Something I have been meaning to ask is can you build skills like archery by shooting just at trees/targets (like the ones inside shops) or attacking the wooden dummy outside the arena (melee or ranged)?

Unfortunately no. You'd need a mod for that.

It svcks because everyone else is firing madly at targets or killing dummy's, but its all for show.

Skills like Blade, Blunt, Block and Marksman all require you to strike something living. Try summoning a creature and then provoking it to level Conjuration and melee skills, but if you are just a warrior, you have to do it the hard way -- dungeon running and maybe the Arena.

So far I haven't heard of a mod like that.

I guess the next best safest thing is small game hunting.

An easier way to do it is to travel to Peryite's shrine (the one with the people just standing there, frozen in a sleep-like state) and just attack the worshippers over and over again, to level your marksman, of course, yuo can't get your arrows back, though, so bring lots of arrows.

There are a few training dummy mods at TESNexus, IIRC at least one makes all targets usable for training.

I think Battlehorn Castle includes a sparring partner too, but I think he's only for melee practice.

When my main character decided to start training Marksmen, he went around the Imperial Island shooting mudcrabs and anything else that he encountered. That got it up to a usable level so he could start practicing in dungeons, especially in places where he appeared above enemies (like shooting into a pit, or a lower level in an Ayleid ruin). Same when my mage trained swords and H2H, he just started small and worked his way up.

To train Marksman, always use the poorest arrows (Iron or Steel, or there are slightly poorer quality in mods with crafting). Also use the lowest quality bow(s). Have Acrobatics at least at 25 so you can jump and shoot. Perch on top of rocks or other objects out of reach of enemies, especially tough enemies. You can shoot 100+ arrows into a single enemy and train. Slow enemies can be fought without perching atop something because you can easily dodge them. It really doesn't take long to get Marksman to 50-75 this way even if not specialized in Stealth or having it as a major skill.

Also, you can summon ghosts so that the arrows bounce off. You can also use zombies but the arrows will vanish with them.

Finally, you could try making a training bow by enchanting it to Restore Health and Fortify Health on an enemy. I do not feel this is a good option for training, though, because it uses charges and will stop working once the charges are gone. The above method is much easier.

Speaking of crafting, can anyone recommend one that is good for everything outside of using an overhaul, and one inside (like MMM/OOO) that doesn't conflict with the gp lockpicks one (can't craft lockpicks with MMM leather).

At present I have a setup that is using TIE, so no overhauls, just individual mods to kinda make it like it has one (nGCD, Progress, Tamriel's Travellers, etc).

Another thing I was wondering was does this game have location specific damage or it doesn't matter where I hit, or get hit?

I know with DR you have to aim in certain parts for the decap / cut in half but does vanilla have location awareness?

I did a search at nexus for "training dummy" and came up with only two files.

Nope, head shot's as good as a foot shot, unfortunately.


So use different search terms, like just "training," "dummy," and try "target," "marksman," and "archery." Basic search stuff.

I think http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=27259 is the one that makes all targets usable.

Just to clarify, you can't aim for specific body areas, but the game will determine different areas that are hit and what piece of equipment takes the damage (if you are weaing armor, of course). You can't control location, but there is a location effect within the game, at least, as opposed to simply having a single complete "suit" of armor that takes damage.

This doesn't matter if you don't wear armor, of course. I only wear armor to train, so I never really worry about it, but I know other people might be interested.

Ok other ways to train marksman turn up the difficulty when in a high / safe possisstion and just keep shooting. Two the staff of everscamp, three just keep shooting the emperor from the ledge in the imperial prison. the last one may lead to some bugs and will give you a ludicrus infamy ratting.

Found http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=22021

Good for RP. I don't want deer with 10k health, trolls that can't hurt you and have super regen/health (Arcane Uni with a shooting range? bleh), etc.