New Skyrim DLC

In my opinion, one of the greatest advances in home video games is DLC. In case you’re unfamiliar with the term, DLC stands for “downloadable content.” With DLC, game manufacturers are able to extend their creations with additional content downloaded through the Internet. This content can range from new storylines, expansion packs, characters, challenges, equipment — you name it! Basically, with DLC the fun doesn’t have to end when you win your favorite video game. Like the Energizer Bunny, it keeps going, and going, and going.

When it comes to video games, I’m a DLC hoarder. You know that A&E show Hoarders? The television show that highlights people amassing belongings to such an extreme that it’s ruining their lives? Well, I’m not ruining my life with DLC — far from it. But I admit that I buy all extra content that I can lay my hands on for my favorite video games. In fact, it’s with great anticipation that I’m awaiting the first DLC to be released for Skyrim. There are already rumors circulating that Bethesda’s first DLC release will be titled Dawnguard.

Whether or not Dawnguard will be the name of Skyrim’s first DLC is yet to be seen, but it’s safe to say that downloadable content is coming for my favorite game. Here then are a few things that I would personally like to see with Skyrim DLC:

•  More Side Quests For me, I really get a kick out of completing Skyrim quests. There’s the main storyline of course, but I love the game’s side quests. Not only are side quests a great excuse to travel the world of Skyrim and meet interesting characters, the quests present opportunities to dungeon dive, complete challenges, collect treasure, and learn some of the history of Tamriel. In addition, side quests help your character refine his or her skills and increase levels. I’m sure Skyrim DLC will offer a new storyline (or an extension of the game’s main storyline), but I really hope the content is packed with a bunch of new side quests as well.

•  More monsters As you’re well aware, Skyrim is an awesome RPG experience. As I’ve stated before on this blog, I believe Skyrim is the closest thing to a traditional tabletop role playing game that you can experience in a video game. One of the coolest things about tabletop RPG games is the huge amount of monsters you can encounter. The original Dungeons and Dragons game had three hardcover books detailing hundreds of different beasts player characters could run across on their adventures. Additional D&D editions offered even more beasts. More monsters equal more challenges. Giants, skeletons, Falmer, dragons, etc. are all well and good in the world of Skyrim, but how cool would it be to fight a hydra or a wyvern? It would be awesome to have more monsters in Skyrim DLC.

•  More unique items, treasure, and magic items Frankly, I’m addicted to Skyrim dungeon dives. After vanquishing my enemies I truly look forward to searching burial urns and treasure chests for gold and items to help me in my adventures. I’ll never forget my excitement the first time I found a dwarven helmet in an Alftand treasure chest after a particularly nasty battle. It was the first time I’d ever seen a dwarven helmet, and I really thought I earned a special prize. Even though the helmet hid my character’s face, I wore that sucker from level 6 through 20. It may sound goofy, but I had a special attachment to that particular piece of armor. The same thing goes for unique magic items I’ve found on my quests (the Jabberwock, Amulet of Gauldur, etc.). I’m hoping that Skyrim DLC will have a bunch of new stuff to whet my addiction to treasure and items.

• New spells Granted, not everyone pursues the path of the mage in Skyrim, but magic is an integral part of the game. I love collecting new spells almost as much as treasure, so additional spell books would be a major bonus in Skyrim DLC.

• Online play I’m not exactly certain how Bethesda could pull this off, but online play would be incredible in the world of Skyrim. Sure, we have followers and companions to help us on our quests, but how much cooler would it be to share an adventure with a friend or two from around the world? A computer AI can never match human play (sorry Lydia!), and Skyrim would instantly become a much richer experience if online playability were part of a DLC package.

So how about it? Are you excited about Skyrim DLC? If so, what would you like to see in a downloadable game release?