How The Elder Scrolls 6 Can Innovate on the Franchise's Combat System

Game Rant Writes "The Elder Scrolls 6 can take the franchise's long-used combat system and turn it into a uniquely complex experience that beats out other RPGs."

[isarai]

Skyrim was a huge step down from oblivion, VI will probably be even more simplified and dull

[S2Killinit]

True. Still enjoyed it though. I will need a nice PC to play VI I guess.

[PhillyDillyDee]

Serious question: how was it a “huge step down?” The only thing i really missed was the enchantment system from oblivion. No more 100% invisibility lol.

[isarai]

Hand to hand, speechcraft, bartering, acrobatics, actually learning a myriad of new attacks, special attacks and combos for each weapon discipline as you level up their skill just to name a few things that were cut/nerfed

[Asplundh]

Because Microsoft bought it, some people have a hard time dealing with that. All of a sudden a game that was highly praised and won multiple goty awards, is now "simplified and dull".

[MadLad]

Even Oblivion was highly streamlined.
Morrowind was probably the best they ever did in creating a highly in depth RPG, though still accessible at the same time.

[neutralgamer1992]

Asplundh

We as gamers should be above that. Ms buying them doesn't mean they should get extra criticism. If we don't provide valid non biased feedback how will these developers truly know what we want so we need to stop childish arguments

[isarai]

People were complaining about how dumbed down skyrim was pretty much since launch, get over yourselves. Doesn't make it a bad game by any means, it's still great, but it's also a very shallow version of what came before it, both can be true, and oblivion the same for morrowind.

[franwex]

Yet some people claim that Oblivion was a step down from Morrowind.

I think they simply reflect the time that the game was made.

[MadLad]

Nah.
A much larger magic system. More in-depth enchanting. Allowed you to wear multiple types of armor, as well as clothing over even that. More weapon types. Vastly differing biomes. Many conflicting factions. Much more in-depth conversations.

They really did turn the series into babie's first RPG more and more with every release.

[-Foxtrot]

I just want more choices with abilities

If I pick Athletics or Acrobats then allow be to get passed certain areas easier because I've invested in them for example, like trying to find a target in a castle and he's on the top floor, with level 35 Athletics and 50 Acrobats I can climb the weak looking wall and get up, avoiding guards. Same goes for certain Magic or Strength builds. Especially when climbing mountains and they know we're all gonna mash the A button or something, give us gear to get up or something.

[LordoftheCritics]

Acrobatics nerf was a huge loss in Skyrim.

I do love Skyrim for the multitude of things it does better but the acrobatics nerf was the single greatest mistake.

[isarai]

My favorite build was a hand to hand only acrobat, you could imagine how gutted i was when skyrim didn't allow either one of those skills. Later found a way to basically break the game for hand to hand, but it has nowhere near the same depth as oblivion which actually had several special attacks you could do with hand to hand

[MadLad]

Bethesda just isn't that sort of RPG developer, unfortunately. Not since Daggerfall anyway.

The only RPG developers who really make you feel you're the character you're building currently is Larian, Obsidian, Eidos Montreal, inXile, and Spiders.

Most just think giving you stats and a skill tree equates to in-depth RPG gaming.

[iransofarawaay]

Y'all are delusional.

FACT

[StarkR3ality]

Look at games like Chivalry/Vermantide etc, crunchy combat where enemies feel like they're getting hit rather than the blade is going through them would be a big plus.

I'd like the spells to remove body parts and blow people to smitherins if possible, make you feel like a bad ass mage surrounded by burning corpses rather than firing a nerf gun from your hand.

[jznrpg]

They’ve nerfed Elder Scrolls each iteration since Morrowind

[neutralgamer1992]

Could we maybe get kingdom of amular type combat that feels more satisfying? Or do y'all think that combat wouldn't work in a series like ES

[franwex]

I believe it would benefit frankly.

I think it’s easier to implement their existing battle system and a lot of people like it-so they may keep it for that reason. But I would like something to kingdom of Amalur.

[Crows90]

Elder scrolls Morrowind had the best combat system. Ever since then they've decided to dumb it down more and more. I think they should go back to elder scrolls Morrowind style of combat with fixes and adjustments

[MadLad]

I'd definitely take them going back to the stat based combat system vs the swing spamming that is their current.

That will never happen though.

[Crows90]

True. The action appeal is strong but stat based will be the only way to smoothen out the 1 v X issue that it currently has. Unless of course they completely revamp the combat system.

What j would do is add special moveset for the different play styles that all have some crowd control options. Magic should have dazing and blinding spells that actually work well and are feasible to use in combat to help you tackle groups of enemies better.

Swords and shields should have knockdown or hamstring effects to help slow and/or incapacitate enemies...that way you can crowd control a few and chip away. Otherwise if it stays as is...a complete mess

[GamesAsAService]

This has been on my mind for some time now. They could really have a gem on their hands if they can make the combat feel amazing. I understand that there are some inherent difficulties associated with first person melee combat, but if they could come up with a solid system that feels engaging that would be great.

Some of the challenges of designing such a system in my opinion are the following.

1) make it feel responsive, both in terms of how the game feels and controls and how the enemies react to our attacks. The weight of carrying a massive sword and then connecting with an enemy should feel and look amazing. Or being lightweight and mobile while firing arrows at enemies should feel just as fun.

2) develop a balance between the benefits of having better gear VS just being better at controlling your character.
EX) an amazing player with an in depth knowledge of the combat mechanics soloing bosses with shit gear and weapons VS being fully kitted out with amazing weapons and armor, but being mediocre at the combat in general

Basically balancing RPG elements with being good at the combat generally.

3) if they can get away from combat that just revolves around spamming the same input over and over again, and actually encourages creative and thoughtful play. That would be awesome as well.

Anyways that is what I would want in terms of combat for the next Elder Scrolls game.

We will see what happens.

[Crows90]

Better AI and they can look at games like dying light.

A mixture of enemies to make the combat more engaging. Like a wizard casting spells, an archer and a warrior or 2. You can run to silence the wizard and then positioning would help against the archer and 2 warriors. Special attacks with weapons would also help crowd control

[Soy]

I hope it's entirely different, because I hate Bethesda's melee combat, whether it's Elder Scrolls or Fallout. It's so stiff and fake feeling.

[Panhandler]

And exclusively on Xbox and PC

[Exvalos]

The elder scrolls combat has always been trash and they are not going to fix it.