» Sat Oct 13, 2012 11:18 am After making at least 50 – 60 builds I have identified 4 that I enjoy the most. One is my main character; the other three are secondary characters. Note that the secondary characters have strict limitations for RP reasons and just to straight up make it more interesting.
Main Character: Shadow Spell-Sword
Concept: After playing many hours I have identified several ways that I really enjoy playing. One of the more powerful, diverse and more fun builds is the spell-sword, a combination of one handed and magic. A second favorite play style is the sneaky play style of sneaking into position and killing enemies without being seen. A third is a sword and board-build, this build makes for very intense and more tactical melee combat. And lastly a pure mage build is also super fun and diverse.
The concept for this build as it is my main is to combine all of these. This may seem quite hard as perks will seemingly be widespread but I it has proven very capable across all levels.
Name: Darr’Methius
Race: Dunmer – reason for this is that aesthetically they look awesome and their background and origins line up with a sneaky character and destruction magic use.
Major skills: Remember that this build is designed to be diverse and therefore does not focus heavily on any skills but uses different skills in varying situations.
Sneak: Only 3 perks in this tree, bare minimum to increase sneak w one-handed weapons and be stealthy enough to sneak in dark areas.
One-Handed: Upgraded as skill increased. No specific weapon upgrades. No dual wield upgrades.
Block: Upgrade as skill increased. I stick to the right side of the tree for bashing.
Destruction: Upgrade as skill increased. I stick with fire, and use runes to set up ambushes.
Alteration: This one may seem strange but it offers extra protection with the mage armor spells that is really important early on for this build and offers a plethora of cool and useful utility spells (paralyze, detect life/dead, breathing water and of course my favorite, telekinesis)
Secondary skills: Some of these skills are used as much as major skills but are not upgraded with perks as much.
Restoration: I put perks in this only when an extra one was available, this skill will help get through the harder situations.
Light armor: I put a few points in this when I noticed I was getting to squishy for my liking.
Illusion: I use this solely for the muffle skill. No perks. I may, at much higher levels get quiet casting but not sure.
Smithing and Enchanting: Up right side for smithing and down the middle for enchanting.
Tactics:
As you can see from all of the skill choices there are a lot of options. In darkness sneak and illusion can be used to surprise stronger enemies. Destruction can be used to take out enemies at a distance and of course when enemies close in casting a mage armor spell then pulling out sword and shield offer optimal protection while still being very mobile with the light armor. Restoration can be used as needed.
Quest lines:
The sweet thing about this character and second reason for it being my main is it is applicable to every single quest line in the game.
Secondary Character #1: Pure Mage
Concept: This build strictly uses magic, never picks up a weapon or wears any armor, never uses anything but magic or cunning to defeat an enemy. These restrictions make some battles, particularly early on very challenging but the build can be very powerful. The goal is to completely max out all magic skills and learn the master spells for all schools.
Name: Maerlyn the Ancient
Race: Altmer – This race because it starts with more magicka. Also altmer are long lived, however I give him a massive beard and long hair making it hard to decipher his race without knowing.
Major Skills:
Destruction: All perks, except the ones at the end of fire, ice and lightning.
Restoration: Don’t need the stamina one or dual wield, pretty much all the rest.
Alteration: All except the dual wield and increased length.
Illusion: All
Conjuration: Summoning perks.
Enchanting: Straight up the middle.
Secondary Skills:
Sneak: Some sneaking can be handy to get into position, 1 perk. Later levels you will not need this. You can just run right in and own.
Tactics:
I tend to run around with a mage armor and conjuration spell early levels and cast both simultaneously when in a confrontation. I then switch to illusion or destruction to start wreaking havoc.
Quest lines:
Mages guild, DG, and main quest line. Miscellaneous quests as well.
Secondary Character #2: Weapon Master
Concept: The concept of this build is to be the most badass weapon enthusiast in Skyrim. This character will never sneak, and will never use any magic. He solely relies on his heavy armor, bow, shield, one-handed AND two-handed weapons. The aim is to be equally proficient in all combat skills as he progresses.
Name: Grom Hell-Scream
Race: Orsimer – This race was chosen because of the lack of restoration. Without restoration berserk becomes super handy in tight spots where you are forced to just hack your way out of a nightmare. Also orcs are just badass.
Major Skills:
One handed: all perks, can pick a preferred weapon type or not. Later on dual wield can be used as well but initially a shield will be used with one handed to up that skill and for added protection.
Block: all perks
Two-handed: all perks can pick a preferred weapon or not.
Archery: up the left side
Heavy armor: perk up with any extra perks
Smithing: up the right side
Secondary Skills:
Enchanting: Wait! Isn’t that a magic skill? Well technically it probably is considered magic but having a personalized set of badass armor is too hard to resist so there’s that.
Quest lines:
Companions, DG, orc-sronghold, mercenary quests and main quest line. Miscellaneous quests as well.
Secondary Character #3: Arcane Assassin/Sometimes Thief
Concept: This character uses shadows and illusion to remain undetected while keeping track of enemies with detect life/dead spells. This character should never be seen (in a hostile environment) and will leave a dungeon of enemies dead without ever being seen. Not being seen will be very challenging at the beginning levels, this may take patience (waiting for dark or staring at enemy until opportunity presents itself or sometimes going the long way around to get a good angle to attack from). This character will use poisons to paralyze, slow and kill enemies. Even reverse-pick pocketing targets with poisons. This character will also use daggers and bows to kill enemies.
Name: Hides-in-Shadows
Race: Argonian (should have guessed from name) – This race was chosen because they are a very sneaky race and I think of them as having very few qualms about killing enemies by any means necessary, even ways some would consider cowardly.
Major Skills:
Sneak: pretty much all of them
Alchemy: stronger poison perks
Illusion: for quiet casting, muffle, invisibility and the odd frenzy spell for certain situations (yes you can achieve most of these with alchemy but I like quiet casting and its nice to be able to turn invisible at any time.
Alteration: primarily for telekinesis for stealing from a distance and detect life/dead spells.
Archery: for sniping, up the right side.
Secondary Skills:
Pickpocket: for…. Pickpocketing!
One handed: just the increased damage perks
Smithing and enchanting: level slowly perk later.
Quest lines:
DB, TG, DG, and main quest line. Miscellaneous quests as well.
Anyways those are my favorites. What are yours?
