Modders have put an awful lot of effort into making sure Skyrim has continually evolved and expanded in the years since it was first released into the world.
Many have focused on changing the game by adding their own incredibly powerful spells, handy HUD elements, and interesting new quests to it. A few have even gone as far as re-creating one of Red Dead Redemption 2’s coolest immersion mechanics, or giving the Dragonborn some Assassin’s Creed-style climbing skills.
If you’re planning on making a return to Tamriel while you wait for Starfield or Skyblivion to arrive and fancy getting your hands on a very unique piece of Dwemer technology, a new mod might be worth adding to your load order.
Fancy wielding a useful Dwemer prototype next time you fire up Skyrim?
The mod in question is called ‘Field Surveyor - Dwemer Prototype’, and is the work of modder KatJill.
Some of their previous projects have given you the chance to outfit your Dragonborn with a very unique scythe or whip made from discarded fragments of other weapons and some floating arcane accessories.
This time, they’ve created a very interesting Dwarven contraption called a “Field Surveyor,” a rare gizmo which the mod’s description describes as “a portable device originally aimed to [assist] architects and workers with daunting tasks through [its] helpful features.”
While its creators intended these functions to include the likes of “detailed measuring” and “interactive blueprint visualisation,” unfortunately, it never made it past the prototype stage prior to the civilisation's enigmatic disappearance.
Though this means it was never equipped with the tools to help you build your dream home, the version of the gadget you can get your hands on boasts a few handy functions that can aid you in your adventures.
The most flashy of these are an “entity scan” that looks to work like a detect life spell and “path guidance”, which mirrors the effect of casting clairvoyance to lead you to a goal. There's also a togglable red light that works like those attached to Fallout’s Pip-Boys, so it's definitely worth throwing the surveyor in your fur backpack before heading out.
Or, you can use its kickstand to prop it up on a table and simply appreciate its interesting aesthetic, which bears a bit of a resemblance to the Nintendo Switch. Based on KatJill’s response to one of the comments on the mod, that seems like it didn’t happen by accident.
Either way, you’ll want to head to a dwarven storeroom near the ruin of Mzulft to pick one up.
Regardless of whether you’re now impressing villagers with your new gizmo, make sure to follow us for updates on Starfield, The Elder Scrolls 6 and the interesting world of Bethesda game modding.
You can also check out our latest mods of the month.