I started a new character. A Dunmer, specializing in one hand, block, heavy armor, and archery. I am not allowed to smith, enchant, or create potions. I can use whatever I find int he world though. I am also not allowed to sneak. So far at level 33, everything is still an incredible challenge on expert difficulty. If anything, the game is getting harder instead of easier. Not Battletoads, I hate my life hard, but a very fun sort of difficulty that makes you keep sharp in every combat situation. I don't let myself fast travel - except for carriages. I also put tape over the compass so I use my eyes to look at the actual game world and not just look at the compass to show me what is ahead. It is far more immersive - more like Morrowind.

Anyway, no real point to this I guess. Just thought I would relay my experience so far. Anyone doing something similar to this? What build and difficulty?

my first 3-4 builds were all non-trade gameplays. it starts hard, gets harder and then, eventually, becomes too easy.

my biggest problem is sneak: it's absolutely in my 'gamer genetics', lol. i have to remind myself to not sneak cuz i do it without thinking. i replay splinter cells all the time, lol.

for me, since, i began by playing on master and not using the trades and having no clue about exploitation, it's no big deal.

the biggest thing to realize is that you just need slow everything down and play smarter.

after i played a few DiD's i improved my combat skill big-time.

once you understand what's difficult in the game you take the appropriate steps to make it easier. exploitation doesn't have to be used.

I never seem to use the crafting skills very much, which surprises me looking back on things as I relied heavily on Alchemy in Oblivion. I am pleased that I am not one of those people who have abused the crafting systems to make their characters overpowered as that just sounds boring to me. I usually play DID so I like a challenge which adds to the reasons why I do not have legendary Daedric armour and weapons.

it's a shame that we're forced to put tape over the screen to block out the compass. If only the next update included a toggle.. it can't be that difficult

People put tape over their screens?

I'm playing a redguard on master now. Focus on onehanded, block, light armor, restoration and little archery. Just finished the Thane quest of Whiterun at level 8. No smithing (not a single upgrade of weapons and to my surprise the dual-wield hotkeys work great with unupgraded weapons of the same type), no enchanting, just refresh if necessary of enchantments on weapons. I only did a little alchemy because I take my time wandering . The damage output is much lower and I wonder what I will have to do in the future hard bosses, ...I hope I will find solutions to every problem.

Just turn the HUD opacity down instead of putting tape on your screen. I understand this may seem like a big disadvantage at first but it isn't too hard to get used to, I think it is better than putting tape on your screen especially if you use your TV for anything else like other games or watching TV.

I turned to Compass off by going into my ini files & setting bShowCompass=0.

Make sure to keep a backup of the ini file beofre you make the change, just as a precaution.


Currently playing a Breton Warrior, Level 27, 1h + Shied + Heavy Armour. I've smithed my things a little, i think my Banded iron armour is Superiror, and SkyForged sword is Exquisite. All points into health bar one into stamina.

Playing on Expert difficulty, i'm finding it easy enough, some challanging battles at times. I'm not going to smith my armour/weapons anymore though, as it''s going to be TOO easy. Just completed the Companions Guild, and plan to do the Imperial Legion Questline next.

Unfortunately I do not play on PC so I have to resort to turning the HUD opacity down.

i keep trying to play with the hud completely off, but, i literally argue myself out of it because of the sheer stupidity that i even have to choose between bad and horrid options.

it's an asinine and incompetent system implementation.