Skyrim is a game that presents players with a stunning and lore-rich world to explore, but there are many ways in which its sequel The Elder Scrolls 6 can improve upon its foundation, and one way it could improve is by taking a few notes from Game of Thrones. Specifically, TES 6 could take an extra step with regards to how it implements politics and relationships between different factions of its world. Rumors have suggested that Skyrim's sequel will have a complex political system, and there are several ways that this alleged system could benefit from following George R.R. Martin's epic fantasy-in-progress.
There were the beginnings of a more interesting political structure in Skyrim. Fans of the 2011 game may remember the fraught relationship between the Imperial Legion and the rebellious Stormcloak faction, which the player could choose to get involved with, ultimately deciding the outcome of the war between these two groups. This civil war, commonly referred to as the Stormcloak Rebellion, has deep roots in Skyrim lore and involves complex factors like religion, betrayal, and racial identity.
Although this long-running Skyrim conflict is certainly intriguing, the player's in-game involvement is surprisingly barebones. Ultimately, the role of the protagonist in the Stormcloak Rebellion comes down to a few conversations and battles. This conflict, and social or political strife in general, could have been made more interesting by incorporating choices like marrying the wrong Skyrim character, having relationships outside of key events, and making more subtle dialog selections. Luckily, The Elder Scrolls 6 can add more depth to its politics, and learning from Game of Thrones's storytelling can help this end by expanding Skyrim's rudimentary political RPG framework.
Politics In Skyrim Should Have Been More Than Just Fighting
Tensions between factions in Skyrim are constantly rising, and this is evident in many of the background events; players can observe rebel soldiers getting executed for treason in Imperial holds like Solitude, NPCs will regularly suggest joining the Imperial Legion, and thinly veiled threats and insults are spewed from members of both parties. The game even begins with the player being captured by Imperial soldiers. However, one could be forgiven for thinking not immediately recognizing this conflict as something the player can interact with, as most of its symptoms are not factored into gameplay.
Although this civil war changes many elements in Skyrim, the main events that lead up to these changes are almost exclusively battles and sieges of pivotal holds like Solitude and Whiterun. While these fights serve as satisfying climaxes and can be enjoyable from a gameplay perspective, a greater focus on allegiances, interpersonal relationships, and dialog segments would have gone a long way towards conveying the gravitas of the conflict, as it would have provided a better sense of immersion and a greater diversity of gameplay experiences. This is an area where The Elder Scrolls 6 should improve, and it can start by adapting some of the narrative elements presented in Game of Thrones.
Skyrim's Sequel Can Learn From Game Of Thrones' Subtlety
In Game of Thrones and A Song of Ice and Fire, events and choices can seem inconsequential or minor at first, but will often wind up having unexpected consequences. For instance, where Skyrim's best character marriages are fun but ultimately inconsequential, marriages in Game of Thrones are considerably more impactful, symbolizing the union of two families and solidifying the responsibilities and burdens that accompany that union. A good example of how important marriage is in Game of Thrones would be the conflict between Robb Stark and the Freys, where Robb was betrothed to a Frey as part of a strategic move to secure the powerful family's allegiance. However, due to his shortsighted, immature worldview, he married another woman, spurning the Freys. This ultimately led to the Freys double-crossing the Starks, siding with the Lannisters, and murdering several of the show's biggest characters in a single evening.
This iconic moment of Game of Thrones, which is dubbed "The Red Wedding", came as the culmination of Robb's political errors - it was not the most crucial event in the plot. Killing certain Skyrim NPCs can often influence certain quests, and even result in changes to major cities at the center of the civil war questline, but these killings are usually the most significant turning points of individual subplots, rather than byproducts of more subtle decisions. The Elder Scrolls 6 could make marriages carry more weight, so that a player who is aligned with a certain faction could either form connections with or insult important families through strategic or foolish marriages. These could, and perhaps should, still have dramatic or bloody consequences, but these showdowns would have more complex, layered causes.
Marriage isn't the only mechanic that could benefit from taking a page out of the Game of Thrones playbook. In Game of Thrones, dialog was oftentimes more important than fighting, as characters would regularly use their cunning to gain information and manipulate others. Skyrim players can max out certain skills, one of which being Speech, but this skill typically only comes into play in isolated incidents that allow the player to lie or convince an NPC of something. If The Elder Scrolls 6 were to be a bit more like Game of Thrones, this speech skill would have to be applied over longer periods of time, with players using their own wits to select the best dialog option to either get someone over to their side, gather intel, or organize a broader scheme. The skill could be used in more subtle ways as well, forcing players to think critically about all their dialog options, not just those taking place at the key points of certain quests or interactions.
As a whole, The Elder Scrolls 6 could improve upon Skyrim's more crude political plotlines and worldbuilding elements by introducing a bit more subtlety through characteristics of Game of Thrones. The Elder Scrolls games have cool and important lore involving Tamriel's many diverse factions and personalities, and the next entry in the series should leverage this by increasing the player's influence on the world outside of individual moments. This can be achieved by deemphasizing bombastic battles and placing more importance on interpersonal relationships, betrayals, cunning, and wit. Skyrim got this political system off to a great start, but The Elder Scrolls 6 can make it truly robust, unique, and intellectually engaging as well as entertaining.