Pretty much. I don't like to play anything else. I also play with over 90 mods attached to the game. In all the hours that I have played I have never joined the thieves guild either. Even in Dawnguard I only play a human not a Vampire. Playing as a Mage in Skyrim isn't the same as playing as a Mage in say, Dragon Age Origins with I love to do. As a dual swords-woman I do switch back and forth using my bow and I use the restoration "Healing" spell a lot as well. Since I always travel with a companion she is a well equipped Battlemage who tosses around Fireballs and Ice Spikes like crazed Mage.

I'm just trying to understand...

Why would you re-start the game to play as the exact same character you've already played? And how are you still having problems leveling this build?

As for the build, it's all in the perks really. I guess the point of all this is that I like the game and the character that I play. I am just not happy with the perk tree and the leveling up of one single perk at a time. It's aggravating is all. And, so I have cheated in the past. While I am not cheating with this current game that I am playing --at level 20-- it is very tempting to cheat, by leveling up my particular skill perks to the level they currently are. I fail to see how that this is difficult to understand?

What I don't understand is why you're repeatedly creating the same kind of character instead of continuing to play on the one you already have. And I'm also not understanding how you can keep allocating perks the same way each playthrough when you already know it doesn't work.

If you simply want more perks for a specific tree then train up that skill until you reach the skill level to get the perk you want (if its level locked) then work on a different non-combat skill to get to the next combat level and a choice of a new perk.

People would probably get bored really quickly if they gave you more than 1 perk at a time. By the time you hit 81 you'd probably be able to fill most (if not all) the trees.

I've had a lot of fun leveling up Light Armor. Training will only take you so far, so I'd go find a bandit archer to shoot at me. I'd stand there and take each shot, drink a health pot when needed or try and keep my restoration-heal rolling...which helps level up my restoration

Sure, it's not action pack per say...but willingly taking damage while trying not to die can be fun!
...just make sure he's all alone. It gets really exciting when his buddy comes lunging at you from the bushes while you're at half health, .


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The idea behind this method of perk-giving is to make you feel like you've been rewarded for all your hard work. Ya it's a pain in the ass, but when you see your skill finally hit 80 or 90 (or 100!) and you can put that perk point up, its just a really good feeling. Not to mention, you're forced to develop your own tactics by learning the hard way.

Instant gradification is nice in the moment...but the luster fades after a while because you didn't work for it, and your tactics also suffer. The game is meant to have an organic feeling. Organic in the sense that your playstyle will adapt a change as your character levels. At first you may need to run in circles and figure out how to divide the group of bandits to prevail. Ten levels later you may find that you don't need to do that, so your approach will change.

If done the way it was intended, then you get to say "Hey! I got my ass kicked for that perk! I EARNED IT DAMN YOU!" which is a good feeling. Makes me appreciate and value my character more

I really appreciate you sentiment. But, in the end it is still only one single perk that you can level up with. Now at a character level of 20 and a sneak skill of 40 I still can't sneak up on someone with a backstab or a cut to the throat. Even if I strip my character naked they still hear me coming. That's not fun. That's depressing. Yes, I'll sneak with my bow and sometimes get a one-shot kill, but that is if the NPC is at the right distance away. I can't even kill Ancano with that --at the current level I am. More often than not I have to open up the console and type a "killall." That idiotic Magnus staff always looses in charge, sometimes before I can even get to Ancano. I just have no interest in learning enchantments, no interest in conjuration, alchemy, or alteration. Just like with Dawnguard I have no interest whatsoever in playing as a Vampire. It just doesn't fit my Dragonborn Amazon-Nord. Still, I really appreciate the time you took to help me out.

You get more than one perk point per level. Let me give you this scenario. Assuming you start out a level 1, focusing only on leveling your stealth skill (without using any cheats or presetting your skill levels) doing it naturally, by the time you hit level 7, with a Sneak Skill at about 40, you'll be given 6 perk points, the which could be allocated like http://skyrimcalculator.com/80033. . So you can understand my confusion when you say "in the end it is still only one single perk that you can level up with". By character level 20, your skill trees should look something like http://skyrimcalculator.com/80033.
Would you mind clarifying what you meant so that I might better offer you aid?

