One of the more immersive activities I enjoy doing in games is simply going into the local bar, tavern, or inn and just blending in.

I feel like some of the taverns, and more specifically the Inns in Skyrim are pretty barren when it comes to people.

Even the Bannered Mare in Whiterun only has maybe four or five people in it, I'd like to see at least ten.

Such Inns like the one in Riverwood, Falkreath, and Winterhold are enormous buildings! I speak of the ones with the fire pit running up the middle, rooms branching off. There are seldom more than five NPCs in these buildings.

It would be nice if a mod could be made to make the Taverns/Inns feel more crowded and bustling at night.

I've noticed that there seems to be a decrease in the reliance of NPCs on the "schedule" system that was present in Oblivion. Very few NPC's make trips to other cities, visit bars/taverns, or even seem to venture out of their own houses with any semblance of regularity. Perhaps more frequent visits to the local pub could aid with immersion.

Agreed. The Witcher does a great job of makingTaverns seem lively.

Which tavern should have a rowdy band? with people being tossed over tables all over the place.

I think perhaps the one in Solitude, it's probably the best example of a crowded tavern in Skyrim and could still use a bit more people.

Some sort of background pvssyr sound effects would help too.

There are already background pvssyr sounds, although they're not always there, and quiet enough to go unnoticed beneath the music.

Cipscis

I have been thinking of doing tavern overhauls for Skyrim for a while now as I have non copywrite music and background pvssyr effects from my Oblivion town mod taverns. I really enjoyed making my taverns with dancers, music, background noise and real atmosphere. You should be able to sit down with a drink and hear tales of adventures, local gossip and general life stories etc. If anyone is interested here is a video of one of my taverns in Oblivion. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d0olrn_CN0

Of course I am not sure what the new CS is going to be like or how exactly the new rental scripts work and dialog works but if it is anything like Oblivion then we will be onboard with the whole thing quickly. Right now I don't particularily like the taverns in Skyrim as they are like walking into a library, all quiet and echoey. That said, is it realistic to expect a tavern way out in the wilderness to be filled with people all day? Personally it doesn't bother me but may bother some people.

What really bothers me is that so far all the taverns have one of two interior building meshes and that makes for the same boring look in each one. I think I will use other houses with their interiors to make unique taverns. There are already musical instruments and animations for musicians, and I am pretty sure there is dancing too.

I cannot wait to get my hands on the dialog system for Skyrim. A tavern must have tons of unique dialog.

Yes, I think I will make this my first project...Unique Taverns.

Solid.

I mean, it really wouldn't be too hard to make a tavern feel immersive. Just watched the first LOTR for reference, the Prancing Pony is how a tavern should be. Rowdy customers, place is packed, seedy types lingering in the corners. I personally think the ambiance (save for some smokeyness in the interiors) is there in Skyrim, just not the people.

What Morrowind mod was it.. Made cities a lot more populated.. Can't remember, but it added hundreds of new NPCs, all with schedules.. Nothing like it has ever been done again.. With the Radiant AI system this may be even easier..

The schedule thing would be key.

I remember the mod you're talking about but the name escapes me right now. It was a great mod though, one of my favorite mods of all time.

You are thinking of either Morrowind Come Alive or the LGNPC project.

I'm all for this, beth makes amazing games but when it comes to city and tavern liveliness, they're pretty [censored].

Both excellent mods, LGNPC mostly added lore-correct dialogue and quests to NPCs that were already in the game but didn't have any particular role and increased some faction questlines (esp. House Redoran) making them much more in-depth, and Morrowind Comes Alive added a whole load of NPCs (including drunks and courtesans in and around taverns, traders, pilgrims, bandits out in the wilderness etc) - so I think it's probably MCA that you're thinking of in respect of this particular issue.

I don't play Morrowind without either, they both add a lot to the game and make it seem much more lively.

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1293973-wip-unique-taverns/.