Official: Beyond Skyrim - TES VI. #6 : The Elder Scrolls Series Discussion

» Wed May 02, 2012 5:44 pm

Hey guys, I would like to add my suggestions to the next tes game. I think that tes has really driven away from what made the game fun for me to begin with. in morrowind you had underwater grottos, well a few anyway. that was really fun. I think that if they added back some minor things like that to the next tes game, it'd be really cool. giving people a reason to explore underwater and i mean skyrim had such a great setting for this but they didn't even implement it at all, there were none ! i think that being able to go underwater and like requiring stuff like water breathing potions, like an entire dungeon that is underwater and you can't do it unless you have a water breathing enchant or potions. that'd be super fun.

I just think it seems like maybe bathesda is getting away from the "dangerous!" you know? they seem to play everything safe and make it just totally user friendly. nothing is dangerous, there isn't things that just WRECK you and that's fun, having that timid exploration time if that makes sense? like not knowing what lurks around the corner. one more thing I'd like to suggest is having multiple diologue options, as well as multiple paths through dungeons. skyrims dungeons are BEAUTIFUL and huge but it's completely linear! it's just that there is no question as to where to go, it's all very obvious. I mean like I said the dungeons are HUGE step ahead from what they were, but when I go into a dungeon, I pretty much just follow the line lol..there is only one path pretty much every single time. And yes blackreach is cool, but it is pointless and filled with nothing, there is nothing in there at all. one single quest with some maroon nirnroot, oh man sick, what fun.? lol.

» Wed May 02, 2012 10:13 pm

I would like some alien looking mounts for riding in real time like silt striders or other area specific animals.

» Wed May 02, 2012 1:11 pm

Just watched Todd's video and all I can say is I'm impressed and I'm more confident now that the next game will feature a lot of things that I wanted in Skyrim too such as seasons, spears, mounted combat...

» Thu May 03, 2012 3:19 am

Open cities are a must. The loading times on every petty door are killing me.

» Thu May 03, 2012 2:41 am

1 - ONLINE MULTIPLAYER
1 vs 1 arena
Team death match, gladiator style
Castle siege/defense (just like mount and blade with magic)
Co-op campaign (I know this one is pretty difficult)
NEVER A MMO PLEASE

2 - TIGHT Combat (Lock on, escapes ,blocks ,counter attacks)

I’m tired of swinging my sword a thousand times
I want my thief with light armor to be able to roll to escape and climb like ezio auditore

dark souls combat and boss fights
+ Elder Scrolls depth = PERFECTION

Strategy in combat, realistic behavior of weapons PHYSICS (if you get hit you can’t finish your attack)

3 - True challenge, true difficulty

4 - Moral consequences

Just like Fallout 3

I want to destroy a city, a civilization or save them, I want to be evil or to be good or even neutral, I want my decisions to have consequences

5 - Timeline, Epic ending

Just like Fable 2

I want my hero to age to have a life to get married have children and to die to save the world or live forever stealing others life being a vampire demon or something, even becoming a god (I felt that way when I finished morrowind)

Just a few dreams for my favorite game,huge step foward from oblivion, Thank you Bethesda

» Wed May 02, 2012 12:39 pm

Bethesda should bring back the Morag Tong in part six.

» Wed May 02, 2012 2:48 pm

1 - ONLINE MULTIPLAYER
1 vs 1 arena
Team death match, gladiator style
Castle siege/defense (just like mount and blade with magic)
Co-op campaign (I know this one is pretty difficult)
NEVER A MMO PLEASE

2 - TIGHT Combat (Lock on, escapes ,blocks ,counter attacks)

I’m tired of swinging my sword a thousand times
I want my thief with light armor to be able to roll to escape and climb like ezio auditore

dark souls combat and boss fights
+ Elder Scrolls depth = PERFECTION

Strategy in combat, realistic behavior of weapons PHYSICS (if you get hit you can’t finish your attack)

3 - True challenge, true difficulty

4 - Moral consequences

Just like Fallout 3

I want to destroy a city, a civilization or save them, I want to be evil or to be good or even neutral, I want my decisions to have consequences

5 - Timeline, Epic ending

Just like Fable 2

I want my hero to age to have a life to get married have children and to die to save the world or live forever stealing others life being a vampire demon or something, even becoming a god (I felt that way when I finished morrowind)

Just a few dreams for my favorite game,huge step foward from oblivion, Thank you Bethesda

With all due respect... Your ideas would ruin TES. Also, why are people still asking for multiplayer? I don't think you people know what your asking for. It's a single player experience and should remain that way. If you want play "siege the castle" or whatever then buy league of legends or WoW. And the player jumping around like Altaiir? I just shake my head to that. But a co-op campaign has to be the worst. For one it's impossible. Everyone completes the game at their own pace. Secondly it's just... Laughable. Two dovahkiin? Two Nerevarines? Both roaming around at the same time? What happens if you're ready for the next quest but your partner wants to do the guild quests first? Or if you're level 45 and your partner is level 10? Just, no. It seems like you just want a mash up of your favorite games with no regard for the integrity of the series.