The Magnus Staff, with use, will deplete. If you gather Soul Gems filled with a soul (and not empty) you will be able to replenish that staff on your own without needing to learn anything related to the Enchant Skill. I'm not sure how it's done on the PC, but you open your weapons inventory and click (i think the shout button), if you have filled Soul Gems in your inventory, a small menu will pop up allowing you to pick which gem to use. Different sized gems (petty, lesser, common, greater, etc) will yield a different amount of replenishment on that item.

Okay, first I'll apologize. I couldn't bring myself to read all three pages. And so....

Scanning over the first page it sounds like the OP hates waiting to level and has already played a whole lot. My suggestion is this. Go to Nexus and download the http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/14152. It is a fantastic mod that is very well taken care of by it's author on a regular basis. You can use it to level up your character if you don't want to go through the beginning stages. I use it for many reasons. Some chars I start off at low levels, some I like to start off stronger. It all depends on what the backstory of said character is.

If I'm totally wrong on this and that doesn't help you, read my first line.

And please, no bashing for using Leveler's Tower. I've played the game from front to back, I still start off from scratch and sometimes not. It just adds to the value of the game for me.

That's sooooo AWESOME! I had no idea that existed. I don't play on the PC, but I'm going to download that for the rare occasions I do upload

(I own a PC version so I can tinker with the mod kit...but I play on the 360.)

You can consider install the mod call BYOG (Balance Your Own Game). It got setting that can increase the exp you earn for your actions. This will level you up faster

Here are a screenshots of my current game: http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee378/jhallard/ScreenShot2.jpg and now http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee378/jhallard/ScreenShot3.jpg

What I am saying is this: If my One-Handed level is 60, then I would expect to have that skill tree lite up to its relative perks. The same goes with Archery, Sneak, and Light Armor --as seen in my screenshots--where there are but one or two in my case: And, that is because at character level 20 I have only received 20 perks. Basically it seems that you pretty much have to decide which skill tree that you want to concentrate on to add perks. So, at level 20 with the majority of my perk points in One-Handed, when in sneak mode--for example-- I am sneaking as if my character was at level one even if I my sneak skill is at level 40 with no perks. Therefore, the ability to sneak is still exceedingly terrible. I don't know how else to explain it?!?

If I am concentrating of One-Handed and I have leveled on-handed up to level 60 I should have 15 perks. If in the meantime my Sneak skill has leveled up to 40, then I should have 6 perks added. If my light Armor is at 36, for example, I should have 3 perks added. If my archery is at 40 skill point I should have 6 perks added. That is a of 30 perk points when I have only gained 20 from leveling up to level 20.

You're explaining it fine. What you aren't explaining is how you've played through this exact same scenario multiple times without realizing that you should invest your points more evenly, instead of putting them all in One-Handed. Also, it looks like you've invested points in every area of the One-Handed tree, which is a huge waste. Unless you plan on constantly switching weapons, you really have no need to perk each weapon type (swords, axes, maces). Even if you decide that you want to have that flexibility, investing in all those perks so early in the game is going to cripple your character in other areas. But you already know that, so why haven't you changed your perk allocation after 1000+ hours of learning that what you're doing doesn't work?

Maybe because I am an old man and I am stupid and stubborn. That's why I was cheating all those many hours ago.

OP: I agree that a more even spread may benefit you instead of investing whole-heartedly in just one. If you are using bow/dual-swords it could be wise to place perks in both and plan a play style. Bow first, move in, draw swords. Rinse and repeat. As I'm sure most folks have, I've tried many builds and anything is workable as long as you can create a strategy with that particular build. It sounds like investing all points into one-handed has left you a little lop-sided. While you may be able to put out some okay damage, your chosen weapon could be less than optimal, or your ability to absorb hits is gimped.

Don't give up. Essentially I would recommend adjusting your strategy in how you approach combat. And certainly try something new. You may surprise yourself at how much fun a new style of play can be. In most games I usually begin as a mage. Then I go for a stealther. Rarely do I go warrior. However, my orc warrior is tons of fun and I would have missed out on that had I stuck to the same builds.

Food for thought bud

I thoroughly understand. Currently I am at level 13 and I am in the Dust Man's Cairn and getting my freaking butt kicked with those one hit MF's. I have 13 skill perk points that I haven't used either. So far in this cursed cairn I have been killed at least a dozen times. And, if it wasn't for Filkas I would be opening up my console and typing in "killall." This to me isn't fun. I haven't even reached the last room yet.

