PC gaming isn't short of multiplayer fantasy adventures these days, but there is still something alluring about the idea of playing Skyrim with pals. Some mods have facilitated small-scale Skyrim multiplayer in the past, like the cooperative mod Skyrim Together. But Aurbis goes several step further, converting Bethesda's RPG into a persistent online roleplaying server—essentially a Skyrim MMO in all but name.

According to its ModDB page, Aurbis transforms Skyrim's solo adventure into "a persistent world where player actions create lasting consequences", snythesising Skyrim's existing experience with a bunch of multiplayer and MMO-like systems. It's designed with roleplaying in mind, though the mod's creators stress that RP is not mandatory, and players can focus on other elements like cooperative dungeon runs or PvP play if they so choose.

The list of changes and additions to Aurbis is impressive, running from character creation outward. The retooled character builder is designed to let avatars "develop over time instead of becoming powerful immediately", though it also lets players start with vampirism or lycanthropy for roleplaying purposes.

Those roles are heavily defined by the player's choice of Birthsign, which affects how efficiently skills develop. Crafting professions are supported by a player-driven economy that factors in bank accounts, property ownership and player-created quests, while activities like combat are designed to be dangerous and reward "preparation, equipment, specialisation and teamwork."

Alongside these changes are entirely new, multiplayer specific systems. Players can form their own groups called Cohorts, designed to act as a "strong foundation for MMO-style social gameplay".

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