Lute playing? Fishing competitions? Arena careers? Boat Races? Tug-o-War matches? Guard duty?

I know a lot of people probably think these boring ideas, but one persons least favourite aspect of a game will be someone elses favouriye.

Surely I am nnot the only person who likes to play as a Non-Combat character or roleplay as an NPC???