The Elder Scrolls series is filled with vicious monsters and evil abominations, from Skyrim's dragons to Oblivion's zombies. But it's also filled with more mundane animals such as wolves, bears, and saber cats. These animals may be made to represent the ones in the real world, but they don't act like it. The animals of Tamriel attack players with an unrealistic amount of viciousness and zeal, something that's frustrated fans for as long as the series has been around. Elder Scrolls 6 has the perfect opportunity to change that.
Wolves in Skyrim are the most common hostile animal in the game. They are far more bloodthirsty than they are in real life, and much less intelligent. No matter how high-level the player is, wolves will still attack them for no reason at every opportunity, and won't stop, even if they're set on fire, slashed with a sword, or just saw one of their own blown away with an Unrelenting Force Shout. Every form of hostile wildlife will attack the player relentlessly, but the wolves are noteworthy for their frequency and for their vast difference from their real-life counterparts. Elder Scrolls 6 could finally make animals more realistic and less of a nuisance, something that would go a long way toward improving the gameplay.
Every Elder Scrolls mainline game has ways to keep wildlife away, but none of them are perfect. The Illusion school features the Calm and Fear spells, that will keep enemies from attacking by either making them non-hostile or causing them to flee away from the player. However, these spells will not work on every enemy, especially high-level ones. In addition, they're broken when the target is attacked, so followers who go after them will break the spell. Calm and Fear are also temporary, lasting only 30 seconds without any perks or buffs. Therefore, they're better suited to helping players survive a fight than escape it.
How New Druid Magic In Elder Scrolls 6 Could Work
If Bethesda doesn't fix Elder Scrolls 6's animals, the studio could make them less annoying through a new form of magic centered around nature. Druidic magic would not only be something for players to enjoy exploring but a way to finally keep the wolves and bears from bothering them. Having animals fight for the player is already a feature in the Wood Elves' Command Animal power, so expanding upon it and making a school of magic based around controlling plant and animal life wouldn't be too much of a stretch. Druid magic would also help add depth to Bosmer culture and introduce fascinating new lore.
If Elder Scrolls 6 keeps Elder Scrolls Online's class system, Druid could also be its own class. A questline focused on protecting the wild areas of Tamriel, unique skills that would let players harness the power of nature, and more would be a welcome way to not only keep players from being constantly attacked by animals but to turn those animals against their enemies. Elder Scrolls 6's gameplay would greatly benefit from new playstyles. Druid-specific armor and weapons or unique passive effects are just two of the possibilities for a new and exciting way to play. The Druid class could even give the player the option to take on the form of an animal. Lumbering through the forest as a powerful bear or stalking through the trees as a fierce wolf would be a fun way to go undetected among the wildlife.
Druid magic could even be a major theme of the new game. If it's set in Valenwood, then druidic magic could not only be an option but a key component of the game. Bosmer culture and history, and their Command Animal power, could be expanded beyond what the series has done with it so far. Elder Scrolls 6 can take their racial ability and turn it into an entire theology and mythos. Beyond just keeping wildlife from attacking, druid magic could build upon Bosmer lore and tell the story of Tamriel's Wood Elves as it's never been told before. Preserving nature and traditional ways as opposed to innovating and expanding the territories of man and mer would bring a welcome sense of depth to the game.
Alternatively, if Elder Scrolls 6 takes place farther in the past than most previous games, then players could see druidic magic as used by the Ayleid, or the Wild Elves. During the Second Era, Ayleid are mostly reduced to tribal groups, so a form of magic based on nature and wild animals would be an interesting way to expand on how they survived and adapted after falling out of power in the First Era. It would also shine a light on the elves that controlled Elder Scrolls' Tamriel before the Empire. Adding the Ayleid to the list of races players can become would be groundbreaking, and a new playable race for players to use could vastly improve gameplay if done right. Less civilization and more wild areas, including a focus on living in harmony with wildlife, would be a refreshing take on the next installment in the series.
Elder Scrolls 6 Solutions For Animals & Wildlife Beyond Druid Magic
Solutions don't have to be in the form of spells, either. For players who prefer playing heavily-armored warriors or sneaky rogues, enchantments designed to keep wild animals at bay could be both a magic-free solution to the wildlife problem and a great way to improve Elder Scrolls 6's Enchanting school. There could even be a special pendant, ring, or a unique set of armor somewhere that would allow players to walk past wolves without fear of getting ambushed. It would be a great avenue for Hircine to interact with players in whatever setting they end up exploring in Elder Scrolls 6.
Even consumable items could be made to keep animals from attacking the player. Food, potions, scrolls, or a new kind of consumable item altogether that are designed to make wildlife non-hostile would fit jus about any fan's playstyle. Even if the effects are only temporary, they would still be able to give players a chance to escape from hostile animals or avoid particularly strong or annoying ones. If Elder Scrolls 6 keeps ESO's Cooking skill, it would also let players cook meals that would help them avoid annoying wildlife. They would add to the Alchemy skill tree and add more effects for players to brew with.
Another solution to the wildlife problem could be a new skill or skill tree. Similar to Fallout's Animal Friend, Elder Scrolls 6 could feature a skill focused on keeping wildlife from attacking the player - or even making them fight for them. The Speech skill in Skyrim has been limited to getting better prices for goods at shops and persuading or threatening NPCs, but it could be expanded upon to include manipulating the various enemies in the game, which includes wild animals. There could also be animal-specific perks in Elder Scrolls 6's Sneak skill tree, to allow stealth-oriented players to better sneak past wildlife even without new Druid magic.