Just a quick video of my 2nd first encounter with a Frost Dragon on my archer character.

“2nd first” meaning the first time I encountered this guy things didn’t go so well. I tried dodging his frost attack by weaving between this patch of trees, and they were a little thin to block the full impact. Plus dragons are wicked smart, and before I realized it he had crawled quickly to the edge of the trees, snaked his head around one, and gobbled me up! He proceeded to shake me a few times then threw me a good fifty yards across the clearing!

I actually saw a couple dragons flying around together earlier in my travels, but I managed to hide from them, having not yet built up my enchantment on my bow, or learned enough smithing to improve the quality. So this was actually my first world combat encounter with a random dragon.

I have played most archetypes in Skyrim and several variations from battlemage to full mele and I find archery probably the most challenging. In the video I say “weak,” though I don’t really mean that. More like “vulnerable.” (I play a stealth type so wear Elven armor at the moment.) You really have to be aware of your surroundings and make use of sneak, dodge behind cliffs, trees, rocks, etc.

But archery in Skyrim is probably the most intuitive simulation I’ve ever encountered. Plus the ability to slow time when you zoom in for precisions strikes really makes for some exciting scenarios.

The voice over was for my sis who I’ve been trying to persuade to finally check out the Elder Scrolls. Couldn’t be a better game to start with, Skyrim is awesome!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4pLbmtzCX8

Looks like that dragon got...

...iced!

*ba-dum-tssss!*

Ha! He was pretty tough though. Need to search out the soft spots, like the couple I got down his gullet as he went to blast me.

I still can't get over how epic combat is in Skyrim. I mean here I am at the top of this mountain, with all this detailed landscape and life happening all around, yet I'm able to pan around quickly to keep a bead on a dragon as it swoops high speed over the range.

Definitely a giant leap forward in my experience.

but was it as awesome as a sweet roll?

Hmmm, a tough call. That sweet roll is so full of glistening golden brown goodness, it almost appears to be a superior form of life.

So I don't upload many videos; need to figure out the right dimensions and compression to use for high def. The source is full 1080p, and I used the Xvid codec which they say should work, so I'm not sure. Maybe I need to letter box it into something other than 16:9?

Anyway, I am pretty blown away by the scale of the world in Skyrim. I have played most games available and while there are several with good graphics, most have been confined to indoor environments due to the difficulties in getting smooth performance out of large, open, persistent outdoor worlds. Bethesda really has 1-upped the industry on this one.

The new engine really is one of the most spectacular achievements in technical optimization and artistic wizardry I have ever seen. The attention to detail is stunning. I mean you can't tell so well since like I said, the vid didn't upload in high def (going to try re-uploading), but when the dragon swoops down you actually FEEL it. The wind rushes past you and it kicks up dust, the camera sort of shakes, and there's like motion blur and other screen effects going on as well. Very cinematic.

Plus the frost breath? Seriously potent particles there. After 20+ years as an avid video gamer I really just have to take a step back and have me a little Gilgamesh moment here. How far we have come. Open world combat on this scale with this level of realism and smoothness of play is really something special.

The video was nice, it's definitely good to show to someone who thinks about getting the game


At the moment i have 100% Frost resist, but i didn't find a single Frost Dragon since... they must know it and are hiding ^^

Thanks! Yeah, I need to study up on frost resist concoctions for my alchemy. Didn't have any and I was getting quick froze pretty bad that fight. Healing potions help warm me back up some but that breath is CHILLY! =)