So I finally got Skyrim

[Neverhoodian]

oh, and paarthurnax scared the crap out of me. i used up half my magik before i realized he wasn't hostile.

Hah, I had the same reaction. My Argonian stealth character started shooting him full of arrows until I realized he wasn't attacking me. Good thing he's the forgiving sort.

One of my more startling moments was the first time I killed a Fire Atronarch. I didn't realize that they emit a fiery explosion after they die. It damn near killed me the first time around.

 

[Hal10k]

The guy getting his head chopped off during the intro sequence.
I actually didn't think we'd get such a graphical execution.

Well, this is from the makers of Fallout 3, a game where you can decapitate somebody with a BB gun.

 

[TilMorrow]

"Hello thar mister giant, how are you this fine day? What a nice little caAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH" Got sneak attacked by a giant.

Oh yes, suddenly turning and seeing an NPC standing behind you is always frightening.

Also if you truly dislike the existance of spiders in your Skyrim, might I suggest the Bears to Spiders Mod
[link]http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=28[/link]
for more bears in your Skyrim?

 

[Ddgafd]

Those damn wolves. I hear them howl, but I don't see them. Five seconds later BAM they're eating your ass. Not that they're threatening or anything, it's just that they come out of nowhere and scare the crap out of me. Oh, and those Draugr Deathlords.

Spoiler

 

[rickthetrick]

The end of Shimmermist cave. Being in my mid teens level-wise, I was completely unprepared for that dude at the end. Lets just say my character got steam cleaned really well.

And Falmer in general creep me out to no end.

 

[Irridium]

And damn it is pretty. The Inventory system isn't as bad as every said it was and the game works pretty well on my PC on High level graphics. Overall I was very impressed with it.

Now however I'm currently recovering from nearly having a heart-attack cause for the first time I've had to fight the spiders (And me an arachnaphobe). And holy bus are they terrifying.

So for your discussion, What in Skyrim surprised/shocked you the most?

The first Giant Frostspider got me. Jesus Christ that thing was big.

...... There's more then One? 0_o Oh shit

Oh yeah. Also giant ones. They're a pretty common enemy in caves and stuff. I recommend the mod that turns them into bears.

http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=28

There's an alternate replacer for download that turns them into mudcrabs instead, in case you'd want that.

As for what surprised me the most, well the fact that the inventory menu was broken. If you change your controls, it won't update the keys in the menu to the ones you use. I had to change the controls quite a bit until I got it to do what I want. Also, a couple of keys NEED to stay at their default state, otherwise they make the menus unresponsive.

So yeah, that was pretty shocking to see. For me, at least.

 

[RastaBadger]

I think the thing that shocked me the most was when a mammoth jumped 500ft into the air then fell to earth and died.
Gotta love bugs.

 

[lacktheknack]

This made my MOTHER impressed, so I'm gonna put it as my biggest wow moment.

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/594707594804954792/0D4AF65CF7630EB9FA42D02D2464E5734A868CA9/

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/594707594804953177/E946C2A1FAB9093CEE832C5EC24519280EB6D00A/

 

[rickthetrick]

Dragons. The first one I saw outside of Main Quest was amazing. I was in a hamlet just West of Riften, and I heard a roar above me. You have no idea how close I stuck to the tavern wall to watch it fly by - and this was replicated so many times in the later game. Little disappointed they weren't tougher, though.

Yeah Dragons have been more of a source of comedy to me. Like when two dragons appeared at the Nirnroot farm, and that Dark elf chick went all dark lord of the sith on both their asses. I barely had a chance to get a swing in before she nuked em.

 

[hazabaza1]

I'm also gonna go with the Steam Centurion. The suspense was just building up to my first fight with one, especially because there was a dead one sprawled out on a table which I couldn't move, not even to get a good look at it.
Shit was scary, yo.

 

[Sonicron]

Screw you, sabre cat. I was just minding my own damn business exploring the beautiful landscape, and you had to barrel into me from behind and tear me a new poop chute!
Probably my worst jump scare in the game. Damn felines.

 

[Bloodtrozorx]

Ah my Best friend Cicero and I killing for the Brotherhood. Every single time I turn to him he says in that voice "Let?s kill someone" and I crack up. But to hell with Dwarven Centurions.

 

[Yearlongjester]

Not as much scary as just WTF? But when I met a chap named Sam at a pub, and woke up in Markarth the next morning. That threw me for quite a loop

 

[Ickabod]

That it was as good as it was, was the most surprising.

I was surprised to actually care when Lydia died during our adventures. Sure several others have died since than (I'm reckless) but when she died it actually got to me emotionally.

Sadly I don't think that anything has really "surprised" me. The random dragon encounters and all random encounters for that matter are great, but nothing really made me crap myself.

 

[Girl With One Eye]

The moment that most surprised/shocked me in skyrim was when I was being attacked by a spider, nearly getting killed by it. When a dragon landed right infront of me, ate the spiders face and then flew off again like nothing happened. It was like having my own personal fire breathing body guard.

 

[Mr Cwtchy]

I haven't been playing too long, but I certainly have some highlights:

My first win against a dragon. I believe it was the one on top of a mountain, forget the name. I finally learned to use cover when he shoots ice/fire at you. It was a pretty long fight, and I had to pop multiple potions, but the elation from winning was great.

I also concur on the spiders. Those buildings that are infested with them are very immersive in that they scare the pants off me.

Also got oneshot by a giant when I decided to try killing one. Didn't go far though, shame.

 

[Malyc]

Not as much scary as just WTF? But when I met a chap named Sam at a pub, and woke up in Markarth the next morning. That threw me for quite a loop

This. I met that bastard in Whiterun. Next thing I know, I'm being yelled at for littering in a shrine and being drunk and disorderly.

 

[repeating integers]

This made my MOTHER impressed, so I'm gonna put it as my biggest wow moment.

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/594707594804954792/0D4AF65CF7630EB9FA42D02D2464E5734A868CA9/

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/594707594804953177/E946C2A1FAB9093CEE832C5EC24519280EB6D00A/

The night sky in Skyrim is indeed beautiful. Sometimes it distracts me from more important things, like enemies or cliffs.

 

[Frank_Sinatra_]

If "having my jaw hit the floor and continue down to the center of the earth" counts as shocking/surprising, then it'd be the first time I stepped into Blackreach.
Easily one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen in a video game. I literally set my controller down for a bit and took in the scenery.
I spent 5 hours in there exploring ever last centimeter of Blackreach when I first found it.

Dwemer ruins <3

 

[Ursus Buckler]

I've only played it since Monday myself (I hated Oblivion) but I have to say all of it is just stunning. The dragons, the trolls, the mountains, the mammoths, the auroras, just the sheer span of the map, the customisation... oh, and the glitches. The wonderful glitches that only seem to happen with horses.