The OFFICIAL Anandtech Forums TeS V: Skyrim Thread

[General Kenobi]

I've just never seen one so large that someone added a scroll bar, lol.

You can blame lehtv.

 

[Skott]

I like the way they do the leveling. Not sure if its better or worse than other systems. The nice thing about the game is that you can do crafting to get skills up quickly if you want or not do it at all. It is the player's choice. As it should be.

 

[HybridSquirrel]

Spoiler

Just killed the Emperor for the Dark Brotherhood, that was probably the lamest quest chain in the game. I didn't have to be sneaky to kill anyone, even for the bonuses. If you got caught, just pay off the bounty, I am so rich in that game its stupid. Maybe its just the bounty system thats broken. Only 1000g for murdering someone? Thats chump change. Still, when I killed the Emperor that was probably the coolest interaction of the game thus far

what next?

 

[zinfamous]

Spoiler

Just killed the Emperor for the Dark Brotherhood, that was probably the lamest quest chain in the game. I didn't have to be sneaky to kill anyone, even for the bonuses. If you got caught, just pay off the bounty, I am so rich in that game its stupid. Maybe its just the bounty system thats broken. Only 1000g for murdering someone? Thats chump change. Still, when I killed the Emperor that was probably the coolest interaction of the game thus far

what next?

weird, I just finished that up and was going to post that it is, by far, the most interesting quest line in the game, lol. Well, I haven't begun the Civil War, yet, but compared the Guild quests, it stands out. I think it's the best part of the game, so far. All of the characters in that line are truly interesting, and the story is actually compelling--the mage quest line is rather pathetic, overall.

I think the lack of stealth requirement isn't just part of this quest line, but throughout the game. Many quests "require" you to go in and kill a target stealthily, but it is never necessary in the end.

While I enjoyed most of those in the DB quest line, since they goals tend to be quite different from just about every thing else in the game, I agree that the "use all of your skills" is certainly broken.

Spoiler

The assassination at the wedding is great and all, but no matter what, you can't really escape without being noticed. I have Ebony Mail, the DB boots for extra muffling, max sneak, ring and necklace each with 40% sneak, a super invisibility potion that I crafted, and those guards still notice you at some point. You can't really escape solitude without opening the front gate--unless I missed something, so you will always be running from them. Then you return, and essentially have to pay them off.

But again, that seems to be an overall broken system. You should be able to assassinate and get out, assuming you are specc'd that way, without guards ever knowing that it was you. Simply paying them off to not care is....stupid.

 

[cytoSiN]

Spoiler

The assassination at the wedding is great and all, but no matter what, you can't really escape without being noticed.

Spoiler

Try a legendary bow + true shot elixir (just to guarantee a one-shot kill), and lob arrows from REALLY far away. Guards won't notice you if you find the right place to shoot from Sounds like you did it already, but if you ever try on another character, or if you have an old save and you want to try it, and you're having trouble finding a good spot to shoot from, PM me.

 

[terry107]

Spoiler

Try a legendary bow + true shot elixir (just to guarantee a one-shot kill), and lob arrows from REALLY far away. Guards won't notice you if you find the right place to shoot from Sounds like you did it already, but if you ever try on another character, or if you have an old save and you want to try it, and you're having trouble finding a good spot to shoot from, PM me.

Spoiler

You can jump onto a walkway above the wedding and wait for the wedding party to address the crowd from the alcove. While they're doing this, you can one-shot the victim while hidden and not get a bounty. I ran into Veezara who was ready to take out some guards, but none were following me.

 

[zinfamous]

Spoiler

You can jump onto a walkway above the wedding and wait for the wedding party to address the crowd from the alcove. While they're doing this, you can one-shot the victim while hidden and not get a bounty. I ran into Veezara who was ready to take out some guards, but none were following me.

Spoiler

holy fuck these spoiler tags are annoying!

Spoiler

anyway, that's where I hung out. 2nd attempt, a lot of weird things happened. veezera suddenly showed up on my balcony to open that chat, and a guard popped out there too, and walked away. I had hit the invisibility potion and remained hidden. jumping down to the ground, I was able to keep through the crowd, but eventually, in Solitude, some guard that I didn't touch suddenly found me--after walking close to several of them. I figured that's the spot the game wants you to shoot from, as there are about 5 stray arrows and a potion of true shot...just waiting there. for some reason. If I try again, I will try and hang out on the balcony where the wedding party speaks from, and cap her from behind with a dagger.

