General Malaise "vs." reading comprehension ; also some talk of skyim and the elder scrolls (1 Viewer)

[Scoresman]

Do the mods run on PC without getting into things like root directories, registries and etc?

Sort of, but it's not quite as easy as just dropping things into a folder outside of the simplest mods out there.  You have to worry about compatibility and the order in which mods are loaded.  The general practice is to download a program called Mod Organizer that takes care of the installing for you as well as tells you if mods conflict with each other, etc.  

It's not difficult but not entirely without effort.  My last playthrough I had probably 80+ mods going.  The initial setup was so, so worth it though.  

 

[EYLive]

I never really enjoyed playing a mage in this game. Not sure why. Always stuck with an archer. I will probably do that again.

My first play through was as a pure mage (with leftover points put into archery), and it was really hard in some parts cuz I'd sometimes enter a room a get melee'd to death within seconds. The final battle was also difficult with only magic.
But at the same time it was awesome cuz I never had to worry about weapon stats or crafting.

 

[GregR]

I have never played an Elder Scrolls game before (nor many other games of any kind, really).  

My guy is a Nord (?)  I think it's just the default character you get when you start the game, I read the descriptions of some of the other characters I could've picked but figured I'd start basic.  I mostly fight with a sword or an axe in one hand, and shoot fire out of the other hand because why not?  Last night I was experimenting a bit with being more sneaky and trying to shoot stuff with arrows instead but mostly I just barge in swinging.  

I've completed a few missions and killed two dragons so far.  I had a companion, some lady, but she died in a cave somewhere not long after joining me.  I'm mostly just following the main missions I guess, although I did explore some caves that I stumbled across.  Seems like I can choose different paths (like which "group" to join or ally with?)  Haven't made any choices like that yet, I don't think.

I have a major issue with hoarding stuff, mostly because I just don't know what's good/useful and what isn't.  I'm pretty much always around max capacity, and if I find something else I really want I have to drop something else to make room for it.  At first I was collecting a #### ton of books, thought they might be important, but then I had so many I just dumped them all in a field somewhere.  Should I read those or are they just kind of like "bonus materials"?  

Was she sworn to carry your burdens?

 

[TheAristocrat]

Great.  Jumped deep into Fallout 4 and loving it but now I want to restart Skyrim and have another go.

You guys are killing me.

Also, need to install Mod Organizer.  I must have something like 60 mods or so in Skyrim and think I have them in the proper order but had no idea there was a tool that would do it for me.

 

[Ignoratio Elenchi]

Was she sworn to carry your burdens?

I don't remember.  I think she said she'd carry some stuff for me if I wanted her to.  

Last night I tried to find a horn in a dungeon.  It was missing and in its place there was a note to meet someone at an inn.  I did, and it was a lady who led me to a dragon.  After I killed the dragon she said she was from some tribe that was sworn to serve dragonborn like me.  That's about when I turned off the game and went to bed I think.  So I don't know if she'll become a companion.  

 

[Hawks64]

After thinking about it, I am not going to bother going through the thread, as it will probably just spoil stuff or give too much info.  I think I have enough knowledge to get by even if I suck at video games.  I will post random stuff or questions as I go.  Just don't want too many spoilers/hints. 

Speaking of, I do have a question:

Are there missions where you can earn a house/room, or do I have to save up and buy one?  Was thinking about splurging for the house in Whiterun last night, but blew my cash pile on a few bows, so I am starting from scratch in the coin department again tonight - I think I only have 600 left. 

You can unlock houses but IIRC you still have to purchase them. One of the DLCs let's you build your own house, there is a cost but IMO it's worth getting the DLC for this reason alone. What you can build in Hearthfire is so much better than what the game gives you access to so I think it's worthwhile to get it and use it early on if you can.

 

[Chaka]

I am not a horder in these games.  People talk about collecting every dish and goblet and book and #### - way too tedious for me.  However, it seems I am getting weighed down with the few weapons I have and all the potions/ingredients/tomes/books/misc stuff that I have because I don't know what to save and what to sell yet. 

You have to at least read books because some of them grant you permanent skill boosts. Of course you can find lists of the books and locations to save you time.

And you should not put.too much into potions. You'll use maybe 2-3 of them and the important one, health, is ubiquitous. 

