It has been 14 years since The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim debuted at E3 2011, and fans are still uncovering surprising details about the game's original presentation. The 21-minute demo showcased how Bethesda's upcoming RPG would evolve the Elder Scrolls formula, but a recent re-examination of the footage has highlighted an eyebrow-raising character build used by executive producer Todd Howard.
While many remember Howard famously telling viewers they could climb any mountain they saw, a closer look at the demo, specifically around the four-minute and twenty-five-second mark, reveals Howard's character possessed a nearly maxed-out Destruction skill, despite appearing visually unassuming. This practice of using heavily leveled characters in demos is common to showcase a game's capabilities, but the contrast between the character's appearance and his powerful abilities has struck some fans as humorous, even "diabolical."
The character, dressed in what appears to be basic iron armor and wielding rudimentary weapons, was shown dispensing with initial enemies with ease, even though melee combat was noted as one of his weaker skills. Adding to the peculiar setup, Howard's character contracted the Rockjoint disease mid-combat. Simultaneously, the character had access to Illusion skills that could render him invisible or incite nearby wolves into a frenzy, all without resorting to direct melee.
Upon entering Bleak Falls Barrow, the demo further emphasized the character's hidden power. Howard demonstrated the ability to decimate enemies with dual Protection Circles and fire spells, clearing rooms and dispatching undead foes. The demo even featured an encounter with a dragon priest, typically a formidable boss found late in the game, which Howard defeated in under 30 seconds.
Further gameplay revealed a level 100 Sneak skill, allowing Howard's character to walk past enemies unnoticed, including a mammoth that only became hostile after being attacked. When a dragon appeared, Howard initially let it engage an NPC before swiftly defeating it. Later, he summoned a storm to eliminate another dragon without direct intervention.
Despite these immense magical and stealth capabilities, the character's Speech skills were notably underdeveloped, suggesting a persona that had rarely interacted with others. These observations have primarily elicited amusement rather than criticism from fans, who appreciate the irony of Howard's seemingly unassuming "unnamed bandit #3" persona secretly wielding such potent abilities. The detail also highlights how much early game equipment, like the iron armor prominently featured in marketing, is quickly superseded by better gear.