Anyone NOT a Dual-Dagger, Archer, Sneak-Thief? : V - Skyrim

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 4:22 am

sword and shield combat is far more entertaining than archery or backstabbing, to me

Much more strategy and timing, let alone danger, in it.

I imagine mages will tell you much the same, game is more entertaining when you take it off easy mode.

I wouldn't say there's much strategy or timing in it at all; you hold down block, take the hit and then counter. You can throw in a few shield bashes for good measure and you're done. If you're an archer, or particularly a backstabber, you need strategy unless your sneak is ridiculously high or you'll be seen and promptly disposed of.

I do agree that there's more 'danger' in being a warrior though, as you're always in the line of fire.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 5:21 pm

I'm enjoying my 30 destruction mage. Currently at 81 Destruction, 54 Illusion, 45 Conjuration, 30 Alteration. I level up lockpicking but don't spend any perk points into it.I just carry 200+ lockpicks at all times. I also have leveled up sneak to around 45 just so I have the jump on the baddies (no perks into it either). I have mastered the "Cast spell run like littler girl, turn around cast spell" technique. Currently sitting on 7 perks just cant decide what to do with them yet.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 6:54 am

Makes sense considering Mages have no Open Lock spell and Warriors can't just bash chests open.

LOL

Perk: Precision Bash

Level 1: Higher Chance of Bashing Novice Locks Open
Level 2: Higher Chance of Bashing Apprentice Locks Open
etc.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 6:00 am

And the Dragons? They usually don't land until you've done at least a bit of damage to them. I use a bow for that.

That is what Become Ethereal is made for, let the dragon have his pointless feiry fun before smashing his face in.
Once you have Dragonrend they are no longer a problem.

Sword and shield all the way, no lock unpicked, massive potion addiction and a tendancy to not kill rabits or foxes.
I am abusing Spellbreaker (Gamebreaker) shield and a combination of Dawnbreaker and Ghostblade swords depending on my mood, occaisionaly switching to my Axe of souls to fill up those gems.
Full set of buffed up Ancient armour with waterbreathing and muffled boots, can almost sneak right up to a Sabretooth face on now that my sneak is in the 90s.
People using ranged attacks are missing out on some quality finishing moves, including the ones done on yourself like dragons ripping you in half for example.
I do use the staffs I have taken off Dragon Preists now and again for the lols though.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:28 pm

The thieves are fun but I really love my mage, conjuring and fire balls is where it's at.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 3:40 am

Sometimes I like to role-play and I don't want to lockpick because it wouldn't suit the style. Like with my Barbarian, I wish I could smash open chests/locks/doors. And mages could unlock the door with a spell. The problem with this though it may suit my role-play it would make locked doors pretty much pointless. So I guess I have to just lockpick and I cannot ever leave the chests alone because I have to see what's inside.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 5:16 pm

Im playing Khajiit dagger/shield light armor "bandit" character right now. I use stealth some, but if Im spotted up jump up with dagger and shield. No enchanting perks, 2 smithing perks for arcane, and a lot of alchemy perks.

Really not a fan of dual wielding, and dualwielding power sneak attacks with 2 daggers and perks is just way too overkill.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:29 pm

Alright, a big bug finally got me (PS3) -- that fun assassin character I posted about on the last page: well, he's my only character now. Creating the new game erased the savefile for my first character. I lost a level 39 with 70+ hours.

The reason I'm not too upset? I made mistakes with that first character (placing perks that I didn't need and such) and now I can focus with this new one, armed with the knowledge accumulated from my first character. I have a definitive build written down and, honestly, eff it - I'm using exploits. Stealth got up to 100... now I'm working on Speechcraft and Archery. I *will* have a bad mamma-jamma before it's all over.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 5:12 am

Alright, a big bug finally got me (PS3) -- that fun assassin character I posted about on the last page: well, he's my only character now. Creating the new game erased the savefile for my first character. I lost a level 39 with 70+ hours.

This happened to me but I never lost my other character. I always have 2 saves for every character and everytime I save I always pick the second save that way Im always saving over the old one. I was very luck, though it was my first character and he was a pure destruction mage.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 7:50 am

To be honest I'd say being thieves/stealth characters are the easiest so but it's also fun to kill people by cutting throats or killing a room without anyone taking any notice that's why I think it's so popular.

