Skyrim

[RyCo1983]

I'm starting to feel like 'Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak' is a big doucher, and I don't want to fight for stormcloaks anymore.

How do you break allegiances, and who can I possibly join?

Did you complete the
"Jagged Crown" quest?
At the end of it you will have your last chance to switch sides.

 

[ulukinatme]

I'm starting to feel like 'Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak' is a big doucher, and I don't want to fight for stormcloaks anymore.

How do you break allegiances, and who can I possibly join?

FlyingAlamo already mentioned it, but if you haven't proceeded very far through the Stormcloak's quests you can probably still switch. You only have two options when it comes to leaving the Stormcloaks: Imperials, or neutral (You just don't complete either quest line for that one obviously).

I will say that while Ulfric appears like a douche at times, you'll probably find that the Imperials aren't much different. The Imperials are a bunch of subjugated, spineless pawns of the Thalmor...and if you thought Ulfric was a douche, wait till you've interacted with some Thalmor. The Stormcloak supporters in Whiterun, the Grey-Manes, are more friendly than the Imperial loving Battle-Borns. Fighting for the Imperials means the Thalmor continue to use Skyrim as their puppet and so effectively the country still has no freedom. Throw off Skyrim's shackles! Fight for the Stormcloaks! Don't forget, it was the Imperials that also wanted to cut your head off for no reason at the beginning of the game.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I'm starting to feel like 'Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak' is a big doucher, and I don't want to fight for stormcloaks anymore

This is one of my few complaints with Skyrim. You can't really feel good about fighting for either side, and reconciling them to fight against the real bad guys isn't an option. Going through each quest line once is a good idea just to experience the content, but I usually stay neutral.

Change of subject, but if you're still smashing stuff with a melee weapon, you really need to be taking Vegetable Soup into combat. You craft it by combining Cabbage, Potato, Leek and Tomato (all cheap and ubiquitous food items) at a cooking pot. Eating it allows unlimited power attacks/ bashing for 12 minutes.

 

[koonja]

This is one of my few complaints with Skyrim. You can't really feel good about fighting for either side, and reconciling them to fight against the real bad guys isn't an option. Going through each quest line once is a good idea just to experience the content, but I usually stay neutral.

Change of subject, but if you're still smashing stuff with a melee weapon, you really need to be taking Vegetable Soup into combat. You craft it by combining Cabbage, Potato, Leek and Tomato (all cheap and ubiquitous food items) at a cooking pot. Eating it allows unlimited power attacks/ bashing for 12 minutes.

Thanks for the tip.

I'm really bad at this game. My combat consists of me finding my most damaging weapon, and hitting R1 repeatedly until one of us dies. I don't know how to use magic or spells, the only thing I do is if I'm fighting someone or a group that will be difficult, I put a poison on my weapon to help out.

I basically started out by going to every town once, to see it and to be able to fast-fly to it later on. This really got me confused and I lost track of objectives and what I'm supposed to be doing because I have like 10 open objectives, most of which are all for different groups of people.

I'm thinking about starting all over and paying better attention.

One thing I really don't like about this game is how counter intuitive it is. For instance, I read online (which is one of my gripes) that going to .... I actually forget the name now, but the town that has the college, you can learn magic. Well I met a lady on the bridge, and she wanted me to perform a spell I have never heard of. I figured it out, but I had to google it, which is really annoying for me. I wish they had a basic tutorial or 'practice' at the beginning of the game (like Metal Gear does), where you learn the basic controls. From there, you do what you want with it and fight for/with whoever you will. I don't like having to pause every 5 minutes to figure out what I'm supposed to be doing or how to do it. Again, I suck at this game.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I'm really bad at this game. My combat consists of me finding my most damaging weapon, and hitting R1 repeatedly until one of us dies.

Using whatever melee weapon has the highest damage is good practice. If you're choosing between several similar Two-Handers, I favor Battleaxes because they've got the best balance of damage, speed, and ability to stagger enemies.

If you hold down R1, you'll do a Power Attack. Power Attacks do more damage, break through blocks, and stagger your target in exchange for extra Stamina drained. Repeatedly power attacking an enemy will usually stagger-lock them so they can't strike back. Depending on how you spend your perk points, you can unlock different Power Attacks that are executed by holding R1 + a directional input on LS to produce additional effects.

