The Goblin Wars weren’t the star of Oblivion, yet they left a strong impression.
It wasn’t only a quirky side quest but also one of the best examples of emergent gameplay Bethesda has attempted. It might have been rough around the edges, unfinished, and hampered by bugs and restrictions, but the idea still holds meaning for longtime fans.
When it comes to features, this is the one The Elder Scrolls 6 should revive and build on. The Goblin Wars system was fundamentally about tribal battles. Each goblin faction in Oblivion guarded a sacred totem staff, and stealing one would trigger retaliation from the offended tribe.
If the totem was dropped into another tribe’s lair, that action alone could set off a chain of inter-tribal warfare. Instead of a scripted quest event, this was a background AI system that created spontaneous raids, ambushes, and chaos. Players who came across it on their own felt like they had discovered a secret world tucked away in plain view.
The catch was—it was hard to find. Even when players went out of their way to trigger a goblin war, the system didn’t always work. War chiefs sometimes died and either took a while to respawn or failed to respawn entirely. Sometimes totems stayed untouched, even when placed right in front of an enemy leader.
The system ran on exact scripting and AI that could be inconsistent, especially since the simulation only covered what the player actually observed. The limitations of Radiant AI meant that these mechanics were fragile at best, and often completely broke down without mods or console commands to help.
Fans find that the Goblin Wars system remains flawed in Oblivion Remastered 2025, just like it was in 2006. Even with the remaster’s improved visuals and updated assets, the core mechanics stay the same. Despite these frustrations, the system still captures players’ imaginations.
That’s because the concept of Goblin Wars is gold: a living, breathing conflict system where minor factions battle over territory and pride. So The Elder Scrolls 6 should bring it back, but with the proper tweaks and attention it deserves.
Modern engines, enhanced AI tech, and better hardware give Bethesda a solid shot at getting this to work as planned. You walk through Hammerfell or High Rock and find the aftermath of a goblin fight with flags down, bodies around, and camps occupied. Totem thefts could also be expanded into their own faction-based questlines.
Rival groups could clash over resource-rich zones, and the player could influence it all by supporting one side, sabotaging the other, or fanning the flames of conflict. It wouldn’t only be a neat feature but would make the world feel more alive than scripted moments ever do.
Elder Scrolls VI could take this concept further by including bandits, mercenaries, and minor factions alongside goblins. The world could telegraph these changes naturally—through patrols, rumors, and environmental storytelling.
That’s how you take a rough gem from the past and turn it into something unforgettable. The Goblin Wars might’ve been broken, buried, and forgotten by most. But for those who saw what they were trying to be, the system still stands as one of Bethesda’s most underrated ideas. It’s time to bring it back—and this time, do it right.