Hi there, sorry for re-posting this if its already been mentioned. But here goes anyways...
Everyone knows about the few items that scale with level, most annoying of all being the nightingale armor + weapons.
Some time has passed since my first play through (played as a warrior with heavy armor) and now I wish to try out a stealthy character with light armor and bow. Never got the chance to use most of the nightingale equipment the first time round and I'd like to complete the thieve's guild as an actual thief this time round Only i don't want to finish the guild quests at too early a level cos then the items will eventually become obsolete. In short, I don't feel like waiting till i reach about lvl 40 to join the thieve's guild, i wish to do so early on.
My question is: why didn't bethesda perhaps implement a system similar to that used for the armor and weapons in knights of the nine? (i.e. u put the equipment on a stand and it increases with power as you, the player, obtain level ups)
I know the argument of 'the whole point of an RPG is to gain new equipment as you progress', but I find it fairly easy to just raise my smithing to 100 before reaching the level required for these items to reach max power.
I'm also aware that mods have already been made to address the issue, but for me it feels like cheating lol, I can't explain it

What do you guys think? Do you think a pedestal similar to that of knights of the nine would be a good idea? Next to the nocturnal statue down in the thieve's guild would be a good idea in my opinion... or possibly in that nightingale hideout

I see what you're saying.

Here's what I did:

Sneak, lock picking and pickpocket level up extremely fast. You can also train...say light armor...and steal the gold back by pickpocketing. Now you're leveling a combat skill and keeping your pickpocket skill up. If you do this in Riften after joining the guild, it's even better, because if you get caught, wait until a guard stops you. Pay the guild fee, which is like 12g, and continue pickpocketing. If this doesn't sound fun to you then nevermind. But for me, it felt very much how a thief character would play out. I'll pickpocket anybody too. Thanks for the daedric dagger and daedric arrows Karliah!

Also, you can join the guild anytime you want. The item is leveled depending on what level you are when you recieve the item. Not what level you are when you join the guild. Join the guild, be a thief, do the quests inbetween being a thief, and you'll be in your 30's before you know it. For me, I was level 30 12hrs into the game. I also took illusion which levels insanely fast.

I agree with you about leveled items and how they're a pain if you receive them early on. I thought I'd share my experience with you though so you can see just how fast a thief can level and get teh awesome items from the guild quests.

I did not know this but assuming if it's true I'm glad I waited till I was level 42 before starting the thieves guild. I agree with armor stand I idea, not because Nightingale armor is particularly powerful (well it is but you can make better enchanted equipment) but because it happens to be one of the better looking armors in the game imo. Shame that it would become obsolete if obtained at a really early level.

Damn that's fast. Good job. I find illusion to be hard to level because I forget to use the calm spells (I don't do the muffle trick).

Yeah I kept casting muffle. :shrugs: And used the mage stone. I did not use the calm spells either though. Also, I backstabbed everything, which is an automatic sneak level up for several early levels. Pickpocketing large amounts of gold (250+) levels pickpocketing up fast too.

Edit- For those worried about levelling too fast, train combat skills, and it evens out. I was level 30 at 12 hours and level 50 at 50 hours. So I wouldn't consider it rushing through the game either. Then again I just enjoy running around and don't worry about levelling anymore, since the game stops scaling at level 50 anyway.

ah pickpocketing is something I hardly ever do. I have no patience for it I don't like getting caught. Sneak I do a lot though.

For you to receive both the nightingale bow and sword at max power, you must be lvl 46+! Keep in mind that you receive these items at an earlier stage than the armor which requires you to be level 32+ i believe (I got these statistics of uesp)

@http://www.gamesas.com/user/763967-bcurdragonborn/ I agree its fast to level up but i hate going round pickpocketting just for the sake of levelling up my skill. For example if i pick someone's pocket i'll just take his gold, couldnt be arsed to pick the mead, shoes, iron dagger and bread he carries on him as that stuff is useless to me

I got them both at level 40 and 42 respectively. Keep in mind you can't upgrade the sword at it's max level. Yes the max level has more charges, but you can upgrade the 2nd highest version. In my case, was something like an extra 30 damage.