 

[Hawks64]

I'm inspired to fire this back up. I've never completed the main story (assuming it can be completed on some level).

I never really enjoyed playing a mage in this game. Not sure why. Always stuck with an archer. I will probably do that again.

I don't understand why you wouldn't complete the main story, I really enjoyed it.

I don't remember.  I think she said she'd carry some stuff for me if I wanted her to.  

Last night I tried to find a horn in a dungeon.  It was missing and in its place there was a note to meet someone at an inn.  I did, and it was a lady who led me to a dragon.  After I killed the dragon she said she was from some tribe that was sworn to serve dragonborn like me.  That's about when I turned off the game and went to bed I think.  So I don't know if she'll become a companion.  

She can't die. There a few NPCs that are unkillable...IIRC she's one of them.

 

[ShamrockPride]

Wow this thread really blew up today again. Can't wait to see half this board back here in October. Cheerio 

 

[EYLive]

You have to at least read books because some of them grant you permanent skill boosts. Of course you can find lists of the books and locations to save you time.

And you should not put.too much into potions. You'll use maybe 2-3 of them and the important one, health, is ubiquitous. 

Yep. The good books are worth 50 gold. The rest are lore fodder.

 

[Quint]

@KarmaPolice -

agree on limiting your potion supply: i think i've only used the Waterbreathing one once, and never used the Pickpocket or Sneak. feel free to make your own though, and sell what you don't want/need.

if your character is going to be using weapons on a consistent basis, as opposed to relying on magic, be sure to source Enchanter's Potion/Elixer/Draught and Fortify Smithing - you'll get a decent bonus on what you create and enchant. maybe save them until you're a Lvl 33 (or something like that) before you use them and your perks are up in those skill trees.

 

[bueno]

The only thing I know about Skyrim is that I really like the song Nord Mead. Back to the political threads. Have fun with your video games or whatever...

 

[KarmaPolice]

For the new players, for the love of Talos (that was smooth wasn't it?), SAVE OFTEN. Like every 15 minutes, every time before you enter a dungeon/cave. And keeps a rotation of at least 10 different save files.

Still plenty of glitches to go around in this game, some as I found out in Dead Man's Respite, that can permanently trap you in the dungeon if you don't have a save file from before you entered.

I learned this lesson the hard way during Fallout 3, so I am in the habit of saving a ton.  I did have a mental lapse the other night and had to redo a good 30mins of playing, but that was the only hitch in that department so far. 

 

[KarmaPolice]

You have to at least read books because some of them grant you permanent skill boosts. Of course you can find lists of the books and locations to save you time.

And you should not put.too much into potions. You'll use maybe 2-3 of them and the important one, health, is ubiquitous. 

Yeah, I got in the habit of scanning for the expensive ones and reading those/taking those.  There have been a couple others that seemed to have triggered something - a location maybe? 

I don't use potions, I have been making them/selling them.  That seems to be the best way I have found to make good bank at the start.  Making a few on the cheap that I seem to be able to sell for 90-120 coin each.  I think I have a good 40-50 random ones in my inventory.  Some I need to sell, but I need to find more merchants with moola, or wait until they regenerate more coin. 

 

[KarmaPolice]

@KarmaPolice -

agree on limiting your potion supply: i think i've only used the Waterbreathing one once, and never used the Pickpocket or Sneak. feel free to make your own though, and sell what you don't want/need.

if your character is going to be using weapons on a consistent basis, as opposed to relying on magic, be sure to source Enchanter's Potion/Elixer/Draught and Fortify Smithing - you'll get a decent bonus on what you create and enchant. maybe save them until you're a Lvl 33 (or something like that) before you use them and your perks are up in those skill trees.

I have been tinkering a little with the enchanting/smithing.  Need to get those leveled up.  I assume I need to raid some mines, since everything requires the metals.  Mostly I have been hunting as I wander, building bunch of leather armor, and selling that off to beef up my smithing, as well as sharpening, etc..  I think I can put fire and frost on weapons, but I need more of those soul gem thingies. 

 

[KarmaPolice]

I assume there is some out there who has read every book in the game front to back??

 

[Chaka]

Yeah, I got in the habit of scanning for the expensive ones and reading those/taking those.  There have been a couple others that seemed to have triggered something - a location maybe? 