 

[JackSpadesSI]

I was looking at my stats the other day:

Days passed: 220
Days as a werewolf: 215 (odd, didn't think I did that so quickly--and I've only changed into werewolf once)
Hours slept: 22
Hours spent waiting: 200something. (rofl at those 2 numbers)
Food consumed: 8 lbs (don't remember how this is calculated, but I know I haven't eaten anything since ~those first days, heh)

That stat system is glitched. I know for a fact that I've only been a werewolf ONE time, yet mine says 30 days as a werewolf. I'm not sure how many other numbers are bogus, but "days as a werewolf" certainly is.

 

[JackSpadesSI]

I don't think it matters, on my current play through I did the whole set of Imperial quests.

Spoiler

Season Unending

is the only quest in the main line that is affected by it (iirc) and that is only if you have not finished choosing a side or gotten to a certain point.

Sorry for dragging this topic out, but I'm confused. Are you saying that it is detrimental (either to the game mechanics, or flow of the plot) to have avoided the Civil War by the time you get to that spoiler-tagged main quest?

Put another way: I'd like to put off the Civil War until after I've completed the main quest - is that ok?

 

[DarkKnightDude]

Apparently a possible hi res texture pack is coming with Creation Kit.

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/02/06/headline-with-a-official-skyrim-texture-pack/

I wonder if its the directx 11 update?

 

[HybridSquirrel]

weird, I just finished that up and was going to post that it is, by far, the most interesting quest line in the game, lol. Well, I haven't begun the Civil War, yet, but compared the Guild quests, it stands out. I think it's the best part of the game, so far. All of the characters in that line are truly interesting, and the story is actually compelling--the mage quest line is rather pathetic, overall.

I think the lack of stealth requirement isn't just part of this quest line, but throughout the game. Many quests "require" you to go in and kill a target stealthily, but it is never necessary in the end.

While I enjoyed most of those in the DB quest line, since they goals tend to be quite different from just about every thing else in the game, I agree that the "use all of your skills" is certainly broken.

Spoiler

The assassination at the wedding is great and all, but no matter what, you can't really escape without being noticed. I have Ebony Mail, the DB boots for extra muffling, max sneak, ring and necklace each with 40% sneak, a super invisibility potion that I crafted, and those guards still notice you at some point. You can't really escape solitude without opening the front gate--unless I missed something, so you will always be running from them. Then you return, and essentially have to pay them off.

But again, that seems to be an overall broken system. You should be able to assassinate and get out, assuming you are specc'd that way, without guards ever knowing that it was you. Simply paying them off to not care is....stupid.

Fascinating quest line, sure, but the bonuses that require no stealth assassination at all? A little dumb, it was also short.....

Spoiler

not to mention when you have the optional quest to kill Commander Maro? you can just walk straight up to him, wearing your armor and donning a sword and smite his ass down on the docks. No stealth, just straight rape his face in front of the guards and everything...yet no one seemed to care? Not the way it should have been. He doesn't even recognize you from when he tried to arrest your ass? that makes tons of sense.

 

[zinfamous]

That stat system is glitched. I know for a fact that I've only been a werewolf ONE time, yet mine says 30 days as a werewolf. I'm not sure how many other numbers are bogus, but "days as a werewolf" certainly is.

well, assuming you haven't removed lycanthropy, I think it is counting all the days that you are a werewolf, not simply the total hours that you are turned into a werewolf.

the disease resistance and all that is still active in human form, so I assume that is still "werewolf" time. Plus, all the guards and the apothecary in whiterun tend to make comments about your general nature.

 

[zinfamous]

Fascinating quest line, sure, but the bonuses that require no stealth assassination at all? A little dumb, it was also short.....

