When I was playing Fallout 3, it was alot easier to know why bandits controlled buildings/supermarkets and the like, because they were trying to suvive in the oppressive environment. However Skyrim is alot richer and hasn't been damaged by radiation, and so I need a reason as to why bandits take refuge in caves/forts and strongholds.

Thanks guys1

I suppose shelter, easily concealed bases of operations, fortifications to run their dirty deeds are not the logical answers?
People need places to live, and as long as it's not in the Holds they don't have to worry about the guards, and fortifications make it harder for the Hold Guards to make an attack.

A place to hold down their attacks.

- need a place to live as a group (family)
- if it is close to a hold you can RP they are planning to take over the hold and over throw it and you are the hold savior when clearing it out
- weapons dealers planning to move a shipment


just use your imagination man the sky is the limit when it comes to thing



But i do agree with you in fallout it is way easier to go bad or good and choose your route in life and to make your choices easy to RP,

Bandits are murderers and thieves. Most of them are known criminals with bounties who would be quickly apprehended or cut down if they tried to enter a city or township. They're always looking for poor travelers to rob and kill, and the various caves and abandoned forts make for great places to stash their loot and light a fire for the evening. Some may even consider hunkering down and trying to make it a permanent base of operations.

They can't live in the cities. They're wanted men. They pick places that are removed from the law, but close enough that they can get to the roads or poorly guarded villages for their raids.

Smaller and weaker gangs are based in caves most likely because that's the best territory they could carve for themselves. Larger gangs take fortresses because they're fortresses. They provide better defense. I think it's kind of a mix of reasons for bandits taking over Nord ruins though. Some might be grave robbing, but others might be taking advantage of superstitious Nords being unlikely to want to dive into what could very well be a Draugr pit, and others might just be desperate enough to flee into a Draugr pit because they don't have any other options.

Aliens.