The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Thing is, I never robbed anyone.

Not even by accident? I checked my stats and found I'd stolen two things. I don't ever remember stealing anything. My guess is it was books I was reading and took by mistake. Not my best hour. I want to be a hero damnit.

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

I would much rather use mouse/keyboard for a game like this but so far I would say that the mouse/keyboard controls really suck. Will try the controller tonight to see how that goes.

I use the 360 controller on the PC. Just easier for me.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by TroyF

Not even by accident? I checked my stats and found I'd stolen two things. I don't ever remember stealing anything. My guess is it was books I was reading and took by mistake. Not my best hour. I want to be a hero damnit.

Nope. Not a snuasage.

[mauchow]

My copy should arrive by Wednesday. I was hoping for tomorrow but it doesn't look like it.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

Sigh....okay okay I'm going to order it. :P

welcome to the cult.

[ColtCrazy]

Rented it from redbox last night. Now on my 2nd night. Will take it back tomorrow just so I don't have to pay anymore and so I can just go out and buy the damn thing this weekend outright. I am completely hooked.

[mauchow]

Originally Posted by ColtCrazy

Rented it from redbox last night. Now on my 2nd night. Will take it back tomorrow just so I don't have to pay anymore and so I can just go out and buy the damn thing this weekend outright. I am completely hooked.

I almost rented it today from Redbox as well - except I realized 15 seconds later that I bought it about 20 minutes earlier on Amazon. lol

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by TRO

You currently have a choice:

Install, reduce load times but have lower resolution textures due to a streaming bug.

or

Don't install, longer load times but better resolution.

They are expecting to release a patch, but no current ETA.

I have not installed and the load times are minor. But they do occur rather frequently when you are going in and out of shops in town.

Well that sucks, but thank you.

[Grover]

Anyone on the PC version having trouble getting their gamepad to be read by the game? I'd really rather use it over the keyboard/mouse, but seem to be having no luck.

[tyketime]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Been a long time fan of this series. I loved Daggerfall and Morrowind. I bought Oblivion, and started to go around in it, but real life got in the way and I never got back to it.

I may be interested in jumping into Skyrim here, but I have a question. In Morrowind, I always felt if I had a joystick/game controller type of set up, I could be better at combat. I game exclusively on PCs (I don't even own a console), and usually heady games, not "games where joysticks/console controls are required.

Given that, would you recommend I get some kind of joystick/console controller to make comabt easier? Or is it easy enough using keyboard controls that that is not a real upgrade to combat/gameplay?

Hey Chief - I agree with the others. I started out using keyboard/mouse combo, but since I've switched to 360 controller, I like it much better.

[korme]

On the small side story of Sven and Faendal, Sven gives me a letter and tells me to give it to this girl, saying it was from Faendal. I give the girl the letter and out Sven as a liar. I then run into Faendal, who is an archer, and he's so grateful that he offers to follow me around.

So I've been playing almost the entire game with a sidekick. I hook him up with my 2nd best sword and armor at all times... and he's really good

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Been a long time fan of this series. I loved Daggerfall and Morrowind. I bought Oblivion, and started to go around in it, but real life got in the way and I never got back to it.

I may be interested in jumping into Skyrim here, but I have a question. In Morrowind, I always felt if I had a joystick/game controller type of set up, I could be better at combat. I game exclusively on PCs (I don't even own a console), and usually heady games, not "games where joysticks/console controls are required.

Given that, would you recommend I get some kind of joystick/console controller to make comabt easier? Or is it easy enough using keyboard controls that that is not a real upgrade to combat/gameplay?

I've been fine with a mouse and keyboard, though the out of the box settings for the mouse suck, and personally I don't think I'd be able to play with a controller from first person mode.

[korme]

Also, been playing as a stealthy archer. Thoroughly enjoying the ability to sneak around dungeons and caves and etc., picking people off.

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by TroyF

Am I the only psycho who has a penchant for collecting books? I kept all the books I found until I got my house. I then used my chest to store all of them. I think I've got about 30 of them at this point and I know there are 200+ to get. I think I'm leaning on starting over as well. About level 11 or 12. I know what I'm doing now and want to make a few changes.

I've been trying to collect all the books too, yeah. I also spent two hours figuring out how I wanted to organize them on my bookshelves and on which bookshelves I wanted them. Sadly, I can only shelve 28 right right now. Need to buy another house so I can shelve the other books.

I'm also doing it with weapons and armor, too.

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by korme

Also, been playing as a stealthy archer. Thoroughly enjoying the ability to sneak around dungeons and caves and etc., picking people off.

Ditto. This game has the best archer experience ever.

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by Izulde

Ditto. This game has the best archer experience ever.

