For me, this game is visually ugly - especially in the so-called dungeons. In addition to being ugly, they all look the same. It's especially interesting when you can clearly see where the textures meet.

In addition to being ugly, the game is clumsy. I am sooooo frustrated with the UI. It's so unnecessarily hard to do anything. I really don't know what drug the testers are on because I'd think they'd have been jumping up and down screaming THIS IS STUPID after about 30 seconds of using this stuff. I would think the developers would have realized how dumb some of it is and started jumping up and down and screaming THIS IS STUPID.

But I've come to one undeniable conclusion. I'm having a ton of fun in Skyrim. A LLLLLOOOOOOOTTTTTTTT more fun than I was having in Oblivion. I'm almost level 40 and I've only scratched the main quest. The side stuff has been so much fun. They're typical things. But somehow, viscerally and emotionally satisfying. I think it's the jump in, go do something, and get rewarded for it fix.

A couple of things tick me off. I hated how easily the Dark Brotherhood could kidnap me (the ArchMage!) from my bedroom while I was sleeping. As Archmage, I think I'd have set a few traps that would have made that a bit difficult. But oh well. I also hate that as ArchMage so punk assassin could kick my butt for three saves. What the heck was she hitting me with? But eventually I figured it out. Two frost Atronauchs and a Dremora Lord later and the heffer was too distracted to insta-kill me. Throw in a few poisoned conjured bow arrows and ADIOS LA CHICA!

A couple of interesting things happened that had me laughing. I'm out tracking giants who are in the neighborhood of three of those tusked behemoths. Again, a couple of frost Atronachs and a Dremora Lord and wham, bam, thank you ma'am .... uh ... is that beast flying? Yep. Up in the air it goes. A sharp right turn and I'm falling. I'm falling. I'm dead! What?????? Couldn't help but laugh. Reload. Try again. This time, thankfully, no airborne tusked bhehemoths. But somehow, I wish everybody were a little smarter. I know it's hard to focus on me when a Dremora Lord is chopping you to smitherines but you make it toooo easy.

There's a lot of dumb stuff in this game. A lot. Some of it actually irritates to extremes. But in the end, I'm having a lot of fun and for that, all I can say is thanks.

I will admit I am pleasantly surprised by your post. Plenty of people say the same things you do, but then conclude that the game is broken and unplayable as a result.

One quick sidenote on something you mentioned:
I would imagine this situation (being some uber-powerful character of high reputation and being kindnapped) was considered and done intentionally in game design. It emphasizes what the Dark Brotherhood is capable of. If they could only kidnap people who were sleeping naked in a tent in the wilderness, they wouldn't be very impressive.

Interesting perspective. My only counter argument is that I should have had MUCH more difficult wiping out Sanctuary. But your point is interesting and I'll give it some consideration. Thanks.

What I'm wondering is how they got me, in the middle of the day, sleeping in jorrvaskr, when the only way in was filled with Aela, Vilkas, Farkas, Vignar, Vignar's toady, Athis, Ria, Torvar, and Brill all hanging out in the main dining hall.

LOL!!!

Well, if you aren't a member of the Companions you can still go into the sleeping area. Maybe a DB member just walked in there with a sack, grabbed you, and walked out, telling Farkas they were taking out the trash. Farkas is dumb, he probably fell for it.

Ya betcha he did.

As Archmage, I think I'd have set a few traps that would have made that a bit difficult.

Did you set these traps? Unless you set them, or do all of the things necessary to see them set, the traps are not set. The DB will sneak in and get you, did not the others mention the sultry wenches and wench bro's sent in as the distractions?

You are role playing, you actually have to go through the motions of game setting traps to have traps set. You just can not call the DM and state, went there, killed dragon, what loot did I get.

Ninjas.

use skyui to make the ui bearable.

enjoy the game go slow, its a really amazing game if you can forgive broken quests, bugs, and ctds.

Astrid threw a piece of steak into the corner of the room

Oh man, I can see them all charging for that steak. "Lemme have it!" "No! It's mine!"

Thanks for the response. But I was kinda being a little bit metaphorical!