My level 31 Nord just killed a Volkihar Vampire he encountered while roaming the Northern wilderness. It was the most difficult fight I've had in the game so far, requiring multiple reloads as well as using virtually all my good potions and scrolls and soul gems. When I finally killed her, I was excited. Until I looted her corpse to see the following treasure:

Iron War Axe
Vampire Dust
Robes of Eminent Destruction (value: 105 gold)
Boots
Copper and Ruby Circlet (value: 150 gold)

What is this nonsense? Once again in this game, there is absolutely no corresponding reward for accomplishing a difficult feat. Treasure is random and stupid. Never mind why the Robes of Eminent Destruction that should be worth thousands of gold are here only worth 105??? In other RPG's I would have at least gained EXPERIENCE POINTS, relative to the difficulty of the enemy, so that I wouldn't feel like it was a total waste of time/ resources. But here, I feel like it was just a big waste. I might as well have swung my sword at a million mudcrabs (my skill would still go up! whoopie!).

I've been playing the Elder Scrolls since Daggerfall but the skill system (dumbed down as it is, rather than an XP system), combined with level scaling and random loot and the removal of all depth (attributes, skills) has left the character development / progression system in Skyrim totally inferior to other roleplaying games. It makes me very sad, because so much in this game is so good.

Ussaully a new forum member would receive fishy sticks, but you sir (mam?) shall receive nothing.

Well that was a little harsh. He does have a point.

I am to lazy to give you a fishy stick though

Random loot is random. Does it annoy me that I'm more likely to find a full set of nice ebony/glass/dragon bone gear off of random thieves that try to rob me? Yes. but still its fun.

Great thread, would definitely read again.

I agree Skyrim should use the same stale generic exp point system that every other RPG thoughout history has used.

I lost fish stick picture. Either way, it pains me to say it but, you have a point. Skyrim has been a little "dumbed down" compared to the previous games. But not in the way you're talking about. EXP? I think we're fine without it.

This post is pure win. We don't need generic exp, Beth's system is far superior as you only improve upon something by actually using it like it should be.

http://www.imperial-library.info/sites/default/files/dogate_til_fishystick.jpg
Everyone gets one since I quoted someone so they could give someone a fishy stick.

He does have a point, just had the same experience. Was a werewolf going from Windhelm to the boethia shrine and engage the vampires south of the bandit hideout. Get my ass kicked everytime, when i finally kill the vampire and the 2 vigilant of stendar as well as all the bandits trolls and saber cats along the way. I loot the hard to kill vampire and [censored] loot wth. Sad thing is on my first try she had Glass armor...stupid random loot!

Well the random loot does create some annoying instances such as this, but it also leads to some interesting and amusing rewards as well. I always love finding valuable items on non humanoid monsters (even if it makes zero sense)

Skeevers are well known to like shiny things, but they give gems germs and diseases.

Heroes and dragonborns do not pilfer.

Well, if you're on the PC, I would suggest you fix that. I did.

+1

Im obligated to say this...
Cool Story Bro
On another note, I don't believe your reasoning for hating skyrim is valid. I've gotten worse loot than that from a master level chest. Random loot is random. If you think this is bad, you should see ME3's store system in multiplayer, which is way more random

Lmao. Imagine how trolled I felt when I waste like 6 lockpicks on a master level chest and find a steel warhammer and some measly amount of gold for my troubles.
*rage*

have you ever gotten glitched loot? The best joke ever, I said to myself ooo Orcish axe of arcing only to find it looked like a freaking iron dagger lol or getting a blade of the reach and its an axe, or even better having tullius offer u a blade and its a shield lol good times good times

I've picked up quest items that I don't know what to do with. Damn Drevin's bow...

lol he is outside of riften in a farm, he wants it back so you should be nice and return it that or scrap it who cares really lol

I think there's a difference between "totally random loot" and "levelled loot". Totally random loot means you could be getting plates and brooms from a high level boss. Levelled loot, which I think the OP wants (and IS a better way to do things) is to put the high end gear on high end guys. It's still random as you don't know what gear you're going to get, but at least you know how good it will be based on how tough the enemy is. This is already in Skyrim to some extent I believe, but it fails terribly and needs to be tweaked.

I would have said because guards overvalue the average adventurer's admiration for sweet rolls...

How would an exp system fix this?

What I am asking.

I've wasted 20 lockpicks on a master lock only to find 13 gold and a potion of minor healing. At level 68. Somebody wanted to make sure they're hard earned scraps were safe.