I'll jump on that bandwagon too, just finished Embershard and took out one Bandit on the bridge with a stealth attack, putting an arrow through his neck and sending him over the side.

Like crafting thus far as well. Simple and straightforward without being too easy.

[klayman]

Originally Posted by TroyF

I think I'm leaning on starting over as well. About level 11 or 12. I know what I'm doing now and want to make a few changes.

For the guys thinking of starting over, how would you build your next character? I'm at level 7 with my second try and I'm already thinking about starting over again cause I'm not happy about the way the character is progressing.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by Grover

Anyone on the PC version having trouble getting their gamepad to be read by the game? I'd really rather use it over the keyboard/mouse, but seem to be having no luck.

You have it plugged in and recognized by the PC before starting the game?

[BYU 14]

Interested in feedback from those starting over as well. On your first character did you have a vision or just kind of played it by ear and picked perks/skills that seemed cool, or maybe experimented as you learned the game?

I am only level 3 and started with a plan, but as I go through the constellations I find myself saying "This perk may be nice" or "Maybe I will try this instead"

Seems easy to fall into the trap of getting pulled off track in a game this immense.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by BYU 14

Interested in feedback from those starting over as well. On your first character did you have a vision or just kind of played it by ear and picked perks/skills that seemed cool, or maybe experimented as you learned the game?

I am only level 3 and started with a plan, but as I go through the constellations I find myself saying "This perk may be nice" or "Maybe I will try this instead"

Seems easy to fall into the trap of getting pulled off track in a game this immense.

That's always my biggest issue with these type of games (issue is probably not the right word). I end up starting out with one plan and before I know it my character has morphed into something entirely different than planned. Which would not be bad if it didn't usually end up with my character being a jack of all trades but master of none.

[Grover]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

You have it plugged in and recognized by the PC before starting the game?

Indeed. I thought this was the problem at first.

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by Grover

Indeed. I thought this was the problem at first.

What kind of pad is it?

[Grover]

Originally Posted by mckerney

What kind of pad is it?

It's a Logitech Dual Action

[Apathetic Lurker]

Game? Great
Interface? Not So

Playing the PC version

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by Grover

It's a Logitech Dual Action

I would guess the issue is that the only pad with native support is the 360 controller. It looks like the same issue existed for New Vegas too. Try this fix, putting the files in your Skyrim main folder instead, it's supposed to work for 360 pad emulation.

Logitech Rumblepad 2, Dual Action Game Pad: Fallout: New Vegas

Edit: Another option would be JoyToKey if the above fix doesn't work. I've never used it, so I can't say how well it works for mouse emulation or the right thumbstick, but you should at least be able to play that way.

[mckerney]

Anyone looking to buy a controller to use on PC should definitely get a 360 pad. In addition to Skyrim any game you'll want to use a gamepad for will probably have native support for the 360 pad, can't say the same for any other controller.

[Grover]

Ah ha, thanks for the help, mate!

I may just pick up a 360 controller, this Logitech one is old, old.

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by klayman

For the guys thinking of starting over, how would you build your next character? I'm at level 7 with my second try and I'm already thinking about starting over again cause I'm not happy about the way the character is progressing.

I started my new game tonight. In my first game I was a Nord and really felt I made poor decisions in my skill updates and I wanted to go for more of a warrior/mage combo. I could have continued with the Nord and built up those stats, but because of the mistakes I made early I thought it would just be best to start over.

In this game I started as an Imperial and am being a lot more careful about my upgrades.

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by Grover

Ah ha, thanks for the help, mate!

I may just pick up a 360 controller, this Logitech one is old, old.

If you have a 360 with a wireless controller already you could just get one of these. Looking on Amazon it seems like they don't have a wired version of the new 360 controller, though for Skyrim the new dpad probably won't make a difference.

[EagleFan]

D*** you; d*** you all!!!!

I need to get to sleep and walking through this cave was keeping me from that. I'll be lost tomorrow when I try to find my way out. Oh well.

[mckerney]

Just notice pick pocketing has a perk that increases your inventory by 100, may have to start leveling that up.

[CrimsonFox]

Does this game have "class"? Meaning Mage, Fighter, Cleric, etc...

Or does it scrap all that and you just level up skills you want to level up and decide that way?

[Crapshoot]

I've played 3-4 hours so far, and haven't left the first village. Just so much to explore....

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by Crapshoot

I've played 3-4 hours so far, and haven't left the first village. Just so much to explore....

What? You haven't attacked everyone yet?
Word of Warning. That farmer's wife is one MEAN BITCH!

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

Does this game have "class"? Meaning Mage, Fighter, Cleric, etc...

Or does it scrap all that and you just level up skills you want to level up and decide that way?

The second one. Which is so much better than it was in prior versions.

