The OFFICIAL Anandtech Forums TeS V: Skyrim Thread

[zinfamous]

No, she is expendable. If you want to keep her just reload a save before the battle and try again. Also, if you give her the big giant bone club that girl is like superwoman.

she doesn't do anything with that club for me. I have to remove everything from her before she uses it, and then she just randomly swings at stuff. She prefers an unimproved elven warhammer over that club.

also--she still uses some hunters bow (that isn't in her inventory) over the orcish bow of flames that I gave her.

:hmm:

but yes--she can die. I've probably killed my followers more than anyone attacking us. early on, too, when trying to retrieve that redguard dude's family sword, Lydia kept running off the bridge between those towers and killing herself. that was freaking annoying.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Most of my conjuration has been gained through soul reaping, so it is leveling quite slowly. I've yet to see the spell for dremora lords, so I wonder how they are classified via the perk tree--are they considered atronochs or zombies? Or is there such a spell and are they summoned only through the Sanguine Rose? Likewise, do perks and spell level dictate staff effects?

Dremora lords act like atronachs and are governed by the various atronach perks in the conjuration tree. The dremora lords are tough as shit, but they're melee only as opposed to the atronachs which have spells for distant combat. I generally find the dremora lord to be the most helpful, primarily because he seems to take a lot more abuse than the storm atronach, and he likes to rush into battle yelling "I SMELL WEAKNESS."

 

[terry107]

If you want to keep her just reload a save before the battle and try again.

I've had to do this numerous times. Lydia has a nasty habit of stepping in front of my arrows right as I let them go.

 

[shortylickens]

WTF, Lydia just got killed last night. I didn't think she could die. will that ruin the quest she was supposedly helping me with?

`
click
RESURRECT

 

[thespyder]

she doesn't do anything with that club for me. I have to remove everything from her before she uses it, and then she just randomly swings at stuff. She prefers an unimproved elven warhammer over that club.

also--she still uses some hunters bow (that isn't in her inventory) over the orcish bow of flames that I gave her.

:hmm:

but yes--she can die. I've probably killed my followers more than anyone attacking us. early on, too, when trying to retrieve that redguard dude's family sword, Lydia kept running off the bridge between those towers and killing herself. that was freaking annoying.

Yeah, the companion AI is dumb as a box of rocks. that is why I can't seem to keep any alive when playing my Mage. They always go charging in. or block my path so that I can't join in. or block me so I can't fall back. or get caught on doors so that they aren't even in the combat. or simply jump in front of the obviously casting wizard (<toast>).

 

[Markbnj]

Spoiler

That vendor is also one of the cannibals, right? You can head to their lair and kill all of them. A handful of them, including the one that asked you to join, are people that you may have previously helped in Markarth. Murdering all of those dirty cannibals provides an excellent opportunity for charging the Ebony Blade.

Not even sure who those guys are, so I guess I need to go hang out in Markarth some more.

 

[coloumb]

Lydia = F5 [quick save] often.

 

[zinfamous]

Dremora lords act like atronachs and are governed by the various atronach perks in the conjuration tree. The dremora lords are tough as shit, but they're melee only as opposed to the atronachs which have spells for distant combat. I generally find the dremora lord to be the most helpful, primarily because he seems to take a lot more abuse than the storm atronach, and he likes to rush into battle yelling "I SMELL WEAKNESS."

yeah, I've been spamming he Sanguine Rose ever sense I got it. I love those Dremora. "An Opponent Approaches!" I just noticed the "I smell weakness!" comment yesterday, and I just about fell on the floor.

 

[zinfamous]

Not even sure who those guys are, so I guess I need to go hang out in Markarth some more.

hmm, I think you mentioned that quest some time ago, as one that you didn't want to do because it seemed so disgusting.

IIRC,

Spoiler

you clear out the Markarth hall of the dead for a priest, and discover a vampire/cannibal lady. Let her go, she invites you to visit her club outside of Markarth. You visit, she then requests you to lead that same priest back to her. That's when they, uh, fun begins.

Honestly, I had that quest open so long and didn't really remember taking it. I just assumed it was some evil Daedric quest and eventually figured, what the hey--I'll take that guy there and see what happens. I was a bit more shocked above the assumed "murder this dude" command you tend to get from Daedra. D:

 

[Markbnj]

hmm, I think you mentioned that quest some time ago, as one that you didn't want to do because it seemed so disgusting.

IIRC,

Spoiler

you clear out the Markarth hall of the dead for a priest, and discover a vampire/cannibal lady. Let her go, she invites you to visit her club outside of Markarth. You visit, she then requests you to lead that same priest back to her. That's when they, uh, fun begins.

