General Malaise "vs." reading comprehension ; also some talk of skyim and the elder scrolls (2 Viewers)

[gandalas]

This is still the only video game I play, besides an old Madden franchise (Madden is how I repair the psychological scarring of being a Bills fan. In Madden, the Bills are a three time Superbowl champion and sport Aaron Rodgers under center, *sigh*)

I've played 4 characters to level 35+ -

1. A sniper/assassin

2. A two-handed warhammer berserker (known in this thread as "Big Gay Orc")

3. An archemage

4. A sneaky poison & illusion specialist.

Been jonesin for some more BGO (NTTAWWT) updates in this thread!

 

[Plorfu]

Just finished up all major questlines after taking several months off. Completed the Companions, Main Quest and Civil War in the last week or so. Went fast (because I was, once again, glued to my butt) but it was really enjoyable. Alduin was easy to beat but the entire scene post-portal was visually and audibly stunning. Incredibly well done scene in Sovngarde.I have downloaded Dawnguard and Dragonborn, but might just goof off on some Misc. quests and wander around aimlessly for awhile. I discovered several places during the last phases of the War just because I had to actually walk instead of fast travel.

 

[culdeus]

Considering the DLC.I wish I could subcontract out the busy work in this. I have too many ingredients and crap to disenchant/enchant/charge to count now. I am plotting along swinging the Companions quest line prize and doing some illusions. Really other than destruction and one handed all the levels are moving up at about the same speed.

 

[Plorfu]

I don't think Dawnguard is as bad as described here. Was 20.00 too much? Maybe, but people almost pay that much to see a movie with popcorn and it's over in 2 hours. I've been playing it for a week or so and have found it fun and there's been some solid visuals. I still have some leftover quests I'm interested in doing. I have been actively avoiding Dragonborn (it's downloaded and there's been a little action) only because of the rave reviews it gets. I think I'll want to immerse myself in that after I've exhausted the main game and Dawnguard as much as possible since I think, once that's over, that'll pretty much be it for Skyrim. Assuming, of course, they don't roll out anything else? I haven't tried to Google if anything is in the hopper.

 

[Hawks64]

I don't think Dawnguard is as bad as described here. Was 20.00 too much? Maybe, but people almost pay that much to see a movie with popcorn and it's over in 2 hours. I've been playing it for a week or so and have found it fun and there's been some solid visuals. I still have some leftover quests I'm interested in doing. I have been actively avoiding Dragonborn (it's downloaded and there's been a little action) only because of the rave reviews it gets. I think I'll want to immerse myself in that after I've exhausted the main game and Dawnguard as much as possible since I think, once that's over, that'll pretty much be it for Skyrim. Assuming, of course, they don't roll out anything else? I haven't tried to Google if anything is in the hopper.

Looks like there are 3 possible DLC expansions slated for 2013 with Redguard and a visit to Hammerfell up next. My link

 

[flysack]

PS3 users - Dragonborn out in two days, 2-12-2013.

 

[Sand]

PS3 users - Dragonborn out in two days, 2-12-2013.

And for the first week it is half price - $10. Starting the (inevitably huge) download at midnight.

 

[flysack]

PS3 users - Dragonborn out in two days, 2-12-2013.

And for the first week it is half price - $10. Starting the (inevitably huge) download at midnight.

Nice.

 

[culdeus]

Finally beat the main quest. I still never got past the beehive thing. Now I wonder if I can just brute force it and kill them all.

 

[TxBuckeye]

PS3 users - Dragonborn out in two days, 2-12-2013.

Only about a year to late for me.

 

[flysack]

Any PS3 users try to download Dragonborn yet? Either I'm extraordinarily daft and can't find the thing, or Bethesda is screwing with me. It's not there.

 

[flysack]

Finally beat the main quest. I still never got past the beehive thing. Now I wonder if I can just brute force it and kill them all.

What beehive thing?

 

[GregR]

Finally beat the main quest. I still never got past the beehive thing. Now I wonder if I can just brute force it and kill them all.

What beehive thing?