Spoiler

not to mention when you have the optional quest to kill Commander Maro? you can just walk straight up to him, wearing your armor and donning a sword and smite his ass down on the docks. No stealth, just straight rape his face in front of the guards and everything...yet no one seemed to care? Not the way it should have been. He doesn't even recognize you from when he tried to arrest your ass? that makes tons of sense.

I agree. I'd like to see more bonuses attributed to actually remaining hidden and unnoticed, and a bonus failure notice as soon as someone spots you.

Spoiler

The Maro bit was silly. Sneaking onto the Emperor's ship after that was stellar. I thought the silliest bit, though, was killing the Gourmet, and "hiding" his body. that was ridiculous.

 

[zinfamous]

Apparently a possible hi res texture pack is coming with Creation Kit.

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/02/06/headline-with-a-official-skyrim-texture-pack/

I wonder if its the directx 11 update?

interesting...and it looks like we'll know tomorrow?

I just installed the Skyrim HD 2K texture pack, which is quite lovely, on top of Vurt's foliage pack.

 

[HybridSquirrel]

I agree. I'd like to see more bonuses attributed to actually remaining hidden and unnoticed, and a bonus failure notice as soon as someone spots you.

Spoiler

The Maro bit was silly. Sneaking onto the Emperor's ship after that was stellar. I thought the silliest bit, though, was killing the Gourmet, and "hiding" his body. that was ridiculous.

Spoiler

LOL! I thought the same thing, and even laughed with my girlfriend about it. I hit the drag button and released it suddenly, his body was lying in the same spot and I got the bonus for hiding him....in his own bed where I just murdered him. I did end up dragging him into a barrel but still, ridiculous. MY favorite part of the whole quest line was the Emperors ship, but even there you could just go plow through enemies when you got discovered....

I just have to decided which side of the civil war I want to be on now.

 

[JackSpadesSI]

well, assuming you haven't removed lycanthropy, I think it is counting all the days that you are a werewolf, not simply the total hours that you are turned into a werewolf.

the disease resistance and all that is still active in human form, so I assume that is still "werewolf" time. Plus, all the guards and the apothecary in whiterun tend to make comments about your general nature.

Hmm, I hadn't considered that. That's probably what's going on with the stat counter. I humbly stand corrected.

 

[cytoSiN]

I just have to decided which side of the civil war I want to be on now.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2206573

 

[zinfamous]

I just have to decided which side of the civil war I want to be on now.

I think the Stormcloaks are the sympathetic choice, but after spending more time, I see them as ultra racist and naitonalistic assholes. Ulfric is basically Castro leading a somewhat noble charge, but i don't see him being any better for Skyrim than the Imperials.

I prefer the Jarl of Whiterun's stance--wants to keep Talos, and wants to keep order and peace for Skyrim. I wish I could just choose that way.

I think teh real problem is the Thalmor--Talos would still be in place,a nd that's the only dickish problem I see with Imperial rule. Not the Empire, but concessions to the Thalmor. As such, I murder Thalmor whenever I find them, heh.

I'm probably going with the Empire anyway.

 

[dust]

^ Whiterun Jarl should be High King.

 

[cytoSiN]

I think the Stormcloaks are the sympathetic choice, but after spending more time, I see them as ultra racist and naitonalistic assholes. Ulfric is basically Castro leading a somewhat noble charge, but i don't see him being any better for Skyrim than the Imperials.

I prefer the Jarl of Whiterun's stance--wants to keep Talos, and wants to keep order and peace for Skyrim. I wish I could just choose that way.

I think teh real problem is the Thalmor--Talos would still be in place,a nd that's the only dickish problem I see with Imperial rule. Not the Empire, but concessions to the Thalmor. As such, I murder Thalmor whenever I find them, heh.

I'm probably going with the Empire anyway.

^^ This....all of this.

Spoiler

Of course, with respect to the Thalmor, they're playing everyone, setting up the civil war, using Ulfric as a pawn, etc etc. If Ulfric realized he was being played, and wasn't such a racist in his efforts to bring Talos worship back to Skyrim, it would have been easy to choose the Stormcloaks. But I guess that's the point...Bethesda wants it to be a tough choice because both sides suck.

^ Whiterun Jarl should be High King.

Agree. I'm actually hoping that someone will create a new faction with the CK that will let us play both sides against each other and ultimately nominate him (or yourself?) as High King.

