official The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

So does anyone know what kind of skills I should be concentrating on as an archer type character? I guess Archery/Sneaking and Light Armour? I do find it very hard in fights as soon as they get up close (after 2 shots), I'm then kind of screwed and I just melt. I was thinking dual wield daggers, but I tried to bind them both to a key, but that didn't work, and now each one is on button 2,3... but they just override each other in my main hand... I have to go into my favourites and manually do it, annoying.

Ran into my first dragon outside (apart from the story line one), it melted me and my horse in 2 breathes, wasn't fun.... Speaking of my horse... is there anyway to counteract the steroids he was given when young? I jump off my horse to when being attacked, before I know anything he's killing the attacker giving me only one arrow hit before it's dead, doesn't help my leveling skills.

I do like the openness of the game, but sometimes I feel like I need a helping hand in where to go, which reminds me, how can I tell which is my main story line quest?

I'm the same character type. I wield magic in my left hand (restoration or illusion) and an enchanted sword in my right. Done some perks in the one hand tree for extra damage, and the 10% crit bonuses for swords. For magic I use healing during battle, and for offensive an illusion spell like paralyze.

If I've made poisons I put them on my sword also.

I personally hated dual wielding, and ditched my character with that kind of build.

[Bambii]

I'm an archer too, personally I hate melee with arching. Normally use magic (heal and either fireball or paralyse). run away and shoot again ;)

[shakey]

I find I am taking almost all the trees. I'm mostly a Destro/Conj, but I'm already at 50 skill with both 1 hand and archery, and my Reg, Illusion, Enchanting, and Alchemy have all reached 40+ finally.

Alchemy is a chore. I had probably over a 100 ingredients, so I just went at it. Sat at a alch table and just randomly clicked on everything and started creating whatever would make. Ended up with over 20 new recipes. So don't worry about those items, just use them up and learn it lol.

[LittleNeutrino Veteran]

Am i the only one that refuses to use lydia? unless a quest requires it i do not use a companion at all :p

[Twiddle]

I went with a Dual Wield/Light Armor specialization in mind with alchemy to increase armor, and speech to increase cash flow (which is AMAZING). Not a thief, just a watered-down warrior I guess. I dislike Heavy Armor, and two-handers, makes me feel clunky. It may not be the smartest build, but I enjoy it. I sometimes bring my shield out, but without many points in blocking, it doesn't help much, especially against casters/archers. I finished my Daedric weapons with Bow/Shield/2x Swords/2x War-Axes, but I think I'm going to go sword spec for crit, instead of bleeding, even though the War-Axes look 10x cooler. Crit just sounds better. Lydia is my tank with full Dragonplate and a two hander, so she can take that role :p. But it seems she gets hit harder than I do, despite the better armor.

[Draken]

Am i the only one that refuses to use lydia? unless a quest requires it i do not use a companion at all :p

Same here, they only get on the way:

Nice review and PC interface analysis :yes: sucks a lot!

Arstechnica

[shakey]

While the menu system isn't the best, it is leagues beyond what it used to be.

The old style menu with all the same looking icons for different potions... no thanks. I'd rather scroll through a list of named potions than have to hover over everything, just to get a name of the item, because it all looks similar.

I think what is missing from this menu system is organization. They should either a character model up so you can see what you have equipped, and what slots are really open, as well as put the equipped items at the top of the list, for quick access and sight.

Spells should be arranged, not by alphabetically, but in category of what class, and this should be in the favorite/quick menu ( since this is done in the regular menu already ).

As for the potions and ingredients and whatnot, the menu system isn't that bad for them.

[Draken]

While the menu system isn't the best, it is leagues beyond what it used to be.

The old style menu with all the same looking icons for different potions... no thanks. I'd rather scroll through a list of named potions than have to hover over everything, just to get a name of the item, because it all looks similar.

I think what is missing from this menu system is organization. They should either a character model up so you can see what you have equipped, and what slots are really open, as well as put the equipped items at the top of the list, for quick access and sight.

Spells should be arranged, not by alphabetically, but in category of what class, and this should be in the favorite/quick menu ( since this is done in the regular menu already ).

As for the potions and ingredients and whatnot, the menu system isn't that bad for them.

I agree, but if you're using a gamepad, with a mouse is useless and a pain to navigate.

