I really committed to the concept, and I actually made a video series about it in 2012 for a site that no longer exists. If I ever had to get past enemies, I'd hire a sellsword to do the dirty work for me, standing back while they fought on my behalf. I also made money by foraging in the wilderness for herbs, mining, crafting basic iron armour, brewing potions, and every other non-violent activity the game had to offer. Forget being the Dragonborn: what about being a nobody? Brilliantly, you can be one of these people yourself in Skyrim, without any mods, by playing a certain way-and it's a strangely compelling way to engage with the game. They're the everyday people you see milling around villages and farms, living a peaceful, oblivious life while dragon attacks and civil war explode around them. People who have no destiny, no friends in high places, and no important missions to embark on. There are all kinds of unremarkable characters in Skyrim. If you want to experience Skyrim in a unique way, consider being an NPC. But the beauty of the game is how it supports all kinds of play styles, including ones that don't involve any adventuring, monster slaying, or magic whatsoever. There are lots of ways to entertain yourself in Skyrim that don't involve killing dragons or saving the world-whether that's becoming a master thief, a deadly assassin, or a vampire hunter.
I recently wrote about how I love ignoring my destiny in Skyrim and making my own stories in Bethesda's frosty fantasy realm.