Bethesda Game Studios has had a fairly consistent relationship with base-building systems in its past few RPGs. Such systems have seen a good deal of evolution over the years, from their status as rudimentary novelties inSkyrimto theirmore ambitious implementation inStarfield, and there’s good reason to believe thatThe Elder Scrolls 6will continue the tradition in some way.
But what exactly this theoretical system will look like is anyone’s guess. InStarfield, the primary purpose of customizable bases is to gather various upgrade and crafting materials, harvesting them from the game’s many diverse planets. Meanwhile,Fallout 4’s Settlements play into the broader RPG framework, allowing players to create safe havens for various NPCs which can then be endlessly improved, tweaked, and personalized. These two games represent two distinct approaches: one is mostly practical and isolated, while the other is rooted in a sense of in-game community, requiring regular player involvement.The Elder Scrolls 6may walk one of these paths, or it may forge a new one, but either way, reintroducing base-building could have a transformative effect on the overall experience.
The Pros and Cons of The Elder Scrolls 6 Featuring Base-Building
The Elder Scrolls 6 Could Realize a Huge Leap from Skyrim’s Homesteads
As previously mentioned,Skyrimincludes a very early form of base-buildingas part of theHearthfireDLC. Through this system, players can purchase and build a home, customize its rooms, and make use of several practical amenities such as alchemy benches, but the feature is far less fleshed-out than its successors inFallout 4andStarfield. At the time, it was a great addition to an already content-rich game, but it’s quite quaint by modern standards.
Expanding this concept inThe Elder Scrolls 6, with the same level of detail as a game likeStarfield, could be extremely gratifying and engaging. Deeper building and customization tools, including options for constructing new buildings and rooms at will, could makeThe Elder Scrolls 6considerably more replayableand feature-rich, not to mention deeper from a role-playing perspective. If a player wants to be a wealthy merchant-like character, for instance, they could express that fantasy through an opulent or gaudy home.
The buttressing of the RPG experience, especially those aspects of it that take place in players’ minds, is among the most significant positives of the base-building systems in previous Bethesda games. This is one of the most commonly cited benefits of such features, since they typically offer little in the way of significant gameplay benefits. At the same time, this lack of concrete value may besomething thatThe Elder Scrolls 6will need to address, if it does indeed allow players to create their own HQs.
Base-Building in The Elder Scrolls 6 Could Be Superfluous
The most common criticism ofbase/outpost-building as a whole in Bethesda’s RPGsis that it can feel unnecessary. InStarfield, for instance, outposts often pose little to no benefit to many players, as the materials they yield can be easily obtained elsewhere. Engaging in base-building features is optional, of course, but many players who bounce off such systems are left feeling like development resources could have been better spent elsewhere.
Having said that, base-building systems that are more finely-tuned could bemore than worthwhile inThe Elder Scrolls 6. If there were stronger incentives to build, improve, and visit homesteads, such as resources that can only be attained through farming or cooking, then it’s unlikely that many players would lament their inclusion, as they would be enriching additions to the broader RPG experience rather than tacked-on gimmicks.