[Nagisan]

And note to self, disarming shout doesn't just make you put your weapon away. You throw that bitch on the ground! Easy way to lose a very good weapon :(

Yeah, I had to search for my dagger twice so far, and it sucks, because daggers are so damn tiny. First boss that did it, I hadn't really realized what happened, and Lydia finished him off.....I almost left before realising I no longer had my dagger. Second one, he did it, and I switched weapons and finished him off (after a long drawn out battle due to a weaker weapon). Spent about 10 minutes searching the room for my dagger.

It happened yet again in this huge cavern, up on some ledge, so it was basically search the entire cavern below me and the ledge area, or just reload an earlier quick save and fight the guy a different way. Second time I fought him, I just used my dragon shout to throw him off a high ledge before he even knew I was there.

When you have a black colored dagger, it gets near impossible to find it once you are disarmed. I can understand the whole disarm mechanic that they don't want it to be "Oh I'll just open up my favorites and re-equip it", but depending on the weapon you can lose a really good weapon if you are not careful or willing to search for it. They should highlight the weapon on the ground or something after 5 seconds have passed since you were disarmed.

Am i the only one that refuses to use lydia? unless a quest requires it i do not use a companion at all :p

Me too. I used her for awhile because I power leveled sneak and a few other stealth-based skills......at times Lydia was the only reason I made it through some quests. But after her screwing up stealth attacks time and time again, as well as standing in the way, I decided to ditch her, and so far every dungeon I have gone to now has been much easier.

All they need to do to fix NPCs getting in the way, is if it's a friendly NPC, simply have it move away from the player if the player is within a certain distance and moving forward. Like pretty much every other modern game that uses companion-style systems, just make them move away when the player is bumping into them. Not that hard Bethesda.......

[Minifig]

Am i the only one that refuses to use lydia? unless a quest requires it i do not use a companion at all :p

You could have used her, then taken her into the middle of somewhere and killed her. I think the next time you get into town, the mail carrier will bring you an inheritance letter, which is worth like 100-500 gold?

----

Also, I love my bro. He says to me 'How many hours did you put into Oblivion before your hard drive crashed?'.. I casually reminded him 'About 830-840?.. why?'.. he said 'Merry early Christmas.." and bought me Skyrim on steam. :D

I'm already level 7 and loving the hell out of it.

[shakey]

Yeah, I had to search for my dagger twice so far, and it sucks, because daggers are so damn tiny. First boss that did it, I hadn't really realized what happened, and Lydia finished him off.....I almost left before realising I no longer had my dagger. Second one, he did it, and I switched weapons and finished him off (after a long drawn out battle due to a weaker weapon). Spent about 10 minutes searching the room for my dagger.

It happened yet again in this huge cavern, up on some ledge, so it was basically search the entire cavern below me and the ledge area, or just reload an earlier quick save and fight the guy a different way. Second time I fought him, I just used my dragon shout to throw him off a high ledge before he even knew I was there.

When you have a black colored dagger, it gets near impossible to find it once you are disarmed. I can understand the whole disarm mechanic that they don't want it to be "Oh I'll just open up my favorites and re-equip it", but depending on the weapon you can lose a really good weapon if you are not careful or willing to search for it. They should highlight the weapon on the ground or something after 5 seconds have passed since you were disarmed.

I bet. Ya, highlighting would be awesome, or even showing stats of the weapon on the hover over. It happened to me last night on a boss. He shouted, dropped my weapon, but I'm Destro, so in the chaos of everything, I hadn't even noticed I lost it. But after I beat him, I looked on the ground and was like, " hey, another one of these weapons dropped, 2nd one I've seen. But ehh, I got one already." It was my glass battle axe with an enchantment, but the hover over didn't show the enchantment, just said it was "A Glass Battle Axe". So I thought it was just a new axe that had dropped. Learned my lesson, but it was harsh lol.

[Elliott]

I'm so addicted to this game. It just has everything right.

[Minifig]

Is anyone else playing an Argonian? I feel like the minority here. I used to roll Kaijits exclusively, but I decided to try something new for Skyrim since it's the 5th game... and went Argonian, they make amazing bow using thieves, and the fact they can breath underwater makes finding the loot that is hidden under the water (and trust me.. there is a LOT of loot under the water in this game) a lot easier. Not to mention, they have Hitskin which makes you nigh on invincible when taking on a dragon.

[Nagisan]

Is anyone else playing an Argonian? I feel like the minority here. I used to roll Kaijits exclusively, but I decided to try something new for Skyrim since it's the 5th game... and went Argonian, they make amazing bow using thieves, and the fact they can breath underwater makes finding the loot that is hidden under the water (and trust me.. there is a LOT of loot under the water in this game) a lot easier. Not to mention, they have Hitskin which makes you nigh on invincible when taking on a dragon.

