So there has been obviously a lot of different reactions to the way Bethesda is changing the attributes and class systems. There are also people complaining about Bethesda's choice to continue with their opening prison scene tradition, and there are a minority of ridiculous people who are asking to put firearms into Elder Scrolls.
Regardless of how you feel about these changes, and whether or not you like some of the suggestions being made for the game, its obvious that Skyrim is going to be noticeably different from the previous games.

My question is: How much do you think Bethesda can change the series before it stops being Elder Scrolls? What defines the series for you? The developers can make a new game that everyone loves, but that doesn't really make it a part of the series. Do you think the changes being made in Skyrim will make the series feel like something other than Elder Scrolls?

Exploring a world.

in a word, freedom.

What defines the series?


Go anywhere Do anything. Not Go everywhere Do everything in one fuzzing playthrough.

Its already changing significantly by trying to -encompass a wider audience- or make it, easily acccessible. I'd of been more impressed if they adopted the easy to learn hard to master approach, but that doesnt exist currently and they are inching more and more towards LOOK AT EVERYTHING YOU CAN DO? DO THIS, DO THAT. ever wonder what happened to the feeling that you didn't know you could do something until you stumbled upon it? or actively looked for it? no work is left to the player everything is laid out without reservation, and at the same time all the work is dependant on the player, now focusing on "player skill" and direct input, last I checked my character was living the World of TES, not me.

As long as I can do what ever I want and be whoever I choose, it will always be TES.

Redguard makes this a tricky question. If I had to say what I'd accept as a TES game IN GENERAL, as in, even if they wanted to do another spinoff-type game in the style of Redguard or something completely new, then I'd say the only thing that defines a TES game is the lore and the universe. If it takes place in Mundus and the pre-existing lore is relevant, then it's a TES game.

But as far as what defines the main TES series, which I believe is what you're really wanting to know...for me, it's roleplaying in a fantasy world with mostly pre-specified lore, being able to be whoever and whatever I want to be, and being open-ended with the ability to ignore the main quest or to continue playing after the main quest. In a word, it's about freedom.

EDIT: And I didn't read nightcobra's post before posting this.

This.

The whole "wander an open world the way you want to" thing. (Well, and gaining skill by using them. Even though I've tried an "Oblivion XP" mod a couple times, just for kicks.



It's one of the reasons I like Fallout 3 better than FO:NV - sure, NV had a much more complex web of plot & quests. But the world just wasn't as interestingly made, and you couldn't wander it - the lack of scaling made it much more linear.

For me it's all in the detail. I feel like i'm actually living in a real world.

It has culture, history, the mundane and the adventurous. You could be a street level thief or Arch Mage of the Arcane University.

If Bethesda made a game that took place in modern times where you create a character and are set out into the world to do whatever you want i'd play the hell out of it. Chances are you could do whatever you wanted to and go anywhere.

Even if you started out in a boring suburb you might end up a soldier in a war or a bank robber or something.

They're good at that kind of stuff.

That is what defines the game for me. TES has the most fully realized 3D worlds in the industry and it's looking like Skyrim will once again raise the bar on depth and interactivity.

Open world roleplaying game, set in a well defined, unique, lore-rich world.

So, to me, any change that diminishes open-worldedness or roleplaying, or runs counter to the fairly well defined history of Tamriel, makes the game less "The Elder Scrolls."

Go anywhere, Do anything, Be what you do.

I think that covers the exploration, freedom, and skill systems that have characterised most of the Elder Scrolls games.

An open fantasy world, where freedom is always underlined. There's epic background story and numerous places to visit and explore, from deep and dangerous dungeons to great and majestic cities. You are free to become whoever you want; you fill out the blanks of yourself. You write your own Elder Scroll.

Hm, not an easy question.
For me "TES will stop being TES" if it'll be similar to other games, because all the Elder Scrolls games we have today are somehow different.
The in-game TES feeling is just wonderful for me, i don't know what it is but it surely does it to my favorite games.
I really hope Skyrim will stay on TES side and be like Oblivion or Morrowind, and I think it will! :twirl:

freedom and diversity
a lot of times game are just kill but ES you actually talk and there are smart ways to do things, not to mention all the fighting tactics skills and I dont think anything surpasses it in Modding tools

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRa002nTSwk

.... First thing that popped into my head. :biggrin:

TES isnt TES without being able to take off my shoes and put them in a barrel.

Open world, no insurmountable waist-high fences, joinable factions (at least 1 for each of the main playstyle flavors), mudcrabs,
and guards that shout "STOP! YOU'VE BROKEN THE LAW!" when you steal something

Well they are often old, and rolled up.

"insane developers making a buggy game that you somehow still enjoy after 300 hours"

No more TES for you. You can not choose anymore. You're a dragon slayer. Muhahaha ...

I agree with you. (I really wish I did not have to be a dragon slayer.)

Exploring the lands being whoever you want, how you want, when you want.

This
I'm quite hopeful about TES V
More positives than negatives for me atm

The Elder Scrolls has nothing to do with the mechanics that lie behind the surface. It's the feel of the world, that gives you total freedom.

See, Skyrims system just sounds so much more intuitive: you get better at what you do. Isn't that how real life also works? I don't have a bar in real life that shows my willpower, intelligence and so on.

I love how the Dev team reinvents the series for every game. Because that's the only way to keep the series relevant. Who likes to play another boring Call of Duty 6? (don't know how many same versions of that game have been released so far...and don't care either)
My point is: Elder Scrolls stops beeing Elder Scrolls when it's mindless more-of-the-same stuff. And Skyrim is all but not that, as it seems.

Elderscrolls for me is about choices.
I choose 1 of 10 races, then I choose what skills to use to level up.
I choose to do the main quest or head of exploring.

Its also about storylines.
The main quests the faction quests and the small quests were all very enjoyable, and the majority were well written.

Finally it comes down to teh graphics, although not a massive part of my game they do help with immersion in the world, and at the time of release the games have always been there or there abouts with the leading graphical games of the time, even with all the other things that are in TES games that can mess with gamespeed.

I don't think the current changes we know about will change the Elder Scrolls series. As the technology changes that allows them to do more and more with the game, things are going to change; I expect that. I don't want it to become a FPS...it's definitely not that. I don't want my hand held throughout the game because someone thinks I don't have an imagination; it's not that. I'll tell you - in the recent interviews, I hear things that make me have faiith that it's going to be ok. I hear Bethesda sticking to their guns on some issues and I'm glad for that. They have a vision of what this is and so far, so incredibly good. I have no nit-picky complaints about the details of past games and things changing. I'm here for the ride as long as I can be here. I just see no need for fear about it at this point.

:tes: