I stopped playing 80 days ago with 160 hours under the belt.

It's amazing how the game still manages to take my breath away. It also seems to be running much smoother after the patches.

The good thing about taking a break is that that feeling I had when I first started the game in 11-11-11 is back.

There are still so many things to be done: Dark brotherhood, civil war, companions, College of Winterhold, etc.

I'll probably sink another 160 hours before another break.

It is a great game. I believe it will be fun for me for years (with breaks of course to play other things).

You only did the MQ and Thieves Guild?

It's also good to see that this forum is a lot slower now.

Back in the day I could barely keep track of anything.

I'm finally closing in on the MQ for the first time (not the civil war part), and I'm in Blackreach...just gorgeous and so full of atmosphere. It's important to manage our time with games so we don't get tired of them and I love these games more than any other so I switch around. I've got an Oblivion itch that'll need to be scratched after I do the MQ for Skyrim. I fired it up the other day to see how it looked and it still looks great to me so it's going to be fun. Enjoy your next 160+ hours.

Yep basically. Because my first 4 characters were DiD and because I like to take my time in the game.

With mods and DLC's, i'll probably play Skyrim for years as i played Baldur's Gate 2, PS: Torment and Morrowind.

I paused briefly to play Amalur and ME3 and now full-bore back in Skyrim. Playing as a mage for the first time in SK and it's like a new game! Combat is vastly different. I find myself thinking out my options much more now. My battle against Krosis with Lydia and a summoned flame atronach in tow turned into a hilarious mountain-side farce.

I have stopped playing, and will finally start again today. Just haven't felt like playing any video games at all. I still got so much to do as well. Loving Skyrim all over again as well.

I am on a break right now(too busy writing) and I believe it will refresh the experience next time I play.

after playing numerous archetypes, i was going to stop playing skyrim completely because i was just getting bored playing the same content over again with no real difference other than my approach to combat.

so, for those who've also experienced that 'about to stop playing' decision coming on, i suggest the following:

i did the exact opposite of what i normally advocate: i've created 1 hybrid character with the best perks and skills to be able to do any questline i prefer in any particular gaming session. not only am i released from my strict rping, but, this character is my most powerful character ever created, by far. those who think hybrid characters can't be more powerful than those that are specialized either haven't actually tried them or picked the wrong skill/perk combos. and, this included me, lol.

as well, i complement this character with DiD playthroughs.

playing this way instantly brought back the fun of playing skyrim and when i want to strictly rp i just use my DiD's.

and, most importantly, i didn't have to stop playing skyrim at all!

It did. I'm back from my 'break' and am as addicted as I was when I first bought the game. There's so much to explore

I find a break is a great idea once the game starts to feel dull. I took about a months break and returned to find the game with new life.