Skyrim is gonna be for casual gamers!

[MrPopo]

They key here is that many games have extra complexity that doesn't add anything to the game. Let's look at Morrowind's leveling system (and let me preface by saying I loved Morrowind and am still sad that I can't use spears in Oblivion).

In Morrowind a given action is governed by two stats. The first is the skill that governs the action, and the second is the attribute that governs the skill. So if you want to do the most damage with long blades you want to get the highest strength and long blade skill that you can. So why have two?

Well, one benefit in Morrowind of the attributes is that it allows for bleed. So if I have a high strength I will be halfway decent with axes even if don't train up my axe skill. Seems like a good thing, right? But think back to the last time you played. How often are you actually using an off-skill item? If I've got 50 points in long blade and 20 points in axes then I'm always going to use long blades, unless I somehow found a daedric axe while I'm still only finding steel swords. Really the off skill stuff that you will find yourself using are the utility skills. Alchemy, security, speechcraft, mercantile, and utility spells like mark/recall. If you had powered up attributes for these various skills you ended up being able to do a little more, but none of these things were something you considered worthwhile to train up from low skill levels. So by removing attributes Bethesda actually makes your character choices more relevant. Now I can't be a warrior with a good block skill who can also disarm complex locks; I have to make choices as to which skills I focus on and which skills I let atrophy. And sure, you can still get to a jack of all trades point; the difference is now you REALLY have to work for it.

[littlecallen]

I think simple gameplay elements make games a lot better.

But not when it comes to the Elder Scrolls franchise. There is a large group of people who want to see everything taken a step further from what we got with Oblivion. Oblivion had a pretty simple system anyway, it was my first RPG and I have to say that it was one of the easiest systems to understand right from the get-go.

[AmericanMuffin]

I think simple gameplay elements make games a lot better.

Careful what you wish for.

I like complex games, too. But TES is MADE for complexity.

[Flake]

I think simple gameplay elements make games a lot better.

Careful what you wish for.

I like complex games, too. But TES is MADE for complexity.

I think it is actually made for distribution in exchange for money to as large a consumer base as possible. I could be wrong, though.

[MrPopo]

Complexity is good when it adds depth. Complexity for the sake of complexity isn't. And everything I've seen from the Skyrim trailers shows that it will have the same highly detailed world and the same ability to grow your character to be a complete badass mage or assassin or berserker or living god (if you have the time on your hands). If anything it seems like they are removing many of the common exploits that involved you getting a lot of power for little effort by doing things in an unintuitive way. I'm looking at you, speechcraft mercantile enchanting alchemy acrobatics armorer <armor skill you don't use> specialized warrior who has 100 long blade and heavy armor at level 1 and stomps all over the rats and goblins.

[KillerJuan77]

I think simple gameplay elements make games a lot better.

Careful what you wish for.

I like complex games, too. But TES is MADE for complexity.

Not really, The Elder Scrolls series are fairly accessible to most gamers out there (Even fricking Daggerfall is more or less simple). Want a game that's made for complexity? Play EVE Online, the X series or Steel Batallion.

[MrPopo]

the X series

You wanna talk complexity? This game is full of it and doesn't have good tutorials. (awesome game though)

[KillerJuan77]

the X series

You wanna talk complexity? This game is full of it and doesn't have good tutorials. (awesome game though)

I agree, I like the game but the fucking tutorials are useless so I ended up reading the manual and it's fairly functional (If not to say long and complicated).

[BurningDoom]

I'll wait to see the end result before I make a decision. But I'm not liking the sounds of it. A lot of those things are part what made Morrowind and Oblivion unique in the RPG world, IMO.

[Xeogred]

There is no such thing as a hardcore or casual gamer. The concept is inherently flawed.

QFT
I've grow super tired of the hardcore and casual gamer argument.

I'm casually hardcore.

Like, you know you're hardcore, but you gotta play it cool, boy.

Made my day.