The Elder Scrolls universe, with its expansive realm of Tamriel, is teeming with magical possibilities, though Skyrim, in particular, only scratches the surface when it comes to the number of magic schools it explores. Given Tamriel’s vast magical potential, it’s quite conceivable that The Elder Scrolls 6 could introduce new magic schools, expanding on the somewhat limited selection seen in Skyrim compared to its predecessors.
In Skyrim, magic was categorized neatly into specific schools with various spells, but The Elder Scrolls 6 presents an opportunity to delve deeper into the arcane. It could revolutionize the way players interact with Tamriel’s enchanted world by developing entirely new forms and schools of magic. Perhaps we’ll see an expansion of existing ones like the School of Conjuration, which offered a lot of promise but didn’t quite fulfill its potential in Skyrim.
As the narrative of The Elder Scrolls 6 unfolds in a fresh region of Tamriel, it presents a perfect opportunity to incorporate unique magical education and traditions reflecting each province’s distinct culture and history. This new setting could indeed foster the development of a unique school of magic, deeply interwoven with the culture of the province it originates from, staying true to the world-building The Elder Scrolls series is known for.
Reflecting on past titles can be valuable when crafting new magic schools. Games like The Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall and Battlespire included the School of Thaumaturgy, later integrated into Alteration, but they could serve as inspiration. Furthermore, Skyrim’s Shouts, racial Powers, alchemy, enchanting, soul gems, and Standing Stones highlight untapped magical systems that could be further developed in the new installment.
The limited scope of Skyrim’s magic compared to earlier games in the series suggests that expanding existing schools rather than creating entirely new ones could be a viable approach for The Elder Scrolls 6. By doing so, it could introduce new spells and bring back beloved classics from the past games.
Take, for example, the School of Conjuration, which, despite its extensive range, including necromancy, could still expand. Necromancy holds rich narrative and gameplay potential. Other fantasy IPs treat necromancy as its own distinct discipline, and The Elder Scrolls could do the same, adding depth to its existing Conjuration system.
Given that necromancy involves soul gems, opens doorways to the ethereal realms like the Soul Cairn, and has diverse cultural perceptions, it offers ample opportunities for storytelling and role-playing adventures in The Elder Scrolls 6. Expanding this magic practice doesn’t necessitate crafting an entirely new magic school but rather reimagining and broadening the horizons of the Conjuration school to include these intriguing aspects.