 

[Imp]

Spoiler

Just killed the Emperor for the Dark Brotherhood, that was probably the lamest quest chain in the game. I didn't have to be sneaky to kill anyone, even for the bonuses. If you got caught, just pay off the bounty, I am so rich in that game its stupid. Maybe its just the bounty system thats broken. Only 1000g for murdering someone? Thats chump change. Still, when I killed the Emperor that was probably the coolest interaction of the game thus far

what next?

Spoiler

I was hoping to be able to avoid killing the Emperor by just offing the dude who requested it since I sided with the Imperials for the civil war. That, I felt, was the worst part of it. Just because one dipshit wants someone dead, performs the ritual, they do it - makes them seem like complete tools. Good thing I took absolute pleasure in fulfiling the Emperor's last request.

 

[Markbnj]

I think the Stormcloaks are the sympathetic choice, but after spending more time, I see them as ultra racist and naitonalistic assholes. Ulfric is basically Castro leading a somewhat noble charge, but i don't see him being any better for Skyrim than the Imperials.

It's cool how the issue is not black and white. Don't want to give anything away, but during one of the Thalmor-related quests I stumbled across some information (currently in the safe of my house in Solitude) that makes Ulfric look even less admirable and less suited to rule Skyrim. It really threw the whole thing wide open for me again.

 

[zinfamous]

^^ This....all of this. Of course, with respect to the Thalmor, they're playing everyone, setting up the civil war, using Ulfric as a pawn, etc etc. If Ulfric realized he was being played, and wasn't such a racist in his efforts to bring Talos worship back to Skyrim, it would have been easy to choose the Stormcloaks. But I guess that's the point...Bethesda wants it to be a tough choice because both sides suck.



Agree. I'm actually hoping that someone will create a new faction with the CK that will let us play both sides against each other and ultimately nominate him (or yourself?) as High King.

I somewhat like the Jarl of Riften, too, but

Spoiler

she's clearly too trusting and easily manipulated--what with her interactions and trust with Maven.

The other problem with Ulfric--he's stuck in the past; trying to preserve a culture and time that probably doesn't exist anymore. He more or less wants to keep Skyrim stuck in ancient times while the rest of Tamriel progresses ahead.

Bulgraaf understands that Skyrim needs to work with the empire but as far as his people are concerned, this can be done even if Talos worship is allowed...were it not for those Thalmor dickscarves meddling in everything.

 

[zinfamous]

so...went around earlier yesterday murdering innocent friends because

Spoiler

I had to charge my Ebony Blade. Killed Sven and his lady, the very first quest I completed :wub:, lead the priest to the cannibals, killed him, then killed all of the cannibals (at least 3 of those cannibals counted, as I had helped them earlier), then murdered the remaining shatter shield family in Windhelm. Well, that was my plan. I went in to murder the wife, but discovered that she was dead on the floor, next to a suicide note. Apparently, the murder of her first daughter (the butcher), and second (my dark brotherhood contract), was just too much for her to bare. I thought that was actually cool, the way they kept that storyline going. Of course, I found my drinking buddy and her husband asleep in his bed, so I decided to murder him and put him out of his misery--two murdered daughters and a suicide wife. ...it never seemed to affect him, anyway.

OK, after that--my Ebony Blade seems to be bugged, or is part of that obnoxious issue (maybe it is a bug), where if you acquire certain items late enough, which will give them their max stats, they are likewise incapable of being upgraded. The wiki mentions this about the Nightingale blade (which I can't upgrade, and is max stats), but not about the Ebony Blade, which I can not upgrade. I was hoping that it would allow me to upgrade once it was fully charged with the quest...but no dice.

Spoiler

So, all of those innocent friends murdered, for a sword that I won't use?

I guess that sword has other weird problems, though--a two handed sword that will raise your 2-handed skill, but depends on one-handed level and perks? weird. I guess it's nice for quickly leveling two handed when I'm at max one-hand, but still...

 

[shortylickens]

Crap.
Started a new game.
Discovered you cant get ebony mail until level 30.
Took me all last night mixing potions and enchanting clothes to get level 20.