I basically started out by going to every town once, to see it and to be able to fast-fly to it later on. This really got me confused and I lost track of objectives and what I'm supposed to be doing because I have like 10 open objectives, most of which are all for different groups of people.

Open your quest log and uncheck everything you're not ready to work on. Just pick a city, head back to it, and keep working on the local quests until you're done with it. Then move on.

I'm thinking about starting all over and paying better attention.

That's probably unnecessary.

One thing I really don't like about this game is how counter intuitive it is. For instance, I read online (which is one of my gripes) that going to .... I actually forget the name now, but the town that has the college, you can learn magic. Well I met a lady on the bridge, and she wanted me to perform a spell I have never heard of. I figured it out, but I had to google it, which is really annoying for me. I wish they had a basic tutorial or 'practice' at the beginning of the game (like Metal Gear does), where you learn the basic controls. From there, you do what you want with it and fight for/with whoever you will. I don't like having to pause every 5 minutes to figure out what I'm supposed to be doing or how to do it. Again, I suck at this game.

You have to prove some basic affinity for magic in order to gain admission to the College. Thus the "test" on the bridge. If you don't have the spell she wants you to cast, she'll sell it to you.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

F*cking "internal server error".

Regarding spells, you equip them just like you do weapons, except you'll find them under the Magic menu. Warrior types can safely ignore spells for the most part; aside from low level utility spells (Candlelight, Clairvoyance) and basic heals, you won't need them.

Poisons are only good for the first strike following application. So unless it's a powerful poison (Paralysis, etc.) and a boss-type mob, it's probably not having much of an effect.

 

[ACamp1900]

Blocking is a melee fighters best friend. Also, I had no issues joining the Imperials... The Stormcloaks always rubbed me wrong from the start.

 

[koonja]

How do I join the Imperials? I'm headed to check out Solitude right meow.

 

[ulukinatme]

This is one of my few complaints with Skyrim. You can't really feel good about fighting for either side, and reconciling them to fight against the real bad guys isn't an option. Going through each quest line once is a good idea just to experience the content, but I usually stay neutral.

Change of subject, but if you're still smashing stuff with a melee weapon, you really need to be taking Vegetable Soup into combat. You craft it by combining Cabbage, Potato, Leek and Tomato (all cheap and ubiquitous food items) at a cooking pot. Eating it allows unlimited power attacks/ bashing for 12 minutes.

That was kind of my feeling. The Thalmor really need their butts whipped, and I assumed that Bethesda would release some kind of DLC to take it to the Thalmor eventually, but it never happened. You had to wonder if it was going to happen after people found the hidden maps for Morrowind and Cyrodil. What a waste...I hope someone makes a mod or quest to drive them out, it would be satisfying.

 

[ulukinatme]

Also, I had no issues joining the Imperials... The Stormcloaks always rubbed me wrong from the start.

How do I join the Imperials? I'm headed to check out Solitude right meow.

No true son of Skyrim is an Imperial lapdog. If you wish to serve your arrogant High Elf masters, by all means, join the spineless Imperial puppets.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

That was kind of my feeling. The Thalmor really need their butts whipped, and I assumed that Bethesda would release some kind of DLC to take it to the Thalmor eventually, but it never happened. You had to wonder if it was going to happen after people found the hidden maps for Morrowind and Cyrodil. What a waste...I hope someone makes a mod or quest to drive them out, it would be satisfying.

Seriously. Tiber Septim was a Nord! It's set up perfectly for you to: (1) reconcile the Imperials with the Stormcloaks; (2) be crowned King of Skyrim; (3) Expel the Thalmor from Skyrim; (4) be crowned Emperor of Tamriel; and (5) crush the Aldmeri Dominion.

 

[ACamp1900]

How do I join the Imperials? I'm headed to check out Solitude right meow.

I haven't done it well over a year but in the stage/mission where you join the cloaks, there is a separate option to join the Imperials... also, as grey or someone mentioned you have a chance to flip until a certain mission/point... hopefully you haven't passed that point, but even if you have, (I honestly doubt you have unless you have played it like crazy) you can just reload one of your older saves... I did that a couple times, replaying a couple of hours in the grand scheme of THIS game is not a biggie... it's literally 100s of hours long if you take on even half of the side quests.

also, my character is an Imperial, and Whiterun always seemed like home base to me... I'd rather defend it than attack it... those two together made my choice even easier... and yeah Ulfrich is a Bitch ass.