I'm playing a khajiit for the stealth boost and what not, but recently started an argonian as a dual-wielder (watched a few inspiring videos where this guy runs through like 5 enemies in 20 seconds or so with the dual-wield power attack that 1-hit kills most things). What kind of bow bonuses to they start with? Their text at the character screen doesn't seem to imply that they get any bonuses except to poison (or disease, whichever it is) and water breating.

[Slugsie]

I think the inventory menu system could use some drastic improvements. One thing I miss from Oblivion is being able to sort items by value/weight etc. Sorting by weight is very handy when you find yourself encumbered and need to shed a few pounds.

It would also be very very useful to sort attire by type. List all my helmets together, rings together, boots together etc. Would make finding the right one so much easier. Maybe a hover text that lets you know what/if an item will replace another one. Integrate it with a character model and it would be superb.

[Ravensky]

What's wrong with a minimalist interface? You blame consoles yet they are the ones playing on 40in and 50in TVs with way more space then PC gamers.

40 and 50 inch TV's usually top out at 1920x1080, my PC can blow that away ... so saying that you can play your XBOX 360 at higher resolutions than a PC is just saying hello I am dumb!

[HardyRexion]

Oooh, a PC Vs Console argument. Its about time!! :huh:

[Draken]

hmmm nice :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZJXTHHEWCY

[Paul Ferson Veteran]

Skyrim is easily one of my most anticipated games this year, and yet I still won't buy it until some point in December. As tempting as it is to just buy it now and sink time into the experience it will not be sufficient I don't think. With school and homework I haven't the same time to game. If I buy the game somewhere in December then I'll be able to sit down with it during the Christmas holiday and just lose myself in the world. If you don't see me on the site for about three, maybe four days, then you'll know why.

[Minifig]

I'm playing a khajiit for the stealth boost and what not, but recently started an argonian as a dual-wielder (watched a few inspiring videos where this guy runs through like 5 enemies in 20 seconds or so with the dual-wield power attack that 1-hit kills most things). What kind of bow bonuses to they start with? Their text at the character screen doesn't seem to imply that they get any bonuses except to poison (or disease, whichever it is) and water breating.

Male

• Agility +10
  
• Speed +10
  
• Willpower -10
  
• Endurance -10
  
• Personality -10
  

Female

• Intelligence +10
  
• Endurance -10
  
• Personality -10
  

Skills

• Alteration +5
  
• Light Armor +5
  
• Lockpicking +10
  
• Pickpocket +5
  
• Restoration +5
  
• Sneak +5
  

Abilities

• Resist Disease 50 percent resistance to disease (This pretty much makes you immune to poisons and disease.. GREAT for trapped chests..)
  
• Water Breathing: Ability to breath underwater
  
• Histskin: Increase health regeneration by a factor of 10 for 60 seconds
  

[mattmatik]

Oooh, a PC Vs Console argument. Its about time!! :huh:

:rofl:

Its really getting old.

[Juan4Ever]

i can?t help but start the game as a nord, it just seem to me as the right race to play the game.

[spacer]

I actually like the menu system. It's straight forward, and isn't overly complicated. Sure there could be a few more sorting options, but the way it is now isn't bad or cumbersome in my opinion.

The only thing I wish was different is some type of debuff indicator on the HUD. Just last night I went into my magic screen and down to the "affects" tab or whatever it's called for the first time. I saw several red entries that were apparently limiting some stuff (like stamina). I had no idea when, how, or for how long I was playing with those debuffs. It would be a lot better if there was some type of on screen icon or something for them.

[shakey]

Anyone been to Solitude yet? It's a city to the far east. I just arrived, and there is a execution at the front gates happening. All the towns people are crying for it to stop and saying how noble the guy on the block is. So I have been trying to save him, but it never works out... should I just let him die? Anyone have a clue?

[spacer]

Anyone been to Solitude yet? It's a city to the far east. I just arrived, and there is a execution at the front gates happening. All the towns people are crying for it to stop and saying how noble the guy on the block is. So I have been trying to save him, but it never works out... should I just let him die? Anyone have a clue?

How have you been trying to save him? attacking the guards? The executioner himself? Have you tried hovering over the prisoner himself? I saw a few prisoners being lead around towns and fields that were surrounded by guards. If you hover over the prisoner you can hit a button to free them. I wonder if you can do the same thing with the execution?