I'd love to play the game without the compass or the map, but the descriptions given by quest givers are pathetic. When they say "go to location A" they usually don't give you any idea of where location A actually is.

So I'm thinking my next character (xbox) will have no compass (also means no health/magicka/stamina) but can use the map to guide him. Or maybe I'll limit the map to when I'm given the quest, so I can look where the location is, then find my way there.

I never fast travel, I do use the carriage system though. With my next character I'll probably travel via horse everywhere instead, now horse combat has been introduced.

What do you people do? Not interested in people using mods for navigation.

I have found that playing without any HUD makes the game 10x better. It adds a new level of immersion that you can not find anymore. I only look at the map when I have to get to a quest point. Of course after playing with the HUD for a couple weeks actually makes you very good with knowing your way around.

This. Just look at the location on your map and try to find your way over too it. It'll make the game last longer too.

Morrowind was the last game in the series where you got instructions and didn't have a compass. I definitely miss that as do a lot of the old timers.

I use the "Immersive UI" mod since I am on PC which can remove the compass. Of course without instructions on how to get places, you are pretty much forced to use compass at times.

I really wish the journal had directions. Would work with Radiant Story as they could have a line for each location, and assign it to the journal entry when the location is assigned to the quest.

I turn it off, makes the game feel more immersive.

I've got the compass disabled and map markers as well. The game is way more fun without those crutches. Admittedly it helps quite a bit that I use a mod that displays the main roads on the map clearly and removes those annoying clouds.

When the NPC says go to stinkwater cave or whatever, just glance at your map once and think "straight south to the mill then west".

That's what I do, then just head out.
NPC verbal directions are rubbish tbh so this brief sly glance at the map is justified imo.

After a long time playing without HUD you'll get pretty good with knowing your way around, the compass is a real crutch and actually a bit of a barrier to the player becoming more aware of the world around them and using landmarks and natural features for navigation... without the HUD you really start looking at the world.

I play without crosshairs too, had to actually practice archery for a while which was actually kind of cool, out in the woods shooting apples off a tree stump.

Never tried playing without the HUD, but maybe I'll give it a shot...

It would be great if they gave detailed instructions or maps to help you find locations AND the option to turn off the compass so that those of us who don't want things handed to us on a platter would have an option to play the game like we want to play it.

For example the Treasure maps.. those are great and fun to try to find the treasure without a compass marker.

I really think the game should have a 'disable compass' option right below the disable crosshair option. Forcing people who don't want the compass to go without the rest of the HUD as well seems silly.

I play without the HUD, and I turn the quest markers off, but I still use the map to figure out where things are. Having the compass turned off makes the game a lot more fun in my opinion because you're actually exploring and discovering on your own, instead of having the compass tell you when you come within a mile of any point of interest.

I do that too, archery is so much more satisfying when you actually have to aim on your own.

I've got the compass turned off and I have the self-imposed limitation that I only look at my map when I'm at a landmark (named place).
I agree with others that you start learning your way around pretty quickly (and traveling at night is harder).
I make pretty liberal use of the clairvoyance spell, especially if I get turned around in the mountains,
It's also pretty handy to http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/812/northstarskyrim.jpg/

Never used fast travel, only carriages. Have to try play the game with the HUD disabled like some of you do.