I have a confession: every time I see Avowed’s first-person spell-slinging, my brain starts drafting wish lists for The Elder Scrolls 6. Yes, the two RPGs are different beasts — one is a focused, zone-based fantasy adventure, while the other is the next mainline chapter in a series that practically defined the modern open-world RPG. But now that Avowed has been out long enough for its systems to settle, and with The Elder Scrolls 6 still looming on the 2026 horizon, I keep circling one idea that Bethesda should borrow: Avowed’s flexible class framework.
What Avowed’s Skill System Actually Does
Avowed’s classes are not classes in the old Dungeons & Dragons sense. They are labeled lanes, not locked doors. Fighter skills sharpen melee combat, Wizard skills deepen spellcasting, and so on. The clever part is that players can mix and match abilities across those lanes. You can go all-in on one archetype or diversify your character until your build looks like a jazz combo — structured enough to work, loose enough to surprise you.
That matters because it gives players both identity and room to experiment. A pure Fighter feels different from a Fighter who dips into Wizard spells for crowd control. Neither choice is wrong. The system trusts players to find their own fun.
A Seed Crystal, Not a Concrete Foundation
The Elder Scrolls 6 could put its own spin on that idea. At character creation, let players choose a class for immediate bonuses. A Mage might start with a larger mana pool, a thief might get a stealth bonus and a slight speed increase, and a warrior might begin with better armor handling. Then, after a few level-ups, open the door to other disciplines. The starting class becomes a seed crystal — it gives the first shape, not the final structure.
| Stage | What The Elder Scrolls 6 could do | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Character creation | Pick a class for starting bonuses | Immediate identity and a strong opening build |
| Early levels | Learn class skills at a discount | Rewards commitment without locking the door |
| After a few level-ups | Unlock other discipline trees | Flexibility for players who want to branch out |
| Late game | Add cross-class synergy perks | Encourages creative builds and replayability |
I like this because it makes class choice feel meaningful without turning it into a straitjacket. Class should be a tuning fork, not a cage. It sets the tone, then lets the player compose the rest.
Why This Beats the Skyrim Model and Honors Oblivion
Skyrim handled character growth mostly through race bonuses and perk trees. Race mattered before level one, then the skill trees took over. Oblivion added birthsigns, which gave another layer of unique bonuses. Both systems had charm, but neither combined a strong starting archetype with long-term cross-discipline freedom quite like this.
If The Elder Scrolls 6 layers class bonuses, racial traits, birthsign-style choices, and skill trees, it could have the best of both worlds. Players get a clear starting identity and the freedom to evolve. That is not about copying Avowed wholesale. It is about taking one good idea and filtering it through Elder Scrolls lore, modding culture, and open-world pacing.
⚠️ One caution: The Elder Scrolls 6 should not lock players out of other trees for dozens of hours. Modern RPG players expect room to respec or branch out. Let the class be a first draft, not a final verdict.
The Replayability Multiplier
This design would also give me a real reason to make multiple characters. In Skyrim, I often drifted toward the same stealth-archer comfort zone. With class-based starting bonuses and later cross-class unlocks, alt characters become experiments, not reruns. A spellblade, a stealthy healer, and a heavy-armor summoner could all feel like valid first drafts of the same hero.
A trellis does not dictate the vine’s exact path; it gives it something to climb. The Elder Scrolls 6 could use classes the same way: structure early, freedom later. That is how you get builds that feel personal without making players afraid to try something new.
The Avowed Lesson Without the Avowed Blueprint
Avowed is a peer, not a blueprint. The Elder Scrolls 6 should still be its own massive, lore-rich, mod-friendly beast. But the flexible class idea is worth watching. If Bethesda combines starting archetypes with open skill trees, The Elder Scrolls 6 could deliver the strongest character creation the series has seen — and give players like me a very dangerous amount of build-planning homework. 🧙🗡️",
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