What I want to see in the next Elder Scrolls game.
Hello everyone, Animeman73 here. It's time for a little gaming commentary. This time I'll be talking about the Elder Scrolls franchise.
To be more exact what I want to see in the next Elder Scrolls game.
I wrote this because I've enjoyed the Elder Scrolls series for many years. Since I bought and played Oblivion years ago. I can also say I am a true Skyrim fan.
The game and modding community are awesome. But Bethesda's actions with Starfield and Fallout76 have brought up some grave concerns. That's why I'm writing this up.
Please enjoy and let me know your thoughts at the end.
I make it no big secret I’m an Elder Scrolls fan. I’ve been playing the games since I first bought Oblivion. I’ve enjoyed playing it, Morrowind, and most definitely Skyrim.
I love the games and the infinite potential for the character based on the choices the player makes. Bethesda has done a great job with the series in spite of the funny quirks.
But in fairness there are some things that I must point out before we get to the commentary. And to the people at Bethesda understand this. I say these things not to attack you.
Nor are they to disrespect you. They're only meant to help you think about things.
Special thanks to Jeremy from the Quartering, Geeks & Gamers, and Yong Yeah among others. Thank you for keeping us in the gaming public in the loop on things.
Bethesda I’ll be honest when it came to Fallout 76. You guys blew it, and you blew it big time! As an example, the shoddy half-finished game.
The developer’s room that you never bothered to close. The fiasco with the canvas bag that turned out to be flimsy nylon instead of more sturdy burlap. Or the Nuka Rum which came in a cheap plastic bottle instead of the Glass bottle as promised.
Also, the decision to put the game on your own platform rather then on Steam and GOG.com was a mistake! You put out a lot of people when you did that. Open yourselves up to Steam and GOG.
The fact is you antagonized a lot of customers with what happened involving Fallout 76. And you’re going to need to do a huge ton of groundwork to rebuild that confidence and trust with the customers. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but it will be a Herculean task.
But the fact remains Bethesda you need to do better! I know you can do better than this, much-much better than this!
Work hard and rebuild that trust with the customers. Do that and you’ll once again be on top as a respected and trusted name in gaming. More important listen to your customers.
A company that listens to its customers is more likely to survive.
Now with that said let me speak on what I’d like to see done to make the next Elder Scrolls game better.
1. Make the Aldmeri Dominion the big bad guys of the next game.
Alduin was pretty powerful in Skyrim. And the main bad guys in the expansion packs were no pushover either. But the Aldmeri Dominion have all kinds of potential to be the next great big bad guys.
Whether it was in the College at Winterhold with the Eye of Magnus. Or when the player must break into the Dominion Embassy. We get good glimpses of how much trouble the Dominion could be.
Props go out to the modding community. They came up with some great and imaginative ideas. The kind that I thought expanded on the kind of bad news the Thalmor are.
More than anything I want to see the Aldmeri Dominion be the big bad guys of the next game. I’ve read that there are books on the Elder Scrolls Lore. The kind which shows what kind of horrible vile pricks the Aldmeri Dominion are.
Based on the lore and what I've seen in Elder Scrolls V they should be the big bad guys. That way the player character can win the game by crippling the Dominion. So much so it can get taken down from within.
Or have the player character take down the Aldmeri
Dominion once and for all. Considering all they’ve done it would be so delicious. Let the Elder Scrolls players get the chance to cripple or all out destroy them once and for all.
Or for those who might take a different approach how about this? Have the player character actually join the Aldmeri Dominion as a member if you happen to be a certain type of Elf.
2. Restoration of the faith of Talos
Now I realize that other than Skyrim Talos worship has never been very big. But this would make a great quest. A land outside of Skyrim ends up bringing about a restoration of the faith of Talos.
That would help bring a fractured Empire back together.
Also, powerful magic items could get added for completing parts of the quest. Such incentives would make this quest very profitable for the players. Also, some extra stakes for this quest wouldn't hurt.
I'm thinking a visitation from a Talos priest. Or even a visit from the avatar of Talos himself. And thus, charging the player with such a sacred quest.
I’ve read enough of the Elder Scrolls Lore to know all about the White-Gold Concordant. I know that Tidus Mede II may have thought he was saving the Empire by agreeing to it. But the decision to sign the Covenant and outlaw Talos worship was a mistake!
What it did is rob the Empire of an important aspect of it. And helped contribute to the division in it. So yeah, restoring the faith of Talos should be a major quest.
If not part of the main quest at least a major quest. That would be a great idea for the game. Not to mention having the faith of Talos back would throw it in the faces of the Thalmor.
And that’s fine by me!
3. Resurrection of the Mages Guild
Again, good thing I’ve read some of the Elder Scrolls lore. I found out after the events of Elder Scrolls IV AKA the Oblivion Crisis that the Mages Guild got disbanded.
Another move that was a mistake.
I understand why the Mages Guild got broken up. But it was a short-term solution to a long-term problem. That of magical misuse on the world of Mundas.
Magic is a tool for both good and evil depending on who the user is. So, for the next Elder Scrolls game here's a great faction quest. The restoration of the Mages Guild.
Restoration quests in any fantasy game can be Herculean in nature. So, Bethesda has a golden opportunity here. Make a Mages Guild quest line that is epic in nature.
One with some nifty magical artifacts. The kind that could turn the player character into a magical demolition machine. Also, Bethesda could afford to make the Mages Guild quest longer.
No offense the College of Winterhold was good. But it was also a little on the short and not all that satisfying side. And restoring the Mages Guild would give the player a real feeling of accomplishment.
4. Bring back the faction specific items.
Now this goes with the number 3 thing. I'd like to see faction specific Items brought back. I’ve seen some of them in both Morrowind and Oblivion.
There were some very good items in those games. Magical weapons and items for the character. No offense against Skyrim which was a great game.
But I miss faction specific Items. There were some great things that could help the player character. The kind to take their chosen class or classes to incredible new levels of greatness.
I like that idea and we should see those return in the next Elder Scrolls game. Not to mention they would make being part of the various factions a lot more rewarding.
5. The Dark Brotherhood vs. The Morag Tong
Now here’s an idea that will surprise a lot of people! I want to see the return of the Morag Tong in the next game. But I liked the Dark Brotherhood too.
The Morag Tong are also still popular. A player who likes to be assassins would love choosing between the two factions.
Granted the two sides would have some differing quests. But they could also have intermingling quests. In them the character has to complete certain tasks before the other guild does.
Or better still while thwarting the other guild. And have it all concluded with the two guilds having it out in a gang war of some kind.
A lot of player characters would relish the chance for that kind of bloodshed, death and mayhem. But make sure that both guilds pay as well as the Dark Brotherhood did in Skyrim. A rivalry between the two guilds could add some real flair to the game.
6. Keep the marriage system from Skyrim but add more family options please.
Okay I’ll be the first to tell you I loved the marriage options in Skyrim. There were plenty of Bachelors and Bachelorettes to choose from. So, wherever you swung in Skyrim there was a little something for everyone.
But I do think that with the family some improvements are in order. I like the idea you can adopt kids. That was a great idea and worth it with all the orphans in Skyrim.
Bethesda could it be possible to try having kids the old-fashioned way in the game. If you know what I mean. It would add a new element to the game.
It would add some complications for the female character or female spouse. As I said it’s only a thought.
7. Harness the creative power of the modders.
There is a thriving modder community in the Elder Scrolls fandom. If Bethesda is smart they should learn to harness the power of those creative people. How could they do so?
By going to them in good faith and talking to them. Finding out which modders are the best of the best. Then offering them up some sweet employment opportunities and giving them creative leeway.
Why should Bethesda do this? Two words creative advantage. If Bethesda hires modders they'll endear themselves to the fandom.
And give themselves a chance to get some new franchises. All by giving aspiring game creators their big break.
Give the modders creative leeway to do their own thing with the game and they'll end up with a great product. The kind that will bring fans old and new to the franchise. And these should be people who know and love the lore.
And who's drive is the desire to create a good game not force in modern politics.
8. Hearthfire 2.0
I am well-aware some people weren’t the biggest fans of Hearthfire. But I actually liked it. In fact, I found it to be a great addition to Skyrim.
Buying a house in the Elder Scrolls is a big deal. But building one’s own house makes something extra special. Yet, there are ways that Hearthfire could get improved on.
I like the idea of having some resources close by. But I also like the idea of gaining some resources that is the lumber a little more difficult. Such as you must do something for the mill owner.
Get something that got lost or stolen. Or there are some bandits that need dealing with. The possibilities are endless.
Second this would be an added perk for becoming leader of one or more of the factions. Your faction or factions send people to your house or a house of yours for a reason.
For the Fighter’s Guild they send some of their best warriors to be the security for your family. Let some bandits try and kidnap your loved ones when you got some of these burly warriors at the ready!
For the mages Guild you get sent a practitioner of of theirs. One who can help with a range of arcane tasks. From brewing medicines and protective potions to helping with enchantment of items.
For the Thieves Guild I'm thinking this. The character has a cave underneath their house. It can serve as a refuge for the player's people when they need to lay low.
This could come in handy after accomplishing a job or something went wrong on a job. Also, it can serve as a place where smuggled goods get stored for a while. At least until the heat's off and they can get fenced.
The benefit of the Assassin faction be it Dark
Brotherhood or Morag Tong is one of the best ideas of all. This was inspired by a certain gun-toting maid from Black Lagoon. The assassin guild you run sends one of their best members to your house to serve as a butler or maid.
Now that’s what I call service. Someone who can cook, clean, and kill when needed.
9. Bring back the original creation system.
Now the character creation for Skyrim was pretty good. But some thought it got dumbed down too much. With Morrowind and Oblivion the major abilities were what defined the character.
In Skyrim you could have every ability go up to 100. And thus, be God-like in the game. Meanwhile in Oblivion and Morrowind the minor abilities took forever to get to 100.
The older character creation system including creating a custom class would help.
But this is my opinion on the Elder Scrolls. So good readers what do you think? Let’s start a conversation in the comments section below.
Do you agree or disagree with anything? Do you think I missed something? Let’s talk about this as Elder Scrolls fans.
I hope you enjoyed reading this commentary. I'm enjoying putting original content here on Minds. Expect more original content in the future here on my channel.
Meanwhile let me know your thoughts on this. Or on any ideas for the Elder Scrolls games in the comments section below. I always appreciate input from my readers.
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