I thought about it and I'm rather unsure.

On the one hand, they are bandits and if I do nothing against them, they will continue robbing innocent people, possibly with a fatal result. On the other hand, they are humans (or Khajiit or Argonian or Orc or Elves...) and I know nothing about them, maybe they are forced to live as bandits to survive? And also, they aren't all killers and no one deserves death for stealing, or sometimes even killing.

So Im sure you all kill the bandits out there, but have you thought about if this is right? Shouldn't there be an option to arrest them after they surrender? Do we all have to be killers?

bump

Funny, I always figured bandits were just randomly spawned targets in this 3d deer hunter game.

Again you should be able to grant mercy to defeated enemies when they surrender. This could come into it then - hopefully modders or Beth will get on this. I do feel sort of out of character on my do gooder dovahkiin slaughtering bandits by the fortload. Poor sods

They don't surrender, when they're on the floor, begging for their lives, they are simply trying to make you drop your guard so they can stab you in the back as you walk away. They wouldn't spare you, so don't spare them.

They attacked me first.

Hard to claim that they're not killers when they're trying to gut you.

Just put an arrow or a blade through a bandits helmet a be done with it.

Or his knee *shot*

Anyway, I just kill the bandits =P Even with my new (and first) nice, not assassin character.

Maybe a prison spell, something like paralyse, but you can loot them while they remain alive. (was about to say prison jutsu, too much Naruto ^.^)

Alot of the atrocities around Skyrim have been caused by those savages. I exterminate on site.

The only thing I would care about is being able to pardon them or for them to go away when they yield.
Its kinda silly to have to kill them then or when they start fighting again.

You are dragon born, the only justice in the land is the one you make.

Is that why the guards tear you appart for a silly chicken...?

They are pretty easy to sneak past, or if your an illusionist you can calm them if your so worried about them. But usually i show them the same mercy they show to the people they kill, none.

Most of my character deaths have been due to perked up bandit chiefs with finishing moves. It's personal. Butcher with extreme prejudice, clean your blade, take their stuff.

well.... you don't have to kill on sight.... you can go to them and see how they react. if they hit you, you can send them to hell without feeling bad you just should play something tanky, because it could hurt walking into a group of bandits waiting till they hit you...

Just shot an arrow at the nearest hut and see how they react. If they get angry, just run;)

It would actually be cool if when they ask you to spare them and you do, they have the option to become a companion. You can learn their real name, let them see the error of their ways and from then on out either a companion or just someone you see wandering around non hostile you can interact with. Perhaps they could give you clues on the locations of bandit forts or let you know when something is going to happen that starts a quest, like he would tell you the shopkeeper in riften is gonna get hit tonight, you should go and save him or something like that. Add it into the radiant quest series.

Actually I have a bit of an oppostie point of view. Why can I BE a bandit. I can't count the times where I've passed a cave or a hut in a pretty cool location and thought to myself..l this would be a good place to set up a base of operations or this place is out of the way and hidden but has close access to a road... wish I could set up camp and start ganking fools for their monies and their womenz. I mean, roleplaying wise one of my characters would SO be a bandit... war is a very profitable time for pillaging. You have all sorts of riches and supplies being sent from army to army, people fleeing their homes with all their worldly riches just ripe for the taking, and in all the chaos military forces aren't as free to mobilize against you because between the men being sent off to fight and having to safeguard their homes and families they aren't going to have the resources to safely do so.

The life of a bandit in Skyrim is sweet indeed. I wish I could role up in a bandit camp kill off the leader and be all.... alright you sorry sacks of donkey dung you work for me now. And wouldn't even have to be a bad bandit... could be a good bandit... all Robin Hoodish and what not, choosing to fight for the people rather than the war. Disrupting weapons shipments and robbing those who profit off of the violence and I dunno... using the money to actually influence the game world. svcks that you are limited to only giving bums 1 gold coin at a time. Honestly I'd like to be able to just go "Here, have 5,000 gold buy yourself a house" or better yet "I'm not going to give you any coin but if you're willing to work for your keep join my merry band of bandits."

As for the morality of killing them. You kinda have to. Even if you did detain them, with the war efforts they don't have the manpower or resources to properly imprison them. A hint to this fact is clear in the very beginning of the game... you have a stranger that did nothing except be found in the wrong place at the wrong time.. and they put you on the chopping block. So turning them into the authorities would simply end with them being executed. You can give them a good thrashing and wave your finger and say 'don't do it again!' and they might even go 'oh yes.. yes. sir/ma'am, I won't do it again.' but soon as you are out of sight there is no promise they won't go back on their word... and being bandits they most likely will. So you are faced with a choice... either leave them be, or kill them...or you'd have to spend your entire game baby sitting them and policing them yourselves which the game doesn't give that option to take over leadership of a bandit faction so you're stuck with the former two.

For some reason in Skyrim I always end up having to decide not what action is righteous but rather which one is the lesser evil ... Not that this is bad. But my character has some really tough time at the moment for sure. Hope she won't break...

Bandits, thieves and other criminal scum to not benefit society in any way, be it socially, ecenomically, or culturally, but do in fact harm society.


Their total nuetralization or termination will be a boon to society, and thus a good deed to the people of Skyrim.


Until the criminals return to their rightful, law abiding path, their lives have no value and they may be killed or treated by anyone in any way they want.



I can forgive anything but murder, major ecenomical corruption or treason, but even if I could forgive it if the offender was willing to work to make up for his or her vile deeds, it doesn't matter as I'm not the jarl and my only option is to kill them anyhow.


I never feel bad for dead criminals. In fact, I feel accomplished.

The same feeling you get when you give your friend your lunch or you help an old woman across the street