10 Skyrim Mechanics That Make Roleplaying Feel More Natural Than Most RPGs

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim arrived at the right time to become one of the biggest games of all time. It offered a massive open world RPG with graphics and authenticity that had prevented others from attempting the genre over the years. It also really captured the magic of feeling like you’ve stepped into a new world and you can do anything.

Much of what makes Skyrim so addictive is how naturally it integrates its RPG mechanics, so playing a role in the world feels natural and doesn’t take too much thought. You are given a title, but only for a certain period of time in a great quest. You can avoid that topic entirely and live your life in Skyrim like a normal person.

I played Skyrim as a regular hunter, saving my way to buy land in Falkreath, get married, and only “stumble” on the main quest and his ending hours after creating history. Here are some Skyrim mods that let you be whoever you want to be.

10

Skills Development Program

Learn by Doing

Rather than giving skill points like many other RPGs, you get better at something in Skyrim by doing it. This works well because of how intuitive it is, both for those who have never played an RPG before and for long-time RPG fans.

Another good thing about this program is that you are not limited by class. I made a mage who was also a master blacksmith because I wanted to make my own enchanted jewelry. On the other hand, I made a hero who had a strong hand in locking and speaking. Skills are then valued by your character, not the other way around.

9

Training Program

Be Better With Teachers

Another way to improve your skills in Skyrim is to visit different trainers. Coaches are mostly found in towns and villages, although they can sometimes be found roaming the countryside. For a fee, you can get a coach to improve individual skills.

This is a shortcut, but it’s also tied to another intuitive mechanic to search for teachers. Teachers being able to pass on their knowledge is very common, and you can get training in any skill. This is great as a shortcut for those who are focused on mastering a skill, but also for those who want to improve a skill they have been neglecting.

8

Criminal Program

Skyrim crime is powerful

Crime is inevitable in Skyrim, whether it’s escaping, accidentally taking a vendor’s goods off the shelf, or having to kill on the sly for your dubious organization. You can pay a fine or go to jail, but running away is also an option.

Running away is my preferred option when my bounty reaches eye level, and I’d rather not deal with it. Fortunately, Skyrim tracks crime with Hold, so you can be wanted in Reach but be safe in Falkreath right next to you. Another reason this works is because it makes it feel like each Hold is its own, separate place.

Becoming a werewolf or a vampire, giving your soul to a Daedric Prince, joining a noble group, or helping the most popular people in town are ways to define yourself, and the guards take notice. They don’t notice if you save the world by destroying Alduin, but they notice the smell of wet dog coming from you if you are a wolf.

In a way, making them aware of the little things makes it feel more personal. The guards notice and react to how you change their world, and hearing unexpected comments as you walk through the cities makes you feel like you’re a real part of the world.

6

Group program

Join Any Group

All groups have their own priorities, and most of them conflict. The Allies do not believe in immorality and hate magic, the Thieves Guild does not kill, the College of Winterhold is isolated and does not kill, and the Dark Brotherhood is murderous. However, joining one does not mean excluding all others, it just takes different circles of your life.

Daedric quests are also similar, but the results are more extreme. Being the master of a Daedric Prince means that they own your soul after you die. Pledging your soul to the Daedric Princes at one point is possible, and it’s a problem later when it comes to who ultimately gets the Dragonborn’s soul. In any case, there is nothing stopping you from joining all the groups.

5

Home Ownership

Buying a Skyrim Home is Important

Placing your items in random places is a surefire way to make them disappear forever, which is devastating if it’s something different. That’s why it’s important to have inventory in Skyrim, as the inventory in the buildings you own won’t just disappear as they reset after a certain amount of time.

This plan can be frustrating, but no one can deny that it makes sense. Although there are some nobles in Skyrim who will tell you that you dropped something, there are others who would just pick it up. There’s a lot of storage possible in Skyrim, and it’s just another reason to get a house.

4

Sleep Creates a Schedule

Less Moderate Role Playing Mechanic

Before you find a house, the easiest way to get a good night’s sleep in Skyrim is to rent a room in a bar. My favorite tavern is the Bannered Mare in Whiterun, and I always spend my first few weeks in Skyrim sleeping there every night.

Being able to sleep in a bed and get bonuses from it goes a long way to making a character feel realistic. Another bonus is that you get to really know the characters that frequent the inn, which makes the story even more poignant when you realize that the end of the world is here.

3

The Skyrim books are authentic

A Wealth of Information and News Easily Available

I love books and reading, so I was happy to see how detailed the books were in Oblivion, the first Elder Scrolls game I played. Skyrim has many similar books with important additions, and you may have spent real-world hours reading them.

The Elder Scrolls has a lot of lore, and most of Skyrim is only discussed in its books. Keep your house library, and head there to read by the fire on a rainy day in Skyrim. You will learn a lot about its world and history, as well as some really strange stories coming out about the world you live on.

2

Smiting Suggests Too Much

Telling a Story About Your Gear

Some quests are more personal than others, and the rewards they offer can feel like an important part of your Dragonborn history. A bow, ring, or piece of armor may become overpowered when you receive it, and then gradually diminish as you exit it. Or, the object may be mundane and serve no purpose other than its emotional significance.

This is where Siming and Enchantment comes in. If I have a weapon that I like to hold, maybe make it an important part of my Dragonborn history, I upgrade it in line and give it magic. As I become more powerful, I improve the thing even more. Being able to do that means your equipment becomes part of your character’s history, and it adds a nice, personal touch to the acting.

1

Tell Your Story

Skyrim is Your World to Discover

Very few people complete the main quest of Skyrim. There are many reasons for this, but it says a lot that there are so many other things to do in Skyrim that you can play for hundreds of hours and never find out that you are a Dragonborn.

This is how immersive Skyrim is at its best. It does not ask anything from you; it gives you options, and you can choose when to do it and when to do it. There are many roles that Skyrim offers, and ultimately it allows you to find your place in it. Chances are you’ll find your place to live somewhere in Skyrim, and it’s easy to do so with one of its biggest and most enduring missions.

Released

November 11, 2011

The ESRB

Adult IM: Alcohol Use, Blood and Gore, Strong Violence, Sexual Themes

Engine

Creation

Extensions

Skyrim: Dragonborn, Skyrim: Hearthfire, Skyrim: Dawnguard

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