The OFFICIAL Anandtech Forums TeS V: Skyrim Thread

[Markbnj]

I've decided to move all my stuff out of the arch mage's quarters and clean the place out. I was using it for enchanting and alchemy just because it seemed like the cool place to do that stuff, but basically every time I go there I get attacked by an Elder Dragon. The other mages don't help much when that happens, so screw em. I've killed 25 or 30 dragons, so I figure I've done my part. Let them have Winterhold if they want it so badly. Not like the College is any use.

 

[zinfamous]

Yeah, that really got to me yesterday when I was doing the Lighthouse abyss quest and the only way to the final boss was a cliff. He just got stuck up there and I got caught off guard by a bunch of minions and ended up having to re-do the whole thing.

yes, that one pissed me off the most. as usual, I stumbled into that area with no idea what was going to happen, and found myself unable to complete it at a lower level, as Lydia wouldn't follow. So, I had to run my ass through the end and to the exit. Odd, because followers will sometimes spawn later when they reach spots that won't let them jump down.

I came back to that creepy chaurus lair much later, when I was nigh invulnerable. Strangely, Lydia, or whoever was following at the time, managed to spawn into place further down the cave, near the final liar, on that 2nd attempt.

 

[zinfamous]

I've decided to move all my stuff out of the arch mage's quarters and clean the place out. I was using it for enchanting and alchemy just because it seemed like the cool place to do that stuff, but basically every time I go there I get attacked by an Elder Dragon. The other mages don't help much when that happens, so screw em. I've killed 25 or 30 dragons, so I figure I've done my part. Let them have Winterhold if they want it so badly. Not like the College is any use.

heh. I hate it when dragons spawn there, and other odd places where they refuse to land (when one doesn't have dragonrend)

 

[Fenixgoon]

whats the best way to level up blacksmithing? i've been making leather gloves since that seems like the most efficient use of material. going the heavy armor route since im getting close to rank70 which will make it weigh nothing (same perk exists for light armor, but that doesnt seem like it's worth it)

 

[shortylickens]

whats the best way to level up blacksmithing? i've been making leather gloves since that seems like the most efficient use of material. going the heavy armor route since im getting close to rank70 which will make it weigh nothing (same perk exists for light armor, but that doesnt seem like it's worth it)

Make the strongest stuff you can at any given instant. That will get you the most points. And remember many things require leather in addition to their base material, so dont piss it all away.

Dont forget to pick the new feats right when they become available, you will need to be able to use up your malachite and orisinium to increase skill faster.

 

[dennilfloss]

Never had a problem making a Winterhold college dragon land. Once it's been shock blasted enough by me & my pair of atronachs, it lands and then I switch to dremora lords and quickly finish it. Easy picking for soul and bones/scales.

 

[zinfamous]

whats the best way to level up blacksmithing? i've been making leather gloves since that seems like the most efficient use of material. going the heavy armor route since im getting close to rank70 which will make it weigh nothing (same perk exists for light armor, but that doesnt seem like it's worth it)

I like leather braces, because they are cheap. I think iron daggers are slightly more profitable, though.

better profit, though, and overall leveling:

transmute: iron ore -> silver ore -> gold ore -> smelt gold ingot
smith -> 2 gold rings
enchant -> destruction, petty
sell 2x destruction gold rings

so, you get 2 gold rings from 2 iron ore, level up alteration magic, smithing, enchanting, and speech (selling) --also, conjuration from soul capping, of course.

I think I had 2 or 3 perks into speech at the time (don't do that), and you can generally get ~100g for each enchanted gold ring. That's a huge profit.

It's probably best to just get fortify barter enchanted items (Mask or Clavicus Vile, for example)

 

[Rhezuss]

I just restarted a character, pure Warrior again. What I want to try is play "Conan" style, ie, no armor, except for boots and bracers and a 2H sword/dual wield.

I'll throw Blacksmithing in the mix to forge me some nice weapons.

Dunno how i'll end up, probably dead somewhere in Skyrim but for the fun of it, it's worth the pain.

I know enchanting is really powerful when mixed with blacksmithing but it's not the dumb brawler ways

 

[Markbnj]

Never had a problem making a Winterhold college dragon land. Once it's been shock blasted enough by me & my pair of atronachs, it lands and then I switch to dremora lords and quickly finish it. Easy picking for soul and bones/scales.

I haven't had a problem getting them to land, either. But I have 22 souls in the bank, a barrel full of scales and bones, and it was just getting to be a pain to have to fight an Elder every time I popped in to make some potions.

 

[Beev]

I played a TON over the weekend. I finished the story, which I had never done before, and it was a SUPER short... But I wanted to get it out of the way before I started exploring the land, because last time I did it the other way around and I completed story segments before I should have.

Now I get to roam Skyrim doing whatever I want. I love it.

 

[Rhezuss]

I played a TON over the weekend. I finished the story, which I had never done before, and it was a SUPER short... But I wanted to get it out of the way before I started exploring the land, because last time I did it the other way around and I completed story segments before I should have.

Now I get to roam Skyrim doing whatever I want. I love it.

Like the idea, I think i'm gonna try that approach too.

