7 Classic Elder Scrolls Tropes That Aren't Around Anymore

By Joyce Ray

Posted on September 1, 2021

7 Classic Elder Scrolls Tropes That Aren’t Around Anymore

No open-world RPG series is more popular than The Elder Scrolls. Although the game has been immensely popular since The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim a decade back, they have been a mainstay of the RPG genre for a long time.

Get started earlyElder Scrolls games like the arena?DaggerfallAndMorrowindThey were totally different from the more recent OblivionSkyrim.They were not only more difficult than RPGs of the ’90s or early 2000s but also featured gameplay mechanics and tropes that have been largely abandoned by the series in its modern iterations. Custom Classes, Star Signs, and Similar Customizations

When starting a new game in every mainline Elder Scrolls game exceptSkyrimPlayers are almost immediately provided with as there are many character-building options customizeMorrowindAndOblivionFor example, a player can choose to create a custom class that focuses on specific attributes. Almost all entries offer Star Signs right from the start.

Skyrim removed the star sign and class systems to allow for more flexible character progression and the introductions of Standing Stones. Many Elder Scrolls players are missing the classic RPG character systems of the Elder Scrolls games. However, they hope that The Elder Scrolls VI will restore some of these features.

NPC Dialogue is more important than Quest Markers because there are no quest markers

While OblivionAndSkyrim(and)The Elder Scrolls Online) practically guides the player to their next goal with NPCs, maps, and quest markers. earlier Elder Scrolls games were not so. InMorrowindThe game has an overworld map that players can access. Players must pay attention to the environment and follow the directions to reach their quest locations.

Modern games such as Red Dead Redemption 2 make good attempts to bring back this kind of gameplay. It helps to immerse the players in the world being created. It’s not easy to follow the directions and can lead to confusion.

…And The Journal Catalogues text Chronologically, not By Quest

One of the most common tropes in the early Elder Scrolls games is how confusing and detailed the player’s journal could be. Morrowind quests can be written directly into the player’s notebook. They cannot be sorted by other quests, like Oblivion or later games. This makes it very easy for players to keep track of page numbers and important details.

These mechanics can cause players to be divided. It’s amazing for immersion to have detailed instructions, quest objectives, names, and all of their information arranged in the same order that they were received. However, it is easy to lose quests if they are not being tracked and it can make it easier to complete quests if they can be sorted.

7 Classic Elder Scrolls Tropes That Aren’t Around Anymore