How is Bethesda going to handle Skyrim's expansions?

[Dr Jones]

I think a higher level cap is inevitable.

Not sure how well that would work out, considering it's based on skill increases. Unless they raised the cap for skills to 125 or something.

I think that when you get to level 50, you can't level skills up anymore.
(Or am i wrong? Please tell me i am wrong, since the system i think is in place sucks).

 

[Woodsey]

Wouldn't mind seeing something similar to the Bloodmoon expansion for Morrowind (even visiting Solstheim again, its certainly got the aesthetic).

I highly doubt we'll be put into any of the other provinces - that's what each major title is for.

I think a higher level cap is inevitable.

Not sure how well that would work out, considering it's based on skill increases. Unless they raised the cap for skills to 125 or something.

I think that when you get to level 50, you can't level skills up anymore.
(Or am i wrong? Please tell me i am wrong, since the system i think is in place sucks).

Pretty sure it goes on forever, but past 50 it slows down a lot.

 

[The Cheshire]

I've liked most about Skyrim, but only after 5 or so days of playing it, I've reached level 33.

If you reached 33 in five days, then may I suggest you relax your pace? I've been playing since two days before release (game reviewer, yay) and I'm level 24.

I bet the DLC will be good. Shivering Isles was a great expansion, a little too abusive on long dungeons, still a lot of fun, and very colourful.

 

[AugustFall]

Looking at that map I want High Rock. Sounds good, the map could be expanded horizontally. As for character progression I'm not sure. As you said you can be anything in this game and you can be all of it in one character pretty much. I guess they could add to the skill tree, or further differentiate it? Like add constellations beyond the current ones to act sort of as prestige tech trees.

 

[DevonFahrner]

Bethesda has always been reliable when it comes to delivering huge, unique, and well-crafted expansion packs for their RPG's. Without a doubt, they are going to deliver the goods with Skyrim. I can definitely see them giving us new locations, equipment, magic, and perhaps even new dragon shouts, but one thing I'm worried about is character advancement. The leveling system is based on the advancement of all skills, rather than your major skills like in previous Elder Scrolls titles. Ignoring the soft cap at level 50, theoretically, by advancing all 18 skills to 100, the maximum possible level is 81. The question I'm trying to bring up is how will they work with this? New locations and gear are fine, but what about advancing my character? A nice, steady character progression has been one of the things I've liked most about Skyrim, but only after 5 or so days of playing it, I've reached level 33. Not only that, but what about new perks so skill specialization stays fresh? I know it's probably jumping the gun so early after the game's release, but it never hurts to speculate, especially considering the delicate balance the game's mechanics are currently holding.

How do you guys think Bethesda will handle this? Will they add entirely new skills to allow a higher level cap while still keeping the skills balanced? Will they just increase the level 50 soft cap? And how will they handle character progression in general outside of new equipment and magics? Post and let everybody hear your thoughts.

It never hurts to speculate??? I assume you don't know much about day trading then?

OT: If it goes anything like previous expansions then it will be content only. One of the fun things to do in TES games is try to make different types of characters. Sure you could make a character that is good at most of the skills, but why not challenge yourself and make a couple characters with different skills. For example I took certain skills and made a paladin like character. If you have multiple characters the expansions can serve as new content so you don't do the same thing over and over.

That is an option I have considered before; making a small group characters where each would specialize in only one field of general gameplay (i.e. magic, combat, & stealth). Another option I thought about was only having one particular character complete only quests that would pertain to them; such as the Companions only being done with the combat character, and the Thieves Guild only being done by the stealth character. Great insight from your comment.

 

[DevonFahrner]

I've liked most about Skyrim, but only after 5 or so days of playing it, I've reached level 33.

If you reached 33 in five days, then may I suggest you relax your pace? I've been playing since two days before release (game reviewer, yay) and I'm level 24.

I bet the DLC will be good. Shivering Isles was a great expansion, a little too abusive on long dungeons, still a lot of fun, and very colourful.

That is something I've considered; perhaps I've been going through it to the point of burning myself out. It seems likely that taking a slower pace will allow the experience to be savored much more in the long run. Thank you for the suggestion.

 

[Sizzle Montyjing]

Hmmm... posted in wrong thread... derp.
Anyway, they will handle it like they always do- Give it to the xbox crowd 3 months in advance, fuck up completely on PS3 release and release normally for PC.
The fucking up can happen to both PS3 and PC sometimes.