That may be why: you haven't spent perk points to enhance your viability/strategy play. I too thoroughly understand your points. However, my advice stands to spend some perk points and think strategy. Everyone receives a butt-whooping now and again. If you are using the same tactics (without perk increases) over and over, it's like a dog chasing a very short tail

Experiment. Learn. Above all, practice new tactics

Edit: I have a level 40 orc that specs in one-hand, shield, and heavy armor. Went heavy armor smithing and enchant. Normally I wade through enemies like a knife through butter. I can decimate Dragon Priests within seconds. No magic (beyond candle light). I was on a particular quest the night before last where I got to the end of a cave. My hubris got the best of me fighting an ice storm casting mage. I died and was pretty astonished. My learning curve? Yep, I've got some nice Daedric Armor and a Nice Daedric Sword. Doesn't mean I won't need different tactics from time to time

I will try as you say.

I completely understand adhering to a build you know and love. I am a mage through and through (in RPG's).

Sometimes, however, it is nice to flex your arms and ask "will I have fun with something different?".

As a 65 year old, I certainly salute your gaming enthusiasm! I am 35 and I hope my love for gaming continues well in my years. You are 65 years young and even though you may have a certain build you love to play time and again, it may surprise you to take a new approach. I am breaking from my orc (PS3 is on pause as I write. I'm searching for dragon words through the Grey Beards) to show my little ones the Great Dawnguard Battle video.

What I am essentially saying is that you will find that by staying diverse and thinking outside the box, you will enjoy the game (and keep your mind sharp!) that much more. Remember, where there is a will, there is a way. Happy hunting my friend

Not putting points into sneak tree isn't helping your sneak. You can't expect to sneak up on someone without it. Also light plays a factor. It is far much more difficult to sneak during the day than it is at night. Even though I am a master of sneak, I can still be detected in day light. If I move into a shadow say for example of a tree, I will disappear (the eye will close). There is a spell and enchant called muffle. It reduces the sound and possibly negates any sound your armor makes. Also if you don't have your weapons drawn, all weapons except daggers will make noise possibly alerting the enemy.

The game isn't going to auto play for your. The enemies will move which means that you will have to move to keep up, you can't expect to stand there and slash away and still hit the target. It still happens to me.. I play on the xbox and can see why you can't move by just holding down the key.. but if that's how it's developed, something you just have to get used to. I'm by no means a master at live action playing, so if I have to flat out fight something, I can still miss unless the target is stunned, especially when doing power attacks.

As someone else mentioned, putting all those points into 1 hand can be a waste. You need to figure out your play style, which is dual wield, and then pick your weapon of choice. That will allow you to put points else where, such as sneak.

This is my 3rd assassin toon, so it's not uncommon for people to play the same class over. Except each time I try to perfect my build and slightly change my play style, such as adding in conjuration. Every time I think about playing another style such as pure magic or warrior, I think to myself, I'm not sure if I could pull it off. I just like to sneak around rather than rush into a room or to blast things away.

Don't get discouraged. The game can be difficult at lower levels but once you learn how the game works, you'll catch on.

After reading all the posts and everything, it seems you're one of those "instant gratification" types of people and that is not really what Skyrim is. This is why you're having troubles with the game. You're trying to make it out to be something it's not.

Personally I think he will enjoy it, once he finds his niche. Again, I think a lack of perk allocation and strategy based on his style of play is what is causing trouble.

Then these games aren't for you, bud

And you know this because.........? I just checked STEAM and it states that I have "1302 hours played."

"Not for me, huh?!?" I am by my very nature a bit of a nonconformist--even in life. That said, I am not your typical gamer who plays true to the game. (The fact is that I have never ever played a vanilla game of Fallout New Vegas, Skyrim or DAO.)

I have also played EGOSOFTs' X3 Terran Conflict which by its design was an exploration/strategy game. My problem with it was that is was extremely slow and tedious. However, I had perhaps as much time playing it as I have with Skyrim and [still have] with Dragon Age Origins.

I'm amazed you played it for so long and complain about the stats not rising fast enough.
My first and only playthrough lasted about 320 hours, I pretty much did everything and explored everywhere, marked all locations off on my notebook when I visited them.
It was sorta rushed and not really how I should have played it, I did get most of my skills high enough.

Anyway for my next playthroughs which I started the other day as "Ned Stark" and then "Khaleesi" I will be roleplaying as the actual characters and not fast traveling anywhere, just experiencing the game fully.
I can't suggest for you do the same as you probably find that boring and slow.
Which is weird considering how much time you spend on these games over and over again.