» Thu May 03, 2012 1:31 am

I would like a game with a darker high fantasy atmosphere, spectacular visuals and alien culture. That would be Black Marsh. I would like an RPG with more focus on local politics and faction wars, mutually exclusive guilds, less handholding and more dialogue choices for the player. I'd also love some locked content in the main quest (branches) based on the player's choices. And definitely longer guilds questlines.

» Wed May 02, 2012 4:43 pm

And definitely longer guilds questlines.

I think the problem with the guilds is that they progress too fast. You can complete one mission and just as you get back they have another quest ready for you and ONLY you. It would be nice to have a cooldown period between major quests were you and several other members of your guild could take on less important missions with each other to make the progression of the guild seem less like it was only you that caused it.

» Thu May 03, 2012 12:21 am

I think the problem with the guilds is that they progress too fast. You can complete one mission and just as you get back they have another quest ready for you and ONLY you. It would be nice to have a cooldown period between major quests were you and several other members of your guild could take on less important missions with each other to make the progression of the guild seem less like it was only you that caused it.

You can take that pause if you want to in Skyrim, they have those radiant missions available.

» Wed May 02, 2012 7:32 pm

TES VI Should be in Black Marsh. we should have the option to have at least 2 followers. we should have the option to destroy all the guilds. you could destroy the DB in Skyrim and you cloud kinda destroy the Companions cause all of them can die. i just think the option to destroy all the guilds would be fun. will add more idea's later.

» Thu May 03, 2012 12:53 am

Next ES game should be a war torn Cyrodil with Thalmor occupation. It could start in Black Marsh...or a nice desert.
It's the overthrow of the High Elves. We are going to fight Thalmar, (sic?) it is only a question of next game or if the next ES is more preparation to the end game.

A revolution might be a nice touch. Magic banned by anyone except Thalmor. Our hero has magic of old days and reactivates the magic in the world with his magic. Something like that- take your pick. Perhaps there are clandestine groups still practising the forbidden.
I'd love a pre war warm up in the desert instead of the Black Marsh, however- I just like deserts and Bethesda helped Fallout NV along nicely. And a revolution in a war torn land is similar in line to Fallout- at least not completely out of realm, and Bethesda has some success with the perk system and such a world situation.

Or- is Skyrim a pre game for multiplayer? Many of the lost features would seem to make a multiplayer application more difficult- making spells, sheer number of spells, NPC interaction- perhaps we are going Multi-player and Bethesda hopes to become the World of Warcraft for a new generation.

Incidentally, for those who mentioned Tolkien and other great writers; I'm not certain at all if a great author is neccesarily a good game maker. That's like asking Faulkner to write for Hollywood. He did- with mixed results. (some still blame him for The Big Sleep's lost plot..)

The cartoonists may be closer to the genre, but there's no sure bets fishing anywhere for talent. The only certainty is that such talent exists- whether or not Bethesda or any company can find them.

» Thu May 03, 2012 4:28 am

I would like the player's voiced grunts during combat to have a separate on/off toggle in the sound settings. They're too damn annoying and the voice is not appropriate for my character.

» Wed May 02, 2012 2:57 pm

You can take that pause if you want to in Skyrim, they have those radiant missions available.

The problem is that you get the quest right away, so you would have to go our of your way to not do it - and since it's imporant you feel obligated to do it sooner, rather than run around and collect butterflies and flowers.
It's about choices made by the designer to make the game more enjoyable.

While you can't expect to not get the next quest when a city is being torn appart by a dragon - even without someone asking you, you'll be a dike for not helping, the other times it's just a random errand that leads to bigger event, and those could spread widder.

Guild quests are different than mine quest because you choose to do them, which means you have more interest in doing them, and not "forced" by the main story.

