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Elden Ring's Next DLC Could Play Pranks on Players

Exploring potential surprises and changes in future Elden Ring content.
Elden Ring's Next DLC Could Play Pranks on Players

Highlights

  • Killing merchants might lead to unexpected consequences, like facing them as surprise boss fights in upcoming content.
  • Introducing a morality system could bring new dynamics and endings to Elden Ring, prompting players to reconsider their in-game decisions.
  • The underused Absolution mechanic could have a significant role in shaping player experiences if incorporated into the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.

As anticipation builds for the future DLC of Elden Ring, players are left wondering about the surprises and changes that might await them. The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC presents an intriguing opportunity to introduce unexpected twists and pranks, potentially disrupting established player habits.

One prevalent tradition in the Elden Ring community involves the indiscriminate killing of merchant NPCs. This practice emerged from the realization that eliminating these characters offered advantages without repercussions. Given the widespread adoption of this behavior, altering the outcome of such actions could serve as a clever and mischievous move.

Challenging Player Habits: The Merchant Consequences

The act of eliminating merchants in Elden Ring is deeply ingrained in player routines due to the benefits it provides. By acquiring the Bell Bearings from slain merchants, players can access their combined inventory at a centralized location, streamlining the purchasing process across the vast game world. However, similar to actions like Dragon Communion, these deeds currently lack significant consequences, presenting an opportunity for future content to introduce unexpected repercussions and enhance player engagement with the game's lore.

An intriguing twist could involve turning the killing of merchants into unexpected boss encounters, akin to the deceptive Rune Bear enemy in Southern Limgrave. By introducing merchant enemies that transform into formidable adversaries when provoked, players would be caught off guard, adding a new layer of challenge and excitement.

Reimagining Player Choices: The Morality System

While surprising players with boss fights is one approach, Elden Ring could revolutionize gameplay by implementing a comprehensive morality system. Unlike the existing linear paths to good and bad endings based on NPC questlines, a morality system would introduce a broader spectrum of outcomes, compelling players to contemplate the consequences of their actions, including the killing of merchants.

Unlocking Potential: The Absolution Mechanic

Furthermore, integrating a morality system could elevate the significance of the underutilized Absolution mechanic in shaping NPC interactions within Elden Ring. Currently, this feature remains largely overlooked, despite its potential to offer unique narrative avenues, particularly in quests involving conflicts with essential characters. By aligning Absolution with a morality system, Elden Ring could enhance player agency and narrative depth, bringing a new dimension to player choices and consequences.

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