Skyrim

[Teal]

I saw that door, and thought it was a dungeon door. Didn't want to get into anything like that at the time. But I saved in there. Will try it out later.

[Leadfoot5]

I have never played an RPG game before. No D&D as a kid, never made it more than 10 minutes into ZORK, nothing... But given all of the hype, I traded in some games this weekend and gave it a shot.

Wow. Just wow. Immersive is a great way to describe the game. From what I am reading in this thread, I must be barely scratching the surface of what an RPGamer does in these games, but it's still great fun. I'm trying to stick to the main missions since I'm getting sucked into the story line. Just finished the embassy mission, and I'm at Level 7. I'm putting all my level-ups into Magic, trying to avoid using any weapons at all - not easy - but I'm determined to be a bad-ass mage. Nevertheless, I've learned that running from an enemy is a perfectly acceptable strategy when just trying to get from point A to point B.

I'm really hoping that I will find a recipe book at some point so I can learn how to mix ingredients to make something new. Seems like a mage should know how to do that.

[Danimal]

I'm really hoping that I will find a recipe book at some point so I can learn how to mix ingredients to make something new. Seems like a mage should know how to do that.

I've found several recipes in the form of notes but no book containing multiple ones yet. Speaking of books you can get lost for hours if you start reading them all. I came across one last night that was 20 pages long, that's pretty big IMO for a game like this.

My build is a one handed battle mage for lack of a better term. My main attack is flames and a nice sword that saps magicka from the enemy.

[MizzouRah]

I've read if you load the x360 game to the HD, there is a bug and you won't get the HD textures?

[JOZ]

I installed mine on the hard drive. Everything looked pretty good to me. Guess I'm in for a treat if the visuals will be getting better.

Coolest thing I've done so far: I started the Evergreen (?) quest in Winterrun. After completing the first step, I had to make a pretty long hike to get to the next place. I had my trustee companion Sven with me. We came across a Giant that was standing by a large fire. I saved right before we tried to take him down. He destroyed us. His death blow knocked me way up in the air above everything. Next time we just snuck around and then ran past him.

After I completed the quest, I (Sven was killed during the quest) was headed back and heard a loud "roar" and the ground seemed to be shaking. I had to see what it was so I headed to the top of a nearby hill and looked around. Saw a dragon flying around fairly close. I wanted a better look so I climbed up the next hill and got a good vantage point. He was circling this vally. After several passes he all of the sudden turned towards me and was on the attack. I ran like a scared puppy all the way back to the forest and fell down the side of a hill. He finally left me alone.

[Danimal]

This is a spoiler of sorts I guess if we consider the cool quest we find spoilers.

So I'm delivering a diary back to someone I can't even recall the town and the guards are going on about a dog. So I talk to the guy looking for the dog and he wants me to find the dog on the road, he wants a companion. Sounds like a quick way to make some cash. I go to the road and the dog comes up and starts talking to me. Wants me to help him settle a dispute between himself and his master. Sure I'll help the little dog, Ok he says I know a cult who worships Vile near this spot.

A cult?? Ok we're off. I follow this dang dog around the wilderness for 15 minutes and he leads me to a cavern. Inside a cult of vampires. I clear them out and now this Vile guy, I assume he is a God not real clear on that wants me to traverse half the world to find an axe.

What I thought was a 5 minute quest has turned into a 2 hour adventure and I am not even done. Teach me to never overlook the things that look dull because you never know what is coming up.

[sportdan30]

As I suspected, this game looks, feels, and plays better on the 360. Slowly, I'm becoming more and more impressed. I started over of course and this time I followed my companion to Riverwood rather than separating from him and wandering aimlessly. Now, I have a direction with which way to go. Of course, I can go off on my own but still realize what objectives I have. Since I'm new to RPGs, I didn't realize you couldn't necessarily carry everything without it weighing you down. I was wondering why I was moving so slow! So, I dropped quite a few weapons and a shield. Any other tips for this newbie?

[TCrouch]

Oh Lord....tips?

http://www.gameplayer.com.au/things-i-w ... ng-skyrim/

Talk to EVERYBODY. Even overhearing random conversations can lead to amazing things to do.