» Wed May 02, 2012 8:15 pm

I would like the player's voiced grunts during combat to have a separate on/off toggle in the sound settings. They're too damn annoying and the voice is not appropriate for my character.

+1
It's so [censored] up to have a voice my Argonian sounds like a [censored] human

» Wed May 02, 2012 3:07 pm

Or let the player pick a voice from a list.

Some of my most anticipated features in TES 6 would be:

big cells to allow cities with no loading time
locational damage for a better combat
a system of character development that allows attributes and perks together
return of spellmaking
a world that changes before your eyes (ie seasons change the towns' aspect and what people do)
better guilds with skills requirements, sabotaging other guilds and good management options once you become leader

» Thu May 03, 2012 1:19 am

Just watched Todd's video and all I can say is I'm impressed and I'm more confident now that the next game will feature a lot of things that I wanted in Skyrim too such as seasons, spears, mounted combat...

Todd's video? Which one is that?

I'd love to see any of the rest of the provinces, though Summerset Isles/Valenwood seem a tad boring for a whole game... High Rock could be interesting, though potentially "too generic medieval-fantasy" for some. I've always wanted to see Elsweyr though, and it has desert, jungle, swamp, forest, etc. so there is a bit of variety there. With all the weird varieties of Khajiit there are, it could have that alien, Morrowind-like outsider feel to it.

I don't know what province they'd do, but I'm feeling like the series is moving in sort of a "Dark Ages" direction, with the Cyrodilic Empire losing control, various factions vying for power, some provinces like Morrowind virtually destroyed as a large national power and a general loss or decrease in general tech and knowledge levels. So a setting similar to the dark ages between the fall of the Roman Empire and the "Medieval Ages" (fantasy, of course) could be possible, I think.

Lots of people want bigger cities, including me, but a "dark age" doesn't have to mean smaller cities, just generally dirtier, less civilized ones. I do want larger stretches of wilderness to explore and either hand-placed or even good randomly generated ruins, dungeons and caves to stumble across.

That way, you could find maps or get rumors from people to find dungeons locations as in Arena and Daggerfall that would otherwise be hard to find. To me, having to work a little to find them is more fun than stumbling onto a ruin/bandit hideout or cave every 50 yards or so as in the last couple of TES games.

I know some people have this innate hatred of open, "empty" stretches of wilderness, but just because it's there, it doesn't mean you have to scour every square inch of the wilderness for every existing location in the game like some crazed OCD Tamriel surveyor. Just don't go out there unless you know where you are going. Fixed.

I want to see the biggest world they can come up with and still maintain a good level of quality. There is a balance to it, but I hope Bethesda pushes the boundaries a little more next time.

I wish they would look at their first three titles (which have some of the best qualities, even tho flawed in some respects, imo) for inspiration on where to go next. Like "How could we do a game approaching closer to the scope of Arena and Daggerfall, with more of the polish and hard crafted-look of Morrowind and Skyrim. Oblivion had its good points too, but although it does everything pretty well more consistently than other titles, it feels a little more bland, and the NPCs are too generic, and weird-looking. They did a much better job with Skyrim in that respect and in the feeling of "immersion" I think. Also, it was great to see the crafting features and more social dynamics (marriage, kids, more reactive AI, etc.) in Skyrim.

So if they took the best qualities of all the games to date and molded them into some kind of awesome RPG Frankenstein, I think it would be the best fantasy RPG we've ever seen.

» Thu May 03, 2012 4:14 am

Well I think races should be more distinct and have fun to use racial abilities that do not become obsolete as you level. Stuff like this.

Spoiler

Powers-Activated abilities
Traits-Passive abilities
Bonuses-Starting bonus in any given skill

Dunmer

Dunmer should still be able to summon a Flaming Ancestral Ghost. For me I like to RP chatting with my Ancestors sometimes. Not really but I liked to think I could. Plus a decently powerful leveled summon would be a nice addition to their powers that we have seen in the lore. Think of it as the more powerful you become the more powerful the ancestral ghost who answers your call. Like maybe every 10-20 levels and an up in power? Familar power, then flame, frost, and shock atronach, finally Dremora lord. Make it last very long as well as it is a power. Like 180-300 seconds or 3-5 minutes. Eventually making it a bound summon. Also Sul did it after the Red Year in the novels so their is 'hard' evidence of it being lore friendly.