 

[JackSpadesSI]

Does anyone know how many dragon souls it takes to unlock every shout in the game? Once I've got that many banked (and I may be close already) I'm going to go ahead and finish the main quest.

 

[Beev]

Like the idea, I think i'm gonna try that approach too.

I also leveled my blacksmithing over the course of the story, and right when I was done I made myself a Daedric bow and a set of Dragonscale armor. Nothing special, but it will hold me over until I max alchemy and enchanting so I can make super elite armors.

 

[shortylickens]

Does anyone know how many dragon souls it takes to unlock every shout in the game? Once I've got that many banked (and I may be close already) I'm going to go ahead and finish the main quest.

I dont know if you are able to max out everything. I think you gotta pick and choose.

 

[Beev]

There are infinite dragons. The random battles can happen indefinitely afaik.

 

[Markbnj]

There are infinite dragons. The random battles can happen indefinitely afaik.

Yeah I think they are flying Oblivion Gates, and they keep appearing until the main quest is solved.

 

[silvan4now]

although i love to fight dragons in Oblivion at some points it gets so frustrating..... and to be honest at a point the game becomes a little boring....i think a multiplayer would have solved the problem somehow

 

[Beev]

Yeah I think they are flying Oblivion Gates, and they keep appearing until the main quest is solved.

I don't know if they're still infinite, but I've fought at least three random dragons so far since I've finished the main quest.

 

[cytoSiN]

I don't know if they're still infinite, but I've fought at least three random dragons so far since I've finished the main quest.

Ditto. They don't stop just because you finish the main quest.

 

[Skott]

There are times when I just like to go out and hunt the deer, elk, bear, wolves, etc., with a bow. Usually when I need to increase my leather supply. Anyone else like to just play the hunter in this game? Its incredibly easy and fun at times.

 

[JackSpadesSI]

I dont know if you are able to max out everything. I think you gotta pick and choose.

Are you thinking skills? I'm talking about shouts. Are you really not able to reach level 3 in every shout?

There are infinite dragons. The random battles can happen indefinitely afaik.

Yeah, I know there are infinite dragons. I'm just interested in how many dragon souls are required (not possible), at a minimum, to unlock all available shouts. The reason I ask is because I'm pretty sure it isn't as simple as "# of shouts" x "3 levels per shout" because some shouts are given to you for "free" as part of the main quest (afaik).

Ditto. They don't stop just because you finish the main quest.

That wasn't my understanding... of course, I haven't beaten the game so my understanding is limited to hearsay from others.

 

[JackSpadesSI]

There are times when I just like to go out and hunt the deer, elk, bear, wolves, etc., with a bow. Usually when I need to increase my leather supply. Anyone else like to just play the hunter in this game? Its incredibly easy and fun at times.

I do this, but usually to fill my petty soul gems - not just for fun. That's not to say it isn't fun while I'm hunting, but since I find the critters to be rather sparse at times it can get boring if I don't actually have a need to be doing it (e.g. capturing petty souls).

 

[zinfamous]

Yeah I think they are flying Oblivion Gates, and they keep appearing until the main quest is solved.

I don't know if they're still infinite, but I've fought at least three random dragons so far since I've finished the main quest.

yep, they keep on coming.

It's like, they don't care that you killed their big boss man; they still come after the Dragonborn and doesn't afraid of anything.

but as far as souls needed, I'm not sure. You get 2x unrelenting force for free, 1x whirlwind sprint, 1x of the flame shouts is free, 3x clear skies (iirc). Maybe I'm missing a few.

I also think I'm missing a shout or two--I remember int he pre-release video there was a shout that they were using that allows you to jump off great heights without damage--I really want that shout, but never found it. Not sure if it made it to the final game.

In the end, I used maybe 4 or 5 shouts on my warrior, probably will use less on the mage. One thing that annoys me is that "marked for death" is great for dual wielding, and any mele, really, but it doesn't work if you are using enchanted weapons....seriously? at some point in the game, mid game, basically, you will always be using enchanted gear.

unless you want to nerd-play it and refuse to use any magic items and go pure weapons or something....

:hmm:

 

[zinfamous]

There are times when I just like to go out and hunt the deer, elk, bear, wolves, etc., with a bow. Usually when I need to increase my leather supply. Anyone else like to just play the hunter in this game? Its incredibly easy and fun at times.

yeah. I like hunting and unlocking random spots all at once. You really do need to put points into archery, though, to be any good at hunting. If you don't one-shot them, it becomes quite difficult.

It's funny watching the horribly trappers and hunters in the game, trying to hunt deer with sword and shield sometimes, or when I zap or shoot a deer and it takes off, Lydia goes into rage mode on the deer: "I'll kill you if I have to!"

 

[Markbnj]

One thing that annoys me is that "marked for death" is great for dual wielding, and any mele, really, but it doesn't work if you are using enchanted weapons....seriously? at some point in the game, mid game, basically, you will always be using enchanted gear.

I wondered what the hell was wrong with that. I have all three words unlocked for MFD and it didn't seem to have any effect at all. Now I know why... all my weapons are enchanted.