I assume he means one of the early Thief's Guild quests.It isn't that hard to do. Two or three invisibility potions or the like, and the Aura Whisper shout so you can see people through walls and it's a snap. Don't even need the potions if you can sneak well.

Or you can kill everyone if you want.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Looking forward to the first fantasy RPG that combines open exploration and the graphics from Skyrim with a storyline as good as those from Dragon Age or Witcher 2. There's room out there for an absolutely epic improvement on what's come to date.

Hmmmmm.....

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Popped this back in last night and killed Alduin....

How the #### do I stop that horrible crashing sound ? Everywhere I go it still makes it. I'm on the Xbox.

 

[Teumessian Fox]

I've never played games on my computer, but I got a deal on a graphics card and Skyrim. I have Skyrim for the xbox and really like it, but modding this thing up on my computer is like playing a whole new game. I was able to fix everything I don't like about the UI and add new features. I also bought an adapter so that I can use my xbox controller and that helps a lot as I don't like the keyboard/mouse interface. It also helps that I have a HD projector connected to my computer that throws a 108 inch picture (LOOK AT ME!).

I've got SkyUI, Categorized Favorites Menu, SkyRE, Live Another Life, and a bunch of enhanced texture/lighting/water/weather effects. Anyone else play this on a computer and has mod recommendations?

 

[GregR]

I've never played games on my computer, but I got a deal on a graphics card and Skyrim. I have Skyrim for the xbox and really like it, but modding this thing up on my computer is like playing a whole new game. I was able to fix everything I don't like about the UI and add new features. I also bought an adapter so that I can use my xbox controller and that helps a lot as I don't like the keyboard/mouse interface. It also helps that I have a HD projector connected to my computer that throws a 108 inch picture (LOOK AT ME!).I've got SkyUI, Categorized Favorites Menu, SkyRE, Live Another Life, and a bunch of enhanced texture/lighting/water/weather effects. Anyone else play this on a computer and has mod recommendations?

You can grab a mod that will let you remap your controller, including dual button combinations. For example, I removed having to go to that intermediate menus and use a bumper plus the four regular buttons to open the four menus like inventory, magic, etc. If you can't find it I can go look up which it was, and/or just send you my file (as it took some experimenting to get it right).I did some posts in the last few pages somewhere about mods I was using. Just text search my name and I think you'll find them quick.

 

[NCCommish]

Got bored with Bioshock. It's pretty and all but I was jonesing for a real open world.

My last character I just dove in and went for it. No real attempt to logically level up and just ran around willy nilly. I still ended up with a pretty powerful character at this point but I wasn't thrilled with the holes in it. I restarted as a dark elf this weekend. Going for a sneaky, mage-ish, archer, semi-assasin type. Going to throw in some smithing this time as well. I have to say second run I am doing much better. Last time the first few levels were really frustrating but understanding the game better this time has made it more enjoyable and me more successful. I restarted on Saturday. I think I am all the way to level 8 IIRC. I have Breezehome which I need desperately as I am a major packrat. And I am running into some different quests I didn't do last time which is keeping it new. Also I decided to do the Dark Brotherhood quest this time instead of killing Astrid. My last guy was squeaky clean good guy no way he could do the assassin thing. This guy is a little more morally ambiguous. I mean I already killed the orphanage lady for being mean to the kids may as well go all in right? By the way my choice was to kill all 3. You get some nice armor from the merc if you are playing light armor which I am.

I got the Hearthfire DLC it does add some new stuff when you loot but I haven't gotten to where I can do anything with yet. I will get both the others as well down the line.

 

[culdeus]

Finally beat the main quest. I still never got past the beehive thing. Now I wonder if I can just brute force it and kill them all.

What beehive thing?

I assume he means one of the early Thief's Guild quests.It isn't that hard to do. Two or three invisibility potions or the like, and the Aura Whisper shout so you can see people through walls and it's a snap. Don't even need the potions if you can sneak well.

Or you can kill everyone if you want.

Yeah, that one. I just strolled in like a boss and killed everyone in sight.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

After running 4 characters to level 30+ (one level 62), I've found the most essential skill is Smithing. The only way you can avoid it is if you play a pure mage and max out both Enchanting and Alteration.