Powers
-Ancestral Summon(see details further down)
-Ancestral Wrath-firestorm type ability once a day levels with you. NOT TIED TO DESTRUCTION! 50 fire damage plus 25 extra fire damage every 10 levels.(seem right?)
Traits
-Ashborn-50% resist fire
-Meric Heritage-25% magicka regeneration
-Blighted by Fate-50% Disease Resistance
Bonuses
+10 destruction
+5 one handed
+5 light armor
+5 conjuration
+5 sneak
+5 illusion

Nords

Give Nords a small shock resistance like 25% alongside the 50% frost and the ability to do a grab that freezes an opponent. Like the power they had in Oblivion. Frost damage on touch. Just make it like Ice Form instead of pure frost damage. Freezes the opponent and deals slow frost damage over time. This damage increases as you level and the duration of the Ice entrapment extends as you gain higher levels. Warcry stays the same. Have options!

Powers
-Nordic Frost-on touch Ice form that deals leveled damage. Yet to be determined damage. Lasts for 10 seconds. Plus 5 per 10 player levels.
-Warcry(as vanilla except hopefully fixed bug that causes friendlies to be affected too)
Traits
-Winterkin-50% frost resistance
-Stormborn-25% Shock Resistance
-Human Endeavor-25% stamina regeneration
Bonuses
+10 two handed
+5 light armor
+5 speechcraft
+5 smithing
+5 restoration
+5 block

Argonians

Give Argonians resistance to poison again. Like 75%. They live in a friggin swamp! Constant water breathing effect. They also should swim about 25% faster. Make their Histskin power regenerate health and restore all health the first time it is used. The effect lasts longer as you get to higher levels. an additional 10 seconds every 10 levels. Mutagenic adaption-once a day get a temporary -10 penalty to all your skills for 25% resistance to every form of damage, last 24 hours

Powers
-Histskin- heal and regenerate health for 60 seconds. Leveled +10 every 10 levels.
-Mutagenic Adaptation-temporary -10 penalty to all your skills for 25% resistance to every form of damage, lasts 300 seconds, once a day
Traits
-Heightened Metabolism-15% health regeneration
-People of the Root-75% Poison and Disease resistance
-Amphibious-25% swim speed
Bonuses
+10 lock picking
+5 sneak
+5 alteration
+5 illusion
+5 one handed
+5 alchemy

Bosmer

Give Bosmer something called the Green Pact. If they consume meat or cannibalize someone they get 20% damage bonus and 20% damage reduction for everything for 300 seconds. If they kill something and do not eat it they do not get the damage part of this bonus for 24 hours no matter what they eat, unless they eat it. The rest of their traits are good. Command animal becomes a permanent 'summon' once a high enough level is reached and those animals that it is used on are given 10% more health every 10 levels.

Powers
-Command Animal- Make an animal an ally for 60 seconds, once per day. This power has magnitude 99 pts and area of effect 75 ft. Any animal under the influence of the Bosmer will endure more and become more loyal depending on the Bosmer's power.
Traits
-Meric Heritage- 25% magicka regeneration
-Green Pact- consumption of meat enables the Bosmer to deal more damage and take less damage for 300 seconds. Once the effect wears off the Bosmer must wait 6 in game hours to use it again.
-Children of the Forest- 50% Poison and Disease resistance
Bonuses
+10 Archery
+5 sneak
+5 light armor
+5 alchemy
+pickpocket
+llusion

Altmer

Altmer should have disease resistance again. Makes sense. They breed to make superior specimens. Make increased magicka regen permanent by 50%. Have them take 25% more damage from the elements again and give them a power that lets them have an unlimited magicka pool for a 30-60 second period once a day to show their attunement with magicka. Also a magicka bonus of 100 points as well. The duration of their new Highborn power will get longer by 10 seconds every 10 levels or so.

Powers
-Highborn-Unlimited Magicka for 60 seconds + 10 seconds every 10 player levels. Destruction magic does 20% more damage during this time.
Traits
-Magical Tradition-100 extra magicka
-Superior Breeding-75% disease resistance
-Magicka Attunement-25% weakness to frost, fire and shock, and 50% Magicka regeneration
Bonuses
+10 Illusion
+5 Destruction
+5 Enchantment
+5 Alteration
+5 Conjuration
+5 Restoration

Redguards

Redguard's Adrenaline rush should give a temporary 50% boost to melee damage of any kind for 60 seconds and they have unlimited stamina during that time. Can be used once a day. 50% disease and poison resistance.
They also run a little faster and jump a little higher than the other races. To better represent the Athletics and Acrobatics they had in previous games. Adrenaline rush will last longer the higher you level. 10 seconds every 10 levels or so.

