Bethesda really focused on the little details of Skyrim, adding a level of realism. For instance, the Mudcrab claw makes a rattling sound when selected, the horses tail makes an accurate whipping noise when it moves, bumping into a guard makes them tell you to be careful.

What's your favorite little detail that you were surprised Bethesda thought to put into Skyrim, which really brought the game to life for you?

My new favorite is really surprising: I was at the Solitude Stables preparing to ride out on a quest. Since my home is in Whiterun, I needed a place to stash unneeded gear. Two barrels along the side of the house gladly held 100 units of my valuable gear, so I rode away. When I came back a day later, the three stable keepers were outside milling around my precious barrels. Regardless, I walked over to them and took out my stored gear.

Here's the amazing detail: When I finished getting my gear, the stable keeper's wife said "What's she rummaging around in there for?" The other stable keeper woman replied, "Maybe she's looking for food." Seriously? How did Bethesda think to add that bit of triggered dialog, from two different voice actors no less? Did Bethesda expect players to engage in non-thieving searching of containers with townsfolk present? The dialog was even gender-specific to my character!

Now THAT's realism and detail. Good job, Bethesda.

My favorite detail is the conversations between the NPC's. I've spent hours listening in on other peoples conversation and enjoying every minute of it

Insect's, I just think it's cool to have so many flying around.

I like the little streams in caves quite a lot.

For me I think it's the fact that NPCs take out "contracts" on the player. And afterward, you find the note ordering the conract with the player character's name in it.

For me, it's the Bugs. Not Game Bugs, but the bugs in the game like Bees and Ants and Butterflies. They add so much to the world and to think they are so small and insignificant.

Yea I would have to say that as well. That and the dialogue for sneaking, drawn weapons, and magic. Although the latter gets tiresome the dialog makes NPC's seem slightly more aware of their environment.

All the insects and creatures, the more I look the more I notice which means taking time to get around rather than just rushing blindly.

It's a silly little thing, but there's a skeleton in cave outside of Whiterun (I don't recall the name) reaching for a bottle of mead. Then there's the blind man's book in another cave on the other side of Whiterun.

These little details, that had to be thought out and placed individually by the developers to give character to the world make all the difference.

And the voice-acting is fantastic.


And you can catch them! I read this in another post and thought it was a joke, but you can actually freakin' catch the butterflies! I love it.

I've only played for about 4-6 hours now and I am already blown away by the details, like the periodic moments when birds are startled and burst away from a tree.

There are several, but I'll have to go with npcs reacting to my character's equipment, skills, and when they're casting spells. In particular, I enjoyed having Lars Battle-Born asking my Nord to make him invisible after seeing him casting spells in Whiterun.

A close second would be the countless assassins, and the note on their body with my character's name on it. My Nord keeps slaying the assassins, and yet the Dark Brotherhood keeps sending more from their seemingly endless supply.

I also like the various rivers and streams, including the ones inside caves. They sure are pretty...

I never get tired of listening to the sounds of nature. That's why I never fast travel. Actually I don't even run between towns, I just walk. Yesterday I spent about an hour walking from Falkreath to Markath and more often than not I stopped to listen to the birds, the water flow, the wind, everything sounds amazingly realistic in Skyrim. Even the music blends so well with the atmosphere that I don't even notice it's there.

The sound crew deserve a medal.

I love finding the little out-of-the way places where there's a story to discover. Usually a terrible tragedy involving bears, disease or Falmer. But fun for me to find those stories that you won't be directed to by any quest.

The journals that give us stories about a deserted tent, a cave, a house...

• I like the ashes and the smoke that comes up from the fires and the NPC conversations.

"We're here to teach you a lesson."

ORLY?

I'm impressed with the sounds as well. In caves and outside. Also, I was checking out some river rapids and falls yesterday. In RL I'm a kayaker and I was trying to decide the best "line" to take through them, hehe.

I agree with everything in this thread. It's great!
I guess if I had to pick a favorite little detail (or two) it would be the raindrops in the water. Also the sound of rain in my rear speakers.

You can catch the bees too. Have not tried the Ants. Also, raid the Bee Hive near the bees for some good stuff.

So many i cant decide.....Hmmm....Would have to be NPC's returning my droped items to me. But i always let them keep it. =]

The insects are the best! As well as the larger variety of non hostile wildlife

I think it was Svari, said something like "you're cool, I wish you were my mom", after I tried to help her mum out of her depression and she was still moping. Not so good for the mom, but I loved that little bit of praise.

That's been done since Fallout 3 with the Talon Mercenaries and the Regulators (I think they're called?).

Anyway, I like the guard saying (when you're crouching) "Are you hurt?"

I don't know why.

I really like the hand placed things in places you wouldn't usually expect to look.

Literally walking, that takes patience lol. I would like to do that but I have only so much time I can give to skyrim a night, and if I don't complete something meaningful like clearing out a dungeon/complete a quest I feel like I wasted time lol.

My favorite little detail though? Hmm (too many to give one the top spot but..), id have to say I love the characters themselves. Especially my own, I love the character creation screen and have spent my fair share of time there.