If you don't use the Strategy Guide/internet it seems like it's impossible to...live/immerse yourself...in Skyrim.

Morrowind wasn't like that...from what I can remember.

Unlike Skyrim, Morrowind gave you a rational reason for exploring and joining guilds - Caius Cosades said he wouldn't let you start the Main Quest (MQ) until you did. He tells the PC that 'you're unprepared for this task so get some experience and better equipment and return when you're ready.'

Someone gave you a general idea of how to make it in Morrowind explaining about crime/punishment and how to make gold - not in Skyrim.

When you reached the limit of a trainers abilities in Morrowind they would tell you where another trainer could be found - not in Skyrim.

When entering a town there was someone who would tell you what goods/services the town offered - not in Skyrim.

You could receive directions to specific peoples houses - not in Skyrim.

There were scouts in the towns to give you an idea of the surrounding area (i.e. dungeon over there, etc) - not in Skyrim.

Lastly, it seems like you're almost forced to join all the guilds. You get two offers from the Companions one of which gives you the (bleep)ing journal entry...I hate those...before you pass the first building in Whiterun. You're forced to join the Mages guild in order to complete the MQ and you're almost forced to join the Thieves Guild as well.

It seems like the game was made for players who are satisfied with pretty games that are action driven as opposed to story driven.

Another thing, I thought dragons returning would be a bigger deal. The guilds seem oblivious to the fact that dragons have returned. I would've thought that the Companions and Mages would be getting hired to fight dragons. The Thieves would be hired to get precious dragon related items.

I mean, Alduin's return is a sign of the Apocalypse and noone cares!? There're no rumors that the world is about to end?

That's what I meant by "shallow" on the surface each guild/quest is independently attractive but taken as a whole there's nothing connecting them together. There's no real depth to them.

...or am I missing something?

I'm willing to agree, however it's just sort of the difference between text and voice acting. Everyone wants to say that voice acting is superior but come on, how many thousands of dollars would it cost to get people to explain - in depth, without sounding exhausted to be reciting the information - every little nuance of every single town?

Following a long term series, you can always see this happening as time goes on. Fallout is another excellent example, even when many of the original writers took over for New Vegas it still lacked the amount of depth the originals had just from text.

It was Oblivion that had the trainers tell you where the masters could be found -- not Morrowind.

But they have the carriage drivers telling you useless stuff now. I doubt it would've required more words to say, there's a blacksmith, etc. instead of the crap they chose.

PrinceShroob, I could've sworn it was in Morrowind too...

Yes it is shallowed compared to morrowind BUT they are at least moving things in the right direction over OB like joinable grps of people that conflict another grp of people. They both great games its just in one ur a nobody making something of urself in an established and working community whereas in skyrim u start off alrdy knowing ur a demigod that is going around fixing the broken community and repairing the broken guilds. Really miss the ranks and having requirements for guilds and for certain jobs. Also really hated every guild I joined their master gets killed and I have to step in and be boss and restore everything back to the old days.

Each game is different. I still play Daggerfall, Morrowind, and Oblivion. I don't impose conventions from one onto the others. Each lives in its own little sandbox. And game companies listen to those who play their games - which is supposed to be a good thing. Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

Play Skyrim for what it is, and if you miss the older games, go play them for what THEY are.

I'm enjoying the game just fine. Still playing it daily with no immersion or fun loss.

Skyrim is the most immersive game I have ever played.