Dragonborn brings 7 'Black Books' that over 19 new powers. 6 books have 3 options, of which you can pick one at a time with the ability to change your mind. The last book, the respec book, doesn't provide a choice. Therefore, there's up to 19 abilities split into 7 Black Books. The six books with a choice are similar to Nocturnal blessings or Paartunaax meditations, both in how they work and (arguably) relative power scale.

Compiled data edited in below. Though form and magnitudes could be more specific, everything suggests that this is pretty much complete;

You can have ONE power from each book, total 6 powers, active at any time, though they can be swapped, plus respecs. This list does not try to present them in a specific order.

From Raven Rock Mine: "THE WINDS OF CHANGE" ... video confirmed
1. "Scholar's insight"; 2 skill points instead of 1 from skill books
2. "Companions' insight"; Attacks spells and shouts do no damage to followers
3. "Lover's insight"; +10% damage to opposite six, 10% better prices from opposite six. Stacks with Speech perk and Agent of Dibella.

"The (Sallow/Shadow) Regent" (White Ridge Barrow)
1. Combat skills 10% more powerful; weapons deal 10% more, heavy armor protects 10% more, smiths are 10% more effective, etc.
2. Spells costs 10% less and enchantments 10% better.
3. Thief skills 10% better. Better sneaking, alchemy, pickpocket odds, light armor's defense, speech and lockpick.

"UNTOLD LEGENDS" (Benkongerike) ... video confirmed
1."BLACK MARKET" Summon a Dremora to act as a trader (Gold appears a measely 2K, sells ebony and glass items in one video, not affected by perks)
2. "DREMORA BUTLER" Summon a Dremora to carry your excess items (Weight capacity unknown?)
3. "BARDIC KNOWLEDGE" Magical drum appears, acting as and AoE buff to friendlies' stamina regen (Magnitude?)

"Epistolary Acumen" (From Main Story in dumner ruins with telvani guy)
1. Unrelenting force does more damage and has chance to disintegrate target
2. Fire breath spawns fire wyrm from any enemies killed for 60 seconds to help you.
3. Frost breath freezes enemies.

"Unearthed / Filament & Filigree" (Kolbjorn Barrow)
Secret of Strength — Power attacks cost no stamina for 30 seconds.
Secret of Arcana — Spells cost no magicka for 30 seconds.
Secret of Protection — You take half damage for 30 seconds.

"The Hidden Twilight" (Tel Mithryn – Given by Neloth)
Mora's Agony — Summons a field of writhing tentacles that poison foes.
Mora's Grasp — Freezes the target between Oblivion and Tamriel for 30 seconds, making them immune to all damage.
Mora's Boon — Fully restores your Health, Magicka, and Stamina.

"WAKING DREAMS" (After last boss)
Perk respec, as described below, 1 dragon soul to reset a perk tree. Doesnt affect skill level. No way to reset HMS.

Also, this is probably not black book related but wikis are listing the following 'Blessings'. Temporary or full time passive?
Blessing of Azura — Resist 10% of magic.
Blessing of Boethiah — One-handed weapons do 10% more damage.
Blessing of Mephala — Prices are 10% better.

The one at the end of raven rock mine I remember 2 of them off the top of my head.

Gives an additional skill points upon reading skills books

Cancels friendly fire damage on followers

The other one had to do with healing. I'll post after I get home from work

The third was 10% more damage to the opposite six and 10% better prices from the opposite six. - Lover's insight

One book allows you to either:
combat skills 10% more powerful
spells cost 10% less and enchantments are 10% more potent
thief skills are 10% more powerful

Ahhh, I remember lover but that's all that stuck.

And you can have only one active power?

Only one per book.

But you can change them at any time.

i just picked up one that had: Summon a dremora to buy/sell items with you, Summon a dremora to carry your excess items, some kind of drums appear and play a beat that boosts your stamina regen along with your allies around you.

I picked option 1, the black market merchant.

Just a second... you're saying that with this one active, we get one skill point per read skill book? I mean, we've got a total of 90 skill books in the game... do you understand what this means?

Actually, Dragonborn adds some new skill books. Yes, that means we can have 200 free skillups now. With some planning, hitting the level cap will be easier.

Can I have your xbox360 for an "inspection"?

So i take it there is no perk respec?

Yes there is. After defeating Miraak

Eh? I dont own an xbox. The info on new skill books is from another thread.

Got my hopes up there

There is. You have to complete Dragonborns main quest to get it.

I read this as black power books.

I heard about this too, apparently its 1 dragon soul per tree you want to respec, but the offer is recurring. So its technically a full respec given a bit of effort.

This implements the mechanics a pretty popular mod used until now, I guess its effectively deprecated.

Damn..


So, we're getting 200 skill points AND a respec. Seems like the Christmas Spirits paid a visit to a certain individual

'Lover's Insight'... M'Aiq had a totally different insight when reading this.

Yep. Though respec is only useful if your trying change a couple of perks. Because your stats(health, magicka, stamina) remain unchanged.

Correct. It affects only the perks. Not the level in the tree. In other words if I had 98 in smithing, and I had 10 perks and I wanted to "clean out that tree", I would spend 1 dragon soul and recover 10 perks, but my smithing would stay at 98. Hope that made sense.

Oh I'm perfectly fine with that

Yup its the ability I chose, having a new character and all. May open my skyrim bible and go book hunting