How Bethesda Should Make The Elder Scrolls VI
4. Make Crafting An Integral Part Of The Game
The very best weapons in Skyrim are the ones you improve yourself via the smithing system, but the game fails to take full advantage of this by making it optional.
Bethesda needs to look to The Witcher 3 for inspiration here as the rival series harnesses crafting much more effectively, making it an integral part of missions and tying it directly to game progression.
Combining the depth and essential nature of the CD Projekt series' crafting system with the mechanics of Skyrim's smithing could prove to be a winning combination, while weaving it into missions would encourage players to maximise its potential.
The Skyrim sequel should also borrow some of the crafting features from The Elder Scrolls Online and Fallout 4, which include broader versions of the mechanic with more ways to alter items and tailor them according to personal preference.
More variety would be a good start here. For instance, in Skyrim there is only one style of armour tied to each metal and no opportunities to personalise gear with custom markings or insignias.
Elder Scrolls VI should give players the chance to learn how craft different styles of armour or weaponry by levelling up their skills or buying new designs with the in-game currency, similar to the way Fallout uses weapon schematics.