Answering fan questions on the subject, Howard said that there are “no current plans” for a fifth game in the Elder Scrolls series.

A little disappointing, true, but remember, “no current plans” only means no current plans. Plans change. And hey, maybe he’s just being coy, and they’re working on Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion II!

QuakeCon 2009: Todd Howard keynote highlights [Big Download]

I thought I’d do something different for today’s Monday Musings. Inspired by a thread over on NeoGAF, I’ve been thinking about what I would do if I was designing the next Elder Scrolls. I’m a big fan of Bethesda, from Daggerfall right through to Fallout 3. But as much as I love their games, I’m equally aware of their flaws. Here’s my attempt to fix ‘em.

1. Reduce World Scaling
In Oblivion, the whole world levelled up with you. It was supposed to provide you with a constant challenge, but in effect it meant you never felt more powerful. Also, those puny bandits you fought at Level-1 would start wearing super-rare glass armour by the time you hit Level-20. Fallout 3 scaled certain quest encounters, but it also had areas that would kick your arse until you were at a high enough level. It makes the world feel dangerous and more varied. And more fun.

2. Stealthier Stealth
Two of the Elder Scrolls main guilds are stealth-based. Yet the way stealth works is primitive, with detection based mainly on your Sneak stat and whether the AI is facing your direction. Thief and Assassin players would love to take advantage of a wider range of stealth abilities: snuffing out light sources, breaking into windows, climbing across rooftops, disguises, using thrown objects as bait or as a decoy, etc. Melee combat made huge strides from Morrowind to Oblivion, so this time it should be the stealth system receiving the innovation.

3. No Morality System
No karma, no alignment, no blatant pet-the-puppy/kick-the-puppy choices, thanks. Morality in the Elder Scrolls should be based on the guilds you join and the quests you take.

4. Overhaul Levelling
Levelling in Oblivion was utterly broken. To attain the maximum +5 attribute bonuses, you spent more time worrying about which skills you were grinding and not enough simply enjoying the game. The next Elder Scrolls should either switch to an experience based system (where XP is awarded for completing quests and performing skill based actions, as in Fallout 3) or a system where your skills increases are reflected in attribute bonuses in a more seamless and incremental way.

5. Revamped Speechcraft
The persuasion minigame in Oblivion was, frankly, stupid. Sure, it was an interesting little puzzle, but it had no place in determining how successful your conversation options would be. There’s a mod out there called Persuasion Overhaul that actually makes those Coerce, Joke, Boast and Admire options meaningful, based on who you are and what type of NPC you’re speaking to. For example, a burly Nord drinking in a tavern is more likely to be persuaded if you begin boasting and joking with him. It lends so much more personality to the people with whom you interact. Bethesda should copy it.

6. Open Cities
Let’s get back to the Morrowind way of having all the cities right there in the world, where you move seamlessly from the wilderness to civilisation with no loading screens masquerading as town gates.

7. Greater Geographical Variety
Sure, there are different regions within Cyrodiil, each with their own climate and type of vegetation. But there aren’t all that many unusual and eye-catching locations. A huge modding effort has seen the creation of dozens of “unique landscapes” available to add to the countryside. It’s paid off, too, creating a far more diverse and interesting world to explore. I’d love to see some startlingly different areas in the next Elder Scrolls, something to give me a reason to venture out in the wild for some sightseeing, rather than just bush-bashing to the next quest marker.

8. More Voice Actors
More, as in, more than the three guys who voiced the entire cast last time around.

9. Better Character Models
People in Cyrodiil were hideously ugly. People in the Capital Wasteland weren’t much better, and I’m not just talking about the ghouls. Bethesda must know this has been a weakness of their games for some time. I can’t imagine they’re not working on vastly improving their character models, especially the faces.

10. No Main Quest
Yes. The main quest in Oblivion was bad. (It was bad in Fallout 3, too.) For me, it’s not so much the quality of the writing or the scenarios the quest takes you through. It’s more the incongruity of it. The main quest is supposed to give you direction and impetus; it’s urgent you find the emperor’s heir and close those Oblivion gates. Yet here’s a game where the whole point is: do whatever you want. You can ignore the main quest in Oblivion for years of in-game time, and still that threat from Mehrunes Dagon never appears to get any closer.
What if the next Elder Scrolls didn’t have one? What if your entire adventure was about the guilds you joined, the people you met, the quests you stumbled upon, and the life you create for yourself? Expand the guilds and the factions, make more of them and make your rise through their ranks more meaningful. But don’t ask me to save the world again. Seriously, I’ve got better things to do.

So, Elder Scrolls fans, how do you rate my suggestions? And what do you think Bethesda should do? What would you like to see in the next Elder Scrolls game?