The least essential skill has to be Speech, followed by Lockpicking. Either are a total waste of perks. By the time you can make use of Speech's merchant perks, you have so much money it doesn't matter if you get 2K for an item or 4K. Lockpicking is great on its own, but the perks are next to worthless. Having the Master Locks perk might be ok, but you have spend a bunch of worthless perks along the tree to reach it.

 

[NCCommish]

Finally beat the main quest. I still never got past the beehive thing. Now I wonder if I can just brute force it and kill them all.

What beehive thing?

I assume he means one of the early Thief's Guild quests.It isn't that hard to do. Two or three invisibility potions or the like, and the Aura Whisper shout so you can see people through walls and it's a snap. Don't even need the potions if you can sneak well.

Or you can kill everyone if you want.

Yeah, that one. I just strolled in like a boss and killed everyone in sight.

I was on my way some place else and deliberately skirted a fort I figured there would be bandits. But one came way out from the fort and attacked me. So I had no choice but to go in and kill everybody. I like to talk to the screen as I do these things and my wife was getting a laugh out of my telling them it was their fault they had to die and I hoped they were happy.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

If any of you Skyrim fans get the new Bioshock: Infinite game, I'd love to know how it compares. If it measures up to Skyrim, I might swallow my pride and dish out the $60 to get it now.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

After running 4 characters to level 30+ (one level 62), I've found the most essential skill is Smithing. The only way you can avoid it is if you play a pure mage and max out both Enchanting and Alteration.

The least essential skill has to be Speech, followed by Lockpicking. Either are a total waste of perks. By the time you can make use of Speech's merchant perks, you have so much money it doesn't matter if you get 2K for an item or 4K. Lockpicking is great on its own, but the perks are next to worthless. Having the Master Locks perk might be ok, but you have spend a bunch of worthless perks along the tree to reach it.

Why? I've never we used it once. Now I've only played two toons- a archer assassin and a tank 2h barbI never do the enchanting or alchemy in these games. The game is already a time sink and to be honest by level 20 I begin to feel over powered as it is.

What am I missing?

 

[Cliff Clavin]

After running 4 characters to level 30+ (one level 62), I've found the most essential skill is Smithing. The only way you can avoid it is if you play a pure mage and max out both Enchanting and Alteration.

The least essential skill has to be Speech, followed by Lockpicking. Either are a total waste of perks. By the time you can make use of Speech's merchant perks, you have so much money it doesn't matter if you get 2K for an item or 4K. Lockpicking is great on its own, but the perks are next to worthless. Having the Master Locks perk might be ok, but you have spend a bunch of worthless perks along the tree to reach it.

Why? I've never we used it once. Now I've only played two toons- a archer assassin and a tank 2h barbI never do the enchanting or alchemy in these games. The game is already a time sink and to be honest by level 20 I begin to feel over powered as it is.

What am I missing?

Enchanting is pretty powerful. Just started that game last week. Level 25ish Archer. Between enchanting all the armor and the bow, each shot is close to a kill shot. There is an archery enchantment that can be applied to almost all of the armor which give you +20% damage.ETA: I've found Alchemy pretty useless. No need for potions other than healing (and food works just as well for that).

 

[NCCommish]

After running 4 characters to level 30+ (one level 62), I've found the most essential skill is Smithing. The only way you can avoid it is if you play a pure mage and max out both Enchanting and Alteration.

The least essential skill has to be Speech, followed by Lockpicking. Either are a total waste of perks. By the time you can make use of Speech's merchant perks, you have so much money it doesn't matter if you get 2K for an item or 4K. Lockpicking is great on its own, but the perks are next to worthless. Having the Master Locks perk might be ok, but you have spend a bunch of worthless perks along the tree to reach it.

Why? I've never we used it once. Now I've only played two toons- a archer assassin and a tank 2h barbI never do the enchanting or alchemy in these games. The game is already a time sink and to be honest by level 20 I begin to feel over powered as it is.

What am I missing?

