Summary
- Improved AI for followers is crucial to enhance player experience in Skyrim.
- Dynamic weather can offer challenges and enrich exploration if added to Skyrim Ultima.
- More diverse races, expanded class systems, and better-mounted combat could help the gameplay even years later.
Most players would agree with the statement that Skyrim is a timeless classic. More than one decade after it was released, the game is still played frequently by many people, proving that, regardless of its dated graphics and occasionally limited game mechanics, it's a masterpiece with all the right elements.
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As it happens with games of this magnitude, Skyrim has been modded countless times by several talented people. To date, there's almost a mod for everything players can think of. One of the most promising upcoming mods is Skyrim Ultima, a complete overhaul of the game that has shown greatly improved graphics and claims that it will also change combat, the game's user interface, navigation, and much more. Here are a few things it would be interesting to see when the mod is released.
6 Improved AI Companions
No More Dealing With Stragglers
- Followers' AI should receive a major overhaul
- The mod has a chance to make interactions more impactful
While Skyrim is undoubtedly a beloved game that has withstood the test of time in many ways, one of the elements that players have complained about since day one is how clunky the Dragonborn's followers are. It's not that they do it on purpose, but it's safe to say that any player who's ever completed the game knows the frustration of having to wait for Lydia to catch up.
Since Skyrim Ultima seems to be heading towards changing the game in almost every way, it would be very nice to see followers' AI get a major overhaul. No one is asking to make them vastly intelligent or unreasonably powerful. It would just be great if they managed to keep up the pace and knew not to stand on doorways preventing access to new areas.
5 Dynamic Weather Impact
Discovering The World With A Few Additional Challenges
- Dynamic weather can make world exploration much more fun
- Elements like fog can make dragons invisible in the distance
Skyrim is known for its cold, inclement weather in many of its regions, but other than providing the world with a bleak, gray look and fostering frost-related enemies, intense weather hardly ever poses a threat to the Dragonborn. By introducing dynamic weather to the game, players can be challenged when traversing the world and even fighting enemies.
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For example, if Skyrim Ultima were to introduce heavy snow that covers the land and is several inches tall, that would be a great opportunity to make horse riding or walking considerably slower. Heavy rain could also affect visibility, making distant threats, such as flying dragons, giants, and trolls, nearly impossible to see. Granted, many players have a love-hate relationship with exploring the world before fast travel is unlocked, but dynamic weather could add another layer to the experience, making it more enjoyable.
4 Expanded Race And Class Systems
Hybrid Classes And Additional Traits
- Building on the existing races can add another interesting layer to the game
- Adding new classes would also help make the experience more complete
When it was originally released, the 10 races Skyrim offered as part of the character customization section at the beginning of the game seemed more than enough. And while they still represent a considerable variety that players can choose from, the game could benefit from building on this concept further.
Sure, having 50% Frost resistance as a Nord, or +15 Base Unarmed Damage as a Khajiit is nice, but there's a ton of untapped potential in exploring each race to a deeper degree, and it would be great to see Skyrim Ultima do it. The mod could also add a few more races, even if they're not canon, as it would represent a most welcome expansion to an already diverse selection.
3 Improved Mounted Combat
Perfecting An Existing Feature
- Mounted combat in Skyrim often feels clunky and awkward
- Skyrim Ultima can improve this feature and make it more user-friendly
While it's already possible to fight while on horseback in Skyrim, there's still a lot of work to be done. Mounted combat was a nice addition to the game when it was first implemented, but players were quick to find flaws in this game mechanic. Mounted combat feels a bit awkward to control, the attack options aren't extensive enough, and the fact that players can't cast spells while riding their horses (without mods), is often a source of frustration.
Skyrim Ultima could take advantage of this niche in the market to expand on the already existing mods for improving mounted combat to deliver an all-around enjoyable experience that gives players as many options as possible.
2 Deeper Economic Consequences
Stealing And Other Crimes Affect The Community
- Stealing could have deeper consequences, affecting the people within a city, and even the Dragonborn
- Merchants could be rendered unable to eat and survive if the Dragonborn steals too much from them
For the most part, committing crimes in Skyrim involves no further consequences other than infuriating guards and being thrown into jail if players either refuse to pay a fine or don't have enough money. There's also the option to fight, but as fun as it is, it rarely ever lasts long and is, for the most part, a losing battle.
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Skyrim Ultima can take advantage of this lack of consequences and build on it by implementing deeper, more complex consequences for immoral actions. For example, stealing too much iron might cause a shortage of swords, resulting in guards and other allies that fight alongside the Dragonborn in certain parts of the game being unarmed. Stealing too much food or an excess of jewelry could affect merchants greatly, up to the point where they might perish from hunger due to being unable to meet their basic needs.
1 Multiple Endings
Branching Storylines And Various Timelines
- Branching storylines can breathe new life into the game
- Skyrim Ultima could include bad endings
While there's no denying that Skyrim's story is extremely well crafted and its side quests are almost always very complete in every way, having just one ending for such a massive game seems wrong. Defeating Alduin in Sovngarde is very rewarding, and a fitting conclusion to the Dragonborn's journey; however, implementing branching storylines that could also result in bad endings can bring new life into this title.
Skyrim Ultima could explore additional ending possibilities, such as Alduin winning, or simply running away without being killed by the Dragonborn. The same goes for side quests and faction storylines that could vary much more than they do at the moment.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Released
- November 11, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda Game Studios
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
