User blog comment:The Milkman/Phantasy Philosophy: Elder Scrolls/@comment-3492791-20120913054143/@comment-3492791-20120914184933

I don't think that would be wise. The idea isn't to punish the player for not doing the quests, but rather make it feel like there are actually people that want the quest done. For example, remember back in the Oblivion Fighter's guild there was that one quest where you had to find that guy that was supposed to do a contract and no one had heard from him in weeks or days or something? So they sent you to investigate and eventually do his job for him. How about in Skyrim, you ask for a radiant quest job for like the companions or the thieves guild, and if you take too long to complete it they send someone else to do it and you fail the quest. Play hookie on too many jobs and you'll get kicked out of the guild, requiring you to do the "Can i plz has bak in guild?" quest. Not something as harsh as if you don't start the Thieves guild by X amount of days they blowup.

The Elder Scrolls series has always been about freedom of choice. Saying "if you don't complete the main quest by X date, you will game over" kills all freedom. You have to do the main quest or you're punished. All i'm saying is make the world feel like it's alive. Have things happen they you didn't do yourself. Make it so the entire world doesn't run at your leisure. Make it so you are not the only competent person in the universe. It's nice that alot of people and places have backstory, but that's all they are. Have them actually do something new, without you having to do it for them.