A new Skyrim mod gives players a way to craft custom spells, reviving the iconic spellmaking system that was a cornerstone of Oblivion’s magic. Magic in The Elder Scrolls has always been a contentious topic among fans, as Bethesda has changed its approach multiple times over the years. Oblivion’s magic system was always one of its standout features, and its removal from Skyrim was a sore spot for many fans. Now, thanks to modders, that feature is finally back in players’ hands.
Spellcrafting in Oblivion allowed players to mix and match spell effects, while they could also adjust the power, duration, and cost to ultimately design magic tailored to their playstyle. It was a central mechanic for mage roleplay, and one that allowed for deep experimentation. Skyrim, by comparison, offered flashier spell effects but little in the way of customization. With the recent release of Oblivion Remastered, the stark differences between the two magic systems have only become more apparent, and it was only a matter of time before a modder decided to take matters into their own hands.
6 Things Oblivion Remastered Does Better Than Skyrim
Does Oblivion Remastered topple the competition with its tougher RPG aspects and modern visuals? Or is Skyrim still the king of the open-world RPG?
Skyrim Mod Revives Oblivion-Style Custom Spellmaking
The mod, Fourth Era Spell-Crafting, implements Oblivion’s spellmaking system into Skyrim, though with a few key differences. For one, unlike Oblivion, visiting an Altar is not required to craft custom spells. This task is handled by a Tome of Spellmaking instead, which is a small book that can be purchased from Sergius Turrianus in the College of Winterhold. Additionally, the gold cost associated with the process has been reduced drastically, and this setting, along with others, can be adjusted from the MCM menu.
Even better, alchemists in Skyrim who learn the effects of ingredients can imbue custom spells with those effects, adding another avenue for experimentation. A player who has studied the alchemical effects of Vampire Dust, for example, will know how to cast Invisibility, Restore Magicka, Regenerate Health, and Cure Disease, essentially giving them four different spell effects to tinker with.
Like Oblivion’s spellcrafting system, multiple spells can be combined into one, with full control over magnitude, area, and duration. Depending on the selection, the mod will accurately calculate and display the magicka cost of the final spell. The mod also includes the ability to copy the appearance of other spells when designing a new creation, with the freedom to turn frost spells into fiery windstorms, shock spells into beams of healing light, and everything in between. To keep things tidy, the mod even includes a ‘forget spell’ feature, letting players delete unwanted creations to reduce clutter.
Fourth Era Spell-Crafting opens up some wild new possibilities for mage builds in Skyrim. Paired with spell expansion mods, it can turn the game into a full-blown spellcrafting sandbox. The mod lets Skyrim players experience the controlled chaos that was the Oblivion magic system, allowing them to craft spells that are practical, experimental, or unbalanced as they want them to be.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 81 /100 Critics Rec: 83%
- Released
- November 11, 2011
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda Game Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda Softworks
