So I'm running to Saarthal at the beginning of the mage quest when some bandit attacks me. No problem i'll just deal with him but then some character comes out of nowhere and engages me in conversation. Well I'm trying to back out of the conversation all the while this bandit is whacking on me. I can't cast spells or do anything while engaged in conversation.

This kind of BS needs to be addressed in a patch and quickly otherwise i'm done with this. I'll go play reckoning where this kinda crap doesn't happen.

That's fine then, I just won't buy the DLC and I will put out negative opinions of the game which might affect a couple more people from buying it. No big deal but if you times this by a few hundred people who might see this issue....well you can do the math.

Your right....my issues don't matter so i'll just give my money to someone else.

Moving on

I certainly wouldn't take an opinion from someone who said 'times this by a few hundred people' or that 'your right.' I suppose it IS MY right though, the right to think you're a clown for letting such a MINOR issue (which is a big improvement from Oblivion's time stopped conversations) cause you to stop playing a game.

I'd imagine you don't play many games, if something like this causes you to stop.

This is part of the system mechanics. It lets the world around you continue in realtime when engaged in dialog with an NPC. Some of the dialog is forced. This does cause conflict when in a combat situation. However, they are extremely rare. You MAY encounter one in 1000 hrs of gameplay. You just happen to experience one of those encounters.

While there is a slim chance that there will be an option added, to exit all dialog, in a future patch or DLC...I wouldn't wait for it to enjoy the game. Nor would I let this deter me from playing. I would reconsider the Skyrim boycot due to this rare occurrence.

Its not that rare during the part of the game where couriers deliver letters from a friend.
It can happen multiple times in one playthrough to be approached by a courier, forced into dialogue, right when youre slaying a dragon.
Not the best of times, and usually either the courier dies, I die, or both.

It would be nice if in a future patch we had got the ability to quickly exit conversation.

Thank you for offering an intelligent response and I don't plan to boycott Skyrim I was merely venting my frustration and hopefully bring an awareness to as issue I wasn't sure that Bethesda knew about.

Apparently they do and its a design feature so its understandable.

I should note that I'm playing dead is dead with no excuses so to have to restart to this really got to me. I don't think its possible to finish this game without dying to a bug but to lose it at level 6 was annoying.

Starting again.

On PC it's TAB (Character Menu) button. Works well for me at least.

Edit:
It should be B on Xbox and O on PS3.

You are very welcome. I feel your pain and understand your frustration. I am glad you are continuing with Skyrim.

Merari, has a good point about the Couriers. I have not experienced this with them but once. I see that they could be frequent. And yes, there is hope this is addressed by Beth.

Now, about your game. We have a thread devoted to DID here. http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1372771-the-skyrim-dead-is-dead-thread-vii/ You can discuss mods, the DID playstyle and general gameplay there. We have a growing memorial for the fallen.

As far as restarting due to a glitch. I see no reason to forego that route. There is no shame in reloading because of a glitch or outside influence. I feel dirty if I reload because I fell off of a cliff or let my character die from my own stupidity, but to restart because of something that is beyond your control is.....you get the idea.

If the game lock up and crashes, you restart...right?

EDIT :
You know, this brings up a good point. That function does exit dialog, but not always. The forced dialog of "some" NPCs will not allow you to exit. Even by hitting "B" or even "X" or what ever to advance through dialog. You must wait for them to stand there and listen to all the bla, bla, bla...

But I am now not 100% sure that all "forced" dialog is that way. It seems that some may still be either advanced or exited. I mat be mistaken.

Improvement!? How can this be improvement when it produce glitches.

This problem happen to me 2-3 times.
Also when i talk to someone, some NPC will walk between me and person i talk!? This has happen many times. And this can really spoil experience.

The reason why Oblivion has time stooping is because of these glitches.

I don't understand how people can justify this?

I just confronted a courier. It seems that the couriers, at least this one, does in fact let you spam through the dialog in a matter of a couple of seconds. This is not the same as being held in dialog for what seems to be 7-10 seconds with the Fugitive.

the exit dialogue button should just exit the conversation immediately regardless of which hobo im talking to. I mean, im getting skewered by someone here, why the heck would i talk to someone?

Or perhaps dialogue should just exit whenever combat is initiated, that would be more realistic.

Yes it is only a matter of time before Beth crumble under the economic strain your refusal to buy a dlc (and your smear campaign) will create

Couriers are essential.

LOL.
Be fair though, the OP waited a whole quarter of an hour or so between the first and second post before throwing all the toys away.

[EDIT] - this has never happened to us.

This has never happened to me in about 400 hours of play.

You took that really well.

Nope, Ive had one die on me at least once.
I distinctly remember because I recall searching his body for the note he was to deliver, and being quite annoyed that it wasnt on his person.

A quick check of the UESP reveals that couriers are not on the list of essential NPC's.
So, I dont know, wonderful that you feel the need to contribute but check your assumptions next time, mmkay?

I have had a courier stop me while I was trying to deal with 3 bandits. Not surprisingly, I died but I really wanted my character to automatically say "can't you see I'm a bit busy right now?" and ignore him.

I guess I have been fairly lucky when I encounter couriers, I only had one interfere with combat once in several playthroughs. Also couriers are not essential. I have killed many of them. I wish that while enemies are present your character projects the "This person is busy," message to all NPCs attempting a conversation.

USEP or not. The courier I just posted about, was essential. My character is an Assassin, on his way to the Mark (that was in sight) now that the courier had seen him the courier had to die. At least I though he did. But that could not happen.

Next time don't put so much faith in what you read...mmkay.

Just sayin that this is obviously not the case for all.

(nevermind. Im too grumpy today.)

You are one testy and strange individual. That is NOT anything like I said. Your dude died. Great! I'm saying that obviously some couriers are essential.

This is so funny. Gave me a good laugh. Thank you.

It's happened to me but honestly, it's nothing I'd get too agro over.
As said, it's A very, very rare occurrence.

The solution here is not to give players a means of exiting dialogue quickly, but to stop a character from initiating dialogue entirely. If you're in combat (the game knows you are, it has to play the music and everything), NPCs should not try to talk to you. It seems like it should be a pretty straightforward fix.