Forums » Elder Scrolls

• Mason

  

  • 739 posts
   

  December 16, 2011 9:04 PM EST

  I started this discussion with an idea to introduce a racial perk tree for each race, ie when you distributed perks you had the option of improving your race in some way, however a reply by Ponty below made me think. He's stated that after a while you stop using your greater power or if your like me you save it up but never find the right moment to dish it out.

  So instead of having racial perks that enhance your characters background abilities like the current perk system, what if race specific perks only enhanced your greater power instead?

  For example:

  The dunmers greater power currently surrounds them in fire for 60 seconds (fire cloak spell), what if you could add perks to increase the radius/damage of the flames, perhaps add a meteor shower, engulf your weapon in fire, call ancestral flame atronachs to spring to life and pelt your enemies, increase the duration of your power to 1:30, etc...    So with a maxed racial perk tree you become the ultimate example of a dark elf when you 'power up'.

  Khajiits could perhaps still start with night-eye but then as you perk up you gain increased attack speed, faster movement, morrowind style super-jumps, time slow etc...

  Imperials....um......well they could sell things faster....um......god a hate them, wish the Thalmor would just irradicate this race permanently, they foil all my plans. LOL

  Anyway, a character under the influence of their improved greater power would then be functioning at their maximum racial potential.

  Post your thoughts.

   

   

• Aidan Charwood

  

  • 3 posts
   

  December 16, 2011 10:16 PM EST

  pretty good idea but would not work. because a unique perk tree for each race would define their gameplay style too much.
• Ponty

  

  • 708 posts
   

  December 16, 2011 10:30 PM EST

  Definitely sounds like a great idea, something that would add real choice to your race. To be entirely honest greater powers are barely used by most players (myself included).

  Just a note though if you've done the Dark Brotherhood questline and spoke to the Argonian fellow he tells you how the Shadowscales have been dissolved and he's one of the last in all Tamriel :/ so perhaps something different for Argonians, perhaps still Alchemy/stealthy stuff though from all the guerilla warfare and skirmishing they've been involved in.

• Aidan Charwood

  

  • 3 posts
   

  December 16, 2011 10:37 PM EST

  real choice? its all about being able to pick any race and be any type of character you want to be. having an extra set of perks would remove that because each race would be more specialised in certain skills than others?
• Deleted Member

  
   

  December 16, 2011 11:22 PM EST

  sounds like a pretty badass idea to me, would adore khajiit martial arts as I do a bit of that myself and I was sad when I couldn't be a badass master of the whispering fang technique until some good mods come out

• Ponty

  

  • 708 posts
   

  December 16, 2011 11:23 PM EST

  You could just not choose to put any perks in those? It'd just sort of be like how each race starts with a small skill bonus.

• Aidan Charwood

  

  • 3 posts
   

  December 16, 2011 11:56 PM EST

  i think unlockable unique perks during the game is good enough and could probably be expanded on more.

• Sithis Nerevar

  

  • 37 posts
   

  December 17, 2011 4:23 AM EST

  I think it is an awesome idea and would make each of the races more unique to play and definitely give them their own feel, which after all, is the reason we get to pick between different races is it not? I mean if they all end up playing basically the same then what is the point of given us the option of playing a different race at all if its just an aesthetic choice and doesn't effect game-play. I really think your on to something hear and with a bit more though and refinement your idea could work very well in game, and i like the idea of vampire's and werewolves getting their own perk tree as well, i mean if they're not gonna give us quests for them at least give us a perk tree. It'd get my vote but i can see why some people may have issues with it.

• Mason

  

  • 739 posts
   

  December 17, 2011 4:18 PM EST

  Vampire end perk = Daywalker YAY!

  Glad you liked, it would obviously take some planning to ensure it doesnt become unbalenced but i personally would love an extra reason to pick a specific race.

   

• Mason

  

  • 739 posts
   

  December 17, 2011 5:23 PM EST

  Updated - Bump!

• Batman

  

  • 342 posts
   

  December 17, 2011 7:28 PM EST

  Great idea Mason, and the Imperials didn't foil your plan you just forgot their other perk Voice of the Emperor now this only affects Humanoids but what say as you "level" it, it will start to affect creatures and undead eventually the Dwemer machines?

  I myself hardly use the greater powers at least in the case of my Khajiit can see well enough even in the darkest areas to not need it and it makes the screen all weird and hard to see shadows (although better then the blue tint of Oblivion).

• Mason

  

  • 739 posts
   

  December 17, 2011 7:53 PM EST

  Thanks charlie, but dont go making excuses for them imperial chaps, great idea though, almost like the current illusion tree, perhaps have it level to the point that they will even follow you into combat. Good for paladin type characters. "Kill-em all, tally ho!"

  Yep, the point of this thread is to ensure racial powers dont become useless as you level, i think khajiit get the roughest deal of all the races in Skyrim, they get extra unarmed melee damage sure, but Bethesda failed to give any specific skill to enhance it. This currently puts khajiit firmly last for the power-player, shame because they have a rich culture and are meant to be exceptional when it comes to putting foot to ass!

• Donivan

  

  • 21 posts
   

  December 17, 2011 8:46 PM EST

  I like the idea of greater specialization among the races.  Race-specific perks, whether tied to the greater power or not, seems really cool.
  
  Maybe, so as to not make them overwhelmingly powerful at higher levels, they could be tied to small weaknesses.  (Like traits in Fallout New Vegas).  E.g., Dunmer could have a stronger flame-cloak and ancestral Flame atronachs, but their weakness to frost would be increased for the duration as well.
• Mason

  

  • 739 posts
   

  December 17, 2011 9:00 PM EST

  I think if greater powers were to be advanced in this way the whole game difficulty would have to be raised to balence it. I just think it would be cool and allow you to immerse yourself deeper with your character. Its sometimes sad when playing an elder scrolls game and you get to be a level 50 argonian or something and realise, hmmm i'm exactly as powerful as i was with that nord 2 games ago.

  Bethesda have come though tops with the perk system really, you do have to put much more thought into your build if you want to be more powerful. My idea would just take it a step further.

• Stealth Rabbi

  

  • 12 posts
   

  December 18, 2011 12:03 PM EST

  What would be the prerequisites? I think it removes the open endedness which was the intent of skyrim removing birth signs and classes.
• Sithis Nerevar

  

  • 37 posts
   

  December 18, 2011 3:25 PM EST

  I totally agree with you, giving each race their own specific perk three would make choosing a race more meaningful.

  I can see why some people are against it, saying it removes the open endedness of the game and basically it would make each race better suited for certain roles, essentially re-introducing the class system that Bethesda removed.

  I don't think this would be the case at all especially not with the new leveling system, any race can be made to fit any role you want but introducing racial perks would just give them all their own distinct feel and if that gives them benefits to playing a certain role so be it, all the races are in TES lore suited for specific roles anyway but its how you choose to play the game that counts.

  Also what if you could only pick a racial perk every 5 levels instead of every level, that way it would help keep the game balanced.