The actual story of the game isn't set towards evil characters to me. The dragonborn song is talking about a hero getting rid of evil so I feel weird when not playing the main quest as a heroic Nord, that's why I haven't done much of it.

But to be honest I've been playing a thief and it's fun but after a while it does get a little repetitive. I've been playing on Master and only using loot I find. It's actually much more fun that way. Even now I have to run away after being chased, that's why I love my archer/assassin, he's not perfect or overpowered but good enough to be good if that makes sense... It's still a challenge for him. Probably because I've only put perks in Archery and Sneak at the moment and haven't play dual dagger/slit throat 30x sneak style haha. I'm extremely low defenced as I only use the armor I have found and I haven't spent perks into light armor. It feels much more real to me playing like this.

Personally though my first character was an Altmer pure destruction mage. It's my favourite way to play any game but unfortunately it's not as effective in Skyrim or at least not at first. I wish there were more elements and different styles of destruction spells. That's probably because any game I play I love having mages that have elemental powers

Warriors look fun and challenging. I want to make a Barbarian/Beserker (Nord 2H + LA) but I'm probably going to get my butt kicked on Master. Especially when I never smith or anything.

Look at me blabbering and I bet no one will read... Why do I bother typing out all of this? I guess to kill time and because I'm so indecisive typing to myself is like trying to decide on how I should play... I type out of my head it's like thoughtless speech that you can read

Just wanted to respond to you in particular, Akruzhael.

I think you made a great post, or at least I can see you look at this game in a similar way that I do.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 4:57 pm

sword and dagger sneak-thief assassin here

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 9:10 am

I play a, for the most part, pure mage with some stealth tenancies (such as always taking the element of surprise in a fight via sneaking, and even occasionally killing enemies in a more efficient manner via my backup dagger (lest I attract the attention of too many enemies at once with my explosions)). I do agree, I can't imagine playing Skyrim just barging in everywhere like a tank. It doesn't seem very fun.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 2:48 pm

Nord - shield and axe w/ in game wife Aela on ranged. I do use bows + alchemy. No spells.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 5:39 pm

Just wanted to respond to you in particular, Akruzhael.

I think you made a great post, or at least I can see you look at this game in a similar way that I do.

Everytime I do answer on any forum I end up writing these huge paragraphs of writing. I have no idea why. It just pops out of my head and into words. I type as I think so it's like naturally speaking. I type way too fast, maybe not the record fast but I seem to zone out of typing and just see the words popping up on the screen as I'm think then. I pretty much type like I'm talking, though I'd say I don't type as fast as I can talk because I talk too fast.

I go into a state where I'm inside my head speaking from the mind and it's like I'm not typing. It's crazy. Very helpful for hanging out in forums but I bet it bugs people as I write way too much haha. Even this I bet is extending the limit, Why do I even bother typing this? I don't know it's just popping out of head. I should probably think before I speak (or type in this case) but oh well. What can I do? If you see any other posts from me it's a massive post haha.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 5:28 pm

I have about four characters I play depending on my mood. My first was a mage, but I don't find him that much fun anymore. My Tank is my heavy armored sword and board Breton. He looks just like a Nord thanks to my styling. I chose Breton for the magic resistance which I will use as a base to reach the resistance cap for magic resist.

I also have a Bosmer archer. Nothing really needs explaining there.

One of my more enjoyable characters is my light armored greatsword wielding Nord. Being light on his feet helps him run from in front of a dragons face to his back thigh where he goes to town with the greatsword. He used to dabble a bit in the bow, but I eventually learned I don't need a ranged attack to take dragons down.
As a test of his speed he once chased a bunny down and smashed it with a warhammer just to see if he could do it. He did, and the meat was quite tender lol.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 5:13 pm

So my plan is make a Nord who uses archery/sword+shield and destruction+restoration but we'll see.
Then I'll attempt to make an extreme of each class like an Orc warrior with sword+ shield or 2h.
Then I'll try a Bosmer archer thief/assassin.
THEN I might make an Altmer (which will be a first cause I hate the bastards) and he'll be an archer like Legolas from LOTR (strange choice I know but why not the challenge?)

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:23 am

Due to the fact this game is pretty Nord-centric, I had to make my first character a Nord warrior. He pretty much just runs up and clobbers people with a war hammer. This is how I picture Nords in my imagination, so it really works for the immersiveness of the game for me.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 1:56 am

Makes sense considering Mages have no Open Lock spell and Warriors can't just bash chests open.