Powers
-Adrenaline Rush-50% bonus to melee damage and unlimited stamina for 60 seconds + 10 seconds every 10 levels.
Traits
-Yokudan Heritage-20% faster with a 20% increase in jump ability
-Distinct Blood-50% Poison and Disease resistance
-Ra'Gada's Perserverance-30% Stamina regeneration
Bonuses
+10 One handed
+5 Archery
+5 Block
+5 Smithing
+5 Light Armor
+5 Sneak

Orsimer

Give Orcs a small magicka resistance again like in Oblivion they had 25% resistance to it. This time I would make it 20%. Call it a trait of their merrish blood despite their cursed state. Keep Berserk the way it is. A boost of 100 points to carrying capacity as they are the physically strongest race. Berserk will get a 5 second duration bonus every 10 levels or so.

Powers
-Berserker Rage-Double melee damage and 50% damage reduction for 60 seconds plus 5 more seconds every 10 levels
Traits
-Cursed Heritage-25% Magicka resistance
-Malacath's Burden-+100 carrying capacity
-Outcast's Might-+30 health and 20% Stamina regeneration
Bonuses
+10 Heavy armor
+5 Two handed
+5 Smithing
+5 Block
+5 Archery
+5 One handed

Khajiits

Khajiits should get the Eye of Fear power back, the one that will now cause all those around them to be paralyzed in fear. Only humanoids are affected and it gets more effective as you level. But not too much so. It will paralyze all humanoids in a cone in front of the player for 1-2 seconds. Affects Humanoids from level 10 and up with an increase of 5 levels every 10 player levels. Also a power that lets them pick pockets and locks more easily when on Skooma or moon sugar...or a once a simple day usage lol. They also run a little faster and jump a little higher than the other races. Keep the base unarmed damage bonus and increase swing speed of unarmed attacks by 20% initially. ~~As the Khajiit levels its unarmed swing speed increases by 1% every level.~~

Powers
-Eye of Fear-Paralyzes Humanoids in front of the player for 5 seconds up to level 10 + 5 levels every 10 player levels. Enemies up to level 50(when you are level 81)
-Night Eye- Toggleable ability to see in the dark, can be used as a power but it just activates and deactivates. No timer or cool down.
Traits
-Feline Grace-20% increase in movement speed and jump height.
-Claws-15 bonus unarmed damage
-Hunters Constitution-10% health and stamina regeneration
Bonuses
+10 Sneak
+5 Pickpocketing
+5 Lockpicking
+5 One Handed
+5 Light Armor
+5 Archery

Bretons

Bretons should have 40% magicka resistance. 25 is too little and 50 is too much imo. Also a smaller yet still decent boost to magicka. 50? The spell absorption power they have is pretty good, maybe extend duration to prolong its usefulness? Give them a trait called Dragonskin that boost there damage reduction by 50% when their health is below 25%. The duration of their spell absorption power is increased every 10 levels by 10 seconds.

Powers
-Comprehending the Atronach- Absorb 50% of the magicka from hostile spells for 60 seconds, once per day plus 10 seconds every 10 player levels.
Traits
-Dragonskin- 50% damage reduction when below 25% health
-Crossbreed- 10% Stamina regeneration and 20% magicka regeneration
-Ancestral Inheritance- 50% magicka resistance(may be unbalanced)
Bonuses
+10 Conjuration
+5 Illusion
+5 Alteration
+5 Enchanting
+5 Restoration
+5 Speech

Imperials

Imperials should get the ability to charm all those around them for a brief time. Up to an appropriate level. Not too sure what else. Chance to find better items as well as gold in the Imperial Luck power? Imperials are very plain and I feel like anything outlandish would be lore breaking. Maybe increased companion health and damage dealing? Give them a trait called Imperial Tradition. Buffs all skills up to 10 points and lasts for 300 seconds. The skill buffs go up by 5 points every 20 levels.

