Hello, my name is Asgard, and I'm a restartoholic.

My first character was a bosmer ranger. He was great fun, but as I gained sneak perks and learned the game a little better, he started becoming way too powerful and removed all semblance of challenge from the game. So at level 26, I decided to reroll another archer, with no sneak, and use Lydia as a meatshield. He lasted until level 13, when I realized that companions are dumb, really dumb, and as a consequence completely ruin immersion. I then rolled a sword and board imperial, but didn't feel very connected to the character so ditched him. I then decided to roll yet another archer, an arcane archer, but chose the wrong spell schools to focus on and got my ass handed to me. So now I'm thinking of rolling, you guessed it, an archer, also arcane, that focuses on the illusion and conjuration schools. But already I'm afraid that this will make the game too easy as I've read that illusion is overpowered, so in the back of my mind I'm already dreaming up some other character before I've even given the archer a chance. This is madness!

Share your horror stories of living with this horrible affliction.

12 restarts in 105 hours for me and none of them have got further than level 25. :whistling:
Mostly I restart because I've pushed smithing too hard and borked the balance of the game, so this time I'm trying to play a more rounded character but we'll see

I've got 3 restarts to my name so far; the first because imperials' racial abilities are useless and Nords looks the same, the second because I went too far into the MQ without stopping, and so messed the game up from an RP perspective, and the most recent because I ended up drifting away from what my character is really about; I haven't really played like a hunter, and have no skills in archery to speak of, despite it being a major part of my character's identity.

I figure this time I'll avoid the MQ completely to start with, and gradually make the transition from hunter of beasts, to hunter of people (assassin) to hunter of dragons (MQ)

4 restarts and 80 hrs for me, but there would be many more if i could skip the tutorial

I'm usually terrible for this.

That's pretty good. I haven't made it past level 5!

I have nearly the exact same problem and choice selection as the OP. I prefer archers too. My solution to being OP is simple though: Don't use OP gear! Unless it's absolutely necessary I plan to stick with my hunting bow as long as possible. I may whip out a better bow for dragon/giant/boss fights, but I don't feel the need to annihilate my opponents by equiping Daedric everything.

I'm starting character number 4 tonight. I haven't been able to actually finish any major quest lines yet, but I've started several.

Oh well, this time for sure ... I just know it.

I only started a single other character, but I've been considering restarting my current character for the last 20 hours. The only reason I havent yet? I am having trouble getting his face right. I nailed it the first time around. >.<

Five times here...

Three restarts on my lone character so far due to build screw-ups, however this iteration (the fourth) will stick as I did more planning this time around and have a definite progression in mind based on her RP.

I fully expect to go through something similar on some of my subsequent characters, as I am also a charter member of Character-Detail-Freaks Anonymous... :whistling:

Ditto for me, haven't gone past level 25 on all but my sorcerer who went from 25ish to 35 power leveling smiting

I need a dual wielding ninja next, or a Conjuration, Heavy Armor, Block Specialist (basically cast pet, then conjure blade)

Also... to ensure I am not tempted to load up an old character, I delete all my save games when I do this

damn it's good to know I am not the only one with this affliction. 6 character, including 3 of them level 25+. Waiting anxiously on the next patch.

Started a similar thread to this and it got to 9 pages, trust me you guys are NOT alone. I might have the worst case on the forum though. I've had the game since release and never got over level 10 and Thats playing about 5 hours a day, i usually restart when i see something im not. So if im an archer and i see a mage.

I like how the OP uses the terms "roll" and "reroll" as if there are any stats or pen & paper mechanics left in the TES universe.

3rd character here. Same reasons for restart (too damn easy).
If I don't make it to the end on this character I'm just going to give in and start the mod download process.

What's the matter? Somebody stole your sweet roll?

I've really been considering restarting, definitely going to tonight. Played my mage up to level 40, although I've been wanting to start a fraiche Heavy Armor, 2H wielding, big, bad [censored]. So sick of being all squishy lol.

I've started five characters in my hundred hours of Skyrim. I've retired one. She got married to an innkeeper and it was a suitable end to her story. I did the MQ with one and then retired that one in Breezehome. I have three characters going right now, and before the week is over I will probably have more of them. I don't think it matters, really, as long as I enjoy the game.

The best bit of advice i can give any of you (worked for me) Is to start a mage. No hear me out, hang on... As a mage you can use all the fancy spells, BUT:

Q) Hey i feel squishy and want a sword, so i start again
A) Conjure a sword and conjure some armor

Q) But what if i want to be an archer?
A) Conjure a bow

Q) But what if i want to be a mage
A) You are a mage

So in conclusion, you will never get jealous of other characters and you won't need to start again, its working for me.

Restarted 10 times...each time remaking the exact same characters with something tweaked...HALP!!!


I want to make my LAST retart tonight (had a game breaking glitch on a quest...sad face...) and I am torn on one aspect...my weapon choice...

I'm playing a Ranger/barbarian style character. Light armor, Archery, Alchemy, Sneak, and here is the choice...Two handed or Dual Wield. HALP Please!

I've been using the same character for 42 hours since the game came out a Warrior character named Zeke

I'll be starting on my 2nd pretty soon, but will still keep my first. My first is a 14 Khajiit specializing primarily in one-handed and destruction with archery support. My problem is I've been spreading out my perks a lot between alchemy, lock pick, light armor, speech, and smithing, so I feel that he's becoming a mess of specialization.

I kind of want an Orc that is pretty much straight heavy armor with one-handed/shield and two handed with a little archery. I'll probably choose to ignore putting perks in other categories except smithing and alchemy.

I have the hardest time truly specializing in just a couple trees

Greetings. I feel your pain, I have restarted only 3 times now on the exact same type of character you have explained. I found using a perk tree calculator very helpful in focusing the areas I purposefully want to progress in. Having read the forum for a while now I'm not trying to progress smithing, enchanting or alchemy and actively progressing Light Armour, Archery, One Handed (dual wield) and Two Handed (didn't want to restrict myself to missing out on any cool 1h or 2h weapons). There's a perk tree planner on IGN you should check out bro.