If you see a marker on your compass--explore it.

Play however you want, but get a grip on it early. You don't want to have 7 perks invested in magic, then find out you'd rather sword-and-board it.

If you do anything non-magic related, I'd say climb that smithing tree quickly. My player on PC had some ridiculous "Flawless" Elven Armor and weapons by the time I went to fight my very first dragon. Consequently, I was practically a blender when I fought anything because I was able to craft items so much better than I'd typically find. Being able to upgrade your weapons or armor 4 or 5 levels can almost double damage ouput or mitigation.

Explore. Seriously. Don't quick travel unless you're going across the entire freaking map or something. You'll level up skills like crazy just walking around on foot running into things.

Talk to everybody. I'm just makin' a point...

[sportdan30]

Thanks Terry. Great tips. How many quests are there by the way?

[TCrouch]

Infinite. They literally never end.

The main 'story' quests end eventually, but NPCs and bounties will always be offered for randomly generated bad guys in any of the locations.

Just as a funny aside...here's a shot of the strategy guide that my wife picked up (she has her own copy of the game and likes to complete everything, so this should be entertaining seeing how long it takes her):



Yes...it's over 650 pages.

[RobVarak]

I got the collectors edition strategy guide, and it is absolutely beautiful. Great illustrations and it clocks in at 700+ with a couple of pull-out full color maps.

[XXXIV]

I got the collectors edition strategy guide, and it is absolutely beautiful. Great illustrations and it clocks in at 700+ with a couple of pull-out full color maps.

Geek.

The game is absolutely brilliant.

[Teal]

Took the words right outta my mouth, Alex...

[XXXIV]

Took the words right outta my mouth, Alex...

It had to be said.

[Danimal]

I don't know about the rest of you but I'm enjoying hearing my friends stories as much as playing. I'd vote for making this thread open to people posting stories and cool quests without spoiler warnings now.

[davet010]

Oi dragon - get that stitched.

Ah, what did I do before I met Lydia...dragon anti-aircraft gun and all around factotum. We were just out for a pleasant evening stroll/nature walk near Eldergreen Sanctuary to pick up some sap (plant sap, not a daft bloke or whatever other disgusting thing you were thinking) when some dragon who'd been circling about decided to rough us up....but hold on. Lydia gunned him onto the ground then yelled 'hit him' at me, so my lvl 9 Redguard charged in and let him have it. Cue tea and medals for the two of us (well, mainly me, but then I AM a Thane), and a skip off hand in hand to the sanctuary.

I've now spent more time on this than I ever did on Oblivion.

[RallyMonkey]

Ugh. You guys are killing me. Not typically my type of game, although I did get into Oblivion for a short time, but all this is making me want to see what the fuss is about.

Here's my question. I'm not a big magic, sorcery guy. In doing some research, am I correct that if I created an Imperial that I could play the game with little magic and more of a fighter or am I incorrect?

[Rodster]

Here's my question. I'm not a big magic, sorcery guy. In doing some research, am I correct that if I created an Imperial that I could play the game with little magic and more of a fighter or am I incorrect?

When I was playing Oblivion I remember playing as a warrior type so you can choose different classes. I hate magic too, just give me a big freaking sword and i'm happy.

[Gurantsu]

I wasn't going to get it, even though I liked all previous Eldar Scrolls games, but after all the great reviews and prompting by a couple friends I took the plunge. I'm glad I did! The game world seems so much more alive, and has a sort of Conan or Elric vibe to it. Plus the main quest is much less intrusive then Oblivion's, which I did not like at all. You don't feel wierd venturing off on your own.

I made a Nord, mostly one handed fighting with a bit of magic for healing purposes, and a decent shot with a bow to soften them up a bit. I'm going to start working on his smithing as Terry suggested, although for now I'm finding or buying all I need.

I had the fair Lydia, but sadly she was killed when we went to rescue Sven. I thought about reloading, but decided to push on alone. Besides, its Eldar Scrolls, I can visit her perfectly preserved body any time I want!

