So far, this game isn't wonderful. I was SO looking forward to Skyrim after loving Oblivion. So far I'm quite disappointed. But maybe it will get better.

I finally managed to get out of Helgen and that cave thing. Except I can't figure out how to wield my weapon or shield! I've got the control pages open in front of me and don't see where it says how to do these things. I've tried every possible key and combination of keys and mouse buttons to no avail.
Also, the ESC key does NOT pause my game. It doesn't do anything.

Help?

Press i for your inventory then click on the weapon you want equip, press i again to leave your inventory then press R to use your equipped weapon

I'm playing on the Xbox so unfortunatly I can't help you out. But if you're just now getting out of Helgen, you couldn't have put in more than an hour into the game so far. That's not nearly enough time to grasp it and get an idea of the game. It is tough to learn the controls and get use to all the new stuff but once you figure all that out you'll realize it's not that different from Oblivion. It will take a bit of time but you'll soon figure out all the controls and how to do everything and you won't have to revert back to the manual or notes to remember things. Trust me, if you enjoyed Oblivion, you'll love Skyrim.

Escape should bring up the menu where you can load, save, and change settings. However, if it isn't patched to the latest version yet, it won't take you out of other menus, which could be the case if you've only just made it through Helgen for the first time. Check your Steam account to make sure the game is patched.

The ESC key not doing anything is bothering me... if that key doesn't work, then... is your keyboard plugged in to your computer? I'm not trying to be a jerk or anything, but having ESC not do anything at all sounds like a wire is pulled out.

OR

You have an Xbox controller plugged into your computer, and the game is trying to use that to control your character.

-Loth

Edit: Also try to patch as the above poster suggested. I didn't even think of that.

Are you sure that the problem is not your keyboard? Because esc usually brings up the options menu, and if it isn't working then that's weird. Use tab to open character menu (inventory, spells, skills), i to open inventory directly, r to ready/sheath your weapon and q to bring up the favorites menu (f to mark an item/spell as favorite). See if your keyboard is working correctly, then see if your game is patched. You don't have any other kind of controller plugged in, right? Hope this helps, good luck.

My sword apparently is equipped since it's in my hand. R does nothing more than put it back in the sheath/take it out of the sheath.

@Lothario and Muibardorei12: I am quite positive that my keyboard is plugged in. Otherwise I would be able to post these messages, would I?
I don't have an Xbox or any other type of controller plugged in because I don't own one!

However - this is the first I've heard about a patch. Will try to figure out how to do that.

I hope you get this working, because Skyrim is an awesome game and you shouldn't miss out!
Good luck!
-Loth

The TAB button is very useful for backing out of conversations, containers and looting. It took me ages when first playing the game to figure out how to exit from looting the stormcloaks body in Helgen, I couldn't find a manual anywhere when I first bought the game.

Esc key is essential, can you use the other M for map J for journal keys?

I think the OP was asking how to equip both a weapon and a shield. If you open your inventory (i) you can right click to put something in your left hand and left click to put something in your right hand. Also, you can press f to add it to your favourites menu (q) for easier access.

I'm not sure how you could form any kind of opinion about a game though if you haven't even played more than 10 minutes.

I play on xbox, but I have read on this forum about people on pc having keyboard troubles.
It seems that initially the pc version is set to use an xbox controller.
Turn that option off in the menu and that should help with performance of mouse and keyboard.

Good luck

It sounds to me like your default key mappings have gotten screwed up.

Try this -

1. Go to your My Documents\My Games\Skyrim folder and delete the Skyrim.ini and SkyrimPrefs.ini files.
2. Launch the game - it will create new .ini files. The default key bindings should be restored.

If that doesn't work, try verifying local files through Steam.

1. Right-click Skyrim in your game library and select Properites from the menu.
2. Select the Local Files tab, then select Verify Integrity of Game Cache.
3. Steam will check your installation and replace files that don't match the defaults.
4. Launch the game and try out your controls.

Hopefully this helps.

Hi Granny,

Do you have any key mapping software installed which operates on boot up? For example, I remap my CTRL and SHIFTLOCK keys to each other. I could also remap my ESC which may be the issue with you. BTW, if your ESC key isn't operative, how are you exiting the game?

To equip a shield, r-click on it in your Inventory. Here's a thing which is a bit confusing. A r-click on an item or spell equips in your PC's left hand and visa versa. You can r or l click items in Inventory or P in sPells. Frex, you can have a mace in one hand and a spell in another if you are a battle mage.

The opening sequence is baffling for many and it will take you time to regain your old OB skills, but they will return. I had similar issues when I started.

@slide: I exit the game by clicking my right mouse key which brings up the save/quit screen.
Thank you for the suggestion and instructions on resetting the keys to default. It's entirely possible that I messed something up!