Honestly, I had that quest open so long and didn't really remember taking it. I just assumed it was some evil Daedric quest and eventually figured, what the hey--I'll take that guy there and see what happens. I was a bit more shocked above the assumed "murder this dude" command you tend to get from Daedra. D:

The one I did involved Mehrunes Dagon and driving some priest mad. Then there was the Boethia one that I haven't done, which requires leading someone to her temple and murdering them. The cannibal one... weird, it almost rings a bell but I'm pretty sure I haven't done it.

Edit: went through the hall of the dead in Markarth... and I'm sure I cleaned it out for that Brother... but I don't recall the cannibal aspect. Must have done 100 quests now, so I probably did it and can't recall.

 

[dust]

The one I did involved Mehrunes Dagon and driving some priest mad. Then there was the Boethia one that I haven't done, which requires leading someone to her temple and murdering them. The cannibal one... weird, it almost rings a bell but I'm pretty sure I haven't done it.

Edit: went through the hall of the dead in Markarth... and I'm sure I cleaned it out for that Brother... but I don't recall the cannibal aspect. Must have done 100 quests now, so I probably did it and can't recall.

You have to do that:thumbsup:

 

[Gheris]

I had an enemy beg for mercy while underwater this weekend. Voice sounded like she was underwater too. Made me laugh a bit.

I am seriously considering leaving Lydia at home. Sometimes she causes more problem than helps, but I think it's because we are both melee based. Thinking about picking up a ranged companion. However I am concerned they may mistakenly shoot me in the back.

 

[zinfamous]

I had an enemy beg for mercy while underwater this weekend. Voice sounded like she was underwater too. Made me laugh a bit.

I am seriously considering leaving Lydia at home. Sometimes she causes more problem than helps, but I think it's because we are both melee based. Thinking about picking up a ranged companion. However I am concerned they may mistakenly shoot me in the back.

yeah, there really is no happy medium to followers--Lydia constantly got in my way as I bashed, hacked, and backstabbed people with my warrior, and now as I burn and use a bow with my mage. I've had to mostly give up on chain lightning. I've been one-shotted by plenty of archer followers, too. haha.

At least with the warrior, though, you can become so preposterously OP by ~lvl 35 or so that there is little need for a follower.


One quirky thing I discovered recently: randomly encountered Vilkas out in the wilds as he was attacking some saber cat, as sometimes happens. --This was just south of Whiterun. Not sure how it happened--I probably zapped him by mistake (aiming for a mage sucks donkey balls, by the way--far too often do my bolts go straight through opponents)--but he engaged Lydia once the saber cat was dead. Of course, she wailed on him until he submitted (Ebony Mail+ full enchanted ebony battle axe and such). he wouldn't die, but jsut kept coming. I was somewhat worried that this would break my relationship with him and the Companions (hadn't yet stepped into Jorrvasker, already at level 42), so I ran away until I could fast travel. Then, I fast traveled and walked into Jorrvasker. No problem. It's like nothing ever happened (one of the more annoying things with this game).

What I learned, though, is that I could essentially zap him until I maxed destruction, with zero consequences (got one level off of him in that fray). missed opportunity.

 

[Markbnj]

Of course, she wailed on him until he submitted (Ebony Mail+ full enchanted ebony battle axe and such). he wouldn't die, but jsut kept coming.

I've noticed that there are a few NPCs that the game won't allow to die. I think it's sort of cheesy and breaks immersion, but there isn't really a good solution that won't break quest scripting. In Oblivion and Morrowind, if I recall correctly, you could kill the NPC and would then get a message about whether you wanted to continue in the "doomed world" you had created.

 

[amish]

What I learned, though, is that I could essentially zap him until I maxed destruction, with zero consequences (got one level off of him in that fray). missed opportunity.

there are other opportunities. stormcloak/imperial camps usually have one person that cannot die as they are quest givers. you just have to find the right camp, annihilate, rinse, and repeat.

 

[cytoSiN]

I've noticed that there are a few NPCs that the game won't allow to die. I think it's sort of cheesy and breaks immersion, but there isn't really a good solution that won't break quest scripting. In Oblivion and Morrowind, if I recall correctly, you could kill the NPC and would then get a message about whether you wanted to continue in the "doomed world" you had created.

Was JUST typing a post about this...I killed the guy who owned the plantation just outside Vivec in Morrowind and got that message. I'd rather they tell me I've broken the world and give me the option to keep my immersion instead of proactively trying to protect me from myself. The game prides itself on letting you be whatever you want to be...except a murderous bastard, apparently...