I've always skipped smithing as well. I usually do try to get good at alchemy though. I made a fortune in Oblivion with it and it's nice to make your own stuff. Now this time around I am trying to work on the smithing. You can create weapons/armor that are better than most anything you can find if you go far enough and you can improve what you have to better levels. It isn't really all that time consuming and it adds damage points, increases defense points and adds value to your items.

 

[NCCommish]

After running 4 characters to level 30+ (one level 62), I've found the most essential skill is Smithing. The only way you can avoid it is if you play a pure mage and max out both Enchanting and Alteration.

The least essential skill has to be Speech, followed by Lockpicking. Either are a total waste of perks. By the time you can make use of Speech's merchant perks, you have so much money it doesn't matter if you get 2K for an item or 4K. Lockpicking is great on its own, but the perks are next to worthless. Having the Master Locks perk might be ok, but you have spend a bunch of worthless perks along the tree to reach it.

Why? I've never we used it once. Now I've only played two toons- a archer assassin and a tank 2h barbI never do the enchanting or alchemy in these games. The game is already a time sink and to be honest by level 20 I begin to feel over powered as it is.

What am I missing?

Enchanting is pretty powerful. Just started that game last week. Level 25ish Archer. Between enchanting all the armor and the bow, each shot is close to a kill shot. There is an archery enchantment that can be applied to almost all of the armor which give you +20% damage.ETA: I've found Alchemy pretty useless. No need for potions other than healing (and food works just as well for that).

I would disagree on Alchemy because it's a good money maker. I agree on Enchanting.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

After running 4 characters to level 30+ (one level 62), I've found the most essential skill is Smithing. The only way you can avoid it is if you play a pure mage and max out both Enchanting and Alteration.

The least essential skill has to be Speech, followed by Lockpicking. Either are a total waste of perks. By the time you can make use of Speech's merchant perks, you have so much money it doesn't matter if you get 2K for an item or 4K. Lockpicking is great on its own, but the perks are next to worthless. Having the Master Locks perk might be ok, but you have spend a bunch of worthless perks along the tree to reach it.

Why? I've never we used it once. Now I've only played two toons- a archer assassin and a tank 2h barbI never do the enchanting or alchemy in these games. The game is already a time sink and to be honest by level 20 I begin to feel over powered as it is.

What am I missing?

Enchanting is pretty powerful. Just started that game last week. Level 25ish Archer. Between enchanting all the armor and the bow, each shot is close to a kill shot. There is an archery enchantment that can be applied to almost all of the armor which give you +20% damage.ETA: I've found Alchemy pretty useless. No need for potions other than healing (and food works just as well for that).

I would disagree on Alchemy because it's a good money maker. I agree on Enchanting.

I've found little need for money. After buying a house and furnishing it, what more do you spend on? Leveling with trainers... and?

 

[Crazy Canuck]

After running 4 characters to level 30+ (one level 62), I've found the most essential skill is Smithing. The only way you can avoid it is if you play a pure mage and max out both Enchanting and Alteration.

The least essential skill has to be Speech, followed by Lockpicking. Either are a total waste of perks. By the time you can make use of Speech's merchant perks, you have so much money it doesn't matter if you get 2K for an item or 4K. Lockpicking is great on its own, but the perks are next to worthless. Having the Master Locks perk might be ok, but you have spend a bunch of worthless perks along the tree to reach it.

Why? I've never we used it once. Now I've only played two toons- a archer assassin and a tank 2h barbI never do the enchanting or alchemy in these games. The game is already a time sink and to be honest by level 20 I begin to feel over powered as it is.

What am I missing?

Enchanting is pretty powerful. Just started that game last week. Level 25ish Archer. Between enchanting all the armor and the bow, each shot is close to a kill shot. There is an archery enchantment that can be applied to almost all of the armor which give you +20% damage.ETA: I've found Alchemy pretty useless. No need for potions other than healing (and food works just as well for that).

First off, I'm assuming you're playing on Master difficulty. Smithing is essential because without it your armor and weapons are basically half-powered without Smithing improvements.

Enchanting is important because the top perk allows you to place two enchantments on one item. You can actually put a single +40% weapon damage improvement on four items (helmet, gloves, ring, and necklace).

