Hello Everybody !

Some while ago , I saw someone who wrote he's not using the OST while playing.
At first I thought that's stupid and lame , but then I tried it by myself !

You see , I actually get to hear the winds up on Solitude , I actually have to figure out someone's after me.
It adds tons of realism and I think even immersion.

What do you say ?

Have seen this being suggested tons of times, I have nothing against realism and immersion, I role play so it's always good for my character. But the soundtrack is just too good! I can't just turn it off!

I have to agree with you

With soundtrack : Too amazing.
Without soundtrack : Still too amazing.

I like the idea of not getting "cues" to help you out. But to truly do that completely, you should also couple it with disabling the HUD. No red dots to go by or dramatic music. I always become a vampire pretty early primarily for nightvision, though the boost to illusion spells' highest level is very useful (the stealth boost is unnecessary as I sneak within the limits of what you can do at any skill level). I've only played a khajiit once that didn't need vampirism to use it. But until that point and if not using it, I liked having to develope sharp, detail distinguishing sight using your own eyes to pick out things in the graphics. Excellent realism when hunting at night and some shots are only made by patiently awaiting a fleeing fox to top a rise and stand out on the horizon, as you might in real life scan the horizon for motion.

But I also kind of like the fight music in an intense battle, especially the version that plays within a dragon fight. I think I'd leave it off until combat started, then maybe switch it on during the fight, and possibly while wandering along on the plains or enjoying a beautiful view from a mountain top. That music can be so soothing. What they really ought to do is delay the music change until a creature growls or NPC yells and/or they actually attack you. Too often the combat music starts going before you have any reason to know an enemy is about to strike. Like with them fully out of sight. I might do it, but I doubt I could stick with it for the entire length of a playthrough. It's a good idea though. HUD off, no music, no nightvision. Real adventurers don't need no stinking hand holding.

Well I don't use compass , HUD , crosshair and now the Soundtrack.
Also I use the physical map.

I never have used the clairvoyance spell. I've used the map markers, but more often than not, even with the HUD on, I find myself sighting in the direction of a target desitnation, noting landmarks to reorient by and then just going. I can see obstacles like a mountain or river to cross, or a bridge not too far out of the way ahead to plan out my route. Feels much more like pathfinding and navigating to me.

I think I'm going to try this, my physical map is just posted up on my wall behind the TV so. Might just take it down and keep it in my chair.

Don't forget !
You can't look at it when it's raining !

Why not? I thought the maps were made out of hides?

I turned off the soundtrack for Oblivion, loved it. I've never thought to try it with Skyrim, I think I'm going to now. (Not HUD and all the other stuff yet, baby steps first )

Edit: Trying no HUD now...and I can say I'm not disappointed with how much it increases immersion.

If I could switch off the compass but keep the reticule, I'd do a playthrough like this. I do enjoy the score though, it's a brilliant bit of work on JS's part. If there's one thing that cannot be criticised about skyrim, it's the quality of the score

nice thanks for reminding me, I was thinking of doing a realistic equpipment character. I would have my sword, dagger, and bow. My shield has to be equipped or carried, and a change of clothes, a max of 15 potions, only dried ingredients, have to toss out raw meat(if I don't have any salt piles or frost salts) in two hours unless cooked,one set of armor(I prefer no helmet I like hoods better), physical map no HUD.
If you have any more ideas feel free to share.

not bad i mite try it later

I've been doing this for the last five hundred hours of play. It has VASTLY improved the game for me. Playing with music on feels like I'm walking around a fantasy setting listening to the most boring dozen-song playlist on someone's iPod, and it honestly breaks immersion for me. It really does. Without the music on, it feels like I'm travelling through a fantasy setting doing fantasy things. When it's quiet and serene, it's quiet and serene, not violins and a choir singing "Ah-ah-AH-AH-AH-AAAAHHHHhhhhh-AH-AH-ah-AH-AH-aaaahhhhhhhHHH" while I look at some mountains. when an enemy attacks, I hear their battlecries and the clash of weapons, or their roars, not "DUANSDUAVNAF F BAVFNSDVJVNV GENERIC VIDEOGAME BATTLE MUSIC." Even the dragon fights feel more personal, though occasionally I still turn the music back on when I'm hunting dragons with a certain dragon-hunting organisation, because the music does lend those fights an epic feel.

Basically, some people obviously like it, but for me Skyrim's music is too generic and repetitive, and trivialises a lot of the game's beauty for me.

I turned off the music on 11-11 and never looked back. I have played the OST, but not while playing the game. I installed SOS and that is all I need.

This thread pops up once about every few weeks. I guess it was time.