Quote :

"Sounds suspiciously like starting the game all over"

bingo

11/16/2011 7:52:22 AM

I have rerolled like 7 times. I'm such a nerd, I don't want this game to ever end.

Netstorm is living vicariously through our Skyrim adventures, please add more details.

I'm playing on Expert and my Tank Mage/ Battle Mage build still works great! It's awesome switching from shield to magic back to shield after blocking. If my block makes the enemy stumble, I do a strong attack to the face. If their attack just deflects off my shield, I use Damage over time magic and go back to block. Then rinse and repeat, but alternative between healing myself and DOT magic, and the strong attack when warranted. It's working great.

I'll make another video soon, showing how this works.

[Edited on November 16, 2011 at 8:10 AM. Reason : -]

11/16/2011 8:09:27 AM

I personally like Freeze spells as it can be used to "slow down" melee attackers. My biggest issue with my character is dealing with dual wielding fiends and sabre-tooth tigers. I'm debating about buying more advanced Lightning Spells to deal with flying dragons due to their fast propragation speed to hit moving targets.

I was going to a battle mage character but my single handed weapons skills are inadequate compared to my destruction skills. Maybe i need to spend more perk points on single-handed.

[Edited on November 16, 2011 at 8:13 AM. Reason : a]

11/16/2011 8:11:36 AM

That's the beauty of the build I have, I can alternate between DOT, Cold, and healing spells, and my shield. So I can open with DOT, switch to cold to slow them, Melee them in the face during the cold duration, heal myself, back to shield, stagger them with shield, mace to the face again, DOT, cold, rinse and repeat.

[Edited on November 16, 2011 at 8:15 AM. Reason : -]

11/16/2011 8:14:53 AM

I have not found any DOT is this at the adept level of magic? I just drink potions instead of using healing. I'd rather save my magicka for doing battle.

[Edited on November 16, 2011 at 8:16 AM. Reason : a]

11/16/2011 8:16:31 AM

How many words of power is everyone up to?

I've only found 2

11/16/2011 8:18:28 AM

I just found my second one in a random dungeon.

Do enchanted items not recharge themselves anymore?

11/16/2011 8:29:45 AM

Flame for example, use it on an enemy, and notice how it continues to do damage after the spell stops? That's what I'm calling a dot in Skyrim. It's not like easy-mode WoW dots. So I use spells that continue to do damage after I have switched back to shield to block, or do a melee attack.

^ Recharge enchanted items with soul gems.

[Edited on November 16, 2011 at 8:32 AM. Reason : -]

11/16/2011 8:29:55 AM

go see the graybeards, they'll give you a couple of words.

11/16/2011 8:31:44 AM

Before I rerolled, I think I had five or six shouts.

One to call nearby animals to fight for me
One to calm anything
Whirlwind spirit
Unrelenting force
Flame

Yeah...five then.

Im just hoping to get MORE DOTS so I cand handle any whelps.

11/16/2011 8:51:39 AM

Flame and Frost are both useful because so many enemies have a resistance to one or the other. Its not like just "Lol, freeze that nigga! Hahaha, burn this motherfucker!" You gotta play to their strengths and weaknesses.

Having said that, shock seems to be the least effective early on (level 10), but I bet it will become more valuable later in game. I think its viable to go pure destro and level up all three, but if you want to mix and match destro with melee or other magics, they probably made each of shock, fire and frost similarly powerful in the endgame; I doubt they'd heavily favor one over the others for balancing purposes.

11/16/2011 8:55:10 AM

For pure mages(dual casting):
getting the stagger perk should be top priority. This will let you take down dragons (and pretty much anything else) much easier since you can halt their breath attacks. I typically use firebolt instead of fireball since i can cast it longer without running out of magic. (I didnt have any particular reason for going fire over ice or lightning)

So far ive gotten 16 words, the one i like best is become ethereal. I can run out of mana casting spells, pop that, and chill out without taking damage while i regain some back. The grey beard that always told you stuff will mark on your map where more words are.

So far im 35 hours in, beaten mages college and thieves guild. 400 magic, apprentice stone, 300% magic regain.

[Edited on November 16, 2011 at 8:58 AM. Reason : tacking]

11/16/2011 8:55:38 AM

I just use spark on both hands and everything dies within 1.5 seconds except bosses/giants. I'm like level 24 and have been doing that or invisible sneak attacks to kill everything. Definitely don't play this game for the shitty combat.

I'm Krallum and I approved this message

[Edited on November 16, 2011 at 8:57 AM. Reason : ]

11/16/2011 8:56:22 AM

I've just discovered that destruction doesn't scale at all.

I'm dropping my mage completely until the mod tools come out or they patch in a destruction skill multiplier for damage.

I only got my mage to level 10 (doing 3 games simultaneously lol) and she was plenty powerful, but was reading the official forums and they have discovered that destruction is absolutely crap for high levels.

11/16/2011 9:00:10 AM

Having a much better time with a Sneak+One-handed+Conjuration build. Finished the Dark Brotherhood and lol I'm not sure how the DB and the Imperial Legion aren't mutually exclusive.

