Tamriel is a vast and diverse continent with differing ideologies and cultures across the different provinces. With each game inThe Elder Scrollsset in a different province, players are immersed in the culture of that particular location, whether that be of the Nords, the Imperials, or the Dunmer.The Elder Scrolls 6will probably be set in Hammerfell, which means a shift from the Nords of Skyrim to the Redguards of Hammerfell, a culture which is different in many notable ways, but one that shares a fundamental dislike of magic, which is not great news for players who enjoy playing as mages.
Magic-users have gotten the short-end of the stick inSkyrim,especially when compared toMorrowindandOblivion. These two games were set in the provinces of Morrowind and Cyrodiil, both of which have active Mages Guilds and are open and accepting of magic. Skyrim, on the other hand, has a long tradition of rejecting magic, and the only place to practice it is the College of Winterhold, a ruined castle-like structure where the townsfolk hate the mages thanks to the Great Collapse that destroyed most of the town, an event for which the residents blame the College. While Hammerfell will likely have groups that discriminate against magic, mages should still be more prevalent inThe Elder Scrolls 6.
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The Elder Scrolls 6’s Setting Reflects The Attitudes of Skyrim
This distrust is reflected in the gameplay ofSkyrim, where the magic system is severely limited compared toOblivionandMorrowind. Intentional on the part of the developer or not,mages inSkyrimare notably less powerfulthan inOblivionthanks to the lack of resources available, with only the College as a center of magic, and an overhauled magic system that severely limits what mages can do. Mages inOblivioncan create their own spells with effects they already know, and spells don’t need to be cast with a free hand, making it possible for a magic-user to use weapons and wield magic at the same time.
The move to Hammerfell inThe Elder Scrolls 6means a jump to another nation in Tamriel that doesn’t have a strong culture in magic; in fact, the Redguards may distrust magic more than the Nords do. The Redguards of Hammerfell have a strong warrior and fighting culture that is similar to the Nords, andtheir history with the mages of the Aldmeri Dominionmakes their relationship with magic even more complicated. There probably won’t be a Mages Guild in Hammerfell, and the chances of a center of magical learning is unlikely given the distrust of magic in the country.
Bethesda Needs to Be Careful and Creative With its Magic
Hammerfell is a massive country, and it’s absolutely possible to build in a magic system that works with the lore and culture of the people who live there, even excluding the communities from neighboring Cyrodiil and High Rock. There are references to theDestruction and Restoration Schools of Magic being accepted in Hammerfell, and while it may not be openly accepted in mainstream society, there could be an underground group of magic users across the country, much like how the Dark Brotherhood operates.
If there is a place to learn magic in Hammerfell, the system itself needs to bemore comprehensive than it was inSkyrim, with a support system akin toOblivionand a mechanic where the player can create their own spells again.The Elder Scrolls 6should also featurea return of spells that do mundane things such as picking locks and increasing carry weight, as being able to do simple and convenient things using magic is a part of the charm of playing a mage build.
The Elder Scrolls 6having a magic system that’s the same or worse than what it was inSkyrimsimply because of the setting would be incredibly disappointing, especially considering how long it takes to develop each game. The series can’t afford to take another step back in this area, and it needs to get creative with its magic system if the next setting is going to be in Hammerfell.
The Elder Scrolls 6is in development.
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