Level Scaling in Video Games: Skyrim

www.aimassist.com:

"4 days ago the world wide web was buzzing with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim GameInformer magazine scans which brought with them bountiful heaps of information on Bethesda Game Studios upcoming game. It all sounds very impressive. However there is one aspect of Skyrim that people may take issue with..."

[Warprincess116]

Oh god i hate level scaling. Elder scrolls 4
was horrible for that exact reason. I wanna feel
myslef grow in strength. That what people like about
RPG. So i hope they don't do this.

[MariaHelFutura]

Level scaling should go somewhere and die and then be sealed away by six seals for thousands of years...only to emerge again.

The 1st day.......Dun, Dun.

[grailly]

well implemented level scaling can be cool. what L4D does is a bit like level scaling and people love it.

[RedDead]

People don't even understand levelk scailing, ALL Elder Scrolls had some form of level scaling, Oblivion was just the most extreme. In Falout you can still encounter a deathclaw at a low level, expect Skyrim to be the same, it will be risky to travel because you MIGHT come accross an angry ogre

Also Deadric armor will NOT be on random Bandits ever.

[Bigpappy]

Man, I hate level Scaling. It is what made me not finish Oblivion, an I an strongly considering not getting this either. It takes a way the useful nest of special armor and weapons. You no longer care about the economy. If they think I am playing an RPG just for the story and to swing a sword with a meaningless name on it, they can go FTS. May be they should go get the lead producer from Morrowind back, because it looks like these guy lost they F'ing minds. I didn't complain too much about Oblivion, because I see they were trying to bring more of the younger crowd to have interest in the series. But now they are talking about leaving it dumbed down. Thats fine, but I prefer to play Two Worlds2, than a darn action game with a long story. I'll just wait for the next Fallout Bethesda. No thanks to this POS.

[ASSASSYN 36o]

I hate it. I miss morrowind, because it was a personal achievement to kill an enemy that was far more powerful than you. I wanted that in oblivion. Level scaling to me is a lazy game progression method to me. I actually prefer being restricted from exploring certain areas due to the enemies. Skyrim devs have plenty Of time left to grant us an option for level scaling to be on or off.

[lastdual]

Yet, back when Morrowind came out, everyone was whining about how the game just got pointlessly easy after you hit level 30 or so...

Leveling scaling is only bad if its implemented poorly. Proper scaling should still make the world feel dangerous at low levels, etc. New Vegas actually does a pretty good job of it. Although that was Obsidian, I think Bethesda has enough practice by now to get it right.

[Tommykrem]

I sort of agree. I think Fallout 3 did pretty well.
You have certain areas which are hard or easy no matter which level you're in, and some levels that scale with you. That keeps you from exploring wherever at the beginning of the game.

Level scaling in Oblivion was indeed ridicolous. Thing is that not everyone level scaled, for instance if you take on a particular pretty big and decisive battle (Oblivion fans will know what I'm talking about I think) in a high level, almost all your allies will die. Low level, and the monsters they encounter will be too weak for them. The again if you complete missions in low level, you get low-level rewards. Terrible system...

But still one of the best games ever.

[swiftshot93]

The level scaling in this game is supposed to be similar to Fallout 3's, so its not bad at all.

[Kon]

Didn't like. This way i don't feel i'm getting powerful, as the enemies level up with you.

[ASSASSYN 36o]

Exactly! I want to feel powerful. They need an option for or against scaling.

[despair]

I'm sure I read that if you enter a cave or dungeon or something like that its locked to your current level for the remainder of the game. I might have misread...

[A LIVING LEGEND]

Morrowind worked fairly well without it.
Assassyn 360 said it best.

[RedDead]

Morrowind had it too, just not as bad as Oblivion, alothough if you check my previous comments it's quite clear I love Morrowind and dislike Oblivion for that reason.

Just saying don't write off skyrim because of Oblivion

[Obama]

What's the point of leveling up and getting powerful or legendary weapons then?

[Variant69]

Level scaling, no problem. I'll still buy the game no matter, and I'll enjoy it. Maybe, because, I'm not a whinny bitch, but also level scailing is never as detrimental as some people seem to love making it out to be. It certainly doesn't make a game not worth playing.

There are actually clear positives along with the negatives that are never mentioned by the bigoted rats that always complain about level scaling. (I'm trying not to be offensive, but then I stop caring.)

The most common claim made by haters of level scaling is that it takes away any sense of player gain(maucho badassness) and takes away challenge where there should undoubtidly be challenge. The former is complete garbage and the latter is the only half-way valid point. Also, there's this crazy shit with people saying there's no point to lvling if the mosters are going to be just as difficult at lvl 5 as they are lvl 50. To that I'll just say, there are other reasons to lvl up you butthurt moron.

Getting back to that 'half-way' valid point, e.g. there's no challenge when my lvl 5 warrior goes to kill this behemoth troll, and it looks fucking ridiculous. Good point, but this is not an inherent problem with lvl scaling. Why not? Because, it's a problem with inperfect lvl scaling. (insanity? Possibly.) The issue is that with lvl scaling common sense by the developers is appreciated. Some mobs simply shouldn't be leveled down in difficulty beyond a certain point, obvious things, that would realistically be of challenge for an adventurer to slay. Things like dragons and anything that is normally considered of elite difficulty, basically boss mobs, mini bosses, bosses, and big shit. If that was confronted then there would be nothing wrong with level scaling and these mobs would stay fairly challenging through the whole game no matter your lvl. But, there is something wrong with level scaling, and it is inperfect, but, then again, it's not complete crap either. Even as is.

On the other hand, if you're complaining about mobs lvling up as you lvl and that nothing gets easier to kill. Well then, in that case you know absolutely nothing about how the level system works and probably suck at playing the game to begin with, and you should simply sit back and shut your mouth while the intelligent people talk about real issues regarding a given level system and esp. 'level scaling'.

It helps if you recall what all happens when you level up, news flash, more than stats just rising.

[ArchangelMike]

hate level scaling. It's completely pointless. Why don't they just make dungeons or certain geographic areas where you need to be a certain level? Or like the guy suggested, have only certain bosses that level scale, or who you only encounter when you are a certain level, i.e. the Boss quest only becomes available by the NPC when you are level X or whatever.

[Tommykrem]

I think that's what they're planning to do.
At least they did that in Fallout