That's why you train a bit per level. The higher value items, and the more gold they have, the faster pickpocket levels up. Trust me, pickpocket will level so fast you won't believe it. Heck, pay a pickpocket trainer to level then steal the gold back. And if you fail, pay the guard, outside of Riften it can be 200-800 gold, then steal your gold back and continue training. If that fails, wait for the trainer to go to sleep and you get a bonus chance to pickpocket.

Aye its unfortunate about that bug :/ read about it on uesp too not too long ago. I'm amazed it hasnt been patched.

The levelled items in oblivion svcked so bad, so i'm still scratching my head as to why they kept a system for select items, primarily for those to do with the thieve's guild. This system is also particularly crappy for those players who roleplay their way through TES games (you'd be amazed at the amount of people who wont ever touch smithing or enchanting if they play a thief character for example, as these are not typical things thief does). I have no intention of roleplaying, but for the benefit of those that do not wish to smith or enchant anything in game, the problem of levelled items (along with all those crappy daedric items) should be addressed in my opinion..

Was thinking of the build I want to make as a thief, and i want to entirely exclude those two crafting skills so i can put perks into speech and lockpicking along with bow, light armor, alchemy (for the poisons mostly! ) and one handed weapons, but I know i'll be severely handicapped if i do :/

I didn't worry at all about getting the max level gear. I just got it when I got it. It was still later on probably in my 30's because leveling is so easy while your training to be a good thief. But the weapons are all so overpowered with the right talents that having maxed out gear is not at all a necessity. I was one shotting Draugr Deathlords with my 1h only to level 50 using a couple of ebony daggers (epic) with only 10 fire damage on them. That was in my upper 40's. How much more do you really need as a thief? Now, with Chillwind, and the Nightinggale Blade, I can just stand up and take on anything with 2h and a healing potion or two depending on how many enemies I face. This class is easy sauce. My low health mage was a lot more challenging. My thief can clear out a whole dungeon without even being detected by one shotting everything, even the bosses. I'm on the next to the hardest difficulty too. I can't imagine going up one more level would be all that much harder. If nothing ever sees you, having a little more health isn't going to do them any good anyway. I'm also an alchemist so if I ever get into trouble I just pop an invisibilty potion, disappear, come back for another backstab. Cake walk.

An often forgotten item of the thieves guild quest is Chillrend, the best 1H sword in the game with a ridiculous enchantment that freezes opponents like the Ice form shout. Unfortunately, it's also level scaled and the best version (same base damage as a daedric axe!!!) can be obained only at lvl 46 or higher

I went in quite early, can't remember the exact level. I have the Nightingale Armor at about 600 now and I have the Nightingale weapons hanging on the wall. I build my own weapons. Level 50 last night and the Ebony Bow hits at around 140 depending which buffs I'm running. The Ebony Vampire Sword (found that one) is around the same and my Daedric Dagger is at 100 give or take.

I'll toss an Atronach to spoof Dragons but otherwise with 100 sneak and the Nightingale enhancements I am a very stealthy guy. You don't see me, you die. I am fighting Dragur Deathlords as my standard Dragur and the Overlord show up a lot too.

I get a lot of Dragon kill anis. Since I've had Spellbreaker I have become addicted to face to face with the Dragons. Quite a few now with three on Ancient Dragons. It's hard to beat climbing on the monster's head and stabbing it to death. I get a lot of these too.

http://carnagepro.com/pics/hardlanding.jpg

A certain shout does that.

Anyway it does not actually matter when you join unless you have a need to use the weapons. I always make my own in any case.

I always do TG early, becaus it helps with monetary gain in the game, which makes the game a little easier. I don't care much about Chilrend or Nightingale gear, because they don't become permanent gear for me. Infact, none of the reward items do. They're better off serving as house decorations, once I get my smithing and enchanting skill up to 100.

I was probably mid-40s to low-50s by the time I got the Nightingale armor, plus I get my Smithing to 100 so I've improved it past the armor cap.

I'll wear the Nightingale (and DB shrouded stuff) for RP purposes, but I've improved and Enchanged a Forsworn set that works just fine for both TG and DB missions. In fact, I have a few extra pieces of Forsworn armor that I enchanted with Fortify Pickpocket for when I need it.

I wonder if the Mannequin replication glitch has an effect similar to the one Wabbajack has on followers.