When my level 62 guy uses Archery, he wields a Dragonbone bow with "fiery soultrap" - +10 fire damage and soultrap, and "fire" +30 fire damage, with +160% Archery damage from his equipment and 100 Archery with all 5 damage perks.

Despite that, it take at least 5 or more shots to kill an Reverent Dragon. He still gets killed now and then.

The best tactic he uses isn't the bow at all, but dual wielding swords with double enchantments each, +160% One-Handed damage from equipment, +100% from all 5 One-Handed perks, and +50% for dual wielding power attacks (it's a perk). I summon a Draemora Lord to distract the dragon, then run around behind him and power attack it with both sword. The amount of damage is staggering. I can kill a Reverent Dragon in 2 hits.

 

[NCCommish]

After running 4 characters to level 30+ (one level 62), I've found the most essential skill is Smithing. The only way you can avoid it is if you play a pure mage and max out both Enchanting and Alteration.

The least essential skill has to be Speech, followed by Lockpicking. Either are a total waste of perks. By the time you can make use of Speech's merchant perks, you have so much money it doesn't matter if you get 2K for an item or 4K. Lockpicking is great on its own, but the perks are next to worthless. Having the Master Locks perk might be ok, but you have spend a bunch of worthless perks along the tree to reach it.

Why? I've never we used it once. Now I've only played two toons- a archer assassin and a tank 2h barbI never do the enchanting or alchemy in these games. The game is already a time sink and to be honest by level 20 I begin to feel over powered as it is.

What am I missing?

Enchanting is pretty powerful. Just started that game last week. Level 25ish Archer. Between enchanting all the armor and the bow, each shot is close to a kill shot. There is an archery enchantment that can be applied to almost all of the armor which give you +20% damage.ETA: I've found Alchemy pretty useless. No need for potions other than healing (and food works just as well for that).

I would disagree on Alchemy because it's a good money maker. I agree on Enchanting.

I've found little need for money. After buying a house and furnishing it, what more do you spend on? Leveling with trainers... and?

Well I like to buy all the houses and fully furnish them. As I mentioned I am a total pack rat. By the time I am done I will have pretty much all the books, a full set of every kind of armor, every enchanted weapon I run across, tons of potions, etc. Breezehome ain't holding it all, believe me. I also like to buy cool stuff when I run across it at a merchant. And in general I like having a lot of cash on hand because why not?

 

[Cliff Clavin]

After running 4 characters to level 30+ (one level 62), I've found the most essential skill is Smithing. The only way you can avoid it is if you play a pure mage and max out both Enchanting and Alteration.

The least essential skill has to be Speech, followed by Lockpicking. Either are a total waste of perks. By the time you can make use of Speech's merchant perks, you have so much money it doesn't matter if you get 2K for an item or 4K. Lockpicking is great on its own, but the perks are next to worthless. Having the Master Locks perk might be ok, but you have spend a bunch of worthless perks along the tree to reach it.

Why? I've never we used it once. Now I've only played two toons- a archer assassin and a tank 2h barbI never do the enchanting or alchemy in these games. The game is already a time sink and to be honest by level 20 I begin to feel over powered as it is.

What am I missing?

Enchanting is pretty powerful. Just started that game last week. Level 25ish Archer. Between enchanting all the armor and the bow, each shot is close to a kill shot. There is an archery enchantment that can be applied to almost all of the armor which give you +20% damage.ETA: I've found Alchemy pretty useless. No need for potions other than healing (and food works just as well for that).

First off, I'm assuming you're playing on Master difficulty. Smithing is essential because without it your armor and weapons are basically half-powered without Smithing improvements.

Enchanting is important because the top perk allows you to place two enchantments on one item. You can actually put a single +40% weapon damage improvement on four items (helmet, gloves, ring, and necklace).

When my level 62 guy uses Archery, he wields a Dragonbone bow with "fiery soultrap" - +10 fire damage and soultrap, and "fire" +30 fire damage, with +160% Archery damage from his equipment and 100 Archery with all 5 damage perks.

Despite that, it take at least 5 or more shots to kill an Reverent Dragon. He still gets killed now and then.

