Fantasy RPGs like The Elder Skyrim or Baldur’s Gate 3 have made a deep impact on both the community and the video game industry. Both worlds are filled with magic, mystical creatures, and a focus on decision-making that alters the narrative, elements that contribute to total player freedom. Bethesda’s RPG stands out for its real-time action combat system, while the 2023 GOTY has revived interest in role-playing games based on more complex rules and turn-based mechanics.
Both are essential in their field, but a Bethesda veteran has pointed out that the studio will not follow the same path as Larian Studios’ fantasy RPG, that is, the CRPG route despite the success of Baldur’s Gate 3. In an interview with Videogamer, Skyrim’s lead designer stated that the Microsoft-owned studio will prioritize more accessible gameplay that is not based on more complex numerical systems. “In the days of Daggerfall, everyone tried to replicate the tabletop gaming experience, which meant relying heavily on rules,” explains Bruce Nesmith.
“Character descriptions were huge and, in my opinion, unwieldy. Over time, that ceased to interest players. They didn’t want to deal with extremely complex character sheets, and in fact, I was one of those who advocated for simplification,” he reveals. In the end, the Skyrim veteran suggests that Bethesda games will not delve into excessively complicated interfaces or mechanics, which may not apply to Baldur’s Gate 3 since the tabletop gaming experience, with dice rolls and detailed rules, can overwhelm users who prefer more intuitive experiences.
Baldur’s Gate 3 does not dictate the future of RPGs at Bethesda
Nesmith says about Baldur’s Gate 3, “[They had a very specific goal]: adapting the fifth edition of Dungeons & Dragons to a video game. It was intentionally a look back, recapturing the classic representation of tabletop games. Baldur’s Gate 3 is actually an exception to current industry trends,” he reveals. Despite Larian’s RPG selling around 14 million copies, he does not expect the industry or Bethesda to embark on a widespread path towards these classic RPG games.
“I don’t believe the success of Baldur’s Gate 3 signifies a widespread return to more numerical systems and detailed character sheets and the like. Whether the rest of the industry will follow suit or not, I don’t know. I’m not smart enough to say. But I think through Skyrim, Bethesda has wanted to ensure that the game does not interfere with the experience,” he explains, mentioning Todd Howard. “You see that everywhere in Skyrim. Todd is a big advocate of making the interface disappear when you’re not doing something that requires it, so that all you see is the world.”
In 3DJuegos | Baldur’s Gate 3 – Guide with all cheats, secrets, tips to complete the game 100%
In 3DJuegos | Everything I would like The Elder Scrolls VI to improve to make its open world much more than Skyrim with fancy graphics
