So, I've put in a fair amount of time in the game since it's release, and though I've enjoyed pretty much every aspect of the game, I've found myself growing bored with the challenge. I don't mean to make my life extremely difficult or anything, but I was ready to play the game a bit differently, so I started an Orc, and 50 hours later, this has been the most satisfying gaming experience ever. In short, I have completely shunned the leveling system, attempting instead to finish most of the content in the game with a level 1 character. Compared to how the game normally plays, this is night and day. To give you an example, I cleared shimmermist caves near whiterun, and the falmer were extremely difficult, but after 2 hrs of play, I managed it with careful strategy. It was a blast. Blocking IS important now, and so are poisons, potions, etc.

Yes, I do use smithing/enchanting/alchemy, but without perks, these only help boost basic gear a bit, but not too anything ridiculous. So far, the best armor I found was a set of Orcish armor, which I improved to flawless , giving me 129 armor rating total. My best weapon is a flawless skyforged greatsword enchanted to do 10 pts of frost damage (33 base + 10 frost). The fun thing is that I explore dungeons in search of actual treasure, since it is sooo rare to get anything good in the chests, thus making each item you do find a very special piece of gear!

I really enjoy this playthrough, moreso that anything else I've done in an RPG, and I recommend people try it out! Oh, as a bonus, I've only saved 10 times so far (excluding autosaves), which also adds to the immersion! Anyhow, please share your thoughts and similar experiences. Thank you.

Not exactly related... but I once tried to play a 100% lawful character- in other words, have all zeros on the crime stat page. Not sure if its possible though. I think your required to steal stuff and pick locks in the main quest line.

An interesting way of playing the game. The bottom line, your having fun! Thanks for sharing your experience.

This is just a curiosity related question but wouldn't you miss out on some of the enemies? I was under the impression that some enemy types don't get introduced until you level past a certain point, much like armor types that dont show up until level 10/20 and so on.

Some quests have a level requirement, which is a shame.

Still, it's actually a pretty good suggestion to play like that! I might give it a spin sometime.

I didn't know the game had a Lawfull/Netural/Evil persona like Baulder's Gate dose when you create your Character, I know you can be lawful/netural/Evil in the style of game play and how you archieve your quest goals, but didn't know there was an actual choice.

The OP is not playing as a level 1, he's playing without perks and stat increases which is hardly the same - he will still level even if he's not using perks/stats.

I am doing the same thing - Level 1 - Master difficulty. The gameplay is amazing all the time, you can level every skill seemingly without overpowering yourself - right now I use Sneak, Conjuration, Destruction, Illusion, Archery, 2h, 1h, and Block almost every dungeon, and have of course levelled Smithing, Enchanting and Alchemy as much as possible. Without perks, no skill gets too powerful so I find I have to switch what I use based on the enemy I face. I have run into almost all of the enemy types in various dungeons - and in many cases I have found levelled versions like Draugr Wights and Deathlords.

So far I am about half finished the main quest, just a couple away from finishing the College of Winterhold line, and have completed a few of the Daedra quests as well. Some quests might not be available at level 1, but I haven't missed them.

My gear so far is a real mess - I have many sets based on the combat skill I need to use, and switch quite often. I have found a few dwarven pieces and a few scale pieces so far, and treasure each of my 9 Elven arrows.

I would recommend this style to anyone looking for a real challenge!

You will only receive your level-ups when you actually enter the Skills menu. So technically, the OP can stay at level 1 forever.

Need to make a few challenge-games...

Fastest time to 81, without doing any quests...

Fastest time to beat the main-quest, without leveling...

Fastest time to beat the main-quest, without leveling, while naked...

Fastest time, and highest level possible, without leaving the intro-dungeon... (I got up to 48, just beating-up Hadvar. In the first room!)

Too bad hell miss out on half the stuff.

There must be something wrong when people enjoy playing like that. Just a thought. If it works for you then great.

Yes, he will miss out on stuff. That's precisely the point. It is an attempt to create an interesting limitation and see what happens. This will appeal to some people, to others it won't. I applaud him for trying something different.

IMPOSSIBRU!

I don't know why you would say that, I should say there's something right when people enjoy playing like that

Because skipping the character development in an rpg to enjoy it, kinda.... weird?
Just saying.

But since it works for him and many others then great i guess.

No you still level even if you don't go into skills - that's why it says "Level up" while you technically are listed as level 1 it just means you haven't used your stat/skill increases.

I guess if you define RPG as stat based character development you might, but he's taken the decision to roleplay a different method, now his character development is gameplay based. He now knows that blocking, poisons, potions etc are how to survive as a character who doesn't level. I'm guessing there are lessons he had to learn the hard way, and so his character develops by necessity rather than preference

Most of the 'stuff' he'll miss out on is absolute garbage anyway. I can count on one hand how many things i've stumbled upon that are in any way or form useful. Like Oblivion, the vast majority of random leveled or unique loot is garbage.

We all know it, so if there's any flaw in his playstyle, it's certainly not the loot he's missing out on.

You don't? Because if we leave that out we can define Crysis or GTA as an rpg too
Anyway on-topic

OP have you tried primary needs (food, drink sleep) no fast travel, or some weather restrictions to enhance rp?

It doesn't.

Well, I don't really know what the genre definition has to do with some guy enjoying playing a different way, but whatever I might give it a go myself. I saw a video of some guy who plays the whole game without killing anything at all, even undead. There are obviously many things you can do to make this game completely different just by setting one, single overriding rule

And I call that good regardless of genre description

Thanks for all the responses! I have not seen a single "leveled" up bandit or anything like it since I started playing this way. To check, I actually went into the perks trees and insta jumped to level 28, lol, but nothing around me scaled until such time. So, after a quick reload, I continued on my path.

Btw, I did the absolute opposite the other day and leveled a character to 25 before starting the barrow quest and inside, the mobs were daugr wights and whatnot, and I looted a magical item in each chest I opened. So, yeah, the randomization does scale to the actually level you are on screen.

Btw, I have 13 orcish arrows I am saving up! Those are SOOO prescious .

Lastly, I wish to give you guys my explanation for playing like this. When I played DnD way back 15-20 years ago, the best games were when we had characters level 1-10, after that it became more of who could be more god-like. We had a DM which loved to limit magic and resources but would spend endless hours weaving a great tale of a magical weapon that was rumored to exists from aeons ago. Bottom line, the weapon was a +1 dagger, but man it made a good story. Also, when you run around with 8 hp, and a goblin can 1hit you dead, yeah, that's actually a challenge. In Skyrim, I feel the same way going through the game as a level 1 without perks. I have not completed the main quest line or any of the faction quests in my time in skyrim, not just with this character, and so I am looking forward to figuring out how to master each new scenario. This is fun to me. I recommend you try it, you'll have a blast.

You should try leveling up without selecting perks. That would be a whole lot harder

Why do people say TC was missing out on stuff? I think it was made quite clear he already played the game a lot anyways before ... and even if not, what would keep him from starting another character to level? It's not like the game disc melts when you have more than one.

Anyways, I don't think this is something for me. I love building the characters and see how the perks affect things.