The best tactic he uses isn't the bow at all, but dual wielding swords with double enchantments each, +160% One-Handed damage from equipment, +100% from all 5 One-Handed perks, and +50% for dual wielding power attacks (it's a perk). I summon a Draemora Lord to distract the dragon, then run around behind him and power attack it with both sword. The amount of damage is staggering. I can kill a Reverent Dragon in 2 hits.

I should have been a clearer. It kills almost all 'guys' with one shot. Not dragons/mammoths/giants etc.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Alchemy isn't the most essential skill, but it is a lot of fun.

I made a sneaky thief/assassin who specialized in Alchemy. Part of the fun is finding and harvesting all the rare ingredients to make the best potions and poisons. It's like a whole other element to the game is opened up.

Plus when you get good at it, you can make yourself as powerful as any mage without spending the same amount of perks. Paralyze poisons are particularly deadly. You can raise you weapon damage by over 100%, your elemental damage just as much, make yourself immune to elemental damage, and heal yourself instantly in battle.

The only major issue is most (all?) dragons are immune to poison, so killing them is hella hard at the early levels, before you fully develop a weapon skill.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

After running 4 characters to level 30+ (one level 62), I've found the most essential skill is Smithing. The only way you can avoid it is if you play a pure mage and max out both Enchanting and Alteration.

The least essential skill has to be Speech, followed by Lockpicking. Either are a total waste of perks. By the time you can make use of Speech's merchant perks, you have so much money it doesn't matter if you get 2K for an item or 4K. Lockpicking is great on its own, but the perks are next to worthless. Having the Master Locks perk might be ok, but you have spend a bunch of worthless perks along the tree to reach it.

Why? I've never we used it once. Now I've only played two toons- a archer assassin and a tank 2h barbI never do the enchanting or alchemy in these games. The game is already a time sink and to be honest by level 20 I begin to feel over powered as it is.

What am I missing?

Enchanting is pretty powerful. Just started that game last week. Level 25ish Archer. Between enchanting all the armor and the bow, each shot is close to a kill shot. There is an archery enchantment that can be applied to almost all of the armor which give you +20% damage.ETA: I've found Alchemy pretty useless. No need for potions other than healing (and food works just as well for that).

First off, I'm assuming you're playing on Master difficulty. Smithing is essential because without it your armor and weapons are basically half-powered without Smithing improvements.

Enchanting is important because the top perk allows you to place two enchantments on one item. You can actually put a single +40% weapon damage improvement on four items (helmet, gloves, ring, and necklace).

When my level 62 guy uses Archery, he wields a Dragonbone bow with "fiery soultrap" - +10 fire damage and soultrap, and "fire" +30 fire damage, with +160% Archery damage from his equipment and 100 Archery with all 5 damage perks.

Despite that, it take at least 5 or more shots to kill an Reverent Dragon. He still gets killed now and then.

The best tactic he uses isn't the bow at all, but dual wielding swords with double enchantments each, +160% One-Handed damage from equipment, +100% from all 5 One-Handed perks, and +50% for dual wielding power attacks (it's a perk). I summon a Draemora Lord to distract the dragon, then run around behind him and power attack it with both sword. The amount of damage is staggering. I can kill a Reverent Dragon in 2 hits.

I should have been a clearer. It kills almost all 'guys' with one shot. Not dragons/mammoths/giants etc.

Well, yea, definitely. But after a certain point, the game starts throwing seriously high-powered opponents at you. Especially if you've installed the Dragonborn DLC.

 

[NCCommish]

Alchemy isn't the most essential skill, but it is a lot of fun.I made a sneaky thief/assassin who specialized in Alchemy. Part of the fun is finding and harvesting all the rare ingredients to make the best potions and poisons. It's like a whole other element to the game is opened up. Plus when you get good at it, you can make yourself as powerful as any mage without spending the same amount of perks. Paralyze poisons are particularly deadly. You can raise you weapon damage by over 100%, your elemental damage just as much, make yourself immune to elemental damage, and heal yourself instantly in battle. The only major issue is most (all?) dragons are immune to poison, so killing them is hella hard at the early levels, before you fully develop a weapon skill.

