The Elder Scrollsfranchise includes several races, including varieties of humans, elves, and two beast races: the Argonians and the Khajiit. The elf and human varieties have had the spotlight across numerous games inThe Elder Scrollsmainline games, but even in games where secondary races get lore and exposition, the Argonians tend to get left behind. This is a missed opportunity to explore one ofThe Elder Scrolls' most mysterious races, whichThe Elder Scrolls 6has the opportunity to correct.
Morrowind,Oblivion, andSkyrimfocused on the races native to the Provinces in which their respectiveThe Elder Scrollsgames were set.Oblivionwas more of an exception, due to it being set in Cyrodiil, the heart of the Empire, and was more cosmopolitan. Due to the wait between mainline games,The Elder Scrolls 6needs to finally bring other races to light, particularly the Argonians, who not only have some of the most interesting lore inThe Elder Scrolls, but have also been neglected throughout previous games.
Abandoning The Elder Scrolls' Old Strategy
With so many different races that have unique lore, history, and culture, a bigger focus on these races of Tamriel would be a big boon toThe Elder Scrolls 6. WhileESOtakes place all over Tamrieland in every Province, making it easier to give exposition on each race’s lore and culture,The Elder Scrollsmainline games can’t use its one Province rule to focus on one or two races as it has done in the past, like with the Nords inSkyrimor the Dunmer inMorrowind. Releasing one mainline game in the series every 10 to 15 years would mean most of the other races would be neglected and push most ofThe Elder Scrolls' lore to the side.
Instead,The Elder Scrolls 6should take a page out ofThe Elder Scrolls Online’s book, and give more emphasis on the different races. In particular, the Argonians need more focus in The Elder Scrollsmainline games, particularly in regard to their lore, gear, and racial bonuses. Argonians are some of the best healers inESOthanks to their racial bonuses, and this could be reflected inThe Elder Scrolls 6.
Bringing a Larger Focus on the Argonians in The Elder Scrolls 6
In contrast,The Elder Scrolls Onlinehas taken the time to expand on Argonian lore, particularly on theArgonians' close connection to the Hist trees of their native Province, Black Marsh. The Hist has a close connection to Sithis, who the Dark Brotherhood worships, and may be the oldest life forms on Tamriel, with their roots reaching deep into the ground and across the world. Argonians were warned of the Oblivion Crisis years before it happened thanks to the Hist, allowing Black Marsh to prepare for Mehrunes Dagon’s invasion, and were the only Province that had a brutal response against the Daedric Prince of Destruction.
Despite the Argonians being connected to one of the most interesting beings inThe Elder Scrolls, they haven’t been given the lore focus they deserve in a mainline game. WhileESO’s execution may need some improvement, it does have a special focus on races beyond racial bonuses that are only relevant at the start of the game. An example is the separate armor sets for each race, which are especiallyuseful for Khajiitand Argonians as beast races as they have unique designs.
