A lot of people have mentioned the lack of length when it comes to guild questlines and, well, quests and stories in general. This is absolutely true, and during my first character's play through (when I fast travelled most of the time) I breezed through the Companions quest and pretty much sailed through the main quest. This time around though, I haven't fast travelled *at all* which I believe is a must if you want to get the most out of this game, but, almost as importantly, I travel in a constant circuit of Skyrim.

I travel in a giant sprawling loop and take care of whatever business I have in every location when I reach that area, and I find that there's always something to do in every hold I arrive at - between the Dark Brotherhood, the Thieves' Guild, and the Mages' College my time is never wasted and there's minimal idle travel (not that I dislike idle travel at all). Aside from hugely lengthening every aspect of the game, it ensures that I'm *always* looking forward to something. When I'm up in Solitude, I'm anticipating my rendezvous with me ol' mucka Delvin down at the Flaggon and sharing a pint with my boys; likewise, once I reach Riften I'm dying to advance the Mage's quests.

It's a very simple play method, and I don't doubt that there are many others playing this way, but I get the impression that most people don't do it this way. I love it, and if you find the game too short you may too.

-RiC

I played like this once when I was going to do a mage/thief. If you've got places to go other than around where you are, this works well.

This is how I play as well. I haven't completed any of the main questlines yet.

At any point and time there are at least 5 markers on my HUD, I like to multitask which keeps me very busy! Not only will I start the main quest for the Thieves guild but I will also have the TG side quest going along with favors that I am doing for the people of the hold.(for example) I tend to plan out my root as well and will have a starting point( ie my home) and will plan my walk accordingly so as to complete a big loop around the map back to my starting point.

See I won't plan a route or TRY to get quests in the direction I'm heading. I just walk to a quest if it is the most important to my character. My character will also do quests if they are along the way.

I play pretty close to this style. The only time I fast travel is to make it to the shops to sell stuff or get to my house to drop things off so I can continue to loot everything I see. Walking encumbered svcks.

would be much easier if roads were on the game map lie oblivion.