The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (1 Viewer)

[joshEH]

Oh...and GOD, the Thalmor are a bunch of pointy-eared buttholes. Killing them shouldn't be considered murder.

 

[joshEH]

Too fucking awesome:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=pA8R52b-1z0#t=1665s

 

[Walter Kittel]

I ignored the mammoth the third time, and went straight for the giant, who had a friend with him this time. Long story short, I ran crying like a little girl-bitch back to the nearest town, thinking people would help me. They didn't -- they ran, too, from the giants, who were still on my ass (apart from a dog, which got destroyed).

Giants will f**k you up. Replace the bear in the youtube video with my character.
Gotta figure out where to stash my stuff. I've been selling a lot of loot like crazy to build up my gold supply but some of the stuff I'd like to hang on to for future use. Josh mentioned using his companion as a mule to store stuff - may have to look into that until I secure a house. Located some dwarven goodies earlier today and I'm curious how they will work. Learning more shouts but I need to slay more dragons. A little way past level 8 with my Redguard as of this afternoon.
There is a youtube video on equipping your character in terms of hot keys, and favorites that I'd recommend as the manual is a little weak in explaining some of these features. Found it while looking at Josh's link.

Back to Skyrim.
- Walter.

 

[dmiller68]

This game is crazy! I played until 3am this morning it was all I could do to get up this morning. I'm too old to game that late.

I have many of the same experiences. I do OK vs. most bandits and the brotherhood assassins who just seem to be mad at me and I don't think I have done them wrong.

 

[mattCR]

Rented it through Redbox. I'll give it a try and see what I think of it

 

[joshEH]

Couple of funny-as-shit Skyrim-doings from this weekend:

• One of the sidequests set me off to collect sap from a magical tree. I find the tree in a huge underground cave with a big stream and lush vegetation, along with a couple of all-too-beatific sightseers expounding on the "beauty" of nature. With the help of an enchanted dagger, I cut my way through the roots, get the sap, and am immediately jumped by a wood sprite, who sets about decimating me with life-sapping tree magic.
  Realizing that I'm fresh out of healing potions, and not having enough magicka yet for healing and offensive spells at the same time, I instead run the hell out of there and don't start breathing again till I'm on my horse, a mile away.
  I can only assume the two well-meaning hippies I left behind were given a terminal lesson in Mother Nature actually being kind of a violent bitch.
• Doing the "7,000 steps" mission to the Throat of the World last night was pretty funny. Speaking to the two pilgrims at the base of the steps, I get told, "Oh, there may be a couple of wolves on your way up there; nothing that a guy like you couldn't handle," so I happily saunter up without a care in the world, no weapons or magic drawn...hell, I'd have whistled if I could.
  Rounding my first bend, I smile, as my eyes fall upon a family of mountain goats contentedly chewing away on some underbrush that's managed to poke its way through the snow, when suddenly, the peace is shattered by a mass of brown fur and claws barreling from behind a tree at the nearest goat. The snow runs red with blood, and I'm standing not six feet from a fucking bear.
  Cue enough high-pitched girlie-screaming that it scared our two dogs, followed by me getting a bit of distance and going all "Fahrenheit 451" until the frosty air was filled with a smell that you would've been able to taste at the back of your throat.
  So anyway, as I continue up the mighty stairs, I chuckle to myself, remembering the "only-a-few-wolves" advice from earlier, thinking, "Bethesda, you old dogs." In fact, I'm still thinking this when I round a bend, and literally stand nose-to-nose with a goddamn fucking sabretooth. Yeah, that kitty was flossing with my ligaments a couple of seconds later. On my retry, I ended up going all stealthy-snipey, and took that horse-sized cat down without him ever knowing what hit him.
  By now, I'm feeling pretty bad-ass, but also warier. When coming across gullies, I start trying not to go down, but up and around for height and vision, though in the end between a raging blizzard and running out of room, I'm funneled directly into a mountain opening, where I see a strange white silhouette against the snow and wind.
  The storm impedes my vision terribly, as I inch my way closer, when suddenly I realize what I'm looking at -- the back of a sitting frost troll. Poor bastard barely knew what was happening, before it was Troll Toasties for breakfast on the mountainside.
  So yeah..."a few wolves." Fuckin' Bethesda, you magnificent bastards.