Tower Stone unlocks Expert and below. . .

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 10:22 am

I have tried all the archetypes so far. Surprisingly they all play differently and all have pros and cons.

Currently been playing my warrior and I miss not being able to eavesdrop conversations. Might have to start another thief attempt.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 10:00 am

Tower Stone unlocks Expert and below. . .

But that's a waste of a stone haha

But then again if we had a spell to open locks it would defeat the purpose of lockpicking, unless you're like me and role-play. If it was possible to smash locks/use a magical alteration spell to unlock locks I'd never use them on my Archer/Sneak/Thief character. If I was a Barbarian which I am going to make next, I wouldn't use spells of lockpicking to get my treasure and so on

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 2:54 am

I don't like to play specific roles personally. I'm a tanky sword/shield user that also has maxed sneak and lockpicking and very high archery, and i'm beginning to dabble in destruction magic.. This allows me to "clean" dungeons quietly and still effectively engage enemies toe to toe. As far as i'm concerned, versatility is key.

I do see what the OP is saying though, much of the game seems geared to a thief/ranger build. The only guild specific armor sets are lightweight, and the perks for using daggers are astounding. That is of course, until you run into dragons.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:49 pm

The more I play this game, the more I'm starting to think the whole game is built for people to be Thieves.

A lot of the enemies in dungeons are loaded to face AWAY from you (How convenient?) and/or let you spot them from a distance so you can get a bow shot off before they can react.

I think its just the case that it gives this type of player a chance. Try being a thief / stealth player that doesn't have an enemy who is doing his / her own thing at the point of contact. The fact is that someone wouldn't be looking for you as they aren't expecting you. The game is right.

Being in heavy armor, full up close combat etc then they soon spot you. Even as a magic user they spot you as soon as you cast a spell. Even in sneak.

The game has to cater for all three styles of player (melee, stealth & magic).

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 7:59 am

The more I play this game, the more I'm starting to think the whole game is built for people to be Thieves.

A lot of the enemies in dungeons are loaded to face AWAY from you (How convenient?) and/or let you spot them from a distance so you can get a bow shot off before they can react.

Everything also appears to be locked up in a safe or chest of some sort. And then there are the traps which can be disarmed.

I can't imagine playing this game as a straight-up Mage or Warrior and getting HALF as much fun out of it without doing any of the Thieving-style stuff.

Has anyone played this game as a Non-Thief/Non-Archer/Non-Ambusher type of build? Was it fun? Or just a Hack-and-Burn the whole way?

I have characters with all the mentioned playstyles and they are all a blast.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 1:35 pm

The more I play this game, the more I'm starting to think the whole game is built for people to be Thieves.

A lot of the enemies in dungeons are loaded to face AWAY from you (How convenient?) and/or let you spot them from a distance so you can get a bow shot off before they can react.

Everything also appears to be locked up in a safe or chest of some sort. And then there are the traps which can be disarmed.

I can't imagine playing this game as a straight-up Mage or Warrior and getting HALF as much fun out of it without doing any of the Thieving-style stuff.

Has anyone played this game as a Non-Thief/Non-Archer/Non-Ambusher type of build? Was it fun? Or just a Hack-and-Burn the whole way?

My first real playthrough (not counting a few false starts lol) was a pure mage, breton, honorable, honest, out to do good and use his power of magic to help Skyrim however he could. He decided the civil war was not an area to get involved in but the dragon menace was a top prioroty, followed closely by ensuring the College of Winterhold and his many friends and colleagues there were well taken care of. He didn't sneak or take cheap shots at enemies, always attacking after ebing attacked, even the strangest of creatures was given the benefit of the doubt. His magic prevailed and he conquered Alduin and ensured the continued function of Winterhold college. He even helped the Jarl of Winterhold as often as possible to try and build neighborly relations.

It was a really fun playthrough and I keep resisting the urge to keep playing on that character because I want to try an evil thief/assassin guy.

My next character will be a Nord Warrior out to free Skyrim, crush his enemies, see them driven before him, and hear the lamentation of their women.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 5:58 pm

Sheild and mace kinda guy. Smithing to 100 with heavy armor. You'd think that would be enough but big groups were owning me so I added enough sneek and bow points so I can pick a few off before rushing in. Also a litle restoration for when the potions run out in a tough dungeon.

I like to put on the old theives suit occationally to take a little vacation tho.