Greetings All !

I just started playing Skyrim about two weeks ago.

I've got the "Populated Forts Towers Places" mod as well as "Ultimate Followers Overhaul" mod installed. So, I'm travelling by road and I run into yet-another-fort-built-right-in-the-middle-of-the-road, Fort Dunbad. And I happened to arrive at sunrise.

The "Populated" mod has beefed up the number of bandits defending. I've got two followers (both fighters... I'm more of an archer-sneak-type). We're getting our asses handed to us a lot.

But I refuse to notch down the difficulty. I figure it's just a matter of strategy.

If I start picking-off guards on the walls, it seems like the entire fort is alerted within about 2 minutes. There doesn't appear to be a "secret entrance", just two holes in the walls, really.

This got me wondering if maybe I should wait until darkness to start picking off guys on the walls? Does darkness make a difference in how quickly the rest of the keep might be alerted?

Thanks!

-= Dave =-

Doesn't seem to make much difference to my characters whether it's day or night, maybe try sneak attacks early on in your attack. Welcome to the forums by the way.

I always do it sneakily and at night, often there is a better way strategically to approach the Fort, they are often close to mountain sides, and from the mountain they can be entered top down, or the guards can be more safely killed off and be unseen.

.....and welcome to the forum.

Do you use archery or magic for your ranged attacks?

Sadly, it doesn't matter too much. Everyone will be alerted even though it's night, and everyone will know your exact location even if only one bandit saw you. Shooting them with bows/crossbows will alert them eventually, unless you manage to shoot them from very far away and then shoot around at walls and stuff to make them search there (or if they lose interest, I'm using mods so I forgot they don't normally search for you for too long), but still, unless your sneak is higher they will eventually find you. Another problem is that your followers will usually decide to go there and fight which will also eventually reveal your location.

Spells will give you away right away unless you have silent casting perk and it's not worth it. You'll be found even if you're 100 miles away, shooting fireballs from the top of High Hrothgar.

It basically comes down to having high sneak and being able to shoot them down one by one without them finding you.

I do them at night. For some reason, there are less enemy guards about, for half of them are sleeping. Easy pickings. Inside it is a toss up.

Well, thanks for the advice anyways! I didn't realize I might be able to fool them by shooting arrows in a way that would make sound and throw them off. Yeah, my followers usually end up engaging.

I actually had one attempt where it seemed like we were gonna make it (kill every outdoor bandit), but then I saw my targets were Stormcloaks and I went "WTF?". I've been remaining neutral in the war (but leaning a bit Stormcloak) so I certainly didn't want a bounty on my head with the Stormcloaks. So, I quit the attempt / reloaded from my last save and tried again. Seems like if I can take out that backline wizard quickly, I do okay... but the bugger won't stand still !

Thanks again!

-= Dave =-

Yeah, i think I'm going to give that a try when I get home later tonight (stuck at work right now).

The down-side is, I also have that survival mod installed that requires me to "not freeze to death"... and I don't have a lot of firewood on my horse. Hopefully, I've got enough for a 12 hour nap. That's one reason I decided to attack the fort: It's gettin' cold out there and that fort looked warm inside! Ha-ha!

There seems to be the same number of dolts guarding the fort by night as there is during the day.

I don't perceive any advantage for night-time assaults Sir. Take out the ranged units and break up the melee units is the best approach while moving and firing continuously.

Top tip: Watch out for the Forsworn-held sites. They are a real challenge on high-levels - more so on the lower levels.

Powerful ranged units and brutal melee units. Don't for one moment be taken in by their ravishing female warriors with their saucy garb Sir.

Your undercarriage will be pickled in a jar before you can say "Sweet Fanny Adams".

Note:I haven't tested the the Populated Forts Towers Places mod for the 360 degree answer.

As a sneaky archer, I would usually approach from a high place. Is there any mountains nearby you can snipe from?

As a Mage, I would infect them with the Spider disease, and then cast fury. Each time they die, the infection spreads and 3 small spiders explode from their corpse It's beautiful

It's more about strategy, but a night time assault may allow you to get a bit closer first.

Give your followers a bunch of healing potions. It will keep them going much longer. Utilize any potions you may have, as well. They can really make a difference.

Use any powers available to you. They can also turn the tide of battle.

More info on your team and class setup would help with the advice giving, too.

He has 2 followers unfortunately, so whatever he does from whatever location they will go down and engage in face-to-face combat which will disable sneak attacks.

Ah, thanks!

I wasn't sure if followers would actually USE anything I give them. (Sure, they APPEAR to put the armor on, but I had no idea they'd actually use potions.)

I've got quite a few potions on me.

My two followers are both fighter-types... Lydia's one and then the other's that Dark Elf lady (can't think of her name... something like Vanessa?) that you can pick up from that Hunter's Bar immediately near the Whiterun gate. I'm a light-armored archer (who, by matter of fate, actually has a higher two-handed melee rating than a one-handed). I'm afraid I haven't fiddled much with magic yet, as I wasn't sure how I'd physically coordinate (i.e. button pressing / resource management) alternating between a bow and casting (other than using favorite groupings to quickly switch to that basic flame spell you start with).

Thanks!

-= Dave =-

I suppose I could always give them the "stay here" command. But then, I'd be REALLY outnumbered if things went south.

The only difference is that bandits inside the fort might be caught sleeping after a certain hour so a sneaky character can kill them while they dream...sadly dark night only messes with your visibility.

Hm that might work. But best of luck then. Snipe from a place where you can easily run back to your companions.

Actually, that could work. Shoot one guy and hide far from the fort (but in a place where it's in sight) and wait for the guy to come close while searching for you. Then expose yourself and let him chase you to where your companions are. This way you might break them apart and lead them one by one into an ambush while hoping for magicians and archers to stay near the fort.

Also, as Day_Man said, use all and any potions you have with you, healing potions, poisons, especially damaging and paralyzing potions, if you have them. Also check your inventory for any scroll of Call to Arms that you may have forgotten about.