Yeah Alchemy can level the field in a lot of ways if fully explored.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Has anyone read all the books? I skim them for any bonus skill points, but haven't actually read them.

This last time through though I grabbed every book I find and have been storing them in a chest at Breezehome. Every now and then I dedupe what's in there. Worth reading?

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Has anyone read all the books? I skim them for any bonus skill points, but haven't actually read them.This last time through though I grabbed every book I find and have been storing them in a chest at Breezehome. Every now and then I dedupe what's in there. Worth reading?

Could be wrong, but in my limited playing time, the only ones that had skills in them had a value of 50+.

 

[Bigboy10182000]

Alchemy isn't the most essential skill, but it is a lot of fun.I made a sneaky thief/assassin who specialized in Alchemy. Part of the fun is finding and harvesting all the rare ingredients to make the best potions and poisons. It's like a whole other element to the game is opened up. Plus when you get good at it, you can make yourself as powerful as any mage without spending the same amount of perks. Paralyze poisons are particularly deadly. You can raise you weapon damage by over 100%, your elemental damage just as much, make yourself immune to elemental damage, and heal yourself instantly in battle. The only major issue is most (all?) dragons are immune to poison, so killing them is hella hard at the early levels, before you fully develop a weapon skill.

Yeah Alchemy can level the field in a lot of ways if fully explored.

Am I alone in not buying any potions and just making my own with ingrediants I find or buy?

 

[The Hank]

Has anyone d/l Hearthfire or Dragonborn yet?

I want to see if any of these are worth it (I am currently playing Dawnguard).

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Am I alone in not buying any potions and just making my own with ingrediants I find or buy?

I did that my first couple times through. Love the alchemy setup in general.

 

[NCCommish]

Has anyone d/l Hearthfire or Dragonborn yet?I want to see if any of these are worth it (I am currently playing Dawnguard).

I have downloaded Hearthfire but haven't done anything with it yet. You can only buy the land in certain places to build on. It does add some interesting loot and smithing selections. As does the ability to adopt children which they added. Got my first adoptee lined up just need a few more bucks for a kids room at Breezehome.

 

[GregR]

After running 4 characters to level 30+ (one level 62), I've found the most essential skill is Smithing. The only way you can avoid it is if you play a pure mage and max out both Enchanting and Alteration.

The least essential skill has to be Speech, followed by Lockpicking. Either are a total waste of perks. By the time you can make use of Speech's merchant perks, you have so much money it doesn't matter if you get 2K for an item or 4K. Lockpicking is great on its own, but the perks are next to worthless. Having the Master Locks perk might be ok, but you have spend a bunch of worthless perks along the tree to reach it.

Why? I've never we used it once. Now I've only played two toons- a archer assassin and a tank 2h barbI never do the enchanting or alchemy in these games. The game is already a time sink and to be honest by level 20 I begin to feel over powered as it is.

What am I missing?

Enchanting is pretty powerful. Just started that game last week. Level 25ish Archer. Between enchanting all the armor and the bow, each shot is close to a kill shot. There is an archery enchantment that can be applied to almost all of the armor which give you +20% damage.ETA: I've found Alchemy pretty useless. No need for potions other than healing (and food works just as well for that).

Alchemy is an easy money maker. Don't even have to work at it, just grab everything you find along the way, dump it in a container, and when you need cash, go pump out 300 potions, fast travel around to a few places to sell them off.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Has anyone read all the books? I skim them for any bonus skill points, but haven't actually read them.This last time through though I grabbed every book I find and have been storing them in a chest at Breezehome. Every now and then I dedupe what's in there. Worth reading?

Once I started to get bored with the game, I began collecting all the books I could find and read most of them. Big fan of The Lusty Argonian Maid.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Has anyone d/l Hearthfire or Dragonborn yet?I want to see if any of these are worth it (I am currently playing Dawnguard).

I have all the DLC. Hearthfire is the lamest, but it's only $5. I suppose it could be nice for a new character, as your house size will grow with your character, eliminating the need to store stuff all over Skyrim. Dragonborn is the best, IMO. Best new shouts, best new area to explore and best sidequests. BUT the dragon riding ability everyone was looking forward to is awful. You don't get to control the dragon - it just circles around an area and listens to commands. If you want to fly somewhere with it, you have to map jump -- there's no free roaming. It's awful.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Has anyone read all the books? I skim them for any bonus skill points, but haven't actually read them.

