With the much-anticipated launch of The Elder Scrolls 6 after more than a decade of Skyrim’s remarkable reign, fans can expect significant transformations in the beloved series. This new Bethesda RPG, while promising to bring fresh narratives and immersive details of another region in Tamriel, is set to be influenced by more than just its traditional predecessors. The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO), with its expansive portrayal of the entire continent and its enriched lore, has left a notable mark. It’s worth noting how ESO has successfully revived the class-based mechanics from earlier titles and has refined them. As such, a compelling enhancement for The Elder Scrolls 6 would be to officially introduce death magic as a player option.
Necromancy has had a longstanding presence in Tamriel’s lore, yet it’s never been a primary path players could fully explore. Historically, spells linked to necromancy were scattered across schools like Conjuration, Restoration, and Mysticism, fragmenting its potential. However, ESO has paved the way by dedicating an entire class to necromancy, establishing a structured foundation for its integration into the mainline series, spotlighting both its strengths and limitations.
Despite promising potential, ESO’s execution of the Necromancer class as a summoner has faced critique, mainly due to its restrictive minion durations. This limits the fantasy of commanding an undead army from afar. Still, it distinguishes itself through versatility over outright prowess, offering unique playstyle options.
The true victory of ESO’s necromancer design lies in its adaptability, with builds extending beyond mere summoning. The Bone Tyrant skill line reimagines the archetype as a defensive tank, while Living Death allows players to tap into healing magic. Although the Grave Lord Necromancer aligns closest with traditional minion strategies, it still incorporates damage-over-time tactics, emphasizing the need and potential for evolving the class’s identity in future games.
For The Elder Scrolls 6 to successfully incorporate a necromancer path, it must delicately balance its inclusion to avoid conflicting with existing magic schools. With Mysticism spells like Soul Trap and Detect Life now reallocated since its removal post-Skyrim, Conjuration stands nearest to handling death-related spells. To prevent overlap, integrating unique spells like enhanced reanimation or health-draining abilities could enrich existing schools instead of creating a new one.
A crucial aspect to consider is necromancy’s controversial nature in Tamriel. Often viewed as taboo, many necromancy spells are deemed criminal if used openly, reflecting the dark deeds conducted by Tamriel’s notorious necromancers. Whether Bethesda will embrace a gameplay style that potentially alienates players from social acceptance among NPCs in TES6 remains a mystery. Ultimately, how TES6 handles player interactions with such magic could shape the game’s narrative and player experience significantly.
