Don't get me wrong: From a purely gameplay-oriented standpoint, this DB is much better than the one in Oblivion. There are multiple pieces of shrouded armor, so you can pick and choose which enchantments you want, and when you're finished with the questline, you can continue to kill people as part of the Brotherhood, a HUGE improvement over the Oblivion DB, and probably my biggest gripe about the Oblivion DB.

But the atmosphere is all wrong! With the assassins of the Cheydinhal Sanctuary, I actually felt a connection to them. They actually felt like family. Those in Falkreath just feel like co-workers or business partners. I never engaged in dialogue with most of them except for when they were essential to the Emperor Assassination plot, and I don't recall ever actually speaking to Vazeera.

When I had to kill the Cheydinhal assassins, it really hurt me. There are a bunch of PC mods that revolve around saving their hides. When the Falkreath Sanctuary was burned to the ground, and only Nazir and Babette survived, I didn't really feel any loss of the others.

Lucien Lachance, being the Speaker for the Dark Brotherhood and the first member of the faction that I actually met, made it fun to be a cold-blooded killer. He made me want to join the Dark Brotherhood. The only reason I spared Cicero's life in Skyrim is because he told me that "our dread father does not wish this." His devotion and loyalty to Sithis - even in death - reminded me of the fun I had with Oblivion's Dark Brotherhood.

In Cheydinhal, I still chose to wear the Shrouded Armor and Shrouded Hood on my assassination missions, even though their armor rating and enchantments were sub-par, because I felt like this was an actual family that I was a part of. Here, I only wear the shrouded gloves, and I only wear it, not because I love the faction, but for their backstabbing bonus.

Now, the Thieves Guild in Skyrim... I actually feel a connection to! In Oblivion, the Thieves Guild only served as a means of selling my stolen items. Of course, that need can be eliminated with a skill perk, but I still choose to join the Guild, not simply for the services rendered, but because these guys feel like family to me, like they'll actually watch my back. In Cyrodiil, there was no actual sense of companionship.

I really hope that the Sixth game in the series manages to bring back the feel of Deark BROTHERhood that was in Oblivion. Keep the gameplay improvements, oh sure, but I also want to feel like I belong.

Well, I think that was the message Bethesda was trying to get out. The Skyrim Dark Brotherhood is no longer what it used to be. After all, what is a family without its mother?

I agree, but not for the same reasons.

Imagine my surprise. I join the DB, and get my first contract, which was a nice considering I was on my way to Riften and it's actually on the way. I take care of business, sleep for the night, and arrive at Riften about 10am. I dismount, and head to the gate, when I hear "Psst. I know who you are. Hail Sithis!"

Yeah. How the hell does this guard know I'm in the DB, especially since I have no tell-tale signs, such as the armor the guild gave me (I stored it at Whiterun). No special marks or messages. Just verbal instructions to take out my first contract, and that was between Nazir and myself.

This could only mean one thing, and it ruined the story. Still, I did enjoy playing in the DB. When I installed Dawnguard, I was actually considering playing a game of who can kill more: me or the vamps.

Actually I think the character cared about the Dark Brotherhood members too much. I HATED the dialogues. I'm a cold-blooded assassin. My character shouldn't care for anyone but herself. There shouldn't be pity for anyone. So they died. Yeah boo-hoo whatever. I shouldn't care. I'm a psychopath. Or at least I SHOULD be.

I grew attached to the assassins in Skyrim. Cicero alone trumps everyone in Oblivion DB. Oblivions DB did have a better atmosphere though. Their characters I think were more interesting.