 

[The Unworthy Gentleman]

They should expand on the world they've already created by adding more to it, rather than creating a small pocket where they don't have to abide by the consequences of the main game. I don't want just an extra quest line, I want to see what Bethesda can add to Skyrim, the lore and the story. This isn't normal DLC, like they said, it's an expansion pack, it should expand on the game, not create a new smaller one.

 

[Kris015]

Snippity snap

Your avatar makes me read everything you write as if you're really sad all the time

OT: Well Skyrim is 200 years after Oblivion, so it'd be cool to see how (some of) Cyrodiil looks.
Maybe Shivering Isles 2 even

 

[bobfish92]

I've liked most about Skyrim, but only after 5 or so days of playing it, I've reached level 33.

If you reached 33 in five days, then may I suggest you relax your pace? I've been playing since two days before release (game reviewer, yay) and I'm level 24.

I bet the DLC will be good. Shivering Isles was a great expansion, a little too abusive on long dungeons, still a lot of fun, and very colourful.

... I'm level 47ish and one of my friends is over 54

Also; Falmer based DLC, calling it now.

 

[Father Tunde]

Bethesda has always been reliable when it comes to delivering huge, unique, and well-crafted expansion packs for their RPG's.

You didn't play Mothership Zeta, did you?

Anyway, less Fallout-expansions, where everything happens off from the main bulk of the world, and stays in Skyrim. I don't want to leave Skyrim in DLC, I want to leave it in the next Elder Scrolls game. I'd prefer something similar to Bloodmoon, or Knights of the Nine, where we stay in the same province.

 

[AndyFromMonday]

You didn't play Mothership Zeta, did you?

Anyway, less Fallout-expansions, where everything happens off from the main bulk of the world, and stays in Skyrim. I don't want to leave Skyrim in DLC, I want to leave it in the next Elder Scrolls game. I'd prefer something similar to Bloodmoon, or Knights of the Nine, where we stay in the same province.

Since Skyrim was considered the spiritual successor to Fallout 3 by its development team I doubt we'll be seeing any quality expansions/DLC for it. Also, fuck DLC.

 

[42]

Has Bethesda REALLY been reliable?

2 out of the 5 DLC content packs for Fallout 3 were garbage (The Island, The Pitt and the Alien one)

I would argue all of the Fallout New Vegas DLC packs have been nothing but repetitive and regurgitated garbage, because most of it was cliche, stereotypical, extremely basic, and very dull.

Oblivion... oh gosh the amount of things they tried to make me buy on that... and then 5 different versions of the GOTY version came out and then of course an actual "expansion" followed by another. At least they stopped the DLC spam with that.

The only thing they've reliably done is constantly add new bugs.

dude you sound like you don't actually like the games.

the DLC packs were actually not that bad, in fact it allows Bethesda to expand on story points they bring up in the main narrative. Old world blues is my favourite from Fallout New Vegas, and Broken Steel, and the Pitt were the best ones of Fallout 3.

as for balance wise if they did raise the level cap, i'm sure they bring in new perks, Bethesda ain't silly. they've learned apparently

 

[DevonFahrner]

Bethesda has always been reliable when it comes to delivering huge, unique, and well-crafted expansion packs for their RPG's.

You didn't play Mothership Zeta, did you?

Anyway, less Fallout-expansions, where everything happens off from the main bulk of the world, and stays in Skyrim. I don't want to leave Skyrim in DLC, I want to leave it in the next Elder Scrolls game. I'd prefer something similar to Bloodmoon, or Knights of the Nine, where we stay in the same province.

I played all the expansions for Fallout 3, and I would agree with you by saying that Mothership Zeta was definitely one the weaker if not the weakest of the five. The main reason I like it is because of the set-up and the awesome energy weapons. It may not have been up to everyone's standards of quality but it had a few things going for it. I look at it for what it was in my opinion; not bad but far from great. Operation Anchorage and Broken Steel were the strongest as I see it.

 

[rcuhljr]

I've liked most about Skyrim, but only after 5 or so days of playing it, I've reached level 33.

If you reached 33 in five days, then may I suggest you relax your pace? I've been playing since two days before release (game reviewer, yay) and I'm level 24.

I bet the DLC will be good. Shivering Isles was a great expansion, a little too abusive on long dungeons, still a lot of fun, and very colourful.

