Obviously, there are the obligatory things like "a new engine that actually works!" or "not forcing Creation Club as the only modding options!" that come with basically any talk of future Bethesda RPG's. But I'm trying to come from a relatively non-cynical standpoint. I know we likely won't see until sometime in the 2020's with Starfield or whatever it ends up being called coming next, and then even something after that potentially. But The Elder Scrolls is by far my favorite Bethesda series, so I'm more or less looking past those at this point to try and imagine what it'll be like when we next visit Tamriel.
Where would you want it to take place?
What you want the focal point of the story to be?
What factions would you want to see?
What are mechanics you'd like to see introduced/improved/scrapped?
Just whatever you hope to see from it. For me personally, I'd love to see it take place in Valenwood. The lore about the home of the Bosmer always makes it sound really fascinating and alien, not unlike Morrowind in that respect. It would definitely take some impressive technology to actually depict in-game the giant wandering tree cities that are often mentioned, and it's easy to imagine Bethesda either half-assing it or retconning it entirely much like the jungle of Cyrodiil. But it has some great potential for a unique setting. But honestly I just want the setting to be somewhere more interesting than your generic fantasy trappings, i.e. mostly white people, mostly familiar terrain. There are so many cool places in Tamriel that we haven't seen much of if at all. Summerset Isles, Black Marsh, Hammerfell, Elsweyr, etc.
I expect the story to be a follow up to the Thalmor-Imperial struggle as seen in Skyrim, with a war between Imperials and High Elves almost certainly being a plotpoint. But it could be a total change of pace instead, especially with all the time that's passed since Skyrim.
I didn't mind the more open-ended and streamlined character building of Skyrim, and I certainly don't expect it to go back to the class system of the older games, but I just hope it doesn't get watered down any more. They could learn more than a few things from the lukewarm reception Fallout 4 got in many circles, especially in regards to its failings as an RPG.
A system I'd definitely like to see some revisions to is the crafting and armor system. If you wanted decent gear in Skyrim, you had to know smithing and you had to know enchanting. Why? There are vendors right there that are presumably skilled in their craft. I should be able to provide a smith with the materials for ebony gear and pay a hefty price for them to make it for me. I should be able to pay an enchanter to put super strong enchantments on my gear. That way every build doesn't have to dedicate points or perks or whatever to being part craftsman.
I honestly think they could take some notes from Elder Scrolls Online in terms of how armor works. Instead of just having tiers based on material, there should also be different styles. Iron Orcish gear. Ebony Imperial gear. Leather Fighter's Guild armor. That way it doesn't feel like the whole game consists of the same 10 sets of armor and it introduces a lot more variety. Having all the additional pieces ESO adds would be nice too.
That's just some brainstorming on the matter from me. What do y'all wanna see?
Where would you want it to take place?
What you want the focal point of the story to be?
What factions would you want to see?
What are mechanics you'd like to see introduced/improved/scrapped?
Just whatever you hope to see from it. For me personally, I'd love to see it take place in Valenwood. The lore about the home of the Bosmer always makes it sound really fascinating and alien, not unlike Morrowind in that respect. It would definitely take some impressive technology to actually depict in-game the giant wandering tree cities that are often mentioned, and it's easy to imagine Bethesda either half-assing it or retconning it entirely much like the jungle of Cyrodiil. But it has some great potential for a unique setting. But honestly I just want the setting to be somewhere more interesting than your generic fantasy trappings, i.e. mostly white people, mostly familiar terrain. There are so many cool places in Tamriel that we haven't seen much of if at all. Summerset Isles, Black Marsh, Hammerfell, Elsweyr, etc.
I expect the story to be a follow up to the Thalmor-Imperial struggle as seen in Skyrim, with a war between Imperials and High Elves almost certainly being a plotpoint. But it could be a total change of pace instead, especially with all the time that's passed since Skyrim.
I didn't mind the more open-ended and streamlined character building of Skyrim, and I certainly don't expect it to go back to the class system of the older games, but I just hope it doesn't get watered down any more. They could learn more than a few things from the lukewarm reception Fallout 4 got in many circles, especially in regards to its failings as an RPG.
A system I'd definitely like to see some revisions to is the crafting and armor system. If you wanted decent gear in Skyrim, you had to know smithing and you had to know enchanting. Why? There are vendors right there that are presumably skilled in their craft. I should be able to provide a smith with the materials for ebony gear and pay a hefty price for them to make it for me. I should be able to pay an enchanter to put super strong enchantments on my gear. That way every build doesn't have to dedicate points or perks or whatever to being part craftsman.
I honestly think they could take some notes from Elder Scrolls Online in terms of how armor works. Instead of just having tiers based on material, there should also be different styles. Iron Orcish gear. Ebony Imperial gear. Leather Fighter's Guild armor. That way it doesn't feel like the whole game consists of the same 10 sets of armor and it introduces a lot more variety. Having all the additional pieces ESO adds would be nice too.
That's just some brainstorming on the matter from me. What do y'all wanna see?
