I've always been troubled by the lack of liveliness in this game. In every bar, most people just shove their faces into their tankard and talk to themselves .

The closest thing to a PARTY was in a Thalmor Embassy. THALMOR. EMBASSY. How absurd is that two words!? And most parties I have to make for myself (strip people off clothes and weapons then cast Frenzy ; but the smart ones usually run to grab an axe, party pooper... )

Anyway, giving that the direction Skyrim has been going recently (And I'm not complaining)... It wouldn't be too far fetched to wish for a tavern overhaul? Or an option to run a business (including a tavern), or a house party (honestly I've expected an option to invite people into your houses in Hearthfire)

Or a Return To Shivering Isle DLC that affect the entire game to make everyone in a vicinity to go mad and get down to some form of medieval dubstep? That and an overhaul of the Illusion spell system (I've been seriously enjoying this school so far; despite the lack of variety)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPllpzxmM5k#t=2m19s

YES! Simply bring up Sheogorath, things like that should totally be lore-friendly.

i would love an illusion spell that makes people do whatever emote you want them to, that alone would make magic amazing again

you bring up an interesting point there arent really any celebrations in the game and when the thalmor are more fun loving and lively than you somethings wrong.

After putting up with being chased by Bears,Wolves and Sabre Cats,surly guards that would rather be doing anything but patrolling some dirt street in a 4 building town,women who wear war paint and will bash your head in for saying the slightest wrong thing....who's in a mood to party,I just wanna sit there and sip my mead in quiet comfort.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpaSSqtBn68&feature=related#t=0m35s

That's what I call a party

Life in Skyrim is pretty boring (look at Whiterun, or Solitude); most people just run errand, shop, work a smith... How would dunking your head in mead, BY YOURSELF, relieve stress?

Even the more violent side of society can still party: A bunch of fearless stormcloak soldiers get drunk and sing arms to arms while walking back to the barracks in Windhelm. Even Bandits can still have fun around the campfire while dividing their loots. Or cave-dwelling necromancers can still have a good time setting people on fire while their mind-controlled bard tune up Ragnar the Red.

...Still better than mindless drones endlessly patrolling their designated area. Come on Bethesda, BRING LIFE INTO SKYRIM!!!!!

i've seen a lonely thalmor soldier having a one-man party, out in the ratway warrens, thalmor in the tunnel just dancing. if i had a capture device for my xbox i would post the vid. i bring up the save that is right before that thalmor if i'm ever feeling blue about skyrim

And it seems like a lot of Daedric Princes (Sanguines, SHEOGORATH, Vile, Hircine) wanted nothing but a good time!

sanguine might be the best for parties instead of the madgod

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTRHnZCOSmg#t=0m5s

Agreed. Hell, I think Darth Bane and even Emperor Palpatine. Are more fun loving and lively than the people of Skyrim.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUXlCH1stNc

So for those of us not fast travelling everywhere we go there are random Nords just partying in the middle of nowhere giving away Honningbrew Mead.

You've never tasted finer mead in your life and it's unlikely you'll taste it in your fast travels

Azrael
The Nord with the Sword

I met them. I try to gave them a blackbriar mead and they basically said go screw yourself

So I stripped their clothes and cast Frenzy...

So you came accross a party... and killed everyone involved... and now you're surprised that whenever you get within 100 feet of a party in "Skyrim" all the NPCs quickly scramble to hide the decorations and everyone in the Inn puts on a stern face as they sip their mead?

I'm sorry buddy but you've only yourself to blame

Az

I didn't kill anyone, I just cast Frenzy on them and watch as they punch each other to half health then just be friendly to each other again

And to confirm your "Off-screen party theory"... I did sneak into taverns; same old boring places as they usually are

*reads title*

Of course there are no parties, it's not a party based RPG.

One thing I'd love to see, is a Beach party South of Elsweyr at Topal bay

Oh yeah. Skooma and some fine puss in heels