Guess I get the shame of the first nub thread...


I'm using a custom class I made myself and the very first rats and bats are draining my char down to half of her life. Forget about killing the humans in the privateer's hold, they're basically invincible to me.
The game started me out with an iron longsword, and no matter what I try (forward thrust, horizontal thrust), only 1 in 10 thrusts seem to connect (despite the fact that my Agility is 70 and I have +2 To Hit).


What am I doing wrong?

If I'm not mistaken, Iron has a -1 to hit and damage factor, so therein lies your problem to be honest. The first dungeon will be rough if you dont get at least a steel or silver weapon. Did you do the answer 12 questions option about your character's background during creation? I'm fairly sure everybody except nightblade types gets the option to select an ebony dagger as a gift they had received from someone.

Also, try to use the diagonal/horizontal/vertical slashes instead of thrusting, thrusting does far less damage.

I assume you have longblade as a primary skill? That would help, but I'm sure you already knew that.

I think it would benefit everyone is some short guide was put up, on character creation for beginners.

Yeah, if your dude is the least bit combat-inclined (i.e, a combat skill like long blade in a primary or major skill slot) then the rats at least should be manageable. The bats take off a bit more health, but they die just as fast. The first human thief may take a couple of tries to take down, but getting his equipment after you kill him will help immensely in surviving the remainder of the hold. You may want to skip the skeleton warrior when you meet him; for most level 1 characters the armor class is just too much to deal with. Oh, and if you start with the shock spell in your spellbook, use it - if you're a magic user then you should be able to get 2 or 3 shocks off before resting.

Basically it all comes down to utilizing the skillset you chose at chargen.

I have a FAQ on Gamefaqs, link's in my signature.

Also, http://www.izhtex.com/tes2/ is very good.

You don't have an ebony dagger. Do character creation again.

To my surprise, my Nord managed to kill rats and bats just fine with my Iron Longsword. Still got killed in PH, though as I don't know where to go and was smashed by some woman.

Heh, classic thread. Many will follow.

It can be tough, but it's doable. Like was said earlier, do the slashes and not the thrusts. From what I remember the diagonal slashes will do the most damage.

Also, practice the run-towards swing-twice run-backwards strategy, which should prevent you from taking *too* many blows.

The ebony dagger is definitely very useful, though not necessary, provided you can find a silver weapon to hurt the imps you'll eventually face (will steel work against them? I forget!).

Also, REST OFTEN. Regeneration is very useful here since you'll usually be fully healed in less than 3 hours of rest time, instead of the half-a-day or more it would otherwise take.

Heh. The rats proved challenging, but it's that imp that made me want to cry each time.

Heh, I remember my first character, I didn't have a weapon selected for either my primary or major skills and I couldn't get past the first rat. I strongly suggest that new players select a weapon as one of their primary skills.

My first attempt to get through was with a linguist. I was really excited with language skills back then, all so new and interesting. At least you can kill some rats and bats apparently.

lol, STARTING with a linguist. Now that's some cajones! :celebration:

My recommendation is that first timers start with a predesigned class that has a weapon skill in its primaries... and use that weapon as their primary tool for getting through the Hold. Save custom classes for once you've got experience. Having restoration as a major can help immensely. Language skills are fun, but the only thing they do is give a chance that a monster you encounter will be non-hostile... as in it won't attack you. That's all. You can't actually talk to them.

I'm having a similar problem but it's not because my character's weak. It's because I don't know how to cast my [censored] spells after I've readied them. If I press the "cast spell" button again it just brings up the spellbook. If I press the weapon button or the activate button nothing happens. If I press the abort button I get my spell points back so I know I never actually cast the spell. What the [censored] am I missing here?

Another [censored] and [censored]. Also, the use key. The same one you use to open doors, is used to cast spells after reading them.

I was having trouble with the character I made so I remembered Genkaimans video on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fesADUIOemg

Its overpowered beyond belief, but its helping this newbie out

No, Steel doesn't hurt the imps .

But your naked hands will.

yeah it does, only iron doesn't work on imps.

I'm aware of that, but I don't want longblade as a primary skill. I had longblade as a primary skills for my hundred(s) hours long playthroughs of Morrowind and Oblivion and I'm sick of long swords. I chose to focus on Archery and Axes.

Here's my char along with the custom class I made:

RACE: Khajiit
GENDER: Female

Strength: 60
Intelligence: 56
Willpower: 56
Agility: 70
Endurance: 55
Personality: 58
Speed: 58
Luck: 56
---
CUSTOM CLASS: "Bounty Hunter"
---
Primary skills:
Stealth 33%
Archery 32%
Axe 31%
-
Major skills:
Critical Strike 23%
Backstabbing 21%
Lockpicking 19%
-
Misc skills:
Shortblade 16%
Climbing 17%
Dodging 17%
Etiquette 17%
Streetwise 17%
Pickpocket 13%
---
Bonus to hit humanoid
Adrenaline Rush
Forbidden: Chain armor, Plate armor, all shields


I don't want longblade, so that ain't happening.
With some skill with a shortblade, I guess it was silly of me not to choose the Ebony Dagger. My mistake, guess I'll just start over.

if you forbid plate, you'll never have any good armor, since there's only one kind of leather and chain. so your enchanting will be gimped.

What about classes like the Assassin who are restricted to only Leather? I've heard good things about Assassins. And wouldn't Plate screw up my Stealth?

My focus is a stealth + archery char with little to no magic. I want to rely on Axe for melee fighting. In fact, if my char has no magic of any kind whatsoever that would be preferred.

Ah, you said you started with an iron longsword, so I assumed you had taken the long blade skill. It usually starts you with a weapon you have some skill at :shrug:

Plate armor does affect stealth, right?

Is it wise of me to choose Axe if I'm going to restrict myself to Leather and play a stealth-based char?

I'm starting to rethink the whole stealth thing.
Basically I just want to try something new. I spent 1000+ hours in Morrowind and Oblivion as Spellswords and I'm sick of swords and sick of magic. I want a challenge; a char with no magic, no sword use, little armor use, possibly stealth based etc...