So I'm going to start a master playthrough, and I need some tips. I know that I'm either going to go with Orc/Breton, but I'm not sure what type of play style I want to do. I don't like sneak, so I won't be doing an assassin. So, any tips on what build to use/misc tips?

Thanks.

You can play pretty much anything you want even on Master if you get to an ok level of crafting early on: http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1342463-complete-character-design-freedom-damage-resist-caps-and-ridiculous-damage-thread-10/page__hl__character%20design%20freedom

Aside from that, get good at not getting hit, because a lot of stuff will one- or two-shot you early on (before your gear is totally overpowered).

followers help, as well as magic resistance from being breton/standing stones and a certain quest.

If you don't object to beating on Ralof right at the beginning for a few levels, you can very quickly get Armsman 3/5, which helps until Smithing becomes more useful. He's such a good sport about it, too.

Be prepared to do A LOT of dodging, especially from powerful dragons as they tend to kill you with their flames.

Learn to dodge arrows well, they hurt!

Don't go toe-to-toe with foes (especially 2handers) get in get a few hits with your weapon and get back out.

Don't be afraid to run away.

Yeah I had to learn from the hard way after dying a few times. My pride gets the better of me sometimes.

Don't let yourself get swarmed.

Be Wary of spellcasters, particularly high level Warlock class enemies.


No matter how awesome your gear is, a Draugr Deathlord with level 3 Unrelenting force, and Ebony Bow+Arrows will take you down real fast. Don't get knocked down.

Give the orc his 100gold. It's seriously not worth fighting the imposter legionaries.

Health enchantments are you friend.

Same here, it took me dying half a dozen times or so to finally say 'the heck with this I'm out of here'.

I love that thread. Or those threads. All 10 of them. In it I quote:


I've been thinking why I have been having such difficult time around level 20 or so, and I think it's because I level enchanting and smithing gradually as well as my battle skills. So I now think it is best to refrain from leveling up smithing skill at all in early game. I have big problem with Draugr Death Overlord and their disarm shouts and ebony bows for example. And they start appearing at level 21. And Disarm shouts stop when you reach level 30, when you become immune to it.

So I think the game might be easier if you do not level smithing and enchanting at all until you reach level 21, while slowly collecting materials as you go on your adventures. And when you reach 21, you power level them as much as you can so you get to level 30 as soon as possible.

Run for your life.

Use a follower. About halfway through my first playthrough, which I did on Adept difficulty, I never saw the reason for having a follower. Then I turned it up to Master because it had become too easy. I suddenly realized the usefulness of a follower.

I'd also recommend putting a few perks into conjuration. Let Draugr Deathlords shoot arrows at them instead of you. Otherwise, use everything you have at your disposal and most importantly:

Before every fight, SAVE. After every fight: SAVE. Getting through a brutal battle and then accidentally getting killed around the next corner by one of those swinging gate contraptions will almost certainly cause you to have to fight the same battle all over again. That's fine on adept, but on Master it's brutal.