Also, choose Breton. Innate magic resistance makes dragons tickle.

Regarding shouts, you get a ton by doing the main quest, but even if you don't want to progress that you can do 2 things:

Talk to the main dude the High Hrothgar; he'll lead you to one.
Use a shout in a town. A while later you'll get a letter giving you a lead.

[Edited on November 16, 2011 at 9:28 AM. Reason : .]

11/16/2011 9:21:58 AM

I am a Wood Elf at lvl 22 (25 hrs in) really wish I had been a Breton(for magic resistance), but not going to re-roll at this stage, I've come to far.

My next play through, I may do a dual casting mage.

11/16/2011 9:39:31 AM

^ Seriously wait to do a dual casting mage until they patch destruction or someone mods it.

Conjuration is nice though, in fact all the magic is nice at low levels but destruction peters out above the 30s (Illusion could use some scaling too).

[Edited on November 16, 2011 at 10:12 AM. Reason : ]

11/16/2011 10:01:38 AM

I've seen a lot of people warning against (character) leveling up quickly via stealth, which leaves you at a high level and all but defenseless against the tougher, higher level enemies. It got me thinking... what if you character level several times, but opt not to take the perks. E.g. you've done enough to be level 18, but you haven't finalized the leveling process so you are currently level 2 or whatever.

Are the enemies you encounter generated for a level 2 character or are they set to what you should be had you finalized the leveling process, enemies generated for a level 18 character? It seems like a level 1 character with all the stats maxed out to 100 might be the way to go. Of course you'd have low health, stamina, etc. and you would be perkless.

11/16/2011 10:10:41 AM

^ That sounds incredibly boring

EDIT: As for developing a stealth character, this is kind of an exploit but if you help the elf get the girl in Riverwood instead of the bard he will be your companion, and he's also an archery trainer. You can train your archery 5 points per level, then take the money back from him.

[Edited on November 16, 2011 at 10:17 AM. Reason : ]

11/16/2011 10:13:37 AM

Level 20. Stealth is my highest skill, followed by one-handed, light armor, and conjuration.
I do a shit-ton of damage outside of stealth while the bad-guy is focused on my conjured atronach. Stealth is worthless in some fights, but as long as you can kill them first you're fine.

The only bad guys I have any trouble with are dwarven spheres and even then if I can get them focused on my atronach they're toast. Dragons are a joke now because with Breton resistance I don't have to use the Ethereal shout to deal with breath. Kill shout and fuck him up.

Quote :

"EDIT: As for developing a stealth character, this is kind of an exploit but if you help the elf get the girl in Riverwood instead of the bard he will be your companion, and he's also an archery trainer. You can train your archery 5 points per level, then take the money back from him. "

Yes, but archery is also pretty worthless in regular combat. My first stealth dude was sneak+archery and it sucks. With putting those points/perks in One+handed+Armor you can actually fight after your initial stealth kill.

[Edited on November 16, 2011 at 10:26 AM. Reason : .]

11/16/2011 10:25:16 AM

Quote :

"Sources say that the level of a cave/cavern/mine/etc. is set based on your level the first time you enter it (as opposed to each time you enter it). A two-edged mace, that is."

What sources? I have walked into caves for the first time and just demolished shit in a hit or two so this doesn't seem like its right.

I have 4 shouts right now, and am sitting on 2 dragon souls (would be 3 but the fucking dragon ran away??)

I am pretty excited, I have both myself and my housecarl decked in 100% dwarven armor/weapons all upgraded as much as I can. No enchants yet but I am working on it.



I move at a snails pace so I just did the greybeards and have now finished up the quests in the little town that you encounter on your way to the greybeards. (except the 10 bear pelt one). I still center myself at whiterun but am doing far more around Markarth (spelling?) now. I will do the shout in town bit for another one though.

Oh, and just before bed last night, I decapitated someone with a mace for the first time. Awesomesauce.

[Edited on November 16, 2011 at 10:34 AM. Reason : *]

11/16/2011 10:34:13 AM

^ That is fairly pimp.

11/16/2011 10:46:34 AM

How do you get your Follower to equip armor. I have Khjaro the Khajit as my follower, because Lydia was annoying. Khjaro is a boss and says awesome shit.

He'll wear the Exquisite Dwarven Boots, gloves, helmet, carry the shield and mace, but won't wear the Armor. I don't think there is a way his standard armor is higher than exquisite dwarven, but it could be...?

11/16/2011 10:51:05 AM

I think followers only wear the armor they are specialized in. Lydia will wear any heavy armor I give her that's better than steel, but she won't wear any light armor besides helmet no matter how good it is.

And yeah I did the same with dwarven armor, it's pretty pimp looking. Took this shot Sunday.



I'm wearing ebony right now which is awesome

11/16/2011 10:57:59 AM

Ancient Shrouded Armor

11/16/2011 11:10:38 AM

Fuck Helmets. I didn't spend 20 minutes making my guys face badass to have it covered up. Besides, all the bad ass heroes roll sans headgear. Its just cooler that way.

