Okay so I think I'm going to try for a third time to hit level 81 with a character. I'm thinking if I start out with melee and stealth and concentrate my perks on those skills, I'll be able to do it (get to 81) without gimping myself by spreading everything too thin, because as I hit higher levels I can switch to magic and have 100% spell cost reduction, making the expenditure of perks in those less important.

My main question would be, should I keep cycling weapons and armor between light and heavy armor, and 1hand/2hand/archery (basically mixing and matching constantly for variety), or should I build one up really high first (lets say 1hand/light armor first really high, then switch to 2hand/heavy, with archery for range throughout)?

Anyone who has gotten a character to 81, without mods/console command (360 user still ) if they could give me some tips, I'd welcome them.

I'm going to nickname your character "The Polisher" for all the grinding it's about to do.

Because that's about the only way console owners can get 81 without taking advantage of some well known glitches.

Switching later can be TOUGH... I'd probably raise one handed, while training up two handed. Then you can switch a lot easier. Same with armor.

Also, you need to marry a follower. Everytime you see a bed sleep, and you'll level 15% faster. That's no joke when you're trying to hit 81.

Hope it helps.

This one.

Grinding in Skyrim is:

Knew a girl like that once.

Won't that give me a bunch of "phantom levels" therefore pushing the levels of many of my enemies up very high?

I mean thats not a big deal on Adept or lower, but I normally play on Expert.

You too? Well, it's my duty to inform you...

I would suggest against it. I legitly grinded to 81 and it kinda ruined a lot of Skyrim for me.

Which character number was it? Because I'm like on my 50th character. Any time I see anything, and I mean anything new (even small stuff), I'm shocked at this point.

Don't level up, stay at level 1 until you've had 1495 skill increases, that would be all your skills at 100, its challenging, I started a character just for this about a week ago, and i've had around 250 skill increases

Agreed. I'm glad I joined the forums recently, because the feedback of those before me have really helped me hone my second game for staying fun, not grinding.

It's such a sad, sad shame we, as gamers, still harp on leveling. It's so unrealistic, yet we cling to it like it's a rule.

I'm at level 50, and I plan on staying around this level. I only grinded enough to get the achievemnt. With leveling off my mind, it's even more fun.

Of course, I'd like the dual-enchanting perk, but that's 4-5 more levels away (since it's a two-branch tree).

My game just coughed up the first useful Daedric bow... which I quickly honed to (2nd level) Legendary... and threw in a quick trip to Riverwood's trader.

Yep, I'm in no rush for "power".

Thats actually an interesting idea. Might start out that way and then level up once I get tired of going that route and then leap up a ton of levels.

So do I. I'm pretty sure you can handle it. It's not like you're ONLY grinding non combat skills. It's something like training speech. It's only one or two skills, which won't amount to much in the long run.

Your other option is of course, when you're level 50 or so, you'll have a SUPER slow swinging axe (or whatever) that does half the damage of your dagger. That's NOT easy to do, especially when you have to switch back to armor that isn't protecting you either.

Either way, what you're trying to do isn't exactly easy to begin with.

I don't know what tips you need except patience since you only need to increase all skills through using/train them yes it takes time but it isn't hard.

Power, you say?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzOFs3E4ZFs

Not sure if you know, but you only need to get to the top once. You don't need every perk before it to get it. Meaning, straight up the center is the easiest way to pick up dual enchanting.

Well you could always enchant 4 pieces of armor with fortify 2hand, but I might try it your way actually.

I LOVE YOU!!!

*smooch*

Thanks for this. That means I'm 1 level (overall) from my perk!

*dances jig.

Hmm.... *snickers.... okay, just a little more grinding to do.

The rash? Trust me, I know.

i don't even have a second character on lvl 50 yet.


my highest lvl one was lvl 51 and started to lvl hella slow. i think you can only become lvl 81 by using everything.

so first go mage, because it does get the weakest playstyle later on, and than just switch to melee. on higher lvls you will be rich enough to "buy yourself some skill". sneaking is easy to do all game, with all play styles.

I'm going to keep track of hours many hours I can stay at level 1 and how many skill increases I get before I finally succumb to the urge to hit up on my D-pad and level up.

I read once that you can cancel out between level ups, if you hit the cancel button VERY quickly. You'd have the perfect opportunity to try. It would at LEAST be entertaining to do, while you're constantly mashing the "health magicka stamina" choice.

I bet you don't last 50 hours though.

Also, a good "challenge" (though I did it at REAL level 1, not unleveled level 1) is to fight Krosis. Good luck, he's tough.

The Ebony Blade is an invaluable weapon for a player whose been using 1H the entire game and wants to level up 2H. It benefits from 1H damage perks and enchantments, swings as fast as a 1H sword, and has an unlimited 30 point health absorb at the highest level. The continuous quick health absorb means you are pretty tough to kill, and it lets you level up the other armor skill as well since you are still taking high damage but regaining health so quickly it doesn't end up killing you.

Also, if you're wanting to hit level 81, it helps tons to plan out your 5 training levels for every level to come after 50, and also not to waste the free skill ups from quest rewards until that particular skill is 90+. Also make judicious use of your +5s from the oghma infinium

It was my first character. He got to 59ish when I started new characters. I then came back after the 3rd character to grind the first. I still see small stuff that makes it fun, but I'm running through DG on a new character.

Why do you care what level you get? Just play the game till you get bored and start a new character. Honestly levels skills and perks I don't even think of until I happen to level up.