I don't use potions, I have been making them/selling them.  That seems to be the best way I have found to make good bank at the start.  Making a few on the cheap that I seem to be able to sell for 90-120 coin each.  I think I have a good 40-50 random ones in my inventory.  Some I need to sell, but I need to find more merchants with moola, or wait until they regenerate more coin. 

Potions are a decent way to go for money but don't waste any skill points on alchemy.  The best way to make money and empower your character is to go the smithing/enchanting route.  You can turn 5 gold iron daggers into, I don't remember but it's a lot if you improve and enchant it (IIRC the soul trap enchantment is the best bang for your buck).

 

[KarmaPolice]

Ah, the dragon scales and bones are weighing me down the most.  Do i need these now? 

 

[TheAristocrat]

Ah, the dragon scales and bones are weighing me down the most.  Do i need these now? 

Not now, but later.

 

[RC94]

If you join the College of Winterhold they will give you a room and you will have storage there.

 

[RC94]

Skyrim Hoarders:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vcx6UbMCtfI

 

[NorvilleBarnes]

In addition to saving often, if you're out in the wild, look around before you save. I have a bizarre habit of remembering to save right before I get pounced by something. 

I normally play sneaky assassin sniper. I once did all mage (Jedi master) and that sucked but it was nice not to have any weight from armor or weapons. My latest is pure tank - no magic, potions, or enchanting, Man, some of these things that used to take like 50 arrows dropping after two hits of a mace is so satisfying it's scary. Having no ranged weapons kind of sucks against dragons, but there's something special about not sneaking and just wading in like the biggest bad### in Tamriel.

Probably played about 10 - 12 times/builds. Haven't finished once 

 

[GregR]

I'd warn that maxing Enchanting can take some of the fun out of the game. 

I made my own mod to put in a level dependence on the perks so you can't get the final ones until high level. Just like how they redid perks to work when they came out with Fallout 4, actually. Same with Armorer.  I think I also lowered how good of bonuses you can put on things as well. I also removed a lot of the ingots, ore, soul gems, and magic items that merchants have for sale, so you have to go out and find them instead.  Thought it made the game a lot more fun.

 

[Ignoratio Elenchi]

So I'm on the mission where you have to sneak into a (Thalmos?) party to find something or other.  You give whatever you want inside to some other dude and he sneaks it in for you.  So I gave him a weapon and some armor and then went to the party.  It now seems I'm woefully unequipped to actually complete the mission, keep getting slaughtered by the first guards I run into.  I guess I'll just start over from an earlier save?  I appreciate that the game isn't too hand-holdy but as a clueless non-gamer I'm worried that I'll just keep plowing ahead into situation and then have to take ten steps back because I realize I messed something up earlier and the game didn't stop me.  Is that a legit concern?

I should probably just slow down and explore/level up some more, too.  I've seen you guys talking about smithing and selling stuff and whatnot and I haven't done any of that.  

 

[KarmaPolice]

In addition to saving often, if you're out in the wild, look around before you save. I have a bizarre habit of remembering to save right before I get pounced by something. 

Learned that lesson in Fallout as well.  Should have said above - not only to I save a ton now, I usually have 2-3 slots going that I rotate between, because I had that happen a few times to me. 

 

[KarmaPolice]

Eventful night last night.  Did go to a mine by Riverwood and got the pickaxe so I can get some ore/jems in the mines. Did the first mission with the Companion guy tagging along, so now I am tighter with them.  Then I went on some innocent looking mission to help fix the tree in Winterrun or something that had me taking down 4 witches and I think it was a hagraven?  Thankfully I was up on a ledge at a camp when they started blasting me, so I was able to pick the witches off from up there after a bit.  That just triggered another leg of the quest farther out, so not sure when I will get back to that.  Decided to do a "quick" mission before going to bed that turned into 2am, but now Cynwrig is not in possession of Dawnbreaker. Couldn't seem to get to the area where the Greybeards are the way I was going, so might try that in the next couple days. 

Fortunately, I am getting to the point were I don't soil myself every time I see a hard looking baddie.  I think overall I am at level 14 or 15, and have my archery and sneak in the 40s.  Just picked up the 3x bow sneak perk at the end of my fun last night.  Have a dwarvish bow and a couple enchanted orcish bows that I am rockin' and still haven't used much else besides iron arrows as I save up all the other types of arrows.  Can't even imagine that I am even more than a couple % though this huge map. 

