Skyrimmodders have made some truly amazing projects for the game, and while the wait forThe Elder Scrolls 6continues to drag on, players can get a slice of what could be to come by surfing the Nexus. Bethesda has made a habit of leaning on and utilizing modders after how prominent some have become in the space, mainly through the Creation Club and built-in mod managers, but it should also learn from them for development. Some of the best mods rival award-winning games, and some even become these award-winning games.
The Forgottten Cityis the most famous example, being so good that the developer turned it into an ancient Roman gamethat is extremely well-received. WithElder Scrollsbeing back in the news with the eventual release of theOblivionremaster, it seems like the right time for Bethesda to address some of its flaws,considering theOblivionremaster is allegedly updating combat and dungeons. Bethesda needs to do the same forES6, especially because the dungeons ofSkyrimdon’t require much thought, and the best example to look at from the modding community isSirenroot: Deluge of Deceit.
ES6 Should Learn From Skyrim Mod: Sirenroot
It Gives Players A Massive Dungeon Beyond The Scale Of Any Vanilla Skyrim Dungeon
Sirenroot: Deluge of Deceitis a dialogue-heavy dungeon mod that takesplayers through an ancient Ayleid dungeon beneath the depths of Lake Honrich beside Riften. It’s one of the largest dungeon mods around, far bigger than any in vanillaSkyrim, and even the speediest players will take two hours to beat it, although I suggest taking the time to enjoy the scale ofSirenroot’s massive dungeon. It feels like it dwarfs even Blackreach, and with its level of detail and puzzles, it feels like it bringsSkyrim’s dungeons to another level thatES6should be striving for.
The Ayleid were a race of ancient elves during the first age who subjugated humanity until the uprising of Alessia, the founder of the first Cyrodilic Empire.
As seen in the trailer onYouTube,Sirenroottakes place in watery depths, using water as a key component in many of its creative puzzles. With a talented voice cast, an original OST, and many new mechanics, such as camera-switching, light parkour elements, and taking control of NPCs, it feels professional and almost like playing another game.It draws heavily from the olderTomb Raidergames in its puzzle mechanics, and this is felt throughout, making players think more than any dungeon in vanillaSkyrimdoes. There’s a reason it has nearly 2 million total downloads.
Although inSkyrim,Sirenroot’s Ayleid ruins take inspiration from those seenOblivion, and unintentionally show off what these ruins couldlook like theOblivionremaster,there’s something constantly ethereal and mystical about the dungeon. It is unique, which helps given that manySkyrimdungeons either follow the Ancient Nord or Dwemer ruin template and feel very similar.Sirenrootfixes this with both its aesthetic and its heavy use of water elements to make it distinct, and without spoiling too much, it really is one of those must-have quest mods that usually finds itself on many pre-made modlists.
Sirenroot Presents A Complex Dungeon That Rewards Paying Attention
Players Can’t Just Turn Off Their Brain To Beat Sirenroot
One of the flaws ofSkyrim’s level design is how thoughtless players can be when going through it, killing swarms of enemies, looting chests, completing the simplest of puzzles, before making it to a Word Wall.This has caused many to retroactively criticize Bethesda’s level design, andSirenroot’s complexity is what fixes this. Its puzzles are a lot more involved than looking at the back of a claw, making players feel smart after beating them, but what helps it be more than just a dungeon crawl is its character work, drawing inspiration fromolderDragon Agetitles.
The Dragonborn will enter the depths of Lack Honrich with four NPCs,Cayrice Bentieve, Peletius Flonel, Tilael, and Yineel Primes-his-poison, and these aren’t just some throwaway background characters. Each of them has a story, and the dungeon rewards the player for paying attention to that story to help get through the dungeon. What the player says to them has consequences, making everything feel like it has weight, and the multiple endings amplify this feeling. Not everyone who goes in is destined to make it back out. It depends on the Dragonborn’s attention and choice of words, rather than their might.
Tilael is a sea elf, or Maormer, although the last documented appearance of the Maormer was centuries beforeSkyrimstarted.
AlthoughSkyrimis still the ultimate comfort RPG for many,Sirenrootdemands that the player use their brains and pay attention to little details, else they face consequences. It also facilitates better roleplay, allowing the Dragonborn to leverage their backstory and past events in dialogue for specific routes. It helps make the Dragonborn feel like a person inSkyrim, rather than a being that reality bends towards. This is the case, of course, considering thepower of Console Commands, yet it is nice to pretend otherwise for the sake of roleplay.
Bethesda Should Continue Learning From Modders
It Will Help Bring Elder Scrolls 6 To Modern Standards
Sirenrootshould be held in similar regard to other great questmods like the famousVigilantandUnslaad, and although it isn’t on the same scale in terms of volume, all three of these mods have something in common.They understand that it’s important to get the player to think, whether that be about puzzles,The Elder Scrolls' themes, NPCs, or the lore.Skyrimitself is a bit light on thinking, and while this is great for whittling away hours, a lot of players are expecting more in modern RPGs.TheElder Scrollshas plenty of great, if inconsistent, lore.
The Elder Scrolls 6already has the world and the brand to be something special. It just needs to get players to think about the lore, the characters, and make the dungeons feel more involved.Skyrim’sdungeons, and particularly their puzzles, are usually forgettable. While there are the odd special moments,like with the infamous Blackreach,Sirenrootupstages them and should be the standard that Bethesda strives for withES6.Many of its new mechanics, like climbing, camera switching, and light control of NPCs could even make an appearance.
If players are looking for a great dungeon-delving experience and are fans of the old-schoolTomb RaiderandDragon Age, I can wholeheartedly recommendSirenroot. I hope that many of its mechanics andthe level of thought behind them are something thatThe Elder Scrolls 6can emulate, from the complexity of its puzzles to the scale of the dungeon. It’s a mod that requires players to pay attention, but it also feels like it repays that attention with its role-playing elements and feels as though it addresses many issues people have with Bethesda’s level design.