Heh, people explore at their own pace, and play different amounts. I played through the main story line, one or two major side quests and a bit of random exploration and finished at level 42, I'm level 39 on my second play through on master difficulty already, although that is partly due to me trying to make the strongest character possible to see where the boundary is on master difficulty.

 

[Delsana]

Has Bethesda REALLY been reliable?

2 out of the 5 DLC content packs for Fallout 3 were garbage (The Island, The Pitt and the Alien one)

I would argue all of the Fallout New Vegas DLC packs have been nothing but repetitive and regurgitated garbage, because most of it was cliche, stereotypical, extremely basic, and very dull.

Oblivion... oh gosh the amount of things they tried to make me buy on that... and then 5 different versions of the GOTY version came out and then of course an actual "expansion" followed by another. At least they stopped the DLC spam with that.

The only thing they've reliably done is constantly add new bugs.

dude you sound like you don't actually like the games.

the DLC packs were actually not that bad, in fact it allows Bethesda to expand on story points they bring up in the main narrative. Old world blues is my favourite from Fallout New Vegas, and Broken Steel, and the Pitt were the best ones of Fallout 3.

as for balance wise if they did raise the level cap, i'm sure they bring in new perks, Bethesda ain't silly. they've learned apparently

No, to me the majority of the DLC packs were quite garbage.

 

[JupiterBase]

An Epic Level Skill Perk tree maybe? all dragon shaped? Stuff that unlocks Herculean moves.

 

[Eldrig]

You didn't play Mothership Zeta, did you?

Anyway, less Fallout-expansions, where everything happens off from the main bulk of the world, and stays in Skyrim. I don't want to leave Skyrim in DLC, I want to leave it in the next Elder Scrolls game. I'd prefer something similar to Bloodmoon, or Knights of the Nine, where we stay in the same province.

Since Skyrim was considered the spiritual successor to Fallout 3 by its development team I doubt we'll be seeing any quality expansions/DLC for it. Also, fuck DLC.

The developers have gone on record for saying that the DLC for Skyrim will be larger than that for Fallout 3, but there will be less separate ones, and for all those who have it for the 360, rejoice as they have said that Skyrim's expansions will be exclusive to Xbox for at least 30 days (everyone will get them, we'll just get them earlier).

 

[keideki]

Bethesda has always been reliable when it comes to delivering huge, unique, and well-crafted expansion packs for their RPG's. Without a doubt, they are going to deliver the goods with Skyrim. I can definitely see them giving us new locations, equipment, magic, and perhaps even new dragon shouts, but one thing I'm worried about is character advancement. The leveling system is based on the advancement of all skills, rather than your major skills like in previous Elder Scrolls titles. Ignoring the soft cap at level 50, theoretically, by advancing all 18 skills to 100, the maximum possible level is 81. The question I'm trying to bring up is how will they work with this? New locations and gear are fine, but what about advancing my character? A nice, steady character progression has been one of the things I've liked most about Skyrim, but only after 5 or so days of playing it, I've reached level 33. Not only that, but what about new perks so skill specialization stays fresh? I know it's probably jumping the gun so early after the game's release, but it never hurts to speculate, especially considering the delicate balance the game's mechanics are currently holding.

How do you guys think Bethesda will handle this? Will they add entirely new skills to allow a higher level cap while still keeping the skills balanced? Will they just increase the level 50 soft cap? And how will they handle character progression in general outside of new equipment and magics? Post and let everybody hear your thoughts.

It never hurts to speculate??? I assume you don't know much about day trading then?

OT: If it goes anything like previous expansions then it will be content only. One of the fun things to do in TES games is try to make different types of characters. Sure you could make a character that is good at most of the skills, but why not challenge yourself and make a couple characters with different skills. For example I took certain skills and made a paladin like character. If you have multiple characters the expansions can serve as new content so you don't do the same thing over and over.

That is an option I have considered before; making a small group characters where each would specialize in only one field of general gameplay (i.e. magic, combat, & stealth). Another option I thought about was only having one particular character complete only quests that would pertain to them; such as the Companions only being done with the combat character, and the Thieves Guild only being done by the stealth character. Great insight from your comment.

Even more fun is to create a back story and play your character with a certain personality. My battle mage for example, I have deemed him weak to Daedric influence, thus whenever I encounter one I follow his instructions even if my character is normally a good guy.