This last time through though I grabbed every book I find and have been storing them in a chest at Breezehome. Every now and then I dedupe what's in there. Worth reading?

Once I started to get bored with the game, I began collecting all the books I could find and read most of them. Big fan of The Lusty Argonian Maid.

I always meant to read that one but never did.

I read all the dwarven histories because I was curious about what happened to the dwarves. They have a cool backstory semi-hidden in the game.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

I will say this: some of the books provide some great stories to go along with the bosses you face. One example is the king who created Dragonreach. I never even knew you faced him in battle until I happened upon him with a second character after reading the books about him.

 

[thecatch]

After running 4 characters to level 30+ (one level 62), I've found the most essential skill is Smithing. The only way you can avoid it is if you play a pure mage and max out both Enchanting and Alteration.

The least essential skill has to be Speech, followed by Lockpicking. Either are a total waste of perks. By the time you can make use of Speech's merchant perks, you have so much money it doesn't matter if you get 2K for an item or 4K. Lockpicking is great on its own, but the perks are next to worthless. Having the Master Locks perk might be ok, but you have spend a bunch of worthless perks along the tree to reach it.

Why? I've never we used it once. Now I've only played two toons- a archer assassin and a tank 2h barbI never do the enchanting or alchemy in these games. The game is already a time sink and to be honest by level 20 I begin to feel over powered as it is.

What am I missing?

Enchanting is pretty powerful. Just started that game last week. Level 25ish Archer. Between enchanting all the armor and the bow, each shot is close to a kill shot. There is an archery enchantment that can be applied to almost all of the armor which give you +20% damage.ETA: I've found Alchemy pretty useless. No need for potions other than healing (and food works just as well for that).

I would disagree on Alchemy because it's a good money maker. I agree on Enchanting.

I've found little need for money. After buying a house and furnishing it, what more do you spend on? Leveling with trainers... and?

High level training will bankrupt even wealthy characters.

 

[NCCommish]

After running 4 characters to level 30+ (one level 62), I've found the most essential skill is Smithing. The only way you can avoid it is if you play a pure mage and max out both Enchanting and Alteration.

The least essential skill has to be Speech, followed by Lockpicking. Either are a total waste of perks. By the time you can make use of Speech's merchant perks, you have so much money it doesn't matter if you get 2K for an item or 4K. Lockpicking is great on its own, but the perks are next to worthless. Having the Master Locks perk might be ok, but you have spend a bunch of worthless perks along the tree to reach it.

Why? I've never we used it once. Now I've only played two toons- a archer assassin and a tank 2h barbI never do the enchanting or alchemy in these games. The game is already a time sink and to be honest by level 20 I begin to feel over powered as it is.

What am I missing?

Enchanting is pretty powerful. Just started that game last week. Level 25ish Archer. Between enchanting all the armor and the bow, each shot is close to a kill shot. There is an archery enchantment that can be applied to almost all of the armor which give you +20% damage.ETA: I've found Alchemy pretty useless. No need for potions other than healing (and food works just as well for that).

I would disagree on Alchemy because it's a good money maker. I agree on Enchanting.

I've found little need for money. After buying a house and furnishing it, what more do you spend on? Leveling with trainers... and?

High level training will bankrupt even wealthy characters.

Yep. It gets expensive quick.

 

[NCCommish]

I will say this: some of the books provide some great stories to go along with the bosses you face. One example is the king who created Dragonreach. I never even knew you faced him in battle until I happened upon him with a second character after reading the books about him.

Yeah there are some interesting back stories hidden in the books. I keep my books at Breezehome. I like to sit in front of the fire pit and read.

 

[TxBuckeye]

So the PS3 did finally get the DLCs? How long did it take before they were finally released?

 

[Bigboy10182000]

So the PS3 did finally get the DLCs? How long did it take before they were finally released?

They did?!?!

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

All three expansions are half off this week.

Playing dawngard now