So, I started a new character a few days ago - Maximus Meridius - and get this - he's a soldier. What a coincidence. Falsely imprisoned, will fight the way back into the hearts of his people... er, um... the hearts of a snobby foreign people who never loved him to begin with. But I digress...

I intend to finish the MW main quest, with Imperial Legion and Imperial Cult as his only extra MW factions, then do TB and BM.... all wearing Imperial armor. As we know, this stuff will probably not hold up to 40 or 50 werewolves, so I'll have to think about that a bit... My main concern is what weapons should feel good in his hand? His melee specialization is long blade & block. There's only one [crappy] Imperial long blade, and it DEFINITELY won't hold up late-game. Will he eventually have to acquiesce to a Daedric one-handed long blade? Maybe ebony scimitar? I've not done too much hardcoe RP before, but I'd like this guy to stick to his guns, so to say. No spell casting. Hardware and potions all the way.

[edit for spelling]

Stick with the Imperial broadsword or shortsword, and a silver spear much like the guards for anything that resists normal weapons ( or is a werewolf ). Shouldn't be too much harder than what you're already trying to do. You'll just have to hit everything two or three more times
often... but hey, more experience for your already-quickly-growing weapon skills!

Yeah, I guess you never face more than a half dozen werewolves at a time, so there's time to repair between skirmishes... as long as the shield holds up. I was thinking about keeping the same Imperial Broadsword for the whole game, and enchanting it with a little absorb health later in game so that I'll only need the one weapon eventually (vs regular + silver weapon to start). Same trusty blade from slash #1 to the finish. Poetic.

If you're playing through the Legion quests, perhaps you could use Chrysamere for those late-game encounters you mentioned?

Although there definitely is something poetic about using the same blade the whole way through game... it's an interesting idea you have. *muse*

It's really hard to morally justify dueling Varus Vantius(or w.e his name is). There really isn't any reason to think he's a bad Knight and killing one of your own (especially a loyal one) would be hard for a legionaire to do. Also, using Chrysamere and Lord's Mail kinda ruins the difficulty factor of just using imperial armor. I'd think a good idea for rp weapon and armor wise, is to refuse to buy or loot any weapons or armor out of the fact that taking anothers belongings would be immoral and simply the armor wouldn't fit you, That way you will collect all your armor from the Imperial Legion. I do think it would be possible to do the game in just imperial weapons or armor, but if you decide not to, avoid any akaviri designs such as katanas and avoid daedric weapons in general.

Wow, this is going to be hard. Did I mention I play with the difficulty slider at 100? Blighted nix hounds can take me out in two hits, at level 18. With medium/heavy armor both at 100. Ugh. Must refine battle tactics...

well,

there are various lore correct items you could use

Theres a Netch Imperial sword you can get, theres an enchanted imperial helm of "someone" the white which you could use.

Not to mention there are various enchanted Imperial shields that you can use (Velthi's shield springsto mind, theres also onewith a light enchantment)

Not to mention your a trained soldier - use your enviroment - alchemy is your friend

That's the scariest part to me - I AM using alchemy. My alchemy skill is at level 70, and I've a grandmaster M&P and master of everything else, and latest batch of potions is scuttle, saltrice, heather, and marshmerrow - this yielded ~2min of restore 40 fatigue, 2min of feather 40 pts, and ~30sec of restore 11 health. Right before the blighted nix hound nixed me, I slammed 5 of those things (I've got em hotkeyed). First hit, on my knees. Second hit, would you like to restore? Sheesh. I'm gonna have to fortify intelligence for the next batch, will likely go to ~10,000 intelligence, should give ~100 health restore per second for quite a while. I'd feel guilty about abusing the system... if the fortify intelligence trick wasn't mentioned in an actual in-game book, and if I wasn't at 100 difficulty.... I have NO idea how even an enchanted imperial broadsword will hold up to a single werewolf. It'll break before he's dead from so many strikes at 100 difficulty. If my armor holds out that long.

edit: spelling

no

Update: [hopefully one week is not thread necromancy...]

I am now leader of the Imperial Legion on Morrowind. It was manageable without too much fuss via alchemy and my trusty enchanted Imperial Broadsword - purchased Galbedir's Winged Twilight soul to put Absorb Health 19pts for one second on strike on my first Imperial Broadsword. I'll keep that sword in my inventory until I retire this soldier. Ah, memories. By far, the hardest part was the duel with Varus - I forgot to buff with my homemade potions before entering the Pit the first time, and he killed with one hit. That's ~250 health in one fail swoop, with a mix of Dragonscale & Imperial Templar armor. I reloaded, fortified to 3,000 health, and drank a couple restore 500 health/sec before the next bout. God bless alchemy. My standard wilderness/exploration potions are restore health/restore fatigue/feather. No matter what happens or what I find, I can keep myself alive and drag ALL the fat lute back to town.

I think I will take the liberty (owing to my new rank) of inviting an Imperial enchanter to craft me another sword. Since Varus's sword (before Chrysamere) was an enchanted steel longsword, I'll assume those are not viewed as out-of-the-ordinary for commanders. Time to hunt a Golden Saint, trap a soul, and craft, perhaps.... as much damage fatigue on strike as it will fit?... should make for a nice weapon, won't backfire on me when I'm up against 100% reflect (due to my restore fatigue potions), and will eventually wear out even the highest-level opponents to make them easy fodder for my trusty absord-health blade....

If only I felt OK using an Ebony longsword... such fine blades....

Use an imperial broadsword and enchant it to hell. Call it 'the Blade of Tiber Septim'

I find it strange that you're willing to exploit alchemy yet you want a challenge... Instead of relying on the difficulty slider to make your game more difficult, how about not giving yourself 3000 health and potions with restore health 500 lol...

I suppose I view it all as playing within the intended rules. There's a book in Morrowind that discusses buffing intelligence to make poweful potions. There's a difficulty slider to use. I'm using one of the lamest swords in the game (albeit enchanted). It all makes for an interesting playthrough. And, I'll have you know - he had me down to below half that 3,000 health at one point. He's a right bad-[censored] at 100 difficulty with Chrysamere and the Lord's Mail.

edit - really? the Scottish pronunciation of a-man's-backside is censored? wow. now THAT's what I find strange in this whole thread...

this a very interesting concept, kmelch. I'm planning on getting back into MW and this might just be what I need to keep my interest going for a while :goodjob:

Glad to help. :celebration: It's pretty engaging, from the point of view of a soldier that knows he'll get a little bit better armor with every quest he completes. By the end, you're outfitted like a proper General/Knight. Byoo-tee-ful.

@Sedhrw - They actually are not 500 health/sec potions, but only 100 health/sec. I know, that's still monstrous, but not quite as outlandish. :angel:

Indeed, this also helps to enforce the "no loot" rule as the only armour you wear is bought or gotten via quests.

my favorite character was also an imperial soldier, he used a two handed sword forget the name of it.

this was a really fun char to play, especially since i love ancient roman culture.

The first character I finished the MQ with was an Imperial Warrior named Brutonius. He used a long sword as his primary weapon. He finally settled on an enchanted Ebony one rather than a simple Imperial broadsword. It looks similar enough in design to pass for an Imperial weapon.