 

[Sam Posten]

76 minutes in last night, its ok but not truly eating me up so far.
Definite paradox of too much choice going on.
How come I can take anything i want in the first house except the potion of haggling?

 

[Ruz-El]

Originally Posted by Sam Posten
Definite paradox of too much choice going on.

Way to many choices! not complaining though. I'm hitting level 17 or so. I've done none of the main quest, not joined any guilds and last night my character passed out and woke up on the side of the map I've never explored. I'm still mostly baffled as far as what I'm doing but love figuring it out.

Awesome game, delivered on all it's promise.

 

[Radioman970]

^ Great stuff Josh. :tu:
I have access to the game. Very addicting. I was a little disappointed at first since it seemed too darn easy. But that changes when you venture out. The smoke and steam look as good or better as Fallout 3. Lovely snowy effects, really amazing to walk through. I wish I could put up a Christmas tree in that and build a snowman and stuff. My luck some giant would come and knock it down, take all the presents.
Last time I played I thought I was a badass in this cave that has spiders (which may have chronic vertigo since none will climb walls to come get me, they just carefully walk up the trails and bridges in a calm, orderly manner...seriously, they need to go play Messiah of Might and Magic 'cause there's some scary spiders in that, these are pussies...squash! smash! splatter! Big negative, if you ask me...don't have spiders if they don't behave like friggin spiders!!! Completely missed opportunity I'm hoping the modders can deal with) anyway, I thought I was a badass taking out these dark characters in there with the nervous spiders, feeling pretty good about my bloody splattering ability. But I got a case of the vamps. And I found out what the noisy thing was outside that I thought might be a mammoth...a dragon. so that's great. I'm thinking of dealing with both problems in the interest of keeping it real with the game and not being a pussy like those spiders by going back a save place. For the dragon, the old "run away run away" will work just fine since that can be a smart method for lots of BIG problems like. But I'll see that dragon again when I'm good and ready.. But the vamp thing I'll have to figure out how to cure it. I played the hell out of all these ES games and never got the vamps before. Should be interesting and also get me some experience points. But... (in Jerry Seinfeld whinny voice) "I don wanna be a vampire!!!"
The UI is like a cheap CD-ROM Fucken Wagnels encyclopedia. I guess it works okay. Sure would like to see my character there wearing all the cool stuff I pick up to put on her. Yeah, I have a high elf babe named "Clinta" (after Clint Eastwood and shit!) she has a narrow glare and scars. She throws a mean rod of fire at your ass, look out!
Graphically, it's a very rich game. Combat is okay...visually excellent. I'd say this is the best ES yet, easily. Good times ahead!

 

[Walter Kittel]

Got tired of having dragons continually roast my Redguard character's nuts so decided to ditch that character at around level 10 and restarted with a Dark Elf character (with 50% fire resistance). So far, so good. I tried playing in the same style as Oblivion but I found my Redguard simply was too weak on later levels, perhaps because of too much reliance on my companion during combat.
Playing a mix of main, Companion quests, and miscellaneous quests (usually in alternating fashion). I tend to use the companion only as a mule and in limited combat situations. Use of the 'wait here' command is allowing my character to build levels faster. My Redguard did not have a Stone activated which probably did not help either. Currently running with a Warrior Stone property active. This character relies much more on Destruction magic and ranged combat when compared to most of my Oblivion play throughs. Fire and Shock spells were pretty effective in the lower levels but are beginning to lose some of that effectiveness at my current level. Need to pursue some spell or perk upgrades in Destructive magic.
Not sure if I should back the Imperials of Stormcloaks. (???) Running into a few ethical choices here and there in the game but I generally try to play like a boy scout. I already know that my character will have to become a dick if I take up the Thief or Dark Brotherhood quests (at least based on Oblivion.) Ran into some of those Thalmor pricks and wanted to kill them on the spot, but refrained.
One thing that I found giants were good for was fighting dragons. If a dragon appears reasonably near a giant's encampment then lure the dragon to the camp and the giant(s) will dispatch the dragon in fast order. Then all you have to do is search the dragon for goodies and absorb the dragon soul while barely having to lift a finger.
- Walter.

