I have a question that I haven't seen answered anywhere.

I know you have to reach the required level in the skill before you can pick certain perks.
BUT, what I really want to know is that do you have to follow a certain structure, meaning do I first have to pick a perk that I might not want lower on the tree before I can pick the other one I want.

Essentially can I cherry pick ANY perk within a given perk tree without first having to pick a "lower tiered" one.

If still not understanding what I mean here is a fictional tree for one-handed :

first perk is 20% extra damage ---> powerful strike ---> decapitate----> flurry--->20% extra damage again.

Do I have to go in succession/order or can I just jump ahead and pick powerful strike and decapitate without first taking 20% extra damage.

I wonder cause obviously there will be perks in each tree that you want more than others and also if you can cherry pick a perk, then you can get the best out of each tree for more variety in your build.

Another way to look at my question is:

I have maxed out block skill to 100%, and I kept all the perks. Now can I just out of 10 available perks just pick ANY which one I want? Meaning I pick what I think is the best Block perks, like powerful bash and shield wall and they are on different levels on the tree structure.

I don't want to have to spend all 10 perks just to reach the "last" perk that is let's say "shield wall".

I know a convoluted post.

If you can't I hope someone makes a mod for it, it would be awesome at least for a second play through.

You need to have at least one level in the "lesser" perk to get the next one.

The perks are organized in a branching tree fashion. To reach the last perk off a certain branch you need all before them.

It wouldn't make a whole lot of sense for them to be connected if they didn't operate that way, would it?

Yeah this is one of the things thats bothering me. If for example you want to play a character that focuses on melee stealth (swords, daggers, etc) and you want to take the Assassin's Blade perk in the Stealth tree, you have to first take Deadly Aim, which would be completely useless to you if you dont use a bow. There is a flaw if people are forced to take a useless perk in order to invest in a perk they want.

the heavy armor tree has two perks, unarmed gauntlet attack and falling damage, that are a waste of two points to get to the perk which weight does not affect running speed. Thus either I'll use a stepping stone, or I'll use light armor which has good perks that max with 10 points instead of 12, and 1 less point needed on the smithing tree as well.

Frankly if you could get the "conditioning" perk as cheaply and efficiently as the light armour tree, nobody'd ever use light armour ;p

Well I was looking at the skill trees that someone had made in paint or whatever (Randalf the pink I think), in that it shows "requirements".

For example if you want "Savage strike" in one-handed you have to have reached level 50 in the one-handed skill.
That too me means that it might be the ONLY requirement, IE if you have played one-handed enough to reach level 50 you can pick that perk without having to pick the perk before it, cause you MET the requirement necessary to unlock it.

I can see they are structured into tree's but in that one it only lists requirements as in a specific skill level needed before a perk can be used.

If true then you technically don't have to chose a lesser perk before the one you want, just as long as you have the skill level.

I wish that is the case, but probably not.

Things like this I hope is the first to be modded. I understand they do it this way so you have to work for it and bla bla. Honestly though you only get 50 perks (or is it 70?) and only ONE at each level up, I don't find it "overpowering/unbalancing" to be able to choose "savage strike" from one handed if you meet the requirement.

I rather want to be able to pick what I want, so this will be the first mod (hopefully someone makes one quick) that I will choose.

Think about it, you won't become a god cause it will still take you 50 levels to reach everything you want, it would just be sporadic : 20% more fire damage, next level Savage strike one handed, next after that 30% quicker draw-time for the bow.
It's not like you can get it all at level 1.

I don't like it when I am forced to waste 2-3 perks just to get the one I want, it pisses me off.

Like that "heavy armor weigh nothing" I don't want to waste two perfectly fine perks that I could spend on more useful perks in another tree.

My question is about perks that have 2 paths leading to them, like Twin Souls in Conjuration. Do you need both paths filled to get to it?

I want to be able to have 2 reanimated zombies, but I have no desire whatsoever to pump up atronachs. I tweeted Pete about it, but no response.

You don't need both, only one.

Well, the light armor perk tree has a ton of other useful perks.

Have you checked it out, in my mind that whole tree negates the heavy armor tree completely. There is NOTHING wasted on "gauntlets of power"( made up I know) or falling damage.

It has the "light armor weigh nothing and doesn't slow you down perk" , at least 3 times armor bonuses, if using matching armor 25% and all light armor 25%. the Novice perk is also another 20% bonus that is altogether 65% right there. Then there is a possibility to increase the bonus every level going from novice to apprentice to expert etc. By the time you max out that tree you'd be mitigating damage really well with no wieght or movement penalties, this along with a perk that lets you regenerate 50% faster in stamina is ENORMOUS.
We're talking 50% here. That is something that doesn't exist in Heavy armor tree, the stamina one I mean.

I mean playing as a warrior whether you dual wield swords or play shield and sword or almost anything light armor is the best way to go cause it lets you dish out damage faster and it helps you make power attacks and ANY swings 50% more often cause of that stamina regeneration perk.

There is absolutely no reason to go with heavy armor except higher base damage mitigation and the looks of it. Perks wise, the light armor wins hands down in how you get the 50% stamina and have to use LESS perks to get it all.

if playing as a "sword and board" player I'd say light armor is the best way to go. The shield helps in mitigating damage a LOT. It can cancel out any arrow fired upon you if it hits the shield (use large shield, tada). You can bash people senseless and do 5 times damage that way, reduce all magical destruction attacks by 50% and then charge at full speed and knock enemies on their asses.
I have to say the block tree looks awesome and all perks in it are actually useful.
So with the 50% faster stamina regeneration you'd be a powerhouse of damage dealing and mitigating with a shield.

And that's just not true at all, is it? I'm sure plenty of people would still take Light over Heavy even if Conditioning was easier to get

light armor with enchantments... smithed light armor with enchantments. Should be interesting. Also means you don't need to raise your base skills as high, for example sneak/stealth could be given 3 points instead of 5, and use stuff with sneak plus enchantments to make up the rest, allowing skill points to be redistributed to other areas.

assuming one can 'powerlevel' sneak by putting a weight on the keyboard button and walking away for awhile while hidden, sneak should 'level' fairly easily anyways.

Ha, I forgot about enchantments.
With that you could increase damage protection even further, so all light armor perks (useful) and then enchantments on your favorite light armor you'd be just as good in warding off as you would in heavy armor.

Do we have confirmation via a source, or someone who has played?

(not doubting you, I'd just like to see it for myself)

Totally agree : /