On your Melee problem... seriously K, learn some magic AND get a bow and arrow... using spells and especially sneaking up and sniping enemies were/are both so much more rewarding to me (just my opinion obviously) and it made/makes for a better gaming experience.

 

[ACamp1900]

btw, has anyone here actually beaten this game entirely?? If so come forth and claim your "no life" award.

I still haven't gotten anywhere near the end of the main story (I think).

 

[koonja]

btw, has anyone here actually beaten this game entirely?? If so come forth and claim your "no life" award.

I still haven't gotten anywhere near the end of the main story (I think).

Speaking of awards, what's up with no IE's this year?

 

[ulukinatme]

btw, has anyone here actually beaten this game entirely?? If so come forth and claim your "no life" award.

I still haven't gotten anywhere near the end of the main story (I think).

I haven't played all the DLC, but I've probably come pretty close to completely finishing the game if I didn't already. Played through once with a mostly good character, completing almost all the quests except for some of the more evil ones. Went back through and played as an evil only character, but only did the stuff I skipped basically as well as the Imperial quest line (Since I was Stormcloak first round). 3rd time I played through with strictly mage build on Legendary, mostly just redoing the main quests and major side quests and using alternative paths when possible.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

3rd time I played through with strictly mage build on Legendary, mostly just redoing the main quests and major side quests and using alternative paths when possible.

Pure mage on Legendary? That's masochism. The lack of spell damage scaling can be an issue even on Adept. Burst damage tops out at ~223 via dual casting Incinerate with 2/2 Augmented Flames. To get higher than that, you have to debuff your target with a Weakness to Magicka poison first.

Playing on a harder difficulty setting nerfs your damage even further-- you only do 75% on Expert, 50% on Master, and 25% on Legendary. So your most powerful nuke would only hit for ~55 damage. And even the weakest enemies could 1 or 2 shot you since they do 3x damage on Legendary.

You'd have to rely on followers, Conjuration and Illusion to get through the game, since the damage dealt/ received modifiers only affect the player. Possible, but way too passive for my liking. I much prefer to play a pure mage on Expert and blow shit up with Destruction.

 

[IrishLion]

I think I'm gonna pick up the Legendary edition after work after reading through this thread.

EDIT: Jk. I did a little research, and I ordered the Oblivion GOTY edition first. The story sounded awesome, as did the additional content. I blame this on all of you.

 

[greyhammer90]

I think I'm gonna pick up the Legendary edition after work after reading through this thread.

EDIT: Jk. I did a little research, and I ordered the Oblivion GOTY edition first. The story sounded awesome, as did the additional content. I blame this on all of you.

Just know that no elder scrolls game is really about the main quest. Just enjoy the world and try to think about who your character is, what they'd be interested in doing/accomplishing.

 

[ulukinatme]

You'd have to rely on followers, Conjuration and Illusion to get through the game, since the damage dealt/ received modifiers only affect the player. Possible, but way too passive for my liking. I much prefer to play a pure mage on Expert and blow shit up with Destruction.

You hit the nail on the head. It's an interesting build, but I had a lot of fun playing with it, probably more fun than any of my other builds. Incredibly challenging though, especially only wearing robes and using no melee weapons. I even made novice, adept, expert, etc lockpicking spells like they used to have in the old games. I relied mostly on followers, Conjuration, and Illusion as you mentioned (Frenzy, and it's later versions, is a hell of a spell) were used regularly. Alteration is also extremely handy for the extra armor and later Paralysis. I still use Destruction, but usually to finish off targets.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Just know that no elder scrolls game is really about the main quest. Just enjoy the world and try to think about who your character is, what they'd be interested in doing/accomplishing.

Agreed. In reading back through the thread, I came across this post by ClausentoTate, and it got me thinking about how WoW-style "power gaming" prevents a lot of people from really enjoying TES games.

Don't press to get God-like powers or rush through the content as quickly as possible. There are no other players in Tamriel for you to impress with your gear, or beat on a DPS meter. Shoot for maximum immersion, and just enjoy exploring the world.

 

[ulukinatme]

Agreed. In reading back through the thread, I came across this post by ClausentoTate, and it got me thinking about how WoW-style "power gaming" prevents a lot of people from really enjoying TES games.

Don't press to get God-like powers or rush through the content as quickly as possible. There are no other players in Tamriel for you to impress with your gear, or beat on a DPS meter. Shoot for maximum immersion, and just enjoy exploring the world.

