» Wed Jan 30, 2013 4:57 pm So as many of you know, Skyrim has a pretty interesting beginning in this edition to TES. From the very start we are hooked into the story line. The first time I experienced the start, I was already planning my escape route, watching for any possible quick exit and any easy weapons to grab to aid me to freedom. Well as most of us know, freedom does not come so easily.
I want to clearly say up front that I *DO NOT* want to change the intro. Nor really change really anything. What I'd like to do is enhance the beginning of the game for players who have completed the game (main story line/CW line/etc) and make it a bit more interesting.
You see after the 3rd character I feel like I am doomed to wander the same direction, wearing one of four (possibly more, four is all i could think of) outfits: Imperial, Stormcloak, Mage, Rags. i feel as though I almost have to go to Riverwood to make some quick coin and hopefully either smith some armor, or buy something that is visually appealing. Yes i am aware you do not have to go to Riverwood, but when you know you can get some free dibs and quick cash it makes it rather hard to resist.
What I would like to do is to implement a feature that has already been seen in other games (or something similar); let players start with a handful of items of their choice. (If you haven't guessed already, this is for xbox/ps3/non-modding pc users)
Before anyone cries out "but that will make the game too easy, why should a level 1 get dragonbone armor/daedric armor from the start", I would like to point out that the Imperials captured the player crossing the border. So obviously it would make sense that the person had some sort of armor/clothes, weapons/magic, some gold, food/wine, and potions... not to mention other misc items. Many of you may be against someone having daedric armor from the start, but who is to say no (it's your game, your character, your story to tell).
Not to mention that people are not leveled. If you are really trying to RPG, wouldn't it make sense for you character to already have items that you work all game to get? Wouldn't a mage have a few spell books/staves/scrolls on them when they were caught? Along with mage clothing? Same with a swordsman. A bowman. Most people who would be crossing the border would have had items on them. Not many people run around in rags... unless you're screaming nonsense like WABBAJACK!!! WABBAJACK!!! WABBAJACK!!!
I believe that a list of selected items should be available for you in one of those "confiscated items" chests like the jails have. Would Helgen not have somewhere to keep the items taken from their prisoners? Granted at this point an few NPCs would have to quickly move the items confiscated into Helgen rather fast. This doesn't need to be shown, as it would just be assumed that some of the guards were actually doing their job in removing the goods from the carts and bringing them inside for 'processing'.
What would be available to players in the beginning? I believe you should be able to pick from a certain level of items. Nothing too powerful. Or the best in the game. You decide, because it's your game.
The whole purpose is for those who like me, have to wait nearly 20ish levels and hours (some people have to wait longer, or 'grind' smithing to get their look) of looking to finally get the appearance you want for you character. The purpose is to give that person who always wear X clothing/armor to get it from the start. I am tired of running around in the same 4 starter choices and equipping random items that do not match until I have the funds or the level to get what I want.
All you're doing is saying "this is what my character was wearing/carrying when he was caught by the imperials". If you want to get the strongest items only, then do so. If you want to just get a specific dagger and boots, that's fine. It's an RPG and it only makes sense to me that you can get items you want earlier in the game. If someone wants to spoil their game by starting out with daedric armor/weapons then fine.
Summary: Give players the chance to get the items they want in the beginning of the game, not later on. Start out with the items your character was "crossing the border" with before they were caught.
The only limits I would say would be a gold cap, max number of items, and restrict certain items. No daedric artifacts/rare/unique items. (Yes it is kind of contradictory, but these rare things would probably mess up the game and wouldn't really make sense to be in your possession.)
Example of items in the "starter chest"(all items would have their standard enchantments, no items custom enchanted):
Head: Novice hood
Body: steel plate armor
feet: steel cuffed boots
hands: gloves/ring (unenchanted)
weapon 1: blade sword
weapon 2: steel dagger
gold: 250 (max)
spells: lesser ward/frostbite/sparks(3 max)
Scrolls: Blizzard (x2)
Ingredients: Wheat/Blisterwort (x3) (10 max)
Food: Bread/Wine/Carrot/Potato/Apple/Sweet Roll (10 Max)
Books: The Lusty Argonian Maid
Potions: Healing Potion (x3), Magika (x3), Stamina (x3) (10 Max)
Misc: Saphire (x2), Tankard, wolf pelt, leather
I basically just put in random items just for an example. You would have a maximum total number of items, and a maximum per category. Which means you cannot have the max in each category. Maybe 20-30 items max.
I know it is a lot to read, but I think something like this could greatly change how the start of the game is played and let players chose a different route than the traditional Riverwood way.
