Summary
With little more than a logo reveal to go off, RPG fans waiting forThe Elder Scrolls 6have been left to speculate about what the long-awaited game will entail. Bethesda Game Studios' latest single-player RPGStarfieldmay offer a glimpse into what the company is planning forThe Elder Scrolls 6, at least when it comes to some high-level design elements.
WhileStarfieldmay not be perfect, it has one feature that has received near universal praise: ship customization. The personalization options that players have at their disposal inStarfieldare surprisingly robust, deep, and meaningful, allowing for creative expression through a relatively easy-to-use system, even if it can be slightly overwhelming at first. As far as cosmetic changes are concerned, the options are seemingly endless, as players are only limited by the most basic constraints of logic when it comes to the shape and size of their spacecraft. Deeper changes can also be made, as customization can alter things like ship storage, engine power, and utility spaces. As good as these personalization options are, the system still has room to grow, andThe Elder Scrolls6 could implement this growth.
How The Elder Scrolls 6 Can Feature Starfield’s Ship Building
Starfieldplayers have made countless creativeand impressive spaceship builds thanks to comprehensive ship customization options, and while the game’s sci-fi setting certainly offers a great deal of freedom in this regard, the concept may actually be improved inThe Elder Scrolls 6. The game’s high-fantasy setting and presumably seamless exploration could allow for an even greater expansion ofStarfield’s already impressive personalization features, or at least offer a fresh spin on them.
Translating Starfield Ship Building to The Elder Scrolls 6
The most obvious parallel to spaceship-crafting in a high fantasy setting would be watercraft-building. The setting ofThe Elder Scrolls 6has yet to be determined, but if it features oceans, rivers, or other bodies of water, then the doors would be open for customizable sailboats, warships, or galleys. IfThe Elder Scrolls 6could feature thesame degree of customization asStarfield, then this concept could have remarkably long legs.
Of course, utilities like a science lab would be out of the question, but they could be replaced with specialized rooms for things like alchemy, spell-crafting, or blacksmithing. These utility rooms would serve as natural incentives for players to customize and upgrade their ships, but other, more superficial customization options - like room composition, ship size, addendums, and decorative accents - would allow for creative expression. Again, it’s unclearhow ambitiousTES 6will bewhen it comes to scale or feature variety, but there’s no doubt that some customization, building offSkyrim’s homesteads, would be welcome. Extending this customization to interactive, moveable structures would be the icing on the cake.
The Elder Scrolls 6’s Custom Ships Could Be Better than Starfield’s
For all the strengths ofStarfield’s ship customization, it does come with a rather significant caveat. The options players have at their disposal are robust, but the actual function of the spaceships in-game is disappointingly limited. The ships are mostly only used to traverse deceptively small areas outside a planet’s atmosphere, and they can generally feel disconnected from the rest of the game.
This could be greatly improved inTES 6. For one thing, the lack of space exploration will likely mean thatTES 6will have fewer loading screens thanStarfield, leading to a more seamless and natural experience, one in which players can actually use their ship to travel directly to and from various locations. By increasing the time players actually spend with their custom ships and making them a more integrated part of the overall adventure experience,The Elder Scrolls 6could not only adaptStarfield’s stellar customization tools, but improve upon them.
