Thread title.

For me it's some of their conversations. Lately the NPC's have been greeting each other by name, and one conversation I overheard in Riften between Aerin and another NPC discussing my character looting barrels along the waterway. It's these little things that are starting to draw me back into the game.

The AI. I shot a fireball at two draugr, but missed and it went between them and hit a wall behind them. They both turned around, drew their weapons and ran to investigate the spot where it had hit. I was amazed ... I thought they'd just instantly know where I was and run after me! Beautiful AI

In the 200 years or so since the Oblivion Crisis, the greatest technological advance the people of Tamriel have managed to come up with is the wood mill. Nice.

and the fact that the dwemers already made airplanes 1000 years ago.

wat?

dear sir you neglect to note the time slowing affect of slaying ones opponent. In a mere 200 years all tamrielic races have developed the inane ability to leave there bodies whence delivering a soul cleaving blow.

Furthermore you fail to note the advances in global positioning and satellite imagery. No longer is the adventurer forced to carry about a cumbersome map but instead he (or she) may gaze into their fantastical, omniscient, indespensible mapping device and observe the topographical and weather conditions anywhere across skyrim. Of course, they can't for some reason spin the thing about in their hand to look at the far side of a mountain pass...

Brilliant! That made my day

Really I can understand people who like Skyrim, I really can.., hell as a stand allone game even I like it, but the (recent) stream of people defending, no even embracing broken concepts is baffling to me..
The fact that two, supposed,somewhat intelligent creatures choose to investigate an impact zone rather than watching a contrail of fire shows that AI is broken.
It is the same behavior they show at firing arrows or using throw voice (both of which are way more logical in AI mechanics). If one uses stealth.. (otherwise it wouldn't make any sense, they should be able to hear you cast the spell)

On topic..

The lack of features, that were in previous games *Cough Spell making*

Skjor, reappearing out of nowhere after he's been killed, on the bridge outside Dakrwater Crossing, half buried in the ground, and causally spazzing his way back to whiterun.

In a good way: How fun the actual combat is.

In a Bad way: How poorly the factions were handled.

Thought I was the only one seeing that apparition! And in that exact same place!

Most surprising for me was how many people are essential. "No! You aggravating little snot! I'll get you! Dammit essential! Okay, so I can't kill you, but I'll kill your friend! What? Essential as well?? Dammit, let's kill the market lady instead - NO! SHE'S ESSENTIAL TOO!!! Ahhhhh!"

I liked it better when the game told you that you oopsed someone dead and could either reload a save or keep playing in the doomed world. Sometimes I just wanna oops someone!

The first time I ran across one of those soulgem traps it scared the crap out of me. I kept looking around the room for the invisible mage that was scorching me with fire, and I kept running over the pressure pad and getting more confused. When I finally figured it out I felt so stupid.

I honestly believe I was surprised at how much, as a huge Fallout 3/NV fan (unfortunately I haven't got to play 1 & 2 yet), I've liked the leveling system. I wouldn't mind more initial passive bonuses like those granted by your SPECIAL selections, but the idea that you simply learn from your actions appeals to me.

As for a negative surprise, I was blown away by how funneled you can get in this game. The world itself and the order of things feel very open and fluid, but while you're in a quest it becomes clear how shallow the writing is. I feel the most freedom when I ignore what I'm told, dungeon crawl, make money, and do independent quests.

Full frontal stealth kill animations - after about 600+ hours of stealth play through i STILL haven't seen all stealth kill animations.

I was surprised, positively, at how nicely done the dungeons are. On the negative side, they're all way too linear, and quests are too linear too. I think every quest should have multiple outcomes and multiple ways of being resolved.

In a good way-

Running into a Dragon and stomping the life out of it with my orc battle axe.

Running into another Dragon and getting killed like an ant squashed by a sixty ton rock.

The immense variety of books from creepy horror stories to political intrigue and military tactics as well as armor making etc etc.

The ever changing color pallete of the game world keeping things mentally stimulating.

In a bad way-

?

No dragon weapons. Lame.

Bone doesnt keep an edge very well. Its tough, and thats why it works as armor

There's still SO MUCH that I haven't done in this game that it's ridiculous. But after about 230 hours across four characters, here are some things (of the many) that are small but I still enjoy.

- The environment in total. Standing under the Aurora Borealis at night is still spectacular. Creeks, streams, and waterfalls still make me pause and watch them.

- Wolves howling. It still makes me freeze dead in my tracks, crouch down, draw a weapon, and look around in dread. They still sound creepy.

- Glowing Draugr eyes.

- Getting attacked by random Thieves and Assassins.

- Execution animations. I'm still finding new ones.

- Headshots with Arrows.

Thorgal: im glad I wasnt the only one foxed by that part of sheogoraths quest! I only made the correct shot out of pure frustration - "RIGHT, TAKE THAT... oh... I was supposed to do that...?" hehehe

I love piling bodies up when I get done in a battle. Howver if I am near a cliff or bridge, I ALWAYS toss all bodies off if it. Makes me feel badass. I guess what I am saying is the ability to interact with the environment.

so this.

seems to be one of the very rare good quests in Skyrim and its still unfortunately very linear and short.

Been mentioned before.
In Oblivion,spells had limited visual effects,simply the colour and sound the spell made.
In Skyrim the effects are much more varied and complex.
And Oblivion's spellmaking was simple as hell.
Range,power and area of effect.Thats it.
You had ranged spells and on touch spells.
Skyrim's magic system would make it much more difficult to put in spellmaking.
Constant stream spells,blasts,over time effects,spikes,name it.
You'd have to put in all those possibilities,and while it would be awesome to be able to make a Lightning Spike that does damage over time and has an impact on hit,it would be very,very hard to make it work properly.
And i'd rather have a properly fleshed out spellmaking system than the beta version we got in Oblivion.