Skyrim brought significant improvements in leveling and combat mechanics over its predecessor, offering players more freedom in designing their character builds. In Skyrim, any skill advancement contributes to leveling up, rather than relying exclusively on major and minor skills. In theory, this should diversify gameplay, but in practice, players tend to gravitate towards a specific combat style for several reasons.
This favored approach is known as the Stealth Archer, where players focus primarily on Archery and Stealth, neglecting other skills like magic and heavy weaponry. As Elder Scrolls fans look forward to The Elder Scrolls 6, developers would do well to consider this phenomenon. If the new installment aims to support a wide range of functional character builds, it should avoid defaulting to a single dominant play style that turned into a meme in Skyrim. By examining why the Stealth Archer is so appealing, the developers might prevent this one-track strategy.
The Allure of the Stealth Archer
One primary reason for the Stealth Archer’s popularity in Skyrim is the frequent encounters with dragons. Before certain main quest events, shooting them down with a bow effectively was one of the few options to bring them to ground. Consequently, players found themselves enhancing their archery skills and favoring stealth to gain the upper hand. Often, players didn’t consciously choose the Stealth Archer path; rather, it evolved naturally from gameplay.
Another factor is the formidable nature of bows, like Auriel’s Bow from the Dawnguard add-on, which are highly effective long-range weapons. With arrows having no weight in a player’s inventory and being infrequently depleted, the Stealth Archer build proves to be efficient across various difficulty levels. Even players who initially plan different builds often find themselves defaulting to this strategy because it simply works so well, leading to its viral status.
Looking Ahead With The Elder Scrolls 6
Once players realize they’re likely to drift towards the Stealth Archer setup, it becomes challenging to break away. The Elder Scrolls 6 has an opportunity to address this by making other builds more attractive, for instance, through enhanced spellcasting and diverse combat systems. While Skyrim advanced its Stealth and Archery mechanics compared to Oblivion, its spellcasting fell short, being overly simplified and somewhat cumbersome.
By enhancing enemy AI and balancing combat, The Elder Scrolls 6 could disrupt the ease of clearing dungeons as a Stealth Archer. Smarter enemies that recognize they’re under attack could compel players to explore alternative strategies and skill trees. Oblivion allowed the wielding of magic alongside weapons in each hand, a feature that would be wise to reincorporate in the next installment to encourage magic skill development.
In embracing these improvements, The Elder Scrolls 6 can deliver an enriching RPG experience that encourages diverse character build experimentation, veering away from the confines of the Stealth Archer mold.