 

[Sam Posten]

Tried playing it under parallels a bit last night, it crashes way too much to be fun.
The sloppy walking animation / ice skating was getting on my nerves, didn't we solve this technical issue 15 years ago?
Still haven't gotten too far, if anyone can tell me about the difference on stealing that haggling potion I'd appreciate it, it seems I'm missing something obvious or the game is just dumb like that. "Take anything we have BUT NOT THAT!"
Did anyone buy the awesome looking hardcover book? I don't ever buy cheat guides but this one looks tempting.

 

[dmiller68]

OK, so last night was epic battle. I'm working my way to this location way off in one corner of the map escorting a dog. I lost my partner in the city. I think she stayed in the castle. So I see a couple dragons flying overhead as I approach this fort. Not thinking it is a big deal as I have found as long as I don't attack they leave me alone. As I approach the steps two spirit warrior types attack me. No problem what I didn't know is this stupid dog attacked a giant behind me. Then a saber-tooth tiger jumps in the mix. I'm starting to get worried at this point. I start moving to the rocks and pull out the bow to help get the tiger off the dog as he is now double teamed. Then a dragon lands in the middle of this and attacks everything. So I just sit back in the rocks and fling arrows as fast as I can...

I Take down the two Spirit warrior guys first....
Then take care of the saber-tooth... Dog is holding on and everyone seems focused on him...
Dragon comes next... I take a couple hits but down he goes... Hit level 30 in archery at this point...
Then after a long time I take out the giant. I have had my tail handed to me most times with the giants but I survive.

I went up one whole level with this battle... Crazy time and I was so surprised I made it.

This game is officially grown on me, I can't wait to get home tonight!

 

[Walter Kittel]

Still haven't gotten too far, if anyone can tell me about the difference on stealing that haggling potion I'd appreciate it, it seems I'm missing something obvious or the game is just dumb like that. "Take anything we have BUT NOT THAT!"

I'm not certain which potion (where in the game?) you are referencing, but if it is a quest item then I doubt that you can steal it. Just move on is my advice.
- Walter.

 

[Sam Posten]

Still haven't gotten too far, if anyone can tell me about the difference on stealing that haggling potion I'd appreciate it, it seems I'm missing something obvious or the game is just dumb like that. "Take anything we have BUT NOT THAT!"

I'm not certain which potion (where in the game?) you are referencing, but if it is a quest item then I doubt that you can steal it. Just move on is my advice.
- Walter.

It's right at the begining, you get the key to hansel and gretels stormcloak's hut, she lies down on the bed and says take everything we have and he tells you he'd like to see a dragon but not up close. It's right after you pick which of the three totem poles you want to have activated. You can take every piece of gold in the house, but if you take the potion of haggling right out in the open they both attack you.

 

[joshEH]

By the way, if you're consistently overburdened, take a look at the food you're hoarding. Some of that food is heavy.
At one point, I had the damnedest time trying to figure out why I was so loaded down, then I noticed that sack of 284 carrots, 172 green apples, 348 red apples, 98 cabbages, 276 tomatoes... The next fight I got into where my health got below 25%, the cave bear was kind enough wait a tic, as I enjoyed a quick winter's feast of a few hundred fruits and veggies. I almost wish there was an in-menu animation.
Now, I'm still a compulsive food-hoarder, but I cook all the damn time (although I'm a little worried about my sodium intake; aren't there any other seasonings in Tamriel?), and when caught in a bind, I chow down like a Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest-champion.
Also -- recently had to pour 40oz of Nordic mead on the ground in memory of my first horse. She survived an encounter with a dragon (in which she fought valiantly), multiple sabrecats, wolves, and bears, a brush with a giant, and Lord knows how many bandits, but "Princess Allie" got taken down easily by an ice wraith not far outside Whiterun.
I'm Level 13, haven't done the main quest past meeting the Greybeards, have two-dozen-plus (maybe three dozen, now) named quests in my log, another dozen or so under "Miscellaneous," and I've still only one visited major city, and have a whole lot of blank space left on the map. I never in my wildest imaginings thought I would ever say this, but Mass Effect 3 can take its sweet old time in getting here.

