Apart from (a very small number of) houses and horses, there really isn't a lot to spend money on in this game.

All of the shops sell nothing but dungeon loot, they almost never sell unique items. In Oblivion, shops had unique items that gave you something that you could save up your money for. In Skyrim the shops reset daily and have no unique items, so you never have anything that you can save up your money for.

Horses are also fairly cheap, which means you don't have to save up for that extra fast, awesome horse.

There aren't many houses, and some are absurdly cheap considering their quality (like Breezehome and Vlindril Hall).

We don't have money sinks like Arena betting, or some sort of gambling minigame.

Overall, gold is semi-useless because there isn't enough ways to spend it.

Your character is now the 1%.

lulz



OP, I agree. Getting rich is too easy.

When going for the 100k gold trophy/achievement you quickly realize items in general are really under-priced.
The most valuable item I've seen on stores is one of the Ebony Armors with a really good destruction enchant (usually worth the most of all enchants) for about 4~5k

Skill training.

That should be at least 10,000. Probably 20,000.

I could see how it would be easy to get rich. The way I'm playing the game, the money system works out perfect for me (about 120 hours in, level 47 I think). I've been really trying to RP in every situation and find that if I put myself in my characters situation, she is not clearing out every cave she walks past. There has to be a reason that would make sense for this particular person. I doulbt she's cleared out 40 dungeons yet.

She only owns the house in Whiterun, has about 50,000 septims which can go fast if you purchase training at the higher levels.

But if your game takes you through a lot of dungeons and loot, yes I would think that the OP would be absolutely right.

Mead?

That's true, however that isn't a particularly cool way to spend money when compared to horses and houses.

Yeah the game needed way more money sinks.

Stuff like upgrading city guards for dragon encounters. not really needed but something...

What would have been useful was to have options like hiring guards NOT COMPANIONS, just Guards..you know for rp purposes..Skyrim is an RPG right? or betting in fights or upgrades for Mounts. yes the upgrades and houses in general are EXPENSIVE AS HELL, but it just ends at that point and the homes kinda get monotnous. have real mercs that go for a weekly pay and guard your homes, or thieves that take it from you, something other than limited and purely functional options like Skill raising.


Hey If Armor and weapons had damage that would have beena decent sink :

I don't know, theres alot of do this and do that as a means to and end and just about 0 do it because you want to going on in this game.

Sounds like you need homework.

I haven't done homework in years. And what does that have to do with anything?

There is nothing to do with money other than obtain the trophy. Once you've gained a house, that's it. What else do you really have to purchase? Most players are gonna max out smithing. That means crafting light or heavy dragon armor. Alchemy is kind of pointless in the game. I have a score of 81 and don't even use it. The poisons are a complete waste. Why damage stamina when I can just smack you with my sword a few times? Paralysis is cool. Otherwise, there are tons of all the potions you need during quests.

So, you don't have a lot to spend on. Crafting is about the only thing. And purchasing skill points is lame. Skills go up fast enough on their own.

Well, a sure-fire way to burn through money... and build up your armour skills at the same time... piss off the guards in your least favourite hold 'course, I also suggest saving your game frequently... As I said, it can get very expensive, VERY quickly... **giggles**

Not only that but there's just simply too much "loot" to find. Waaaay too much. I started out grabbing everything so that I could sell it and have enough gold to buy the things I wanted. Now, I don't even bother. I only collect gold coins now for the lulz, to see how much I can pile up. One of the only "games" I've played recently which really made me appreciate everything around me, all the items I found, was the Fallout New Vegas DLC "Dead Money". Items were very scarce and you really appreciated those items once you got them.

But it's not like I expect every game to go to that extreme, just that this game has too much worthless loot to sell and not enough worthwhile things to spend it on.

Armour is far too cheap.

I can craft an entire set of Ebony Armour for under 5k?

Repairing weapons and armour was always a good sink in previous games.

I did raise an eyerow when I found weapons and armour don't degrade in Skyrim.

You make a fair point. Also, making health poitions much more rare would go a long way toward improving this game. Besides making the game more difficult, it might make alchemy a more viable component for a character build.

One thing I used to do in New Vegas that made it more fun was ignoring the "inventory" and only carrying what would be feasable for one person to carry. Of course that was after several playthroughs just for giggles.

?

This game isn't an economic simulation. They decided as part of the core design not to deal with any real economic issues. Everything this faked... production, comsuption, commerce.... there's just the illusion of actual worth. So, suspend your disbelief and play... or find another game which focuses more on the economy. I wish it were better, but the current model is actually better than something that trys to be something it isn't.

You can hire mercs/guards what are you on about? Obviously you don't spend enough time in Inns/Taverns I can remember at least 4 or 5 offers for to join me in my adventures for a fee....

In regards to the OP, try using gold for training especially at higher levels, it gets quite expensive! I spend my gold just as quick as I earn it, not sure how people save up that much gold, always buying more arrows, or a new weapon or armor and the fact that most vendors don't carry much gold makes it hard to get rich quick anyhow.

this is why i'm really hoping for some stronghold type quests. based on the quest type (thief/mage/fighter) you could have your own base. which would have to be staffed and garrisoned and upgraded. this could be used as a money "sink" and give you some more interesting radiant quests, like depending on which civil war faction you sided with the other side could attack. or random dragon attacks etc etc.

im guessing and hoping dlc will give us some kind of money sinks

Geez, if anyone wants to send some cash my way, that'd be great. I consistently have to ration what I get, when I get it, when I should spring for something for my companion, etc.

Level 28, not sure where everyone is getting their money from...