This game is really doing my head in now. It seems like every single thing I try to do in the game develops some sort of bug.

I'm now trapped as a vampire with no way to cure it. There are only 2 ways, one of which is to turn into a werewolf. However that won't work, even though I joined the companions and I'm also wearing the unequippable "cursed" ring that's supposed to randomly turn you into a werewolf. I've had this over a week but it's never happened yet.

The only other option is to do a quest with Falion at Morthal. You have to fill a Black Gem with a soul and go back to him to perform a ritual to remove the vampirism. I already had a black gem and killed some people and it said it was filled with a "lesser" soul. I went to Falion but he said it was useless unless it was filled! WTF!
I tried again, same outcome. So then I decided to buy another Black Gem from him. I checked it in my inventory and it was underneath the previous one but said "empty" of course. I went and killed lots of bandits, outlaws, necromancers etc but the new gem still said empty. I went back to Falion, yeah you guessed, he said it's useless ( Yeah my thoughts exactly,thanks Bethesda ). I went out again, killed some more, checked my inventory and the new gem had disappeared completely!! I had to go back and buy another one. Tried again, same result over and over again, so I'm now permanently stuck as a vampire meaning I can't go near any towns because as soon as I'm seen every single character starts attacking me!! GAME OVER!!!

Id like to think the patch was going to fix this but I very much doubt it. Looks like I'll be looking for a refund some time soon.

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Did you use the soul trap spell to trap the soul?

I enchanted my sword with the soul trap spell ages ago. It's filled up all my other soul gems but won't do the black one.

Did you drink the werewolf blood? The option to turn to a werewolf should be in your magic menu under powers. If its not there then I don't think you drank the blood. If you don't want to be attacked as a vampire you have to feed. You're probably a stage four, meaning your in full vampire mode. Feed on a sleeping victim to revert to stage one and you should be able to walk among the public without retaliation.

Reading this, I do not think it is a bug. People cannot be soul trapped if my memory serves correct. You can only soul trap monsters and wildlife. I am pretty sure I tried to soul trap a person with Azura's gem and it still said no gem big enough. Have you tried trapping a monster? I also think he says it was useless because I also think you need a greater or grand soul in the gem... I don't think the quest worked for me with petty, lesser, or common.

I am trying to remember but I think that is all correct, I cannot verify as I do not have another character to that point yet.

black gems can trap human souls, I've tried it many times. how about buying the spell soul trap. I hope it helps you

that is not a bug i hate to say...vampirism is probably the most challenging
curse to deal with in skyrim. falion will not do the ritual if you are on stage 4
vampirism. joining the companions isnt enough as you have to be in the circle
and participate in the ritual, and drink the werewolf blood. beast form is then
in your magic options.

good luck

I've just about had enough of this now. The whole vampirism thing has totally ruined what little enjoyment I was getting from this game. I've finally filled the gem but can't take it back as I'm a stage 4 vampire and I'll be damned if I can find anyone sleeping to feed on. Does nobody ever sleep in Skyrim? I've been all over the map and at all different times and no-one is asleep, everywhere I go I just get attacked relentlessly. No fun whatsoever, I hate this rubbish.

I'm loving playing as a vampire. I've learned which houses in each town have people that sleep alone (less people to risk waking up when I break in) and I never have any problems feeding at all. I've even pickpocketed the keys to my favorite houses. I can also command followers to get in a bed and feed on them. Also the Dark Brotherhood has no problem with me being stage 4, and they need to sleep too.

People in this game tend to go inside at night, but they don't go to bed right away. Midnight is typically a safe bet for easy feeding. The one time I have ever been in a sticky situation where I turned stage 4 in the middle of a town by accident, I had a lot of fun sneaking my way to safety.

Being a level 4 vampire gives you an invisibility spell. "Embracing the Darkness" I think is what it's called. Use that when you get near a town and enter a home around 2am. This will almost guarantee a sleeping NPC. Then just feed, walk out and speak to Falion when you can. Problem solved.

If you need a filled Black Soul gem, I came across on at Hag Rock Redoubt, southwest of Markarth. But it could be different for others.

People need to calm down when it comes to playing as a vampire. Sure it's not all you'd expect, but really... calm down, play the game and enjoy it. Don't become one if you don't like it. Too many threads about "I hate vampirism". Yeah... we get it already. Smh

I've tried everything. I've even got the strategy guide and I've followed it to the letter. I've done everything perfectly but can't get rid of it. I've taken the filled gem to Falion who said to meet him. I've done exactly that and fed first but he will not do anything. The game is broken, plain and simple!!

Oh and Kain Reaver, I did not choose to become a vampire, it just happened after I'd cleared out a lair. I would definitely never have chosen it in a million years. It's just ridiculous. Why not just give us a potion that cures it or let the shrines cure it? They do say when activated that they cure ALL diseases after all. Well they don't!

For the ring to work, u need to have already drinken the blood. If you have drinken the blood and your ww power is on ur list but the ring is still not working, try reequipping it.

That is odd. You do get a message in the upper left hand of your screen when you have been diseased (I get it when those skeevers disease me) so either you never saw the message (as you get 2 warnings before the third changes you) or you are bugged out.

And the shrines are supposed to cure you but I do not think it can after you are a full fledged vampire.

And people, don't blame him if he doesn't want to be a vampire. The problem here is not being one, it is that they cannot do the quest that is supposed to have them turn back.

Not a bug, sorry.

So you've actually seen the problem on my system and run a diagnostic and you know without question it isn't a bug!? Wow, you should work for Bethesda QA department!!!

The Oblivion forum is that way.

Sorry I couldn't help it ;P

Good news. After installing the patch I went to talk to Falion again and he performed the ritual straight away this time and cured my vampirism. Phew, what a relief, that was seriously annoying and made playing the game normally practically impossible.

This wasn't listed as one of the official fixes but the patch obviously fixed it anyway because I'd done exactly the same thing loads of times before the patch and it just wouldn't work. After the patch it worked first time no problem. Just need a fix for the Winterhold college quests now, especially the Main quest "Elder Scroll" which isn't working meaning the Main quest is impossible to advance.

Black soul gems are only filled by killing innocent people

I've filled many a black soul gem with the souls of attackers such as bandits, thugs, necromancers, and so on.
Innocence is not relevant to it.

Is Falion's Gem different from a standard soul gem?

No it's just a standard Black Gem, no different to the one I already had.

Does anyone know if it's possible to edit the thread title. I want to put "NOW FIXED" but can't find any option to do that unless I'm missing something. Thanks in advance for any help/advice.

You could ask a moderator to change your thread title, or write "now fixed" or "solved" above your first post until the title gets changed.

I'm glad to hear you aren't trapped as a vampire anymore.

Thankyou.