Streamlining The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim’s Stats

Wired Controller offers an editorial in which it defends the design decisions taken by Bethesda to cut out a number of stats from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

But what about character customization? Surely with fewer attributes it will be hard to create a unique character? And there are no classes anymore, so what about that? The notion that with fewer attributes means fewer options is complete nonsense, thanks to the addition of numerous perks that are rewarded as you level up various skills. The combination of perks and abilities you gather in your quest will make a more unique character than the old system could have ever produced.

Additionally, the class system is a tired and outdated mechanic in single player RPGs. It does serve its purpose in multiplayer and party based RPGs, but all it does is restrict growth in solo RPGs. The purpose of an RPG is to see your character grow and develop not just get better at one task. It will also give players more freedom and let them have more fun. For instance, my friend in Oblivion made an Orc Warrior, like myself, but decided he wanted to be a mage instead. So he just bought a bunch of spells and became a mage, but thanks to the restrictive class system and the choices he made at the beginning of the game (when he had no idea how he wanted to really play the game) his character was a rather bad mage. The system, in short, cut off organic growth, while character growth is supposed to be a staple of RPGs. When a mechanic impedes the overall goal of a game, it should be removed or fixed, there is no question about that, so why is there such a big fuss about the removal of the class system?

For a genre seemingly defined by “tired and outdated mechanics”, I sometimes wonder why game developers even bother with RPGs. Choices at character creation impacting your gameplay? Oh no! Frith forbid someone who builds a warrior can’t suddenly decide to become a mage. That’s just bad design.