Hey everyone,

I'm just starting my very first play through and since it's Skyrim I figured I'd first go with a "true Nord" type of character. I plan on joining the Stormcloaks, and utilizing all of the Nord's skill bonuses (except 1-handed).

So my plan is:

-Light Armor

-Two Handed

-Smithing

-Block(?)

-Speech

-[Restoration or Alchemy?]

I'm sort of unfamiliar with the Skyrim leveling system, so do you guys think I should just max out the above perk trees (all perks in at least Light Armor, Two-Handed, and Smithing)? And how is the Block tree for a two-handed only type character?

I realize this probably isn't an "optimal" build, but I have a few other characters planned out for later and I try not to overlap too many skills between characters so they all feel unique. I'm just looking for some general advice on whether this is viable or not, and generally what I should be spending my perks on (for example, do I need to pick a weapon type (great sword, great axe, war hammer) and only get those perks, or get them all?).

Also, what ratio should I be shooting for in terms of health/stamina?

Thanks!

When you start, you'll notice most of the barbarian-looking armor is actually heavy armor. From iron, to horned to ancient nordic armor. As you level up, the armor will begin to become more refined. In order to avoid wearing the fancy stuff like glass, steel, orcish or ebony, you're going to have to invest a lot of time into smithing and upgrading your rugged looking armor in order to maintain your appearance.

Hope this helps a bit.

I'd focus on spending all your perks on what you'll use.

If your plan is to wear light armor, then don't spend any points on heavy armor. Light armor can be tough like heavy armor with enough points invested.

Personally I'd skip restoration and apply skills to alchemy. Rely on healing potions over magic. This will mean you can apply points to health and stamina. And you'll need a lot of stamina if your going to be using the 2-handed weapon to block and perform power attacks. Health should be high as well. I'd say get into a comfortable middle. Each time you lv up, rotate health or stamina.

A true barbarian nord in my opinion would be a warrior for sure. Skilled primarily with one weapon but versatile. Like being decent with a bow. Sometimes you can't get close to kill something and a bow makes sense.

Stormcloak faction.

Companions guild. When completed you have access to the best wife (also my opinion. Aela is a great barbarian's wife. She loves the wilds)

Dragonborn... maybe it would suit this character or maybe not. If you plan on using shouts but never completing the MQ at least learn the words to Disarm shout. Seems barbarian to rush towards the enemy with a mighty shout and they drop their weapons in terror LOL.

My own barbarian builts are usually as follows.

Light armor

One-handed + shield or duel wield

Two-Handed (if not going with the one hand build)

Smithing (A must to improve armor and make new armor)

Archery (For materials to make armor and food for the table)

Alchemy (make my own potions)

Speech (better prices/vender stuff)

Sneak (great for archery builds)

I'd replace Speech and Restoration with Archery. Having a ranged attack is helpful.

Well darn, Resident. You typed faster than I could. Anyway, yeah, what he said. I'd also add that alchemy lets you make potions to improve smithing.

Will all the weapon skills, the first level perk that you can add to 5 times is the best one. You'll also want the one that lowers stamina cost. Beyond that, they're not that great, although I usually get the decapitation one. The ones specific to one type of weapon are good if you plan to only use that type.

For a light armor barbarian, who probably isn't going to want any of that fancy elven or glass armor, the best light armor is scaled (until you get to skill 100 and can make dragonscale), which requires only 3 perks in the smithing tree.

A barbarian is a fun build, although I haven't taken one to high levels.

Thanks for all the input everybody! I don't mind needing a lot of smithing to make light armors work, especially since smithing is going to be one of my main skills. Which brings me to another question: how many "main" skills do I want? Just 4? And by that does it mean I max the perk trees out completely for each tree?

I think archery also sounds good as a backup so I will plan for that as well!

Sorry if some of the skill questions are dumb, like I said I'm not 100% sure how the skill tree works yet =/

A few things:

- The "true Nord" type doesn't have to be a Stormcloak.

- I don't think you need to spend perk points on restoration or alchemy. There are plenty of health potions and other potions found around Skyrim. You'd be better off spending the points on blocking perks to compensate for two-handed weapons not being as effective as a shield. Also light armor perks.

- For the speechcraft tree I wouldn't put too much into it but to increase your haggling ability a little bit so that you don't get screwed around by merchants so much.

Thanks, I will keep that in mind. I know that I don't *have* to go Stormcloak, but I figured I'd play Nord for this run and then do a heavy armor, sword and board imperial warrior for the other story line.

I will also look into blocking, that's the thing I'm most unsure of because I'm not sure if all the skills in the block tree work with 2H?

I think a "true nord" would never give up traditions and religion for the sake of appeasing the enemy. So that's why I think a nord makes a good stormcloak. But we won't discuss civil war matters here.

Blocking with the two handed sword will increase your blocking ability. In fact spending points on the perks in blocking is not a bad idea. While you can't shield bash, or block arrows or magic with a two handed weapon, the benefits are there.

For blocking, some of the perk descriptions sound shield specific and I've never tried the deflect arrows or elemental protection perks for a two-handed weapon character. I've always assumed that the root of the tree where you can increase your overall blocking rank made a difference. My characters seem to block very well. But with two-handed weapons you should time your attacks well and interrupt your opponent's attacks when you can with a bash and you have the power to kill and end a fight faster.

As for Stormcloaks or Imperials, I choose option C: Neither. Both sides are [censored] and if I have no role play reasons for joining I stay out of that war.