Tamriel is in upheaval two hundred years after the events detailed in Oblivion. The Emperor’s throne remained vacant; the Blades, the Empire’s finest guards, were disbanded; and elf countries began seizing Empire land. The killing of the King of Skyrim, Tamriel’s northernmost province and the home of the Nord race triggered a civil war between those who wanted Skyrim to be independent and those who wanted it to remain under Empire authority.
A prisoner is transported to a tiny town to await death for alleged Stormcloaks involvement, an organization created by the king’s assassin Ulfric Stormcloak. A dragon assaults the city just as the executioner’s axe is about to land on the prisoner’s neck, prompting most people to flee. The ex-prisoners sudden freedom leads him into the freezing Skyrim, where legends of the dragon begin to circulate.
Like its Elder Scrolls predecessors, Skyrim is an open-ended role-playing game featuring action-based combat. The player can explore Skyrim’s enormous environments from either a first-person (default) or third-person perspective, traveling freely and completing any side missions in any order or following the main quest. Directly from the global map, you can fast-travel to previously visited sites. The player can also choose to buy (or steal) a horse and ride it.
Altmer (High Elves), Argonian (reptile people), Bosmer (Wood Elves), Breton, Dunmer (Dark Elves), Imperial, Khajiit (cat people), Nord, Orc, and Redguard are the 10 races available. Each race has advantages and disadvantages, such as Nord being resistant to cold, Khajiit being weak with magic, etc. Unlike previous games in the series, the player cannot select a class for the main character; instead, the latter progressively evolves into any class-like combination based on the player’s play style. When the protagonist advances in level, the player’s Health, Magicka, or Stamina may be increased, and a new perk may be introduced to one of the skills. There are eighteen skills, each with various levels and benefits that may be achieved. Most bonuses are only available after reaching a certain level in that perk. For example, destructive spells must be leveled up to gain better benefits with Destruction. Skill levels can be raised by frequent use, skill books, or even purchasing for training from non-playable characters.
Some features from Fallout 3 are present in this game. In contrast to Oblivion’s more intrusive method, enemy-level scaling is done similarly. The player can recruit different fighters to accompany the hero and assist him in battle. Furthermore, the previous installment’s lockpicking mechanism has been replaced by the lockpicking methods of current Fallout games. Conversations with NPCs now occur in real-time rather than “freezing” time, as in Oblivion.
Players can craft, cook, or build various objects depending on the ingredients and skill levels. Players can use Alchemy to create potions, Enchanting to imbue armor and things with magical qualities (such as boosting the efficiency of magic resistance), and Smithing to develop or enhance weapons and armor. Smelting, tanning, and Cooking are also included in this mix: Smelting is the skill of converting raw mined mineral ores into usable ingots for smithing; Tanning is the process of drying animal hides to make leather strips, which can be used to create or improve armor and weapons; and Cooking allows players to transform otherwise ineffective food ingredients into far more healthful meals.
Melee attacks can be made using two or one-handed weapons. Blocking decreases damage and allows you to bash an opponent with your shield. Archery and a lot of Magicka are also accessible for some ranged attacks. Each race also possesses a unique magic-like power ability; however, only one power can be equipped at a time. A Nord power, for example, is to terrify foes away for a short time. The Shout ability, based on the Dragon language, is new to the series. These require a unique set of circumstances to activate: first, the ancient words must be learned from Word Walls scattered around Skyrim; second, they can only be triggered by earning a dragon soul (by slaying a dragon).
Stealing, pickpocketing, murder, or hurting innocent people, as well as trespassing, are all crimes. Unless the player character is quick enough to eliminate all witnesses, a reward is placed on their head. Fines, jail time, and a beating from authorities are likely if the hero commits too many crimes or is just detected. The protagonist can spend their sentence on the jail bed or pick the lock and escape; however, going to jail will most likely result in losing current skill development.
As previously stated, the player may encounter and join various groups, guilds, and the like, each with their advantages and disadvantages, perspectives on current events, and objectives. The ability to transform into a werewolf or vampire is also present. Still, it has been slightly streamlined: sunlight does not instantly kill vampires, and lycanthropy can be spread about.
