Just as the Topic Title states, I would like to know what exactly is the the Dragon Shout ability? A set of spells, like in a school of magic (restoration, destruction)? A set of words (language), which we will be able to combine differently to get different effects, like in alchemy? In that case, will we be able to create new shouts, which even gragons do not know? Will shouts be purely beneficial, or they will drain you as well, until your stamina gives up? Anyway, I hope that shouts will be something new and not yet another school of destructive or restorative magic.

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/01/20/skyrim-s-dragon-shouts.aspx

this is mostly what we know of them

~edit~ What he said ^


It's a set of spoken spells, on their own spell line, with it's own fuel, and on a separate timer.

Basically, if you are a warrior with no magic, you can still use shouts because they're on a completely different pool of magic.

So these are basically 20 spells of the rally type, which are separated into words, which you have to collect during the game. Hmmm.... I see.

they're not all of the rally type, tiber septim just used more of those since well...it's a good strategy when you have an army.

other dragon shouts like slowing time, fire breathing or summoning a dragon are confirmed.

"Maud Dib can kill with a word, again, it is the prophesy!" :read:

How exactly to understand this:

"The amount of time you hold down the shout button is how many words come out,” Howard continues.

So, because every shout is 3 words, it will take some "long" time to say those three words, similar to long casting time, during which the opponent will beat you senseless to interrupt your casting? As the result, you'll be able to pronounce 1,2, or 3 words before you die?

i highly doubt the words will come out SO slowly that you'll be beaten to a pulp... they're made for use in battle against dragons, so im sure they either wont be interrupted, or wont take THAT long to speak.

as you progress through the game, you'll discover words of the dragon language on stone walls in dungeons and the like, that is how you discover the shouts, you cant "create" them... so any shouts you use, dragons will use, im sure.

look at the shout used in the trailer... "FUS RO DAH!" he spoke it fairly quickly.

i also think you absorb the dragons' souls to fuel your dragon shout abilities.

I highly doubt it will be that long to cast; and how many words you say depends on how long you hold the button. You don't need to die for them to work, just let go of the button. Tap the button once to say one word for a quick but less effective shout. Hold it a little longer for a second word and a slightly more powerful spell. Same thing for the third. I would imagine using longer shouts would be a great way to start out a battle. Use a full slow-time shout to get a head start on your enemies. A full fire-breathing shout to set your enemies and/or the surroundings on fire before they get close to you. Use the single-word versions of the shouts for a small, but helpful boost in battle with just the tap of a button. At least this is how I interpreted the information they've given us about the shouts, but it seems like the logical way for it to work.

3 words is a max shout. They will also be on a cool down timer and the 3 word shouts will have the longest cool down. They are separate from magic, so you can still use all the spells you want + shouts.

Dune FTW

Do we HEAR our characters say this stuff?

I think we do, or else that would defeat the purpose of making them dragon "shouts" as opposed to just a dragon spell. It would be cool to have a voice selection choice on character creation.

That's why I was wondering. A voice selection would indeed be nice.

Yes, the trailer video shows this. They have also stated you will hear your character make the shout. Nothing has been said as to whether or not we'll be able to choose the voice we want though.