One issue I have with Skyrim that I just really need to let out, because I want to know if other people has a problem with it:

It's the main quest of Skyrim, and how as you play through the quests they purposely introduce you to the guilds of Skyrim, and force you to join both Thieves and Mages guild. I know they really don't force you, but the quests get stuck in your list until you do it. The reason it bothers me Is because again it dubs down Skyrim, and it's not like past elder scrolls games, where you really need to be either stealth focused or mage focused to join, Bethesda talked about different ways to complete quests, but I havent really seen much of it. Kills the experience of roleplaying.

What do you guys think.

Well, I don't particularly like it, I'd much prefer if there were options to interact with some of these guild NPC's without having to officially join them and do their quests. All I want from the thieves guild, is the ability to sell stuff to the fence. Shouldn't have to have full guild membership to do that, in my opinion. The could make some other quest or dialogue option to enable that, like paying for the privilege, or doing them a favor or something... anything. And all my non-mage chars want from the mage guild, is access to buying spells and crap sometimes. I don't need to go into in-depth training to become an archmage, to do that. Or shouldn't. It's just too hard of a shove by the devs (HERE. GUILD. JOIN!), without appropriate secondary choices BESIDES joining those guilds.

I understand your point, but personally it doesn't bother me that much. I still think they should have made it optional which would be an incentive for replaying the game and joining a different guild. But it is what it is

This has been raised many times before. But yes Guild quests are pushed on you and there are too short and get there too quickly. If I start a new game I run away after escaping the dragon just so I don't get join the Stormcloaks or Legion quest, I don't talk to prisoners for the same reason. Don't ask innkeepers about rumors and basically don't talk to anyone if you want to avoid getting quests.

Yea, you're right. This is what I was trying to talk about. They should add more ways to complete the quests, because of the way you intend your character to be. I agree with the fencing part.

I don't mind, becuase on the couple of playthroughs I have, I either want to join the guilds for the story or the benefits. it just makes the game feel more full for me being in a guild. but I see your point, and I'll add to your "lack of role-play" with my opinions of the main quest. Where do "evil" characters fit in skyrim? My assassin wouldn't care to go near Alduin if it was to save Skyrim. For personal reasons, maybe. But he couldn't give a flying [censored] about Skyrim or her people. I mean yeah there's hundreds of hours of gameplay in skyrim but I love being Dragonborn! I like the main quest and I like doing it occasionally. I went to the Greybeards with the hopes of becoming more powerful. But now I'm the messiah? Dude I just want to kill crap and make money, screw your legends. Maybe it's my gaming background, but I feel like I don't "beat" it til Alduin is dead. Idk, not a huge problem, but it kinda stunts my RP character.

I hate the way the main quest forces you to do the main quest in order to do the main quest.

Well, the guilds are better than Oblivion... you could play a 100% pure fighter with no stealth or magic capablities, yet (and cannonically) became the Archmage, Listener of the Dark Brotherhood, and the Grey Fox. At least the guilds in Skyrim are tailored so that it is difficult if you've neglected the skillset required by the guild. For instance, Mages Guild bosses tend to have more resistance to physical damage than to elemental (not to mention actually getting INTO melee range in the first place!)

Still a far cry from Morrowind where if you wanted to join everyone, you basically had to tailor-make a character whose skills actually met the requirements, as well as getting (minimum of three) skills up to at least 90 so all the possible factions would be happy.

When are you forced to join Thieves Guild?

Was wondering that myself... I know that you need to go through the Rat's Walkway, but wasn't sure if you were required to do the initiation quest before you were effectively forced to join. But, it's not like the College's quest, where to get in you *must* join.

You are not forced to join either guild. At all.

With the Thieves Guild, you can just find Esbern by yourself. Although, for a first time player, Delphine does basically say "Find Brynjolf" and that leads to joining the TG. Regarding the Mages College, well, there are ways around it but again as a first time player it's pretty one sided. Feels like the developers were saying "HEY LOOK WE MADE THIS" and then dragging us to these guilds.

I believe there should be a "Hide Quest option" or a "Leave Guild" option. ALSO, people should NOT be able to be some sort of god-like thief, assassin, and at the same time the Arch-Mage and Harbinger of the 'honourable' companions. It makes no sense.

And finally, I think the MQ should be avoidable. I don't want to be a Dragonborn who tries to save people's lives because I'm a thief, I don't care, but leaving the quest in my log is just frustrating and I still do want to experience Dragons and get shouts.

@nerevarine1138
not forced, but for a new player, would you think about NOT following the objective "Talk to Brynjolf" and just happen upon Esbern? Same principal for the Mages College.

The Main Quest is avoidable. You just don't start it.

If you want to see dragons, you'll have to start it, but it makes zero sense that you want to be the Dragonborn without being the Dragonborn. And if you want to kill dragons, you are already, by necessity, saving people's lives. There's no way around that.

Even though you are led to characters which can start those quest lines, you don't need to start them to continue with the main quest. Your premise is faulty.