Hey all, first post.

I was wondering if anyone plays a Ranger type character? I'm running a level 32 Nord, currently. Equipment is as follows:

-Chillrend (frost damage and paralysis)

-Nightingale Bow (shock and stamina damage)

-Elven Dagger of Animus (soul trap)

-Nightingale Armor (full set)

I only fight with a one-handed weapon (i.e. no shield or second weapon), and am having a pretty tough time with combat situations. Right now I've been muddling through mob combat situations (I'm fine in 1v1's) by spamming paralysis and slow poisons, and running away until I can get into a more advantageous matchup.

My perks are mostly in one-handed (lvl 70), light armor (lvl 60), archery (lvl 65), and sneak (lvl 70). Also about level 40 on block.

I don't use shouts.

So I have a few questions:

What are some good poisons/ potions I could use to even the odds in combat situations? Recipes are a nice touch ...

Should I be focusing more on blocking? Is it even worthwhile to really try to block with just a single handed weapon? Can I deflect arrows with just a sword (deflect arrow perk in block tree), or do you need a shield to absorb arrows?

Any cooler Rangery looking armors/ armor combos than Nightingale? I'm playing vanilla on PS3. Can I get mods on there?

How do the one-handed users out there handle combat situations? I just find myself rushing in with the running power attack, walloping whoever is closest to me, then having running battles with the members of the mob I can separate from the herd over the course of half an hour. It's pretty epic, but getting repetitive. I'll thin the herd with some sneak archery/ backstabbing stragglers from the shadows too, but I mean the "Oh-sh*t five dudes are chasing me and they all are wearing plate armor and carrying two-handed axes" combat situations....

Thanks.

Hide armour is good for a ranger.

Hide/Nightingale would be your best bet for Ranger-esque armor imo. Also; no you cannot get mids on the Ps3.

No. You can't get mods on the PS3. That's silly thinking there.

I would put 2 points into Block. The first one and the one right above it thay slows down time. You can't block arrows with swords.

Thanks for the responses guys

I've been wondering if Chillrend is the right sword for me, also. Because Nords resist Frost 50% and Skyrim is full of the bastards... Thoughts? Any good single-handed enchants that can improve my fightiness?

Paralyze is always good.

Thieves guild or hide

My enchanting skill is pretty lousy (doesn't fit my RP very well, so mostly ignored it), so I kind of rely on weapons I can either find or get as quest rewards. I was thinking maybe a silver sword with a flame enchant. I experimented with lunar swords early on. That was a cool enchant. Did an extra 20 damage at night.

Flame, frost or shock? What other weapon enchantments are there?

There are dozens of other weapon enchants. It seems these are things you need to research and explore.

The uesp is a good start.

My current main character is a ranger (photo in my avatar, more info in my signature).

He is an Imperial. He also only uses one sword, no shield or spells. The only armor worn is the gray Thieves Guild boots and gloves. He currently has sever perks allocated to the Block skill: 4/5 Shield Wall, Quick Reflexes, Power Bash, Deadly Bash, Disarming Bash. The sword I use is a silver sword (I have a mod that lets me smith silver weapons). My bow is an improved imperial bow.

Most of my battles start out with a sneak attack, then I jump in and disarm enemies and attack while dodging and weaving in and out of combat. group fights are usually pretty exciting.

Thanks. I'm going to look into the block skill that slows time. That seems like it could be very good for me. Does it slow time enough to evade attacks by moving out of the way, or is it just good for bashing?

Whenever i play as a archer/rouge type player on Skyrim, I always dual wield! When they get to close or the mobs are to large in a confined space the dual wielding of swords/wara axes is a life saver. Save your stanima for those tight situations and power attack away with both weapons! Its amazing dps on the mobs. As for using a bow i use the slowdown perks with slow time shout and blast arrows away as well . I've put 2 years into this game and this has seemed to be the most effective way to be a rouge/archer type character. Plus having the enchant skill maxed with dual enchants on a weapon and max smith helps alot too lol. But for player given items you have a pretty nice setup going on!

Yes, it completely changes your ability to dodge attacks. Without the perk, it's almost impossible to sidestep power attacks, but with the perk, you can step to the back or side, and get in a couple of attacks of your own.

Day_Man, you seem like you've been at this playstyle for a while. And your avatar looks excellent. How hard is it to play with such limited armor? One of the reasons I'm wearing any armor is because (A) there are very few vanilla outfits that compliment the ranger look. I'm trying to channel the Lord of the Rings ranger style, green/brown clothes, cloak, hood, leather boots, leather gauntlets, but again, it's tough. Plus my character would get annihilated in combat. What's the best advice you can give me in general on clothing/ equipment options, and some more one-handed combat tips?

Your concept is awesome. Can't say that enough. Wish I had mods on PS3...

It's possible he uses Alteration, most likely not though.

I guess the best thing for a ranger is to stay as far away as possible and only using swords when they get to close. Since he is wearing Light Armor/Clothing, he can out maneuver his enemies far quicker than if had wore Heavy Armor.

I've been avoiding all magic except for Restoration spells, and those I mostly use on Faendal, my sometimes-companion. Well, that and Transmute to turn iron into silver into gold, for some cash...

Are there any cool Ranger-y places to live? If you take over a cabin, can your things be stolen out of the chests/ disappeared?

That depends if the place respawns or not. Anise's Cabin is a good place. With HF you can build a small shack if you want.

It's not silly. You can get mods on PS3 and 360 just not legally.

And I wouldn't want to recommend anyone to do so. I know it's possible, but it's not worth the potential trouble.

It's just not worth the trouble, legal or not. Besides any mods you can get on them are nearly pointless. You want OP? Get the PC version.

I was going for the same look, and the green clothes (that Faendal wears, oddly enough) go perfectly with an Apprentice hood (or mages hood it bought from Radiant Raiment) and the gray thieves guild boots and gauntlets. My character's look is essentially based off of Aragorn from Lord of the Rings and I believe it's pretty close. The only thing you wouldn't be able to get is the green cloak/cape, since that is from a mod.

As for handling combat, the two pieces of armor will give you about 75 armor (when you include the hidden +25 for each peace), the Lord Stone gives you an extra 50 (plus 25% magic resistance). Blocking, with 4/5 in Shield Wall negates a good % of damage, though you have to be good at actual blocking (just a bit of practice works). Using disarming block is great. Enemies become a cakewalk if they are only attacking you with their bare hands. You can disarm them, then pickup their weapons so that they can't re-equip anything. When you include the Quick Reflexes perk, you feel like you're an action hero in a movie almost, haha!

Mainly, though. Focus on stealth. Scout the area and make sure you engage combat only at an advantage. Thin the heard from a distance with a bow, then engage in melee.

Good luck with that.

Anise's cabin is he best. It has an alchemy and enchanting table, a couple of drawers/endtables where you can safely store items. To top it off, it's pretty much centrally located.

I'm not modding my PS3, you crazy?