Skyrim brought a refreshing twist to the leveling and combat systems from its predecessors, granting players greater flexibility in developing their characters. Unlike the old system of major and minor skills that dictated character progression, Skyrim allows characters to level up through improvement in any skill. While this seems promising in theory, in reality, it nudged players towards a particular combat style for various reasons.
This popular tactic is known as the Stealth Archer build, where players focus primarily on Archery and Stealth skills, often disregarding other available options like magic, heavy armor, and different weaponry. As The Elder Scrolls 6 is being developed, the developers could take inspiration from this, ensuring a diverse array of viable builds, thereby preventing another default choice similar to the Stealth Archer, which became so mainstream that it even turned into a meme. Analyzing the appeal of the Stealth Archer can help sidestep these pitfalls in the next installment.
Delving into why the Stealth Archer became such a hit, it becomes clear that dealing with the dragons in Skyrim played a significant role. One of the most straightforward methods to bring a dragon down from the skies early in the game is through archery, which naturally pushes players toward improving their bow skills. This often inadvertently leads players to embrace a stealthy approach without making a conscious decision to do so.
Moreover, bows in Skyrim stand among the game’s best weapons, highlighted by the formidable Auriel’s Bow from Dawnguard, which is exceptionally effective for archers. Arrows are conveniently weightless and plentiful, making the Stealth Archer an easy choice. This build not only works seamlessly across various difficulty levels but also offers perks that are unlocked relatively early in the game. Even if players initially plan different paths for their characters, the efficiency of the Stealth Archer draws them in, perpetuating its popularity.
Once players recognize their tendency to lean towards the Stealth Archer style, it proves challenging to break away from it. The Elder Scrolls 6 could address this by enriching other build options, particularly through enhancing the spellcasting and combat mechanics. While Skyrim did improve upon Oblivion in areas like stealth and archery, it fell short in making spellcasting equally engaging, as its oversimplified mechanics turned cumbersome.
A balanced combat system with smarter AI could also discourage the defaulting to Stealth Archers. In Skyrim, this build allows players to clear dungeons effortlessly without alerting enemies. By introducing enemies in The Elder Scrolls 6 that are aware when being attacked and who can spot lurking threats, players may find themselves exploring other skill trees, such as various magical disciplines. Oblivion’s feature of using magic with weapons already in hand would be a welcome return in The Elder Scrolls 6, encouraging players to diversify their approach and invest more in magic skills.