Powers
-Star of the West- Absorb Stamina for 200 points on touch(is touch possible?)
-Voice of the Emperor- Calms nearby people for 60 seconds, once per day. The magnitude of the power is 99 pts and the area of effect is 75 ft.(Same as Vanilla)
-Imperial Tradition- Fortifies all skills by 5 points for 300 seconds. The skill buffs go up by 5 points every 20 levels.
-Path to Victory- Fortify Speech by 20 points
Traits
-Imperial Luck- Find more gold(same as vanilla)
-Human Endeavor- 25% Stamina Regeneration
Bonuses
+10 Speech
+5 Heavy Armor
+5 Block
+5 Restoration
+5 One Handed
+5 Destruction

Spoiler

Specifically for the Dunmer

-Summon Ancestral Ghost-Regular every day Dunmer ghost in clothing with no spells and iron weapons including a bow. Presumably one of your less auspicious ancestors, that was a merchant or farmer. Level 1-10.

-Summon Ancestral Warrior- Dunmer in a regular armor set. Fur, Leather, Iron, Steel. Has Steel weapons or maybe Orsish. Weak level spells like flames, sparks, firebolt and lightning bolts. Presumably one of your tougher yet unknown ancestors. Level 11-20,

-Summon Ancestral Guardian- Dunmer in a set of Elven, Steel Plate, Dwemer, Orcish or Scaled armors. Likewise weapons. Stronger spells. Presumably an Ancestor that was accomplished and respected, yet forgotten throughout history. Level 21-30.

-Summon Ancestral Hero- In Ebony/Glass armor and weapons (lets reserve Daedric for the Dremora). Strong spells. An ancestor who did much and is fondly remembered as a source of great pride and prestige in your house, whether or not you know of your ancestral lineage or not. Level 31-40

-Summon Ancestral Myth/Legend- In Falmer Armor, not the helmet/Whatever armor you think is appropriate. Daedric Longsword. Powerful spells. Like master level Destruction and Illusion spells. An ancestor so powerful that they only answer the calls of those in their family with power to match their own. Little is known of them but their deeds in the early wars against the Dwemer and Nords in the far distant past guaranteed the success of many battles against their ancient foes. They are an ancient and powerful spirit capable of changing the course of any battle. As strong as Dremora Lords if not slightly more powerful. Level 41+.

At level 50 you gain the ability to summon and banish them as a permanently bound summon.

Something like that. It is rough but there it is. Of course equal attention would need to go towards the other races I think for balance lol. How anyone accomplishes that is their own business.

» Wed May 02, 2012 7:11 pm

Aside from general game improvements, Skyrim has Dragonshouts and Dragons that run it as a central theme.

The next Elder Scrolls needs some other hook or "gimmick" like this to push the series forward and to keep it fresh. I think the new theme should be: Navy.
The core of the game would take place in a modified http://www.imperial-library.info/sites/default/files/gallery_files/ArgoniaMap1.jpg and would be about sailing the seas and running aground on customize-able ships.

Get hired as a lowly hand to run about the deck of a merchant schooner. Climb up the ropes to the crows nests and spy land or enemy ships on the horizon. Pull up along pirate galleys and work your way up the ranks by fighting valiantly, hurling fireballs across the sea-gap to explode on the rival ship. Swing on lines and board the other deck where you hack and slash your way through brigands and buccaneers. Command your own vessel; capture it or purchase it--if you've got the coin. Anchor down in forlorn bays on lonely islands in the sunset. Plunder the seas for treasure. Dig up tropical mountains of gold. Construct your ship as you see fit with a versatile in-game editor. Command it with a drawn-out 3rd person view, observing every move as if from a bird, or, watch your hands twirl the ship's wheel in 1st person and strut about the deck shouting orders. Earn your crew's respect as you navigate through tumultuous sea-storms and hundred-foot waves--or swim away as your lady sinks along with her golden treasure. Sail up the wide rivers of Argonia into myriad swamplands, marshes, bogs, and fens, where you run ashore and deal with the strange argonians. Some are trustworthy, others are wild and unpredictable, and you may find yourself scrambling through the slushy dark woods as the lizard-folk chase behind. Rocket through the underground railway system that is the inside of a creature. Search for the ancient Hist. Hunt, or run from, terrible swamp creatures.Wield weapons that you've never seen before in the other provinces, and see a culture just the same, shrouded in mystery and magic. And when the day is done, when you've gambled every last cent away in the black market streets of Soulrest or Lilmoth, when you come out of your murky skooma daze, slink away to your jolly boat, paddle through the swampy rivers to where your ship lies anchored, and sail away into the orange glow, a starry blue night following swiftly behind.

Let me know anything I missed.

» Wed May 02, 2012 8:09 pm

As much as I dislike the idea of using a "gimmick" type hook, I think you've got something with the Naval/Ship Sailing thing. I've been wishing for this type of thing in The Elder Scrolls series for a long time *Obi Wan voice* "A long time..."

