Level progression reminiscent of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim?
Level progression reminiscent of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim?
Greetings everyone, I’m curious about whether there are games on PC – either online or offline – that offer a system akin to Skyrim's skill progression through repeated activity, specifically regarding “unranked” or “non-tiered” advancements. My searches have primarily turned up Ultima Online and Repopulation. There’s a modification called "Practice Makes Perfect" for Fallout: New Vegas which fulfills this desire. I also believe Project Zomboid may offer something comparable, though I'm uncertain.
Ideally, I’d like my character to improve based on their skill usage, much like Skyrim; for example, crafting proficiency would increase with repeated crafting attempts, and stealth abilities would develop through regular sneaking. Thank you!
Regarding games like Dark Souls, The Witcher, and Dragon Age:
Dragon Age utilizes a skill point system—the character’s proficiency in an ability increases based on earned points. I personally would find it more satisfying if your character improved simply through repeated use of a particular skill, similar to Skyrim's mechanics; for example, crafting experience would rise with frequent crafting, and stealth skills would become more effective with increased sneaking.
I will investigate Dark Souls and The Witcher and revise my question for additional details, thank you for the recommendation.
MarkT88 :
SarahJane123 :
Are you asking about Dark Souls, The Witcher, or Dragon Age?
Dragon Age features a skill point system allowing characters to improve through experience, which is something I’d like to see more of. Ideally, a character would become stronger simply by using their abilities – similar to Skyrim's progression, where crafting skills increase with practice and sneaking levels rise with frequent use.
I plan to explore Dark Souls and The Witcher and will revise my question for further detail, thank you for your input.
No worries
In Mount & Blade: Warband, the system lacks traditional classes, yet it offers a realistic medieval combat experience (grounded in history rather than magic). While there are progression stages, your proficiency with weapons is primarily developed through repeated practice.
James Mason :
Mount & Blade: Warband is "classless" but it's all medieval fighting (not fantasy)
https://www.taleworlds.com/
it has levels, but you mainly increase weapon skill through use.
I own all M&B games(except for Viking Conquest), I'm a big fan of M&B.
Previously stated, The Witcher 1 and 2 feature a flexible skill progression. Players aren't bound to specific archetypes, and no abilities are restricted solely by class; instead, certain criteria must be fulfilled to unlock them. Conversely, Dragon Age: Inquisition enforces rigid class divisions. Divinity: Original Sin offers complete freedom from such limitations. While initial characters come with designated class designations, players retain the ability to select any desired skills, though these skills are affected by character attributes, meaning you’ll probably prioritize particular skill sets depending on your chosen stats – or vice versa.
Within Dark Souls, character advancement is achieved by utilizing accumulated souls gathered through defeating foes or employing items. Character abilities do not inherently improve; their enhancement solely relies on investing the necessary souls into stat upgrades. The Witcher’s mechanics aren’t entirely analogous to Skyrim’s either, resembling Dark Souls somewhat, but instead involves expending skill points (gained through leveling) and dedicating those points to structured, largely predetermined ability pathways—a characteristic shared by both titles. Other Elder Scrolls installments, notably Oblivion, offer the closest experience to a Skyrim-style progression system. The other games recommended are undoubtedly excellent and merit multiple playthroughs (😉).
They aren’t similar to Skyrim, however, alternative mechanics exist that allow for skill progression without being restricted by predefined character classes as seen in numerous other titles. The Witcher lacks a class structure, and similarly, a handful of other games—though I’m unsure about Dark Souls—do not employ this approach.
I’m hoping to discover if there are games on PC, either online or offline, featuring a system where abilities improve through consistent play – much like Skyrim’s skill progression. My searches have primarily turned up Ultima Online and Repopulation, along with the “Practice Makes Perfect” modification for Fallout: New Vegas. I believe Project Zomboid may offer something comparable, though I'm uncertain. Ideally, a character would advance in proficiency as they utilize a particular skill, mirroring Skyrim’s mechanics; for instance, crafting experience increases with successful creations, and stealth levels rise through frequent sneaking activities.
Skyrim’s success is fundamentally due to this feature. It seems unlikely you’ll find games replicating this mechanic unless another developer takes inspiration from it. Please see my Steam review.