11/16/2011 11:19:03 AM

Has anyone done a heavy/1handed/shield build vs a heavy/2handed build? Anything outside the normal expectations? Obviously 2 handers should deal more damage, but take more, kinda the opposite for the tank.

11/16/2011 11:19:37 AM

I've heard 2 handed weapons are awesome but I love shield bashing so much I haven't tried it.

^^ You can have helmets that show the face. This is my assassin dude, he's low level now but light armor has plenty of helmets with face showing



[Edited on November 16, 2011 at 11:29 AM. Reason : ]

11/16/2011 11:27:14 AM

^^^ i thought only girls spent any time on the characters facial features

shield bashing for life. The only magic i use is a very bad healing spell.


and lets be honest, the character models, specifically the faces, still aren't very great.

[Edited on November 16, 2011 at 11:37 AM. Reason : *]

11/16/2011 11:27:47 AM

Yeah that dude I posted first wearing the dwarven armor doesn't use any magic, in fact he thinks magic is for little girly men and refuses to wear any magic equipment or weapons either. He just uses the shouts (a real man's magic) and wears his blessed amulet of Talos.

11/16/2011 11:43:10 AM

Quote :

"This is my assassin dude, he's low level now but light armor has plenty of helmets with face showing"

Looks like your character cut one in Jarl's face.

11/16/2011 11:52:26 AM

Not a fan of enchanting so far. The Morrowind system was far better (you could combine any number of desired effects, just had to pay more to get it done). This system is way simplified, and feels...arcade-ish?

11/16/2011 12:10:08 PM

I don't remember enchanting anything in an arcade game.

[Edited on November 16, 2011 at 12:14 PM. Reason : I thought the morrowind/obliv system was dumb too, if you're the one enchanting who are you paying?]

11/16/2011 12:13:20 PM

What is this "DOT" I keep seeing on this page?

11/16/2011 12:15:53 PM

Damage over time

Like setting someone on fire, or an axe doing bleeding damage, or a poison that drains health.

11/16/2011 12:17:40 PM

thx

11/16/2011 12:19:39 PM

2 handed is going great

shit just dies with a bitchslap for me now

couple that with solid smithing and upgrading your armor, and you can take a serious beating

I've got all Orcish armor upgraded to Exquisite and i barely take damage

11/16/2011 1:10:47 PM

is superior/exquisite/etc all based solely on your armor smith level?

11/16/2011 1:32:32 PM

is there any place in the game where you can redo you characters hair style, facial hair, war paint etc.?

11/16/2011 1:36:27 PM

Made me think of:

11/16/2011 1:41:45 PM

Quote :

"is superior/exquisite/etc all based solely on your armor smith level?"

Smithing level and perks.

If you don't have a perk for the armor or weapons, improvement tops out at Flawless, if you do you can get Epic and Legendary.

11/16/2011 1:48:01 PM

ahh ok

i Just need to burn through all my materials. I have so many i cant carry all the ingots because they alone will make me unable to run haha

11/16/2011 1:56:56 PM

I too learned you just gotta crank through supplies on your chosen trade.

My ingredients alone put me to 500 carrying. I finally just ate one of everything to learn the effects, and then went to an Alchemy table and made tons of potions. Boosted my Alchemy like 10 points in one sitting.

11/16/2011 2:00:10 PM

Alchemy and Smithing seem pretty easy to keep up with

Ingredients are freaking everywhere, just pick as many as you can and make all the potions possible

I'm finding at least a couple of mining nodes in most dungeons I'm clearing

Note on Dwarven Metal: You melt down pieces of the dwarven constructs you kill and loot in dwarfy areas. I sold off a bunch of dwarven metal plates before finding out they could be smelted into ingots. Doh.

What I need to get in better habit of is disenchanting/enchanting. My gear could be wicked if I was better about it.

11/16/2011 3:53:43 PM

Easy to get enough dwarven metal for 2 full suits and weapons in just the Makareth dig site and muesum.

11/16/2011 4:04:44 PM

I get tired with enchanting because you have to refill them so often. They're like goddamn batteries.

11/16/2011 4:07:56 PM

I may be a mage but there is a satisfaction I get with Smithing that I can't escape from.

11/16/2011 4:33:51 PM

hrm, just killed a Blood Dragon, its corpse is sitting here, not burning away or giving me its soul....

wtf?

ok so what the fuck

i reloaded from my last auto save and went back

its now not a frost dragon but a fire one that i cant do any damage to before dying

what the fuck

[Edited on November 16, 2011 at 5:17 PM. Reason : *]

11/16/2011 5:05:48 PM

trying to remember where I picked up the Ancient Ascent quest before I re-rolled

can't find it anywhere online...looks like the UESP pages aren't completely helpful just yet
(http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Skyrim)

Anyway...just added the perk to do some more smithing...I think I did Dwarven, even though I'm a LA kinda guy

Anyway...


SET

11/16/2011 5:47:48 PM

http://youtu.be/1j-EyBNZozE

Quote :

"I didn't realize that it was this affective against mammoths"

[Edited on November 16, 2011 at 7:25 PM. Reason : ]

11/16/2011 7:24:51 PM