 

[dennilfloss]

I'm closing on 400h of play and I was away from computer for a month and I've been slacking lately. There are still regions I have not visited and I keep finding new caves in areas I thought I had thoroughly combed. I have yet to enter Windhelm.

Plus I only have installed two mods so far (10,000GPs for merchants and prettier female faces).

*Money well spent*

 

[thejunglegod]

Why go with Lydia when you have J'zargo??? That feline has the best accent in the game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXpDolm9reM

 

[cytoSiN]

Why go with Lydia when you have J'zargo??? That feline has the best accent in the game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXpDolm9reM

True, but he's a conniving asshole. I sacrificed him to Boethiah first chance I got.

 

[frostedflakes]

Was JUST typing a post about this...I killed the guy who owned the plantation just outside Vivec in Morrowind and got that message. I'd rather they tell me I've broken the world and give me the option to keep my immersion instead of proactively trying to protect me from myself. The game prides itself on letting you be whatever you want to be...except a murderous bastard, apparently...

That works fine until a dragon or other NPC attacks a town and kills a vital character that you tried your best to keep alive but couldn't.

I can see both sides of the issue, it is kind of immersion breaking, but there are always a lot of immersion breaking compromises like this they have to make to keep the game from doing stuff that would just frustrate and piss off most players. IIRC that's why they started making important characters invincible in Oblivion, not so much to protect players from themselves but to protect vital characters from other NPCs, because the Radiant AI was kind of unpredictable and sometimes resulted in important characters dying in freak accidents.

 

[cytoSiN]

That works fine until a dragon or other NPC attacks a town and kills a vital character that you tried your best to keep alive but couldn't.

I can see both sides of the issue, it is kind of immersion breaking, but there are always a lot of immersion breaking compromises like this they have to make to keep the game from doing stuff that would just frustrate and piss off most players. IIRC that's why they started making important characters invincible in Oblivion, not so much to protect players from themselves but to protect vital characters from other NPCs, because the Radiant AI was kind of unpredictable and sometimes resulted in important characters dying in freak accidents.

Fair enough, but it can't be that hard to make it so NPCs can't kill each other, but the player can kill whoever they want. Especially with a warning like they used to use in Morrowind.

 

[zinfamous]

True, but he's a conniving asshole. I sacrificed him to Boethiah first chance I got.

which reminds me, I need to put that female student mage to my Ebony Blade, as she sent some hired goons to kill me after I stole one of her soul gems.

I already sent Faengal to Boethiah, such that Ms Lydia could have the Ebony Mail. I appreciate Faengal leveling me up to 50 in archery...for free, as soon as I started the game, but who needs a level 30 follower?

 

[zinfamous]

Fair enough, but it can't be that hard to make it so NPCs can't kill each other, but the player can kill whoever they want. Especially with a warning like they used to use in Morrowind.

well, look at it this way--if certain NPCs weren't invulnerable, then I would have completely broken the game/story on my attempt to murder Ulfric the first time I saw him, around level 20 or so. One argument is, fine, great. a large questline you can't complete and a bit of the main quest is changed near the end. Just something to consider on a second playthrough.

another argument: it's too fucking easy to kill this super important guy. You can just waltz right up to his throne, the leader of the rebellion, and kill him without being slowed down. Either way, you have immersion problems.

The funny thing, I tried killing

Spoiler

Delphine before she had revealed her real identity.

It's quite funny to see seemingly inconsequential NPCs who are, for some reason, immortal. Of course, she kept her barmaid outfit, but proceeded to pull out an array of nasty looking daggers, swords and bows to defend herself, lol.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

well, look at it this way--if certain NPCs weren't invulnerable, then I would have completely broken the game/story on my attempt to murder Ulfric the first time I saw him, around level 20 or so. One argument is, fine, great. a large questline you can't complete and a bit of the main quest is changed near the end. Just something to consider on a second playthrough.

another argument: it's too fucking easy to kill this super important guy. You can just waltz right up to his throne, the leader of the rebellion, and kill him without being slowed down. Either way, you have immersion problems.

The funny thing, I tried killing

Spoiler

Delphine before she had revealed her real identity.

It's quite funny to see seemingly inconsequential NPCs who are, for some reason, immortal. Of course, she kept her barmaid outfit, but proceeded to pull out an array of nasty looking daggers, swords and bows to defend herself, lol.

Maybe your first instinct on meeting someone shouldn't be "I will kill them." At least give them an opportunity to be a dick before you start wildly stabbing in their general direction.

 

[zinfamous]

Maybe your first instinct on meeting someone shouldn't be "I will kill them." At least give them an opportunity to be a dick before you start wildly stabbing in their general direction.

I think I'm watching too many of those swedish viking guy videos...