Big question again: my sword is in my right hand. I click R to unsheath it. However - after I left Helgen and was in the woods, I came upon a bandit. He proceeded to mutilate the living h*ll out of me while my sword just sat there and did nothing. I couldn't figure out how to attack him or how to raise my shield in defense. None of the keys did anything. I finally just outran him. Please, will someone tell me how to attack?? And how to defend??

I agree with those who have said I need to give the game more time. I've been too impatient!
<-- beating self about head and shoulders!

To raise your shield, hold the left trigger. To swing your sword, press the right trigger. One swing per click, or a power attack if you hold the right trigger down. You can't swing your sword whilst your shield is raised - holding the left trigger and pressing the right trigger will result in a shield bash, which staggers the opponent but does little damage.

For the best results, enter combat whilst blocking. As your opponent swings, click the right trigger, and you should shield bash him before he strikes. He will be staggered and lose his balance, at which point you can lower your shield (release left trigger) and chop him into little tine pieces (click right trigger repeatedly).

Sorry if this is all a bit complex! I know how difficult it can be for a player entirely new to this sort of game to get down the basics. My Dad can't move himself and the camera at the same time.

It may be that you are using the game backwards. The RIGHT mouse button (assuming you are using a two button standard PC mouse) works the LEFT HAND of your character and visa versa.

I am going to repeat something said earlier. Go to your SAVEGAME folder (Documents\My Games\Skyrim and there you'll find two .INI files. I hope you have file extensions turned on to see these extensions. They are called Skyrim.ini and SkyrimPrefs.ini. The default Windows (idiot) scheme will prevent you from seeing the '.ini part (Bill Gates hates us).

Delete both files (it's OK to do this). Start the game. This will reset all to default.

If you have a custom mouse button program or a left handed or remapped mouse, I can't predict what you need to do other than say if that's the case and maybe someone can offer another idea.

In the meanwhile, you DO not need to be in fight to try things. Deploy your weapon and try various things to see if you swing or shoot or whatever. Post here your new success at this game!

You use the mouse buttons to attack and block. The default setup is the left mouse buttom (M1) to use the weapon/spell/shield in your right hand, and the right mouse button (M2) to use the item in your left hand (yeah, it's backwards, but the left mouse button is the traditional attack button in first person shooter games). Tap the mouse buttons to execute a standard attack or block, press and hold them down to execute a power attack or to shield bash.

No need to be insulting, Slythe. If you can't be polite, go away and insult someone else.

I feel your pain.I was so confused when I started.So many buttons(that are backwards.Still getting used to that.) that you have to push all at once.It took me a long time to get the hang of it and I still get finger-tied sometimes.I always play for a couple of levels until i'm somewhat comfortable and get a feel for the game and then I start over.Hotkeying your favorite things such as a sword or bow or spell makes it alot easier to find the things you use all the time.

What a really want to know is, are you really a Granny, because you look far too young.

I don't think anyone is deliberataely trying to insult you. Most people on these forums want to help. Looking at your profile, you've been a member since 2005 and have over 250 posts, so you know what forums are like.

Without trying to sound insulting, what I don't understand is how you could have done the intro tutorial, going through Helgen and the starter cave, and NOT know how to equip you weapon and shield and use them.

On PC, go into your inventory with the TAB key and choose the weapon section of inventory and then select your weapon of choice which equips it in your right hand. Under the Apparel section of inventory select shield which equips it in your left hand.
Exit Inventory with the TAB key.

For the bare minimun without using Favorites: Back in the game screen press R on the keyboard to draw your equipped weapon, Press the left mouse button to swing your sword. Press the right mouse button to raise your shield to block. Right mouse button will make you block with your sword if you don't have a shield equipped.

The Esc should always take you to the main menu for saving games, changing settings etc.

If you have different responses than what is above, then you're machine has had it's keyboard remapped. It is not the game. If this is the case, then you should follow the advice of others above who suggested that you check into clearing the remapping of your keyboard and resetting your skyrim ini file.

BTW - I use PC, I play bass and I'm a grandpa.

Wow my post was deleted because I called out an obvious troll? Strong moderation here.

i find that reading the instruction manual for a game helps alot with controls. you stated that you had read it but if that had been so then you would know the controls. if that fails to help you with familiarizing yourself with the controls then another easy thing is to push every button to see what it does.

The "manual" for PC is pretty ineffectual. I read it - and it didn't jibe with what I remembered from Oblivion. So I hit UESP and figured out how to reset my movement keys to the arrow keys (as I had them in Oblivion), and then read everything else on the wiki about how to use, attack, etc. Truthfully, most of it is still counter-intuitive, especially to someone who's played a VERY user-friendly, intuitive game in WoW for the last 6 years. And, the "grab" function still doesn't work - I can't have it mapped to "z" in this game, because shouts use "z" and I haven't been able to remap THAT to "a" for instance, which is what I would prefer.

As a "backport" from console to pc, this game just fails. Eventually, the modders will help us pc users out I'm sure.

The grab function still works - press and hold the "E" key with an object you want to grab in the crosshairs. It took me some time to figure this out, too.