[Izulde]

Feeling really smart after figuring out an ingenious way of taking down a nasty baddie.

I'll spoiler it. It's Saarthal-related, for those of you who have beaten that (I haven't completely yet. Still in the quest chain, but I need sleep. Long day tomorrow including 8 am teaching and having to finish up a paper at night).

Spoiler

So the Draugr Deathlord was killing in me in 1-3 hits every time. So then I try Scroll of Bane of Undead and Scroll of Fireball. Puts a dent in him and he's still run away. But then he starts coming back and I run out far away to let my follower deal with him. Waited 10 minutes and I still hear his screams. So I prepare my bow and start inching back little by little.

As I'm sneaking through the puzzle room with the animal pedestals, I look at the lever and suddenly a crazy idea hits me. So I sneak all the way back in. Sure enough he's still alive and has some more damage knocked off him from my follower, who's heaving. I jolt an arrow in his back to take a little more off, then he turns around and I shoot another one in as he starts coming at me.

I run like hell, but still slow enough that he's chasing me still. I beeline to the animal pedestal room and frantically hit the lever. BAM! The gate slams down. I hit him with my arrows from behind the gate, while my follower, who got disarmed of her Steel Warhammer of Embers, apparently takes him apart with her own bow on the other side. He can't get at me so he goes after her and out of my range of sight, but occasionally retreats back -just- inside my bow range so I can keep hitting him.

It was a grind, but we finally killed him working together like that. It was one of those gaming moments where you feel so damn awesome because you figured out a strategy and it paid off beautifully to beat a guy I just couldn't beat face to face or even being sneaky and in the same room.

[thesloppy]

I've been wandering around for the last two hours with an arrow sticking through my eye.

[Qwikshot]

Originally Posted by Izulde

Feeling really smart after figuring out an ingenious way of taking down a nasty baddie.

I'll spoiler it. It's Saarthal-related, for those of you who have beaten that (I haven't completely yet. Still in the quest chain, but I need sleep. Long day tomorrow including 8 am teaching and having to finish up a paper at night).

Spoiler

So the Draugr Deathlord was killing in me in 1-3 hits every time. So then I try Scroll of Bane of Undead and Scroll of Fireball. Puts a dent in him and he's still run away. But then he starts coming back and I run out far away to let my follower deal with him. Waited 10 minutes and I still hear his screams. So I prepare my bow and start inching back little by little.

As I'm sneaking through the puzzle room with the animal pedestals, I look at the lever and suddenly a crazy idea hits me. So I sneak all the way back in. Sure enough he's still alive and has some more damage knocked off him from my follower, who's heaving. I jolt an arrow in his back to take a little more off, then he turns around and I shoot another one in as he starts coming at me.

I run like hell, but still slow enough that he's chasing me still. I beeline to the animal pedestal room and frantically hit the lever. BAM! The gate slams down. I hit him with my arrows from behind the gate, while my follower, who got disarmed of her Steel Warhammer of Embers, apparently takes him apart with her own bow on the other side. He can't get at me so he goes after her and out of my range of sight, but occasionally retreats back -just- inside my bow range so I can keep hitting him.

It was a grind, but we finally killed him working together like that. It was one of those gaming moments where you feel so damn awesome because you figured out a strategy and it paid off beautifully to beat a guy I just couldn't beat face to face or even being sneaky and in the same room.

Not Bad Izulde, this was what I did

Spoiler

The first time I got destroyed, but I have a high sneak skill and I'm working on the archer bit, so I was able to sneak to the right side of the steps, just at the base, and whittle him down with shots (none were sneak attack bonuses), and quick run under the steps (got to hit it just right). It was nervewracking him coming down the steps looking around and then walking back up...but I did manage to off him this way.

[Qwikshot]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

Does this game have "class"? Meaning Mage, Fighter, Cleric, etc...

Or does it scrap all that and you just level up skills you want to level up and decide that way?

This is the Burger King of RPGs, your way is the right way. I would say you need to consider a concept but you can dabble in everything.

I started off Khajit, and I went for a Destruction background but I managed to nab a pretty cool two handed weapon early on, but over time, I wanted to use magic more, so I went to one handed, but I'm also a rogue (sneak is the other skill I'm heavily invested in, I'm around 60 right now), so I need to invest in light armor (yet I do have a decent heavy armor skill)...around level 10 or so, I decided to commit to bows for sneak attacks (the 3x sneak attack bonus is nice). Dabble in Alteration and Restoration (restore health) and have played around with Alchemy (I've been grabbing items and munching them to see what they do)...bought a house and have an alchemy lab setup so I'll be working on some potions. I liked the smithing but just haven't really done much with it.

I need to upgrade my lockpicking skills, but I was able to open adept locks at around 30 lockpicking skill, you just need patience.