All we ever got was teases, though. In Daggerfall you could buy a ship, and instant travel to it, and use it to store lots of stuff. I think it helped Quick travel, giving you a "Sea travel option" that was faster/cheaper. In Redguard we saw ships moving around and got to fight duels and such on deck, but no sailing around... morrowind had static Ships and fast travel again. Oblivion had quests that took you out into the ocean, and gave more atmosphere to ships, but again, static, stationary ships.

I even had the Original "Pirates of the Carribean" game, get this: published by Bethesda or at least co-made with an affiliate of Bethesda, Akella. It was a great (though buggy) non-linear pirate game with a free-roaming 3rd person adventurer mode, complete with skeleton-filled dungeons. Anyway, I loved the ship sailing in that game, and the true sequel - Age of Pirates 2: City of Abandoned Ships, which I own a copy of, is even more phenomenal graphically, and has some of the best ship-to ship combat that I've ever seen in a game. I think it's more realistic than Empire: Total War's naval combat and on par graphically.

I'd love to see Bethesda team up with Akella again, and produce another combo-type game like this, with Bethesda handling the RPG and 1st person aspects and Akella doing the naval portion of the game. Whether it would actually happen, is questionable, but a Elder Scrolls fan/naval enthusiast can dream...

On your Black Marsh Idea, I agree, it would be an interesting setting, though a bit 1-sided and alien to most players if it was just Argonians. The reason being, that even in fantasy settings, most players prefer a "human element" to serve as a link to reality, and make the setting feel more real. It could work, with enough of an Imperial/Cyrodiilic presence. Only in the form of frontier cities and forts, mind you, the rest of Black Marsh would be a hostile, lush alien land, sparsely populated by potentially hostile native Argonians. Pretty much as you describe above. I'd draw heavily on the Amazon/Aztec architecture for an inspirational starting point...

Maybe you could be an agent of the Empire sent on a mission to find an ancient secret hidden in Black Marsh that holds the key to the survival of the Empire... You'd have the choice of following your mission, becoming a renege pirate seeking fame and fortune, or maybe even becoming sympathetic to the plight of Argonians trying to preserve their heritage and native home.

I know, pretty typical TES plot, right? I guess it would all depend on the writing.

» Wed May 02, 2012 2:38 pm

Very interesting. Thank you for your references on Bethesda's past sea-work games. I've not played these myself, but you give them a good word. If this kind of game could benefit from an alliance with Akella, I'm all for it!

In terms of the reality of Beth making this their TES VI title, it's not all that unlikely (I hope) because I think it has so much stimulation behind it.

The game would be alien yes, but in a direction that the ES series hasn't quite tapped, being different in culture and geography from even Morrowind. I love the idea of the ancient Mesoamerican influence, I had the same one myself, though with all of the ES modifications, of course. We would also see plenty of the diversity of the Tamrielic races, so the connection to the human side of things would still exist, only much more faintly than in Skyrim, Oblivion, or even Morrowind. As for the involvement of the Empire and her outposts, I'm really not too disposed--see, I think the Empire has lost almost all control of this swamp, I would rather usher in a new era than revive the Old Empire. I imagine at this time we would experience much more of what the Argonians have to offer as a political power, though the land is still rife with pirates and rogues... and uncontacted natives. Perhaps the feeling of the game would more resemble a survival tale in the wilderness; running through the infected muck, deserted on a small sand bar, and all that.

Anyway, I enjoyed your discussion on this. Please share more.

» Wed May 02, 2012 10:39 pm

With all due respect... Your ideas would ruin TES. Also, why are people still asking for multiplayer? I don't think you people know what your asking for. It's a single player experience and should remain that way. If you want play "siege the castle" or whatever then buy league of legends or WoW. And the player jumping around like Altaiir? I just shake my head to that. But a co-op campaign has to be the worst. For one it's impossible. Everyone completes the game at their own pace. Secondly it's just... Laughable. Two dovahkiin? Two Nerevarines? Both roaming around at the same time? What happens if you're ready for the next quest but your partner wants to do the guild quests first? Or if you're level 45 and your partner is level 10? Just, no. It seems like you just want a mash up of your favorite games with no regard for the integrity of the series.