Power gaming can actually have negative effects on your experience! The first time I played either Oblivion or Skyrim I noticed how level advancement was tied in to how you used your skills, and 10 skill ups netted you a level. I used a considerable amount of resources found and stolen to level up Smithing to a high level, basically focusing on maxing it out as much as I could. The next time I went adventuring I had some decent armor/weapons, but my melee skills and spell skills were are woefully under leveled. What's worse is the fact that enemies scale with you, so many enemies had the same types of armor that I had, or they were just below me.

 

[ACamp1900]

Power gaming???

 

[ulukinatme]

Power gaming???

I think what Whiskey is referring to is grinding certain skills, or focusing on just one skill set for a lengthy period of time rather than going out, enjoying the game, and let skill progression work in a mostly natural way.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Power gaming???

Yes. All of the TES games have exploits and loopholes that will allow you level certain Skills to 100 in very little time, make absurd amounts of gold, achieve virtual invulnerability, etc. A certain type of gamer, usually one who's used to playing competitively online against others, will feel compelled to utilize these exploits, and then complain when combat becomes trivial (see the earlier post from ClausentoTate). It's a surefire way to ruin your experience in a game like Skyrim.

Edit: ulukinatme beat me to it. It sounds like you play the game as Bethesda intended, which is probably why you enjoy it so much. Some people just can't bring themselves to do that, though.

 

[koonja]

I'm going to get heat for this.

But I returned the game and purchased the Metal Gear HD collection instead (MG2, MG3 and MG Peace Walker for only $10 more dollars than Skyrim).

Couple reasons:

1) I love the MG series, and I've yet to play Peace Walker.

2) My brother has Peace Walker, and we can play co-op missions online with each other which is awesome.

3) Skyrim, I could tell, was a great game. But I got off to an annoying start with all of the googling I did, and when I repurchase it next year probably, I'm not going to worry about what I should be doing and just run around aimlessly and let the game take care of itself (like Whiskey suggested).

 

[Whiskeyjack]

But I returned the game and purchased the Metal Gear HD collection instead (MG2, MG3 and MG Peace Walker for only $10 more dollars than Skyrim).

 

[greyhammer90]

Agreed. In reading back through the thread, I came across this post by ClausentoTate, and it got me thinking about how WoW-style "power gaming" prevents a lot of people from really enjoying TES games.

Don't press to get God-like powers or rush through the content as quickly as possible. There are no other players in Tamriel for you to impress with your gear, or beat on a DPS meter. Shoot for maximum immersion, and just enjoy exploring the world.

I always try to roleplay in some light way. A good way to do this is to set limitations and weaknesses on my character that I keep track of myself. For instance, playing as a Redguard? He's from a warm climate, so if you go into the mountains, fur armor is required or he'll freeze. Kajhit? Make him terrified of water. If the quest requires you to go through water, forget it. Don't do it. Also, try to sleep and eat regularly and NEVER fast travel. Fast travel kills immersion.

Limitations/quirks make the game more challenging and lead to multiple playthroughs. Becoming 100 level in everything just makes the game boring.

 

[koonja]

After all of the discussion you guys have had on this game and the advice shared, I honestly felt ashamed letting everyone know, lol.

I will purchase this game again, but I wanted to knock out MG first, as I haven't completed the series. Like I said, I just got frustrated with not knowing what to do/where to go, and I should have taken a more open perspective from the beginning, which I will do next time.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

After all of the discussion you guys have had on this game and the advice shared, I honestly felt ashamed letting everyone know, lol.

I will purchase this game again, but I wanted to knock out MG first, as I haven't completed the series. Like I said, I just got frustrated with not knowing what to do/where to go, and I should have taken a more open perspective from the beginning, which I will do next time.

Well, if you change your mind (the Legendary edition is only $30, after all),just ask for some advice here before you start your game.

 

[wizards8507]

Okay, nerds. I played Oblivion but never got too far because I HATED HATED HATED the Oblivion Gates with a passion. Like, hated them. With a passion. I know magic exists in the Elder Scrolls universe and there's no way around that but I like my games to be as realistic as possible while minimizing the zombie/demon/supernatural thing. I haven't played Skyrim because the gates and general "invaders from another realm" plot left such a bad taste in my mouth.

Convince me why I should get/play/buy Skryim. Or shouldn't I?

Readygo.