Master requires at least a basic understanding of basic general game principles. How damage works and how to reduce it. Not necessarily Skyrim specific. The beginning of the game is really easy, regardless of difficulty or perks, because you get full sets of Steel imperial gear and imperial steel weapons, which surpasses everything thrown at you until at least level 10. Dont need crafting skills or conjuration to tank at all.

Master is not difficult. Master is just unforgiving to players mistakes. Dont make any and it will be easy. Abusing of crafting or conjuration not needed.

Yes, I do find that Master offers quite a challenge and really changes up how I approach the game.

Some of those who say it's easy on Master, is becasue they abuse the trade skills, Smithing & Enchanting basically.

Anyway, i tried Master & didnt like it after a while as i was levelling up too quickly due to having to spam combat skills to kill stuff. I find Expert difficulty and reducing myself to one trade skill makes for an enjoyable game. It doesnt feel like im giving the game too much of advantage against me & i level up at a reasonable rate.

I agree.. but of course, not everyone wants to walk around for 10 levels looking like a milk drinker.

.. I kid. I like the empire myself.

My point is though, much of the time, people still want to approach an RPG from a storytelling point of view. Not an impersonal, utilitarian point of view.

A dangerous world underlines the immersion of a medieval world. Being harsh and deadly. We are not in Disney land after all. Obviously if people make xyz builds, totally disregarding gaming situation and expect it to work, they need to lower the difficulty. I find it as realistic as walking on streets disregarding traffic lights, because it is "roleplaying", and then blaming the "system" being too difficult in hospital.

Personally what I like to do is approach the little camp right outside the Helgen cave. Then run to catch up with Hadvar or Ralof. They'll help you kill them. Usually one has a full set of iron, and some steel weapons across the board, either 2h or 1h. I use that, and then I head to riverwood and sell as much as I can. That works for me for awhile (also helps that you easily have over 1000 gold after that).

Is it just me or when you play higher levels, like master, your skills increase much faster and so you level up much faster? Melee combat will usually last longer on master, I find, so my blocking, one-handed and armor skill will increase faster, making you reach high levels before you have completed anything significant.

Perhaps it's just an impression.

It just because you do less damage and take more damage. So you need to use your skills more to win a fight. Also skills that rely on damage being taken such as armour and block will increase much faster as well.

Yes, thats my impression too. As you do less damage, so it takes more hits to kill.

It just feels a bit weird to level up faster on a more difficult level. I usually play expert but with my master character I've levelled so quickly compared to what quests I have done and what parts of Skyrim I have discovered. I'm afraid that I will become too strong, too quickly, if the game becomes easier at high level.

Didn't notice your previous post, sorry. Yeah, I think expert might actually offer a better balance for my style of play. You just have to limit the abuse of crafting skills and it remains challenging.

This isn't going to work for everyone, but it might not be a bad idea to not even do a lot of the game on that character. Y'know, like focus a bit more on quests that fit with the build or concept, and finish the game by the 40s. Or maybe even earlier.

Isn't that kinda what "higher level" means? I started on average difficulty and have bumped up by 1 every 20 levels, because yeah, it got a bit to easy. That's not true for all characters, but if you keep your armor and damage ratings moving up every level (say by 10 for armor and 5 for damage) you'll be damn powerful in the 30's and nearly maxed out in the 40's, which does make most encounters rather easy.

Yah, he is the one that wants everyone to have an aneurism playing the game, and make the enemies be able to one hit you all the time, me thinks he should go back to CoD. if you dont abuse smithing enchanting alchemy loops, you will not be abe to make those god swords that make the game super easy, or bows, but this guy wants EVERYONE to do that, or suffer. Just so he can use his 1000 damage sword and still have a challenge.

If it's a challenge your looken for then try playing on master wearing only clothing.Really when you think about it who would have access to full sets of armor in medieval times?Only the wealthy or those who serve(d) in the military, the common folk would only be able to get the most basic of equipment.Thus with my common nord I'm only using a pair of Iron gauntlets & boots with clothing, a hunting bow and an iron/steal sward( the most generic gear) on master level now I'm forced to think more realistic when it comes to combat, I can no longer just storm a fort or just engage anything that moves.Now I have to think befor I jump which adds a new element to the combat.And yes I know you can join the companions and loot or get a full set of armor during those quests or anyother quest but it takes a little self control not to dawn a full set of steal armor,I'm no knight,I'm no wealthy nobleman so the only way to lay hands on a full set of decent gear is to kill someone and take it or thieve it, but I'm having toooooo much fun trying to stay alive like I would be in real life.Try it and judge for yourself, I'm haven lots of fun running for cover when a dragon attacks or trying to figure out how to clear a cave/fort without dieing.

I dont consider it cheating, more like "training" your skills.

That actually does sound fun. So do you wait to heal and stuff like that or is that out too?

Yes and no.I only carry what I can handle which makes sense, there where apothecary shops back then but you can only carry so much,once I run out of potions thats it no more until I get back to town( did I mention I refuse to fast travel?) which means that I have to hide or run away to keep my health or stand and die.It adds alot of realism to the game and it's keeping me entertained where as I was getting board playing it the usual way.

gives me hope in gamers this^

EDIT: and obv the post you made prior to it.

This game has all levels of challenges. I went into a dungeon last night and yawned my way through the 30 or so enemies (never seen that many in a place before). Then, a few cells over, I went into a dungeon where there were 6 enemies and it took me 3 reloads to prevail.

Of course I have not ground up my crafting or done anything to max out my character, I have just developed it as the game and I went along. I am level 43 now on this character.

Inability to spell a five letter word gives you hope?

Playing dual-wield in master difficulty, oh god.... i had nightmares with those damn bandits with two-handed weapons. POW --> dead

I think the fact that I'm using my imagination to add more entertainment to the game is what is giving hope not my ability to spell.Stop trying to start a fight, if you can't post nicely then don't post at all.

Expert is quite hard enough for me. With no armour, but enchanting, smithing and alchemy, you deal a fair amount of damage, and take a lot. Wouldn't last against any appropriate for level enemy without fortify health. Combats are short, one way or the other, and Master with my build would perhaps stray into Demons' Souls territory.

There is no need to abuse the crafting skills to make master difficulty. Stealth builds will have an easy time of it. Stealth builds with invisibility will think any difficulty is a joke.

I really don't care for the posts of bitterness I see from some people assuming anyone who can do something they cannot is exploiting or abusing a crafting system. Of course I have now seen threads calling sneak "OP" so maybe some consider that abusive.

Master really requires you to be knowledgable of the games systems- and of course a little meta knowledge comes into play. As was stated earlier master punishes mistakes, I think that is a great way to put it.