Lol. That was 'ok' in morrowind because it was a past es game. Those games are always better and deeper

Lot's of NPC's in Skyrim are on schedules. Some are not to keep gamers who don't want to deal with that happy. It's called balance. Not everyone liked the schedules. So they do it both ways. It doesn't make either group completely happy but at least each has some of what they want. It's got to be difficult to be Bethesda, trying to keep so many different people with so many different play styles happy.

Majority of NPCs in Skyrim have Schedules. Quest ones don't until their quest is finished. I'm a Quester and I do like every single quest in a town at the same time (So many markers on at once...) and doesn't take long before this doesn't bother me much.

My only problem is the Redguards standing in front of Whiterun gates all the time. They don't go away even after I completed that quest in a certain way but it is quite fun to have them there during the war on Whiterun quest. Watching them run around the place like headless chickens.

So.. OP is some-what agreeable on the subject. Some NPCs needs more schedule upgrades.

Oooh, clever. The technology didn't allow for complex NPC schedules back then. Next time try harder

Some Oblivion NPCs indeed had some more complex AI packages (beggars seeking shelter when it rained, just as an example), but altogether, Skyrim is about on par with Oblivion since NPCs usally have more work to do than just randomly raking the ground. Still better than Morrowind

As noted many of the potential followers have no shedules at all. They just stand or sit at the same place 24/7. Housecarls never sleep. The same goes for most of the innkeepers. There weren't many followers in Oblivion but they had shedules, they had a life. Complex shedules could have made this game so much more interesting as well as making the cities more lively. Also the lack of random conversation makes for very desolate feeling inside cities, like everyone is walking aroung in their own little bubble. TES could learn much from e g the gossipers in Dragon Age: Origins.

I know this is off topic, but it got me thinking. Where is the influence on the economy Todd mentioned? Vendors get there usual supply of gold every two days, and that's about it.

The economy is by far another negative I have with Skyrim... Actually, all the negatives I have with Skyrim is related to NPCs in some way, lol.

Agreed with this. Too many NPCs don't seem to have schedules. Also, where does my housecarl sleep? I'm guessing maybe he sleeps in my bed when I'm away, but what does he do when I'm there?

Each house has two beds. One is Single (For Housecarl) and the other is Double (For you and your spouse)

Hm. I guess I never noticed! Thanks.

Isn't that something they sacrificed so they could put more NPCs on-screen at a time?

Or maybe it was to make it less spreadsheety.... I honestly lost track of the rationalizations after a while........

Complex? There was no kind of schedule at all. Some npcs who owned homes would forever roam around town, others would just stand still in their home. Im sure technology would allow a npc to sleep once in awhile.

Anyway, I think this is just another lame gripe because all the other lame ones were used already. I see Npcs chopping wood, smithing, eating, dancing, drinkng, and quite a few i do have to track down to complete a quest. As for Npcs that do just hang out in their homes, which there are few of, maybe they enjoy staying home either being out of work, retired, or a housewife? Why does everyone have to have some complex schedule where theyre a great hardworking citizen?

agreed

Personally, I liked the lack of schedules because I could imagine it for myself. Call me a Morrowhiner if you will. I don't mind the NPC schedules in Skyrim but they could certainly be improved. Just look at any housecarl or innkeeper; they function virtually the same as the Morrowind NPCs you hate so much, just sitting/standing in one place all the time.

I don't know about the schedules but yes.. This game was rushed out
Just look at magic! Like wtf?

not that one guy that always says "i work at belathors shop in the market, come stop by" NO YOU DON'T! YOU ARE OUT HERE WANDERING AROUND CHOPING WOOD, I'VE NEVER SEEN YOU IN BELATHORS SHOP!

other then him yeah every one works

NPCs don't have schedules in Skyrim...? Are you joking?

Schedules are still there just not as much as Oblivion. That's ok when you consider that Oblivion had some NPC's travel between towns, couldn't imagine that working at all with Skyrim.

I've seen him in the shop sweeping. But he still says something along the lines of "You should come by Belethor's shop sometime, blah blah".

When we're both in the shop.