Yesterday I suddenly got a wave of "I don't like this character anymore" on my Thief/Archer. It's just annoying that everyone in Riften hates me cause I'm in the TG! So, I loaded up my save to create a new character. After about 2 hours, I was still there, no idea on what to do. I turned off the PS3 and started reading forums, blogs and watching videos to try and find unique builds but a lot of the stuff I've seen I have done before. Today is the same problem, and I can't find a build that is different from what I've done before. Any advice?

Time to wait for Riskybiz17 to post up his awesome builds.

I personally enjoy his Baldur's Gate style Cleric build.

I'm sure he'll be around soon enough!

Write the name of all the skills on separate little pieces of paper. Fold up the pieces and put them in a bag, then pick out six of the pieces. These will be only skills you are allowed to use throughout your game. Look at what skills you have picked then imagine what that character would be like. Ask yourself what race and gender they feel like, and then beyond that try to imagine what guild they would join, what side of the war they'd be on and what quests or they would be capable of doing, then take it from there

EDIT: I just did it myself and got:

SNEAK
ALCHEMY
PICKPOCKET
SMITHING
TWO-HANDED
CONJURATION

What characters have you played in the past?

If you want a challenge, play without traditional weapons or magicks. Install the Handyman mod and use brooms and tankards instead.

A Ranger who uses only a trusty Longbow. It's quite fun actually.

For role-playing purposes, I like to play my "True Son-of-Skyrim" build.

Nord warrior class using both Heavy and Light Armor (as you see fit), Block, Smithing, weapons skills of your choosing, except Archery (except in the case of hunting wild game; in fact this is the only time stealth/range should be used and is encouraged).

Rules for the build are:

• No magic. Period. No Restoration, no Magelight, no joining the College unless you are dedicated to performing its quests in pure combat fashion. If you need health, you chug potions, if you need light, you carry torches.
  
• No Enchanting. To steal and manipulate souls is abhorrent. Artifacts, unique items or found items should be the only source for enchanted effects you use.
  
• No faction specific armor (Elven, Orcish, etc.) except, Wolf Armor, Stormcloak armor.
  
• For appearance purposes (not strictly enforced) no advanced armors like Daedric, Ebony or Glass. Fur, Iron, Steel, Ancient Nordic are perfect for you.
  
• Respect the ancestors: no looting barrows or crypts, unless for quest items.
  
• Try not to loot your enemies too much, most of them died in honorable combat and shouldn't be robbed and desecrated.
  
• Honor the divines, be wary of Daedra and their evil ways.
  
• Live off the land, harvesting ingredients for potions, mining ore for armor and weapons, and hunting game for food and pelts.
  
• Here's the big one: avoid that filthy imperial coin. No buying or selling, no looting gold from chests and bodies. You aren't a scavenger, you are a citizen and if you need gold (and sadly you will), you must earn it through honest work, selling pelts and tusks to hunters and caravans, and performing bounty quests to make Skyrim safer for your brethren. Gold earned this way is acceptable.
  
• Of course, you are a Stormcloak through and through and will fight the Imperials at every opportunity.

So have fun, grab a weapon to smash your foes' faces in, some armor that looks good, and have fun being a wildman and fighting for your homeland.

Seems similar to what i play my characters like, except i use whatever armor i get my hands on unless its not magical.. If it is an orcish armor or not.. Survival of the fitest is my character's mentality.. And ofc no crafting skill what so ever..

"Dont have time for smithing"
"Enchanting?! Ye Thalmor wytch !!"
"Alchemy?? Herbs?? What am i? Wood Elf?! "

Pots looted/stolen/found is allowed

I have an elf that I play as a wild elf. Archery and dagger only for weapons and forsworn or fur armor. She's level 20 now and has yet to be seen by a person, enter a town or buy/sell anything. I don't loot anything I can't use such as gold, gems etc.

I don't travel on roads so I had to get real good at mountain climbing to get from area to area to hunt. I use abandoned shacks for shelter, sleeping, and making potions/poisons.

I have no plans to do any quest, none done so far. The challenge for me is to see how far I can level without being seen and fighting stuff without enchanted or improved armor and weapons.

Theres a npc class in Skyrim i noticed on UESP, its a 'Witchblade'. They specialize in One Handed, Illusion, Destruction, and Block.... No armor. This can be interesting being that you'd basically wear clothing and rely on Block and calming/making enemies fight each other as defense.

How about an Alik'r build? Wear only Alik'r clothing and use a scimitar.

You called?


Note: I also love to make up new builds. I'll list the few I found to be somewhat "balanced," the perk trees are a little flexible so I'll describe them rather than link exact builds. They're all designed to be played on Master, but any difficulty should be fine. All builds are permitted 2 points in Smithing for "arcane blacksmith," but I choose one specific craft for each class (mostly alchemy) as to not become overpowered. Difficulty mods such as "tougher dragons" and "deadly traps" add to the fun.

*** I only use select shouts (one or two) for certain builds, as "fire breath" and the like feel too "magey" and ruin the feel of the class. A favorite shout of my smuggler was "detect life," for example. If it wasn't necessary for the main quest, I'd stick to the shout for the class.

Smuggler (pure Stealth Archer)

• suggested race: Khajiit or Wood Elf
  
• the unique spin on this build is that it's banned from any and all forms of magic, including enchanting, scrolls, and staves. The Smuggler engages enemies from afar using potent poison coated arrows. If enemies come toward his location, the smuggler will retreat and remain hidden-- careful never to go toe to toe unless he's sure to win the fight.
  
• light armor is permissible, but remember the essence of this build is to hide or die, that simple-- so don't perk it too heavily if at all.
  
• perk focus: Archery, Sneak, Alchemy
  
• suggested craft: Alchemy (poison focus)
  
• suggested stone: the serpent
  
• suggested shout: aura whisper, throw voice

Cleric (Sword 'n Board, healing and buffs)

• suggested race: Imperial
  
• designed after the Baldur's Gate Cleric, this class may only wield 1 handed maces, no other weapon type allowed
  
• prioritizes quests at temples and fighting the undead, abilities vs. undead are prioritized
  
• the Cleric may not cast any spell from any school aside from Illusion and Restoration
  
• the Cleric is proficient in Illusion, but only spells that buff followers or calm enemies
  
• perk focus: Heavy Armor, 1-Handed (maces only), Block, Restoration, Illusion
  
• suggested craft: Alchemy (beneficial potions only, no poisons allowed)
  
• suggested stone: the steed
  
• suggested shouts: kyne's peace

Summoner (Two Handed specialty with Conjuration)

• suggested race: Breton
  
• the summoner is somewhat difficult at low levels, but is extremely powerful later in the game. The summoner is designed to wear heavy armor while wielding a bound 2h battleaxe, all with a generous pool of health. The summoner will conjure powerful minions to the battlefield to fight behind his lead.
  
• may only wield a 2h bound battleaxe (if on PC "bound weapon scaling" mods are permissible)
  
• perk focus: Heavy Armor, 2-Handed, Conjuration
  
• suggested craft: Smithing
  
• suggested stone: the ritual
  
• suggested shouts: Call of Valor

Pit Fighter (Sword 'n Board with Restoration)

• suggested race: Argonian
  
• The pit fighter is designed to be a relatively straight forward fighter class, wielding a one handed weapon (preferