Summary

• NPCs in Skyrim now pose more of a threat to players with the "NPCs Take Cover - Smarter Anti-Cheese AI" mod.
• The mod discourages "cheesing" encounters by calling out players with custom voice lines.
• Skyrim's modding community continues to offer various combat-enhancing mods, even a decade after the game's release.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim may soldier on as one of the most beloved role-playing games of all time, but that doesn't mean that it's perfect. Aside from the various bugs and glitches that have plagued the game since its release, one of the longest-standing complaints is that the artificial intelligence governing the game's NPCs isn't all that compelling, resulting in enemies that don't require strategy or skill to defeat. Fortunately, a new mod has taken aim at the problem.

Created by Nexus Mods Skyrim enemies behave, allowing them to pose more of a threat to players. Once installed, the mod will allow enemies to take more advanced actions when faced with a bow-wielding player. This includes taking cover from incoming fire, repositioning to more advantageous locations, and moving around once they've reached a more secure place, making them harder to hit.

No More Cheesing Allowed in Skyrim

The mod was created in response to the common practice of "cheesing" encounters in Skyrim, wherein players chip away at enemies' health from a position that can't be reached by NPCs. Foes would simply charge forward with little to no self-preservation. While the mechanical tweaks included in the "NPCs Take Cover" mod are appealing, JaySerpa went one step further by including 200 custom voice lines that call out players for incorporating "cheesing" methods. Firing projectiles from a hard-to-reach location will prompt NPCs to sprout lines such as, "Fight me like a warrior!," "Take cover!," and "Someone kill that damn mage!"

"NPCs Take Cover" isn't the only mod designed to fundamentally overhaul Skyrim's combat. Since its release in 2011, a plethora of mods have been created to enhance battles. These include everything from converting the combat system to resemble that seen in Assassin's Creed Valhalla to physics-based melee hits that allow for "accurate" skirmishes. Skyrim is so committed to the game that certain mods include new areas, quests, and NPCs.

Will There Be an Elder Scrolls VI?

Despite being over a decade old, the fervor around Skyrim continues unchallenged. Developer Bethesda Game Studios has released several other open-world RPGs after Skyrim, including Fallout 4, Fallout 76, and Starfield, but it could be argued none of these titles have managed to capture the hearts of fans like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Having announced The Elder Scrolls VI in 2018, many players are waiting for updates regarding the next mainline installment in the franchise, but news on the title is still largely under wraps.

Source: JaySerpa/Nexus Mods