Disappointed!, levitation appear to be out - confirmed Options

[Neela]

I don't want this to become a rant thread, but I must admit I am extremely disappointed that levitation has been removed from this installment of the elder scrolls. It has apparently been confirmed by Pete that this is the case, however I couldnt find the exact quote that stated it. I was hoping that it was just further speculation about a misprint in some article. I didn't mind them removing a few weapons or streamlining the skills further. To me that just made this game just a tad different than its predecessors. However, finding that levitation is not going to available... was the first really negative thing to hit me about the game. Most of my characters used levitate from time to time. I never really used it to exploit the game... since alot of combat took place indoors anyway. I am a big explorer at heart and I like to get into places that were hard to find or access. Levitation was necessary for alot of this or just to get out of a rock or tree that I accidently got stuck inside. Anyway.... I am just bummed a bit about it right now. I know I will still get the game and hopefully... *crosses fingers* hopefully.. it is something that can be modded. I still trust Bethesda to make a great game, but for me this was a big shock.

[Pisces]

Ok, I found out the real reason:
"Here are some of the primary reasons people used Levitation in Morrowind (gleaned from the multiple threads on the subject):

1. To escape combat
2. To exploit AI that couldn't deal with flying targets
3. To reduce travel time by flying over hazardous and/or impassable terrain
4. To get to areas specifically designed to be levitated to
5. Because it's cool

A few response:

1. In Oblivion, mages have a wide variety of tools at their disposal if escaping combat is the goal. Casting Invisibility on yourself for example is a good one. Enemies lose track of you. They'll wander around, trying to find you, and if enough time passes they'll drop out of combat. Calm will put targets into a stupor during which they won't attack or follow you around for the duration of the spell. Demoralize will make a creature or NPC flee, and Turn Undead will do the same for the undead. Obviously, Paralysis is good for making a hasty retreat as well. These spells and others can of course be used for tactical advantage in combat as well. In addition, pure mages are not necessarily at such a disadvantage in combat anyway. For example, the Shield spell will improve your armor rating, and all of the Elemental shields (Fire, Frost, Lightning) will improve the armor rating in addition to resistance to the elemental magic. Factor in new features such as continuous regeneration of magicka and the fact that spell costs go down and effectiveness goes up as your skill in a spell's dominant effect increases, and mages are much, much more effective than they ever were in Morrowind. In other words, the need to flee combat is reduced.

2. In Oblivion, the AI has behavior to handle it when an opponent is unreachable, so even if Levitation was in, this wouldn't be a "viable" strategy.

3. Horses and fast travel help to reduce travel time.

4. Obviously there aren't any such areas in Oblivion.

5. Yeah, Levitation is pretty cool. But there are lots of other cool effects in the game, new and old, and many of the old with new functionality. There's no shortage of "cool" in Oblivion.

While I'm sure some of you will miss the spell effect out of nostalgia, you won't find yourself NEEDING to Levitate in Oblivion."-MSFD (dev) quote about levitation

Well although that actaully isn't a reason at all it is fair enough but I just have one thing to say: The telivanni will really laugh at us.

[Soulseeker3.0]

okay now that I hear that it makes *some* sence(sp?) i will still miss levitation....