So how do you buy a house anyway? I didn't see anyone selling one.

[FifaInspected]

Spent more time with this yesterday than any other RPG ever. All I can say is "Wow... what fun!!"

[JOZ]

I killed my first dragon last night(not counting the first one that you have the help of the army) with the help of my new companion Lydia. I was a little surprised at how easy it seemed. I'm not sure I even used a health potion. If I did, I only used 1. Seems like they would much more difficult. I've read there are more difficult ones. Just surprised even the lower dragons were that easy. I've had more problems with the trolls. No chance against the giants right now.

A couple of things I have very small issues with right now are the lack of hotkeys and the map. I wish there were more hotkeys. I have one set for potions and the other set for my bow. Favorite list is ok, but I could use a couple more hotkeys. I also wish the map was more detailed as far as roads. And can anyone read the road signs? It's really hard to make out what some of them say. I wander if it has something to do apparent "install bug", but everything else look good to me.

These are very, very small gripes to an unbelievable game.

[Brando70]

I got the collectors edition strategy guide, and it is absolutely beautiful. Great illustrations and it clocks in at 700+ with a couple of pull-out full color maps.

That should be titled Harry Potter and the Quest to Lose One's Job, Wife, and Children.

I'm with Rally, you people suck. I have my unfinished collector's edition of Oblivion sitting on my shelf, glowing red like Rune of Sixty Dollars and Sixty Hours You'll Never Get Back, that's being obstructed by the praise this game is getting.

[TCrouch]

So how do you buy a house anyway? I didn't see anyone selling one.

After one of the first main story quests, the Jarl of Whiterun grants you permission to buy property in the city.

Talk to his right-hand guy (Avenitus or something, I forget his name) and pay him 5000 gold and you get a house next to the smith. It costs another 1000+ gold to furnish it, though, although it does come with an empty chest by default.

And funny that somebody mentioned it was a Conan-like vibe. I actually made a Nord last night, made him look like Conan and am role playing him to completely eschew magic and go completely melee. I am dual wielding dwarven axes at the moment, and had such a cool thing happen last night. I was on my way to the northwest of Whiterun for a story quest and was running on foot (naturally!). I came across some massive ruins that had like SIX FROST TROLLS in them! I killed the one at the gates....barely. I decided to avoid taking on 3 at a time and ran around it.

As I ran around, I see a ghost looking character run right by me. Didn't attack, but looked like it was high-tailing it somewhere. I chased it down and it had a talk icon, but wouldn't talk to me! Naturally, that pissed me off, so I killed him...although I'm not sure how you kill a ghost. In his ash pile, he magically dropped some armor. A full freaking suit of Ancient Nord armor that could be the most badass-looking set I've seen so far (it has like full on bear pelts underneath thick iron plates with much longer horns from the helm)...with anywhere from 10% to 30% FIRE RESISTANCE on each piece. I have something like 75% fire resistance now, and as luck would have it, climbed a mountain and did battle with a dragon shortly thereafter.

The beast kept circling around and strafing me with flame, but I was able to just stand their like a freaking Sherman tank...taking maybe 10% of my life in damage each run, taunting him through my screen. When he finally got pissed off enough to land, I hacked him to pieces in the span of 15 or 20 seconds with dual wield power attacks.

I absolutely LOVE this game. Every time I think I just did something that was the coolest thing I've seen, something comes along and trumps it the next day.

[Danimal]

Talk to his right-hand guy (Avenitus or something, I forget his name) and pay him 5000 gold and you get a house next to the smith. It costs another 1000+ gold to furnish it, though, although it does come with an empty chest by default.

Yeah before I bought it I was like who cares about furnishing it. Then when I got the keys and walked in I said this won't do. So I am out hording equipment to sell to make money for a nice lab set.

[webdanzer]

I'm early on myself, and expect to be playing this game at a leisurely pace, put it does pull some time out of you by the way it rewards exploration. You'll see something out in the distance, or maybe out of the corner of your eye, and when you go to check it out, YES, it usually IS something interesting. Rewarding and/or surprising at times, too.

Pretty neat.