The NPCs found in the worlds of The Elder Scrolls games are often the most intriguing aspect of them. Not only do they deliver much of the game's story, but they also provide an inner look at the world's history, lore, and culture. The Elder Scrolls 6's NPCs will likely continue this theme, but there's also something they could bring back -- charisma.
Though found in many The Elder Scrolls games, Oblivion's iteration of the persuasion mini-game is one of the most iconic. Through it, players could uniquely interact with NPCs in a way few others games allowed at the time. The Elder Scrolls 6 should bring back this feature and make it better than ever.
Elder Scrolls' Charisma Feature Makes NPCs Come Alive
Oblivion's persuasion mini-game allowed for players to build up their relationship with any NPC, both named and unnamed. Players who excelled in both their charisma statistic and playing the mini-game were able to achieve high rapport with just about any NPC. This allowed for unique interactions, such as unlocking ways to beat a quest by gaining the NPC's trust and learning one of their secrets. This was one of the many features cut from Skyrim, which greatly limited the extent player's could interact with NPCs. Its return would not only mark a return to form, but enhance the world of future Elder Scrolls games.
The return of the persuasion mini-game would also give many of the lesser-known Elder Scrolls NPCs a layer of depth. Allowing for every NPC to be interacted with at such a level would encourage talking to every person the player can find within the game. It could bring back the same boons it offered in Oblivion, such as being able to unlock quest options through high rapport. But seeing how as The Elder Scrolls 6 is going to release on much higher end devices than the Xbox 360, the potential for its own persuasion mini-game far supersedes what Oblivion was able to accomplish.
The ways a player can raise rapport with an NPC can greatly vary. For example, an NPC from the Thieves Guild could witness the player steal something, and rather than report them, the action would raise the player's rapport with them. Finishing certain quests could raise rapport with some characters, while lowering with others. It brings up the idea of a complex network of relationships, making the game's world feel much more realistic. In The Elder Scrolls 6, it may even give players more reason to level the speech skill.
It should be said, however, that the mechanic wasn't abandoned for no reason. In Oblivion, the mini-game was easily abused and players could quickly achieve high rapport with any NPC they wanted. This lead to it being somewhat of an overpowered mechanic whose ease of access was not reflected by its difficulty. It may have been a bit jarring from a role playing perspective to be able to befriend someone who should be a stranger to the player so quickly. Players who were not as adept at the mini-game may have just seen it as a money-dump, as the bribe mechanic allowed players to raise their rapport through gold alone. If the feature makes a return, it needs a major revamp, similar to Elder Scrolls' potential spellcrafting mechanic.
Bringing back the persuasion mini-game may allow more options for pacifist playthroughs than ever before. The potential it brings to the game is nearly limitless, which justifies its inclusion in future installments. It's a feature that The Elder Scrolls 6 shouldn't miss out on.
The Elder Scrolls 6 is in development.