 

[Ruz-El]

I'm at level 21, have yet to meet the greybeards, join or meet with any guilds. It's ridiculous! I'm doing a bunch of miscellanius quests to build up my guy and my moneys. I've bought a house so I can store all that food, ingrediants and ingots so I can binge alchemy, cook and smith and then sell sell sell for gold! I've been walking everywhere too so I got a lot of map uncovered, but hardly have visited the locations ha ha. I've got a city as home base, but have to find that theives guild so I can get started proper.

After hours of playing, the chest is still getting tight when facing a dragon, and this morning an giant. Phew! amazing game

 

[joshEH]

BTW, Russell -- which system are you playing on? If the 360, shoot me your gamertag, and I'll add you.
And yeah -- I own Breezehaven (or whatever it's called) in Whiterun, and got it fully pimped yesterday. It's the fear of the companions dying that keeps me hoarding them at home. I plan on getting the pet dog and sending him back to the house immediately. There is absolutely no way that dog is allowed to die.
Also, I'm pretty sure I "shouted" a large decorative Dwemer strut into the back of the head of a Falmer Gloomlurker. I may never do anything cooler again.

 

[dmiller68]

Where did you go to buy the furniture for the house in Whiterun. I bought the house but haven't found anyone to clean up the spiderwebs or new furniture. I'm scared of bed bugs in the ratty old bed I have.

 

[Walter Kittel]

Where did you go to buy the furniture for the house in Whiterun. I bought the house but haven't found anyone to clean up the spiderwebs or new furniture. I'm scared of bed bugs in the ratty old bed I have.

The dude you purchased the house from in Dragonreach (Jarl's assistant - can't recall the name) will provide furnishings via a dialog option.
I switched from Warrior Stone to Magic Stone and building up my Destruction and Alteration skills currently. Pretty satisfying setting wolves on fire. (PETA probably would not approve. ) I didn't spend much time on the game last night but decided to just explore and start filling in the map with an occasional battle with bandits, etc.
Things of note:
- Ran into some imperial soldiers last night who tried to rob me - so I showed them the business end of a fire spell. Kind of surprised that soldiers would engage in such larceny.
- Walking up some ancient stone steps a column on my left began to glow and then discharged a massive electrical bolt that left me watching my corpse 'rag doll' down the stairs.
- The woman that runs the show in Riften makes the Thalmor look like Jimmy Stewart by comparison. I have a feeling that her and I are going to see each other again before the game concludes.
- Walter.

 

[Radioman970]

I noticed that about food too. and I don't think it matters about how good the food revives you.
Had a ball yesterday, I'm venturing to the college in hopes they'll help me cure my vamp-itis (don't tell me if it's futile, I won't to find out myself). I came across a light house that seems to have problems. Took a couple of journals that were laying in there but I'm going to take them back so I don't forget where they came from. I'm having a lot of problems keeping up with all the quests I have lined up. (played game a bit)..well, just went in there and found what the problem was in the lighthouse. It's a bit much for me right now. Found my way to the college and it's pretty breathtaking. Reminds me of some of the places in Morrowind. Oblivion was missing this kind of breathtaking architecture. Or I just didn't see anything that made me go, aaaaaahhhhhh... At a distance I knew the college was going to be something special. Looks like a pipe organ up on the hill from a distance. Oh! On the way I found a statue that cured my diseases...wondering if that means the vamp thing too... hope so. I actually think it did. So worthwhile trip! Next, will be exploring the college.
You know, I loved the monastery place (where they show you the Shout! shout! let it all out! and stuff) ...looks amazing on the outside. But the inside seems smaller and much much less impressive. I'm afraid that may be a problem for this game. Lazy interior design. Still, the outsides of places is all kinds of stunning.