Skyrim took a significant step forward in leveling and combat design from its predecessors, granting players unprecedented freedom in crafting their character builds. Instead of the old system where leveling depended on major and minor skills, Skyrim lets your character level up whenever you enhance any skill. This mechanism, while theoretically sound, tends to steer gameplay toward a particular combat style due to various influencing factors.
The emergence of the “Stealth Archer” playstyle is a notable outcome. This strategy has players focusing on Archery and Stealth while largely overlooking other skill sets like magic and heavy weaponry. For The Elder Scrolls 6 to truly embrace its RPG potential with diverse, functional builds, it should avoid the ease with which players defaulted to the Stealth Archer in Skyrim. By dissecting the popularity of this build, future titles can sidestep this pitfall.
### Behind the Popularity of the Stealth Archer in Skyrim
A significant factor contributing to the Stealth Archer’s popularity in Skyrim is how effective it is against dragons. Archery provides a practical method for bringing these winged foes to the ground early in the main questline, promoting frequent bow use and stealth tactics. As a result, the Stealth Archer build often evolves naturally rather than being a deliberate choice by players.
Furthermore, bows rank among the strongest weapons in Skyrim. Special weapons like Auriel’s Bow enhance this, catering specifically to archers. Arrows are weightless and plentiful, making the playstyle both convenient and effective. The path to unlocking key perks in the Archery and Stealth skill trees opens up relatively early, making this build appealing for its efficiency and practicality. Hence, even players initially aiming for a different build often revert to the Stealth Archer, giving rise to its meme status.
Awareness of the Stealth Archer trap makes it difficult for players to resist. The Elder Scrolls 6 needs to encourage other builds by refining spellcasting and diversifying combat systems. While Skyrim enhanced Stealth and Archery from their Oblivion counterparts, it oversimplified spellcasting, making it cumbersome.
Combat balance and smarter enemy AI could prevent Stealth Archer dominance. The allure of easily dispatching foes without raising an alarm contributed to the build’s appeal. In The Elder Scrolls 6, enhanced enemy AI that recognizes being targeted could encourage players to explore varied builds. Such changes could also promote deeper exploration of different magic schools. Furthermore, allowing players to cast spells while wielding a weapon in each hand, as seen in Oblivion, should feature in The Elder Scrolls 6 to both diversify gameplay and foster investment in magic.