Its quite hard for me to express in english because its not my first language i will do my best,thanks in advance for giving your opinion and please try to answer my questions to help me understand your point of view

Combat
Ive played the series since morrowind and i dont want to change it,the most important changes IMO should be in gameplay due to the hours spent in combat,are you completely satisfied with the sword combat?
from morrowind to skyrim combat have been improved a lot, making it more visual and more fun,have you played dark souls/dark messiah of might and magic,blade the edge of darkness? do you think having a deeper combat system will ruin the series?,honestly i think it wont
Online
Having a comunity playing TES in a competitive way will add A LOT to the series
Co-op, please just remove your companion for a friend,NOTHING MORE, you completely misundestood me,?dont you prefer having a someone that is not stupid by your side? having a party like baldurs gate mage+warrior+thief, they level with you and adds to the roleplay,if they want to do quest o guild ?who cares? they are playing your game and following you just like companions do

I dont want assasins creed just a perk for thieves to climb for example a house/cathedral and enter from the roof,(and i hate assasins creed BTW, I just love the animations i will love to see such animations in TES)

» Thu May 03, 2012 1:55 am

Or let the player pick a voice from a list.

Some of my most anticipated features in TES 6 would be:

big cells to allow cities with no loading time
locational damage for a better combat
a system of character development that allows attributes and perks together
return of spellmaking
a world that changes before your eyes (ie seasons change the towns' aspect and what people do)
better guilds with skills requirements, sabotaging other guilds and good management options once you become leader

+1
spell making,better combat,changing world to your actions,guild management

» Wed May 02, 2012 1:06 pm

Its quite hard for me to express in english because its not my first language i will do my best,thanks in advance for giving your opinion and please try to answer my questions to help me understand your point of view

Combat
Ive played the series since morrowind and i dont want to change it,the most important changes IMO should be in gameplay due to the hours spent in combat,are you completely satisfied with the sword combat?
from morrowind to skyrim combat have been improved a lot, making it more visual and more fun,have you played dark souls/dark messiah of might and magic,blade the edge of darkness? do you think having a deeper combat system will ruin the series?,honestly i think it wont
Online
Having a comunity playing TES in a competitive way will add A LOT to the series
Co-op, please just remove your companion for a friend,NOTHING MORE, you completely misundestood me,?dont you prefer having a someone that is not stupid by your side? having a party like baldurs gate mage+warrior+thief, they level with you and adds to the roleplay,if they want to do quest o guild ?who cares? they are playing your game and following you just like companions do

I dont want assasins creed just a perk for thieves to climb for example a house/cathedral and enter from the roof,(and i hate assasins creed BTW, I just love the animations i will love to see such animations in TES)

Sorry on behalf of the TES community for the heavy anti-MMO sentiments, it is just a sore spot for alot of people. You are definitely not the first to want multiplayer, and it's been debated a thousand times.

Clarifying the "Co-Op" feature puts you more in the green b/c many who are against an Elder Scrolls MMO with a large WoW-like player population, are not so opposed to having a co-op style feature. Battlespire had this feature and although I could never get it to run quite right, the implications were pretty darn cool.

I wouldn't might seeing a game set in the Elder Scrolls universe with Co-op or an Arena pvp mode, but rather in a whole different game from the main TES series. So it would be a separate game series just like they tried with Battlespire, and Redguard. Those were made before Morrowind, when they were still a smaller company, so I think if they did something similar now, it would be alot more successful and (hopefully) better quality.

» Wed May 02, 2012 7:43 pm

Sorry on behalf of the TES community for the heavy anti-MMO sentiments, it is just a sore spot for alot of people. You are definitely not the first to want multiplayer, and it's been debated a thousand times.

Clarifying the "Co-Op" feature puts you more in the green b/c many who are against an Elder Scrolls MMO with a large WoW-like player population, are not so opposed to having a co-op style feature. Battlespire had this feature and although I could never get it to run quite right, the implications were pretty darn cool.

I wouldn't might seeing a game set in the Elder Scrolls universe with Co-op or an Arena pvp mode, but rather in a whole different game from the main TES series. So it would be a separate game series just like they tried with Battlespire, and Redguard. Those were made before Morrowind, when they were still a smaller company, so I think if they did something similar now, it would be alot more successful and (hopefully) better quality.

ID software making a multiplayer,like quake with swords and sorcery (id tech 5)..not bad....
expansion or dlc with online modes.... its a good idea that they dont have to compromise resources to make single player maybe its a solution
the point is to expand game life,Im still playing darksouls PvP online and skyrim is a better game IMO,a duel with magic, shouts... i can only dream