Summary
Whether its secrets are subtle or overt, Bethesda builtSkyrimwith plenty of detail in mind, as the College of Winterhold reacts to certain player spells even outside the introductory quest. With the recent release ofStarfield, Bethesda gained a new wave of fans who fell in love with its special brand of sandbox experience, and it’s quite probable that many of these players have gone to check out older Bethesda titles such asSkyrim. Given the numerousparallels betweenStarfieldandSkyrim, the fifthElder Scrollsinstallment is arguably the best follow-up for those who want more Bethesda gameplay after concluding their Starborn journey.
WhereasElder Scrollsveterans have left few stones unturned during their countless playthroughs ofSkyrim, these new players are discovering the magic and charm that once captivated the gaming community in 2011 for the first time. Though social media have evolved in the many years since, there is something rather comforting in the enduring constancy of players sharing their excitement with other fans, no matter how mundane their discovery may be in the eyes of an old-timer.
For DrailsAtrain, it was during the College of Winterhold storyline that they discovered something inSkyrimthey’d never seen before: the ability to light the magical bonfires on the way to the college grounds. As part of a scripted sequence, Faralda lights these bonfires herself by using Magelight, aSkyrimspell from the Alteration school. However, for some reason, Faralda had failed to light up a bonfire during this particular playthrough, which prompted DrailsAtrain to take matters into their own hands.
Though it may not be as complex as the Arcane University inOblivion, theCollege of Winterhold inSkyrimhas frequently been the subject of mod overhauls, and it remains one of the primary storylines in the game with major lore implications. It brought the enigmatic Psijic Order into the spotlight, who had only been mentioned in pastElder Scrollstitles, yet never before seen. Given that some players haven’t been able to replicate DrailsAtrain’s success in lighting the bonfires, there is a possibility that the credit belongs to Obscure’s College of Winterhold instead of Bethesda.
Skyrim’s unprecedented modding community has completely transformed the game, and has arguably been a pivotal factor in whySkyrimhas enjoyed such longevity for a singleplayer title. Though Bethesda established an impressive foundation that has (infamously) been re-released multiple times since, it should also be recognized how muchSkyrim’s modshave elevated the baseline experience.
With thenextElder Scrollsgame in early development, players and modders alike are champing at the bit to see what the successor to the College of Winterhold will be, whether it ends up being the Mages Guild or even the Psijic Order. Regardless of what direction Bethesda chooses for the next adventure in Tamriel, hopefully the team’s attention to detail will persist in the sequel.
