What Morrowind Can Teach Us About Learning New Skills

Video games often have compelling stories, so why not apply that same structure to apps? Levely, an app inspired by the Elder Scrolls series Morrowind, is the result of extensive play and study of this classic game. To illustrate how one can learn new skills, we'll follow the journey of Cedric the Persistent, an in-game character who struggles with basic abilities at the start.

Cedric, a weak, poor, and possibly illiterate 20-year-old, desires to become the best wizard in Morrowind. Despite his initial struggles with even the simplest of spells, Cedric persists in his quest to master magic. The game offers a unique skill acquisition model, closely resembling how one might improve their abilities in real life.

For instance, Cedric buys a spell tome promising a powerful Fireball. Upon trying, he fails miserably, feeling discouraged. However, this setback pushes him to purchase a simpler spell tome for creating a tiny spark. Over time, Cedric's skill level slowly increases from 20 out of 100. The game teaches him that focused practice at the edge of his current abilities leads to growth.

Cedric's persistence in learning and practicing spells results in significant improvement in his magical abilities and reading skills. His journey highlights the importance of showing up consistently, even when facing failure. Levely, inspired by Morrowind, encourages users to track their dedication to skill improvement. While we can't measure skill levels on a bar like in-game characters, we can quantify the effort and time spent practicing.

The game's mechanics also consider external factors like fatigue, which can impact success. Inspired by the game, Levely's creator aims to gamify the process of personal growth, making it more engaging and relatable. Ultimately, Cedric's story serves as a reminder that mastering new skills requires persistence, practice, and a willingness to start small and gradually build up one's abilities.