 

[Foosball God]

I played so much Skyrim that I just can't see picking it up again.

 

[Sand]

I played so much Skyrim that I just can't see picking it up again.

The English version of Enderal is coming out late this month.  (The German version is already out).

Just sayin'.

 

[Snorkelson]

Learn the transmute spell, but all the iron ore you find, transmute it to gold, turn that into bars, craft a gold necklace, enchant it, sell it, make all the money you need. Also buy potion making materials, make potions, and resell. Some potions I make sell for 400+. Find some low level illusion spell to spam until your illusion is good enough to chant invisibility. Gets you out of hairy situation. Have a dagger with soul capture enchant to fill your gems, summon a monster and kill it to keep your enchanted weapons up. All this will level multiple skills and make a bunch of money.

 

[ShamrockPride]

So I'm on the mission where you have to sneak into a (Thalmos?) party to find something or other.  You give whatever you want inside to some other dude and he sneaks it in for you.  So I gave him a weapon and some armor and then went to the party.  It now seems I'm woefully unequipped to actually complete the mission, keep getting slaughtered by the first guards I run into.  I guess I'll just start over from an earlier save?  I appreciate that the game isn't too hand-holdy but as a clueless non-gamer I'm worried that I'll just keep plowing ahead into situation and then have to take ten steps back because I realize I messed something up earlier and the game didn't stop me.  Is that a legit concern?

I should probably just slow down and explore/level up some more, too.  I've seen you guys talking about smithing and selling stuff and whatnot and I haven't done any of that.  

I would say in general that those types of situations are more an exception than the rule, I'm sure they happen a couple other times thru the game's few hundred missions, but hardly often. I've found when I am significantly outmatched, be it against in that mission or again a Dragon Priest, it's almost always against an enemy well versed in magic. In your mission, you can always bring more stuff into the party, gear and such, but remember that will weigh you down more and make it more difficult to sneak.

 

[Snorkelson]

Learn the transmute spell, but all the iron ore you find, transmute it to gold, turn that into bars, craft a gold necklace, enchant it, sell it, make all the money you need. Also buy potion making materials, make potions, and resell. Some potions I make sell for 400+. Find some low level illusion spell to spam until your illusion is good enough to chant invisibility. Gets you out of hairy situation. Have a dagger with soul capture enchant to fill your gems, summon a monster and kill it to keep your enchanted weapons up. All this will level multiple skills and make a bunch of money.

 

[Snorkelson]

I did stick a few points in alchemy to make stronger (more $) potions and to get double gathering. Once you get that money train going you can simply buy whatever you need for crafting. And the shop keepers have more money because you buy all that stuff so then you can sell the other stuff back.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Haven't come across the Transmute spell yet.  I figure up at the college when I get there (don't tell me, I will find it some time)

I did stick a few things into alchemy early.  Probably didn't need to as Chaka said, but whatevs - I am learning.  I have nothing worth 400, but I do have a couple with super cheap ingredients that I get between 115-160 now that my alchemy and speech are up a little. 

I do have a question for the masses:  

I know that people seem to be focused on a few styles and perks, but from what I gather this isn't like Fallout 3, and you can keep leveling, right?  Basically what I am asking is does it really hurt (especially on a first play through as I learn what I like to poke around with) to throw upgrades around a lot of different things?  I know Homer said he does archer and bulldozes in places.  Will it just be tougher, as you might encounter baddies and missions that you could've cleared if your achery was at 60,but might not be ready for if you have your Archery at 40 and Two Handed at 40? 

 

[KarmaPolice]

And yeah, I might need to take a night off.  On the ride to school this morning I thought to myself "that looks like tundra cotton and blue mountain flowers". 

 

[jwb]

I do have a question for the masses:  

I know that people seem to be focused on a few styles and perks, but from what I gather this isn't like Fallout 3, and you can keep leveling, right?  Basically what I am asking is does it really hurt (especially on a first play through as I learn what I like to poke around with) to throw upgrades around a lot of different things?  I know Homer said he does archer and bulldozes in places.  Will it just be tougher, as you might encounter baddies and missions that you could've cleared if your achery was at 60,but might not be ready for if you have your Archery at 40 and Two Handed at 40? 