I don't think you'd have as much fun being a pure class, I think this game you are meant to adapt to what you find (I like axes, not much for swords, so if I do upgrade one handed skills it'll probably be for axes).

That's what makes this game so much fun. I'm already at around level 19 I think and I've barely scratched the surface.

[tyketime]

Originally Posted by TroyF

I started my new game tonight. In my first game I was a Nord and really felt I made poor decisions in my skill updates and I wanted to go for more of a warrior/mage combo. I could have continued with the Nord and built up those stats, but because of the mistakes I made early I thought it would just be best to start over.

In this game I started as an Imperial and am being a lot more careful about my upgrades.

Wow - I just created my 3rd character last night. My first was Warrior to play around with and get used to the system and the world. My second was a pure mage. I'm not digging the constant juggling of my magic spells. Seems to interrupt the flow of the game too much for me right now.

So I created my 3rd character - exactly as you set it up Troy. I just made it to Riverwood. I plan to stick with him for the duration. No more restarts until I get much much further into the game.

[tyketime]

what's the general consensus on using followers/companions? Do you use them all the time, or do you sometimes work through a quest chain on your own?

[DataKing]

Originally Posted by tyketime

what's the general consensus on using followers/companions? Do you use them all the time, or do you sometimes work through a quest chain on your own?

In Bethesda games my companions inevitably become little more than mules.

[Drake]

I picked up the light-step perk and keep finding that about half the time, I still get bashed by pressure plate traps because my companion doesn't have it and trips the spiked wall into my face. (Bastards!)

So when I'm being sneaky, I opt for no companion.

[Icy]

Grrrr i'm really tempted but I recently purchased the PS3 GOTY edition of Oblivion for $5 used and have yet to play it, so I'm wondering if i should play that one before buying Skyrim. I'm also really addicted to Battlefield 3 and FM so not sure if i'll have enough time for this.

Is Skyrim really much better or would Oblivion with all expansions be a similar experience?

[TRO]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Thing is, I never robbed anyone.

Have you attacked anybody that was not aggressive to you?

I came upon a hunter and sneak attacked him with an arrow shot across the river.

When I was later attacked by bandits, I looted them and found a bounty letter from "Hunter".

The best part of the attack was that they attacked me RIGHT after the first dragon mission. The guards that were oohing and aahing over me proceeded to take them out before I even really knew what was going on.

[TRO]

Originally Posted by mckerney

Just notice pick pocketing has a perk that increases your inventory by 100, may have to start leveling that up.

I believe this is simply an increased item count limit, not an increase in ability to carry more weight.

[Peregrine]

Currently playing as a thief type - some hired thugs attacked and really outclassed me - the character is not built for straight up melee fighting against three opponents. So I sprinted away as far as I could, ran to the nearest city and jumped on the carriage to go to another city far away - that should teach them.

[Thomkal]

The 10 best Skyrim mods so far | PC Gamer

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by Qwikshot

This is the Burger King of RPGs, your way is the right way. I would say you need to consider a concept but you can dabble in everything.

I started off Khajit, and I went for a Destruction background but I managed to nab a pretty cool two handed weapon early on, but over time, I wanted to use magic more, so I went to one handed, but I'm also a rogue (sneak is the other skill I'm heavily invested in, I'm around 60 right now), so I need to invest in light armor (yet I do have a decent heavy armor skill)...around level 10 or so, I decided to commit to bows for sneak attacks (the 3x sneak attack bonus is nice). Dabble in Alteration and Restoration (restore health) and have played around with Alchemy (I've been grabbing items and munching them to see what they do)...bought a house and have an alchemy lab setup so I'll be working on some potions. I liked the smithing but just haven't really done much with it.

I need to upgrade my lockpicking skills, but I was able to open adept locks at around 30 lockpicking skill, you just need patience.

I don't think you'd have as much fun being a pure class, I think this game you are meant to adapt to what you find (I like axes, not much for swords, so if I do upgrade one handed skills it'll probably be for axes).

That's what makes this game so much fun. I'm already at around level 19 I think and I've barely scratched the surface.

AWESOME! I agree! I don't like class based systems as much because it's like...it's so easy to "choose wrong" as in choose something you end up not liking and don't realize it until awy down the road. And the alternative is to make a ton of characters right off the bat and finally choose the one you like which wastes time.

skill-based RPG > class-based RPG in many many ways.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by tyketime

what's the general consensus on using followers/companions? Do you use them all the time, or do you sometimes work through a quest chain on your own?

I just started playing with one (the one you can get in Riverwood) and he's been a big help with my sneaky archer type-because I'm such a terrible shot at the moment. He'll certainly be a big help as a mule carrying all that valuable, but heavy weapons and armor for me.