Sir Neil this one is not sure about the time difference? (Sydney)............what time dose this one start playing 4pm or 5pm Saturday the 3rd?

If we start at midnight October 2 / October 3rd Pacific time as Kaemrig wants, start time will be 5pm October 3rd in Sydney. If we start at 7am Pacific time as originally planned, it will be starting at midnight October 3 / October 4th in Sidney.

https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converted.html?iso=20151003T00&p1=217&p2=240 is a handy dandy converter.

valandril, all factions are allowed in this round. There are some items you can’t get unless you join the factions.

I’m pretty sure that eating alchemy ingredients does raise the skill slightly, and it is allowed. Using any non-core skill is allowed, it just brings a penalty. So for example you could temper your gear even if you don’t have Smithing as a core skill or enchant and recharge things without Enchanting as a core skill, but every skill level raise after 2 above your racial start will cost you 2,000 points for crafting skills (1,000 for the rest) subtracted from your score.

Block is the one I’m wondering about. I don’t think I can do melee without reflexively blocking unless I dual-wield, and I wonder how much the skill will go up with incidental use. It always seems to level slowly to me, but that’s when I want it to rise because I’m waiting for a perk!

I’m also not planning to buy a house. Finding a good place to lair is one of my favorite pretend quests. Here’s a list of locations that do not respawn:http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Category:Skyrim-Places-Safe. Consider it an unofficial squatter’s real estate listing. Some have quest-related changes, so beware.

Bram, using Take Notes is a great idea. We can also print neil’s list and check things off as we find them. I’ll probably do both so I don’t forget the few things I actually find!

neil, that sounds like quite a fight against the vampires! I’m looking forward to this round a lot. The Adventurer concept lends itself to fun, freestyle exploration, my favorite thing. I’m happy to start earlier if it helps Kaemrig get a little play in before the birthday trip. I rarely have play time on the weekends, so I know how it feels to have to wait!

Sah, I’m not going to make dragon armors. Smithing doesn’t work with any of my character concepts for this round, plus I don’t like the dragon armors. I do love the dragon arrows, however, but I’m not using Archery (probably) so getting Smithing up to 100 for the sake of arrows would be a waste for me.

I’m still debating my characters. The Breton has a lot going for her with innate magic resistance. That would allow the Steed Stone for no movement penalty and extra hauling space plus free up a skill to replace Alteration. Enchanting is tempting me. It really suits the scavenger style that a no-Speech character has to adopt.

Time to start........we'll make yer mind up! Of course it also works if you start at ANYtime we each please, then game for precisely two weeks stopping at the same time again eh!

Whatever bud....but we need it firm and hard ok!

It looks like my Breton Boss [censored] might get to play. Heavy Armor, Block, and One-Handed for simple slayage, Restoration to postpone the dying, and Enchanting so she can use all of the shiny toys. Steed Stone as soon as possible so she can hop about and carry stuff. I will push her through BFB and groan my way through Mara’s quest first, and then if she lives through them it will be all about dungeons. Expert for expediency. I can already picture her in that Imperial captain’s armor. Most importantly I have a practical ponytail hairstyle in mind.

Neil: Wylandriah’s Spoon, Wylandriah’s Soul Gem, and (Wylandriah’s) Orichalcum ingot?

Also the dragon priest masks found on Solstheim are called Ahzidal, Dukaan, Miraak, and Zahkriisos. (Not that I will ever get there! )

Grits, sounds like a plan but if you smith your gear you will have the means to not die anyways (and kill quicker)......jus saying hon .

I think we need a pic of your Breton Boss

Are the dragon claws unique items for scoring this round?

Good point on the Smithing, Rick! But I can’t seem to wean myself off the adrenaline rush of playing with a low AR. I hope to have my BBB started in the morning before anyone in my household gets up, so that means a picture! Tomorrow might be a good day to nurse a hangover, though. Mr. Grits has been out of town all week and gets back tonight, right when my dear children will be going out on their dates. I have some debauchery in mind.

Turija, I keep meaning to ask that!! Thank you.

Smithing seems to be the popular option. The problem is when you want to use enchanted weapons; recharging them boosts your Enchanting, which incurs a sizable penalty. And then there's the Alchemy option; poisons and all the potions you can brew, but you gotta use cheap brand X armor and weapons.

Lots of nice dilemmas here. I love it.

Incidentally, I'm seriously considering the idea of a no-craft run, with an extra fighting skill. I'm going to run some tests this afternoon, before the Big Event begins.

Uhoh. You might just want to plan to start the competition on the 4th, or the 5th...

I am also thinking of a no craft run with sneak, illusion, conjuration, archery and alteration.

Khajiit, I assume?

My no-craft idea was to restart Yellow-Boy (argonian) with Sneak, 1Hand, Light Armor, Archery, and Speech. Sneak makes a pretty good substitute for good weapons and armor; sneak attacks, and they can't hit you if they can't see you.

I'm still testing. Right now it's between 3 completely different characters, with the Smithing-Tank Nord or Redguard looking the toughest, Yellow-Boy a close second, and a hybrid "battlemage" as third choice. (I think my "battlemage" would actually get stronger than the others, at higher level, but she's weak to start, which is a risk leading to Zombie-ism. )