This is the ultimate "play the way you want" game, so I would do what's most interesting to you. I would not worry one bit about min/maxing or what your numbers "should" be. 

I always found it most fun to pick a "type" of character weapon wise and go with that ("this guy is a sneaky archer that sometimes shoots fire spells" or "heavy armor, mace, and crossbow - no spells" or "two handed sword and longbow" or "forest-type summoning mage who uses a hand axe for close fighting" or whatever combination you find most fun). 

 

[Snorkelson]

Lol. I just play the way I want, and it just plays out and my character is fine. For me it was stealth/bow and when it gets too hot sword and board. Block skills are nice, shield bash knocks guys down and you just stab em on the ground. I leveled smithing and an chanting, but that was a bit of a grind. I used a lot of poison and other pots simply because I had them. Using a few fire resist or frost resist and just walking up to a dragon while he shoots fire and smacking him in the face is nice. Illusion can augment skills like barter and speech to help make up those areas. Transmute helped early on making money, just stop at any vendor and change iron to gold and sell it back. 

 

[Snorkelson]

I've been playing fallout:new Vegas- it's my first foray into fallout. Still on ps3, so 4 isn't an option. Which is the best fallout according to fbgs?

 

[KarmaPolice]

Cool, that's what I assumed.  I think I am just going to putz around and experiment more and go more with a "little of everything" approach (still will probably use bows most of the time)  Nothing else, I figure this is my trial run before the PS4 version comes out, and then I will try something more specific.  Just didn't know if I would hit a wall and not be able to level up anymore, making myself horrible later in the game. 

 

[KarmaPolice]

I've been playing fallout:new Vegas- it's my first foray into fallout. Still on ps3, so 4 isn't an option. Which is the best fallout according to fbgs?

New Vegas was fun, and I liked that they tweaked some of the weapons and companions, but I always end up going back to Fallout 3.  Absolutely love that game. 

 

[GregR]

So I'm on the mission where you have to sneak into a (Thalmos?) party to find something or other.  You give whatever you want inside to some other dude and he sneaks it in for you.  So I gave him a weapon and some armor and then went to the party.  It now seems I'm woefully unequipped to actually complete the mission, keep getting slaughtered by the first guards I run into.  I guess I'll just start over from an earlier save?  I appreciate that the game isn't too hand-holdy but as a clueless non-gamer I'm worried that I'll just keep plowing ahead into situation and then have to take ten steps back because I realize I messed something up earlier and the game didn't stop me.  Is that a legit concern?

I should probably just slow down and explore/level up some more, too.  I've seen you guys talking about smithing and selling stuff and whatnot and I haven't done any of that.  

Another option if you would be reverting back further than you want, is go into the settings and lower the difficulty until you get back to somewhere safer, then raise it again.

Bad guys generally level up with you in this game, but there are perks and such that make big differences in your effectiveness that can even the score.  Like if you are an archer, getting the one that staggers people on a hit is a quantum leap in effectiveness as it is harder for people to run you down then.

 

[joker]

All this talk has me itching to fire up Skyrim again, though I'm in the middle of a loooong Fallout 4 run. I have my original Skyrim 360 disc and all the saved games on an external HD that I used, but upgraded to an Xbox one and connected the external HD to that. Is Skyrim one of the backwards compatible games? Can I just pop the Skyrim disc into the XB1 and pull up the saved game off of my external HD that I was using?

 

[Buckna]

I've been playing fallout:new Vegas- it's my first foray into fallout. Still on ps3, so 4 isn't an option. Which is the best fallout according to fbgs?

Ask 3 different people, probably get 3 different answers. Personally I would go with New Vegas, lot fewer subways to get lost in compared to 3, more storyline options and factions (companion missions as well!), more RPG flavor instead of just being a goody two shoes (can be bad, good, selfish, or even be a downright horrible person), and if you are looking for a challenge, Hardcore mode is pretty fun/tough.

One major drawbacks was that the DLC's were kind of disappointing IMO. 3 had some really good DLC's. All 3 are great in their own ways, NV is my favorite of the 3 though.