Reader Tom sends us the above image, and while I haven’t seen the same advertisement myself (nor can I see any mention of the games in the retail store), I can confirm that a listing for “Oblivion: Game of the Year Edition” has magically appeared overnight in my press account.

I, incidentally, have never played any of Oblivion’s expansions. Looks like that’s about to change.

The event gave those present a look at WET, Rogue Warrior, the latest Fallout 3 downloadable content, and a chance to talk to the publisher and their developer about some of their upcoming games and projects.

While travel was paid for, our coverage was not. Here’s a break down of what I wrote from the event:

New Fallout Announced
Fallout 3 Delivers Puppies! on May 5
WET: Guns, Leather, Swords and Acrobatics
Rogue Warrior Carpet F-Bombs With Rourke
Bethesda Teams With Del Rey For Elder Scroll Novels
Despite the Trash Talk, No Taunt Button in Rogue Warrior
Bethesda Says Snog Me Senseless With Mints

Real Estate experts from Coldwell Banker and RE/MAX Allegiance weigh in on the pros and cons of the ten coolest video game castles in an inspired Maxim piece this month.

Castles from Fable 2, Mega Man 2, Zelda, Castle of Illusion, Ico, Mario, The Elder Scrolls III, Super Mario World, Castlevania and Castle Wolfenstein get the once over in the story.

The most valuable of the lot, according to at least one of the experts, is Castle Karstaag of The Elder Scrolls III.

DM: Tailored to those who love a winter getaway, Castle Karstaag rivals only the Fortress of Solitude as king of the ice castles. Oceanfront location makes it a covetable castle, although the interior could use a warm touch for those who easily tire of icy designs. Spacious throughout gives you room to entertain even the largest of guests and rearrange room structures at a moment’s notice.
Estimated Value: 650,000 gold coins

SECOND OPINION
BB: Built almost entirely out of ice, this oceanfront castle has a great view. A neat feature is the bedroom with a built-in pool-I hope it’s heated! The large dining table in the banquet hall can fit giants and the ice torches never, and I mean never, burn out.
Estimated Value: A cool 1,500,000 gold coins

Worth a read and perhaps a bit of debate.

How Much Are Video Game Castles Worth?

Those of you who held out on getting the Game of the Year Edition of Oblivion that included the expansion and didn’t want to drive all the way out to the store for the retail expansion disc can now spend $US 30 via the PlayStation Network and get your expansion on. PS3 Oblivion fans – and I count myself among you – our long struggle is finally at an end. According to the Bethesda Blog post, we own a debt of gratitude to technical director Guy Carver, heretofore known as the Prophet of Light. Feel free to erect statues in his honour while the expansion downloads.

Shivering Isles now available on Playstation Network [Bethesda Blog]

Now, Gamasutra (among other news outlets) are reporting that the developer has licensed Simutronics HeroEngine, an all-in-one MMO package that includes client and server software. This is interesting indeed, considering Bethesda is a stalwart supporter of Gamebryo, having used the first iteration of the tech in Morrowind and a more advanced version for Oblivion. It’s not like Gamebryo has no support for MMOs.

In fact, I have it on good authority that Bethesda’s version of Gamebryo is leagues ahead of what original licenser Emergent has on offer. Maybe ZeniMax just likes the look of HeroEngine. Still, it seems a waste to not use technology that’s already there.

ZeniMax Online Studios Licenses Simutronics HeroEngine For New MMO [Gamasutra]

We’ve not heard word from Bethesda Softworks, but the game has indeed been removed from Gamestop’s online store. We’re waiting to hear back from the Elder Scrolls developer on the matter and hope to dash your dreams officially soon.

Thanks for the tips, Ryan and Paul.

Get your hands on the Source SDK, The Elder Scrolls Construction Set, the Neverwinter Nights toolset (either game, 1 or 2 or both!). Make lots of mods. When the time is right and you have a chance to interview for a design job, show them all your kick arse mods.

Of course, the same would apply for modding the software of pretty much any company you’d like to work for. But when you make it and publish your first title, we ask that you send us one of your two complimentary copies out of gratitude.

Breaking into Games: I want to be a Designer! [via gamingtoday]

Don’t bother directing your browser to the site – it’s not up yet.

Now, this really shouldn’t come as a big surprise – ZeniMax Online’s been gearing up for a while now. Being an open world RPG series, Elder Scrolls is a ripe IP for the massively multiplayer gaming market.

I still think ZeniMax Online was also set up to take over work on the Fallout MMO, in case Interplay isn’t up to it. That we’ll know more about next year.

Elder Scrolls Online? [Voodoo Extreme]