Summary
The Elder Scrolls 6is slated to be the next installment in Bethesda’s popular RPGseries. Now that the studio is done withStarfield,the game is technically the studio’s next main focus.The Elder Scrollshas been at the forefront of gaming for decades, precisely because of its highly sought-after RPG and gameplay mechanics that give it depth. The beautiful and detailed worlds found ingames likeSkyrimandOblivionhave remained popular for years, so it makes sense for the community to be excited about the next installment.
Skyrimis the latest mainline installment in theElder Scrollsfranchise, also developed by Bethesda, and it was released in 2011. The long wait for a sequel has been made easier byThe Elder Scrolls Online, which provides a familiar progression system and rewarding quests. IfThe Elder Scrolls 6wants to follow any examples from its predecessors, it should focus onElder Scrolls Online,a game that has gotten regular support for years and is now in a great place to serve as inspiration for games to follow.
How Elder Scrolls Online’s Progression Can Impact The Elder Scrolls 6
At first glance,The Elder Scrolls Onlineseems a lot different than the directionThe Elder Scrolls 6might take: the former is a live-service, constantly updated game. As a result, players have more room to express themselves through builds and classes. For instance,classes inElder Scrolls Onlineeach have three unique skill lines that apply specifically to them. Characters made for a particular class are more suited to certain builds and playstyles — the Nightblade class, for instance, is great for stealth. There are also plenty of customization options available, including unique skills for each class and a variety of gear like one-handed weapons and armory.
The Elder Scrolls 6doesn’t need to adapt this mechanic fromESOoutright, but, by incorporating the skill hierarchies attached not only to weapons, but to magic, gear, and abilities acquired through quests, the upcoming installment’s gameplay can have more depth than its predecessors.ESO, for instance, achieves the same thing by incorporatingThe Elder Scrolls' Soul Magicsystem, which provides more abilities as players progress through the main quest. Incorporating certain abilities to main or side quests inThe Elder Scrolls 6could further incentivize players to explore as much content as they can to beef up their characters.
Skyrim’s DLC Used Progression Well, Too
Skyrim’sDawnguard DLCprovided a major change to the game’s progression by introducing skill trees attached to lycanthropy and vampirism; the latter actually allowed players to transform into Vampire Lords. These perk trees retroactively introduced entirely different playstyles that players used to explore the rest ofSkyrim’s content.The Elder Scrolls 6can further pair up the inspiration pulled fromESOwith this example to potentially improve the game’s replayability. Leaving room for experimentation with different builds and transformations is ultimately a great way to motivate players to play a game over and over again.
How Skill Interactions And Combos Can Change The Elder Scrolls 6’s Combat
Skill interactions and combos are a vital component inThe Elder Scrolls Online, and they’re only made possible by players working together. New abilities can be created by experimenting with combos — for instance, combining a Lightning Splash with a Conduit can cause massive shock damage to enemies.The Elder Scrolls 6likely won’t have an online component, but these combos can be used with any companions the player can acquire to promote teamwork and more fluid gameplay.The Elder Scrollsuniversehas an array of magic spells and enchanted weapons, and allowing players to experiment with each to create their own combos would open the door to more in-depth combat. Thanks to the high barThe Elder Scrolls Onlinehas set in terms of progression,The Elder Scrolls 6has a lot of mechanics to be inspired by.