 

[Buckna]

All this talk has me itching to fire up Skyrim again, though I'm in the middle of a loooong Fallout 4 run. I have my original Skyrim 360 disc and all the saved games on an external HD that I used, but upgraded to an Xbox one and connected the external HD to that. Is Skyrim one of the backwards compatible games? Can I just pop the Skyrim disc into the XB1 and pull up the saved game off of my external HD that I was using?

Not backwards compatible unfortunately. Rumor is it probably won't ever be as an enhanced special edition with updated graphics and mod's is coming out in a few months for XBONE & PS4.

 

[Snorkelson]

Another option if you would be reverting back further than you want, is go into the settings and lower the difficulty until you get back to somewhere safer, then raise it again.

Bad guys generally level up with you in this game, but there are perks and such that make big differences in your effectiveness that can even the score.  Like if you are an archer, getting the one that staggers people on a hit is a quantum leap in effectiveness as it is harder for people to run you down then.

This is where "conjure weapon" spells are handy. Tip on enemy leveling- they level up to you something like every 6-8 levels, same with weapons. I forget specifically when, but it's worth knowing. Getting a quest item at say lvl 18 may be significantly worse than getting it at 19 because the stats jump. Worth googling.

 

[Foosball God]

I agree with New Vegas.

 

[joker]

Not backwards compatible unfortunately. Rumor is it probably won't ever be as an enhanced special edition with updated graphics and mod's is coming out in a few months for XBONE & PS4.

Thanks. If I buy the special edition one in the next few months will I be able to use my saved games with it? I've got wayyyyyyyyyy too much time into this one to start over, so if that's the case I'll have to hook up the 360 and just finish the dang thing.

 

[NorvilleBarnes]

Haven't come across the Transmute spell yet.  I figure up at the college when I get there (don't tell me, I will find it some time)

I did stick a few things into alchemy early.  Probably didn't need to as Chaka said, but whatevs - I am learning.  I have nothing worth 400, but I do have a couple with super cheap ingredients that I get between 115-160 now that my alchemy and speech are up a little. 

I do have a question for the masses:  

I know that people seem to be focused on a few styles and perks, but from what I gather this isn't like Fallout 3, and you can keep leveling, right?  Basically what I am asking is does it really hurt (especially on a first play through as I learn what I like to poke around with) to throw upgrades around a lot of different things?  I know Homer said he does archer and bulldozes in places.  Will it just be tougher, as you might encounter baddies and missions that you could've cleared if your achery was at 60,but might not be ready for if you have your Archery at 40 and Two Handed at 40? 

For me, Transmute kind of ruined mining. I always enjoyed going into different mines and seeing what type of ore is there and I like getting the occasional gem. Your mileage may differ.

Agree with those who say this is the do-what-you-want game. Archery is a mixed blessing because even with a ranged weapon you'll find yourself in some face-to-face melee situations. Then again, once leveled up, there's something really sweet about one shot kills from a distance. Usually followed by the frustration of a one shot kill knocking your target over the edge of a cliff when you wanted something he had.

 

[NorvilleBarnes]

I've been playing fallout:new Vegas- it's my first foray into fallout. Still on ps3, so 4 isn't an option. Which is the best fallout according to fbgs?

Fallout 3 is still the high water mark for me as far as exploration, survival/scrounging, side missions, dark humor, cheesy humor, and overall "style".

New Vegas was a slight disappointment to me and I just didn't get into the western theme or the factions that much.

FO4 - the jury is still out. In many ways it tops FO3 so it's likely to turn into my fav over time.

 

[KarmaPolice]

For me, Transmute kind of ruined mining. I always enjoyed going into different mines and seeing what type of ore is there and I like getting the occasional gem. Your mileage may differ.

Agree with those who say this is the do-what-you-want game. Archery is a mixed blessing because even with a ranged weapon you'll find yourself in some face-to-face melee situations. Then again, once leveled up, there's something really sweet about one shot kills from a distance. Usually followed by the frustration of a one shot kill knocking your target over the edge of a cliff when you wanted something he had.

I could see that.  I did get excited as I was scaling down a mountain by a waterfall today and saw some gold ore to be mined.  I think that was the first gold that I have come across. 

 

[Chaka]

And yeah, I might need to take a night off.  On the ride to school this morning I thought to myself "that looks like tundra cotton and blue mountain flowers". 

Just wait until the next time you see a butterfly IRL.