The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Verified Creator Interview – EasierRider
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
In our most recent monthly Creator interview, we talked with Verified Creator EasierRider about his Creation, Echoes of the Vale, which takes players back to Skyrim’s Forgotten Vale. Nearly doubling the size of the area, Echoes of the Vale adds 23 new stunning locations to the Forgotten Vale region of Skyrim, including dungeons and a unique player house, “Initiate’s Rest.” EasierRider’s Creation encourages players to organically explore the expanded landscape and go off the beaten path.
What inspired you to create Echoes of the Vale, and what were your goals in making this Creation?
I’d been dreaming about expanding the Forgotten Vale for years, pretty much from the first time I explored it. It seemed a shame that after completing so many quests to get there, I was basically ready to leave after retrieving Auriel’s Bow. I set out to address this with two main goals: make the Vale accessible and give players a reason to return. Everything else just grew from there.
What are the challenges in creating unique new areas to explore that also feel consistent with the base game and don't break immersion?
The biggest challenge was limited assets. The Snow Elf architecture kit is cool, but small, so I had to get very creative with what was available. Since the Forgotten Vale is essentially one big holy site, I had to think carefully about what else might plausibly be there. Adding things like Nordic tombs or Dwemer ruins wouldn’t make any sense, but a Frost Giant lair might. They have to stash those stolen paragons somewhere! Another challenge was finding ways to include written material for environmental storytelling. In the game, translating Ancient Falmer is a huge pain, and I didn’t want to force players to bring every little note and journal to Urag gro-Shub. That’s a big reason why I added the lost Imperial expedition: they speak Tamrielic!
Now that the Creation has been released for a few months, what has the response from the Community been like?
The response has been really great! The community has been very helpful in reporting bugs, giving feedback, and sharing their experiences with the Creation. I was pleasantly surprised how many people enjoyed hunting for all the added items; had I known this from the beginning, I probably would have made a few of them much easier to find!
You recently added a patch for Echoes of the Vale, what was added with this?
I left a lot of content on the cutting room floor when the Creation was first released. Some of my unused assets, like Ivan the pet Vale Sabre Cat, were later discovered by resourceful fans. Once that happened, I knew I had to get him back into the game! In addition to the new pet, I also added two new dungeons, several new weapons, and a large new section of the Frozen Glade. There are dozens of bug fixes and minor improvements as well, but it’s mainly just a big thank-you to the Community.
Do you have any ideas or plans for future Creations that you'd like to make?
For sure! I’ve no shortage of ideas; time is a different story. Every Creation I’ve made basically started from a desire to make Skyrim bigger, and there is still plenty of room to grow. I’d love to do something with Sovngarde, Apocrypha, or the Soul Cairn. At this point there are hardly any areas of the game that haven’t been expanded in some way, but I still feel that these ones could use some extra love. My basic philosophy is that more is more, as long as it’s all compatible!
What modding resources have been most useful to you in your development as a Creator?
Oddly enough, web forums. Nothing beats digging through years of accumulated knowledge to find the answers you’re looking for. If you’re trying to solve a problem, the odds are is that someone else already has and posted the solution a long time ago. That, and the new Resource Pack for Skyrim Special Edition! Having new assets to play with has been a real treat.
