I noticed this thread a little while ago and found interesting. It got locked because of the post limit. Here's the link (note that for some reason this doesn't link to the first page, but whatever):

http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1384495-why-does-what-you-do-have-zero-impact-on-the-game/page__st__150__p__21002180__hl__skyrim%20shallow__fromsearch__1#entry21002180

Regardless of where you stand on this issue I think it's a good conversation to have. So if you haven't already, read some of the points for both sides in the last thread, and make your civil arguments. Take note that I've already taken a side (To me skyrim is great, but it's shallow) so dont get mad at me for sounding biased.

What you do does actually have a noticeable impact on the world. I cannot think of any games I have ever played (including previous TES games) that allowed you to leave a bigger impact. I wonder why you suggest that there is little impact on the world?

Because making the game react to everything you do would take years to set up all the possible outcomes. I much prefer a game that sort-of reacts and looks good within a decent timeframe of development (3-5 years) then a super realistic one that takes 5+ years to make.

you can't be serious...

This begs the questions:

1) Where are you seeing impacts left on Skyrim's world?

2) Have you played FO3 or New Vegas? We're talking blow-up-cities-and-societies impact.

I love this game for many reasons, but impact and world change is not one of them.

What are these worldly changes?

EDIT : To truly answer these questions...if that is even possible...this thread would be better suited in the spoiler section. Because i easily seeing it getting into detailed areas of quest outcomes. I'd kindly suggest to the OP to report to a moderator to move it.

Chances are it will happen anyway. Sooner or later. Regardless of the previous thread.

This. I've said this many, many times, but it's absolutely pathetic that Bethesda didn't even take the time to have JARL BALGRUUF, y'know, not talk about Ulfric as if he's still alive when he's not. This isn't an isolated incident, either, stuff like this happens all the time. If they couldn't accurately depict the Civil War's effect on the gameworld, maybe they just shouldn't have had it at all.

I wish choices were like how they are in the Fallout games, what you do is set in stone, unless you load an older save.

As someone else pointed out.... (incoming Dark Brotherhood questline spoiler)

Yeah. That did bother me a little. I personally thing the DB questline was terrible and cliche. Specially the wedding... god that wedding quest was SO stupid. I ended up just killing the target and paying the 50 gold... The DB questline doesnt reward stealth like it should.

Exactly. People dont even know any of the accomplishments I've made, nor can I coherently make friends and enemies like in oblivion and morrowind. I used to use my infamy and personality to make bandits, vampires and daedra nonhostile to me, then storm cities and make society my new enemy. It was possible, just took a lot of work. I used to roleplay making friends and enemies (even though the speech minigame svcked, disposition itself was awesome) I loved seeing my fame spread. honestly the only reason I dont play oblivion and morrowind more is because stealth svcks and the guards are all psychic. I wish Skyrim took what was great about those games and improved on them in skyrim, rather than scrapping them.

It's not just a physical impact even an economical impact. Just at the initial core, no NPC treats the PC any different, no matter the race or what they do. Aside form a couple of this or that choices. I mean, you choose them or us...even then they side you don't choose just refuses help you. Hell, they should be bustin' your ass the second you get in range. Instead the actually great you in passing, like nothing ever happened.

They get snide when you activate them but it's like. "Your not welcome here!" Then as you walk away..."A find day to you friend."

Oh I'll gladly move it but dont know how. Could anyonr clue me in on how to move this to the spoiler section? For now if you have any spoilers just put a spoiler tag on it please. I want to know what you guys think and I love examples

Actually some people recognize you as the archmage or the harbinger of the companions. It doesnt get you anything special, just random pvssyr as you pass by.

"Do you hate the Dark Elves too? >:C"

So does being stricken with Rockjoint.

EDIT: @ OP - Just hit the "report" button under your avatar and ask for it.

Really? Much more often I hear my thieve's guild lackeys treat me like I'm new, guards asking me if I fetch the mead at the companions and things like that. Remember all the guard dialogue? I'm still finding new things they say. One day on my psychotic evil character I had a massive bounty and I turned myself in. The guard was EXTREMELY surprised. "So....the infamous criminal surrenders! This is a time for celebration!!!" In skyrim there's like 3 things they say and they're all generic and boring.....remember when inns actually had different qualities and cost different prices and housed different classes of citizens? From the lowly tavern to the grand hotel? All useless in the end, but the roleplaying potential was fantastic! I miss those days....

Can anyone give me some examples of Morrowind's 'impacts'? I've only played three hours of the game so far, and only done about three quests in that time.

I think Oblivion was the best in the series in this regard. Everyday NPCs would say "I'm honored to speak to the Champion of Cyrodiil!" or "What can I do for you, Arch-Mage?". The Temple District bore the scars of the Oblivion Crisis. Guards knew that you were a murderer if you'd commited such a crime.

Skyrim is, to me, a step backwards, but not leaps and bounds worse. Skyrim has the guards, and some quest reactions like the one by Tova Shatter-Shield. Everyone in Windhelm reacts to Ulfric's death. Whiterun and Solitde or Windhelm suffer damage after battles. Sigurd alters his schedule after the battle of Whiterun to fix Belethor's shop.

You can see evidence of Skyrim's intended reactions to your every move. If you complete the College of Winterhold side-quests after its main Questline, NPCs in those quests (Enthir, for example) will refer to you as Arch-Mage and treat you with a little more respect. I think that reactions are one of the very few things that actually were sacrificed for the deadline - and things like this happen in every single video game.

So is Skyrin perfect at world-reactions? No. Is it terrible? No. I think Skyrim's in the middle of the scale, and is only going to go up with DLC.

Ok I asked for it to be moved to the spoilers section so if this thread dissapears from general be sure to check there. Let's keep this debate going guys!

I agree with much of what you say, but skyrim's npc reactions and impact is less than oblivion AND morrowind. It's not terrible, but not at all up to snuff for a TES game of the 2000 era. And I dont think dlc's will improve upon this area, at least not in the base game. It's not the sort of thing dlc's cover. We can dream though.

bethesda threw out the roll playing part of rpg to attract a larger audience, kind of svcks

Only the guards that acknowledge our achievment really.

Mass effect, Dragon age, Gothic series (those are open world too)
Ultima game series. Basically any rpg has had more impact than skyrim. Very shallow game. I love the game, But still very shallow.

nail on the head.. civ war impact was so so disappointing

Yeah, for all the hyping they do on the civil war pre-release it's very dissapointing.