Or are they (un)intentionally really sort of empty?

The main questline for the College is alright, but I think it introduced so many new elements and organizations that went relatively unused like the Eye of Magnus even though the line revolved around it, the Synod, the Psijic Order, Ancano's role with the Eye, the backstory of Savos Aren (the stuff in Labyrinthian glitched on me), etc. and then there are the sidequests, specifically Arniel's Endevour. For all of its importance, Keening is beyond useless in Skyrim.

Is there *any* hope of DLC fixing that? Or of making use of Keening? (And is it glitched, or is its enchantment supposed to be useless to me?)

Keening doesn't appear recharagible which is probably an oversight, or perhaps the blade has lost its power sense the destruction of the heart of Lorkhan.

I honestly think that the College of Winterhold was just a horribly undeveloped guild in terms of main quests, side quests and dialogue. The guilds aren't that great in Skyrim, but to me the college is the worst offender. I hope that the college, and all of the elements and organizations it was involved with, are expanded upon in DLC; I doubt it'll happen though.

That makes sense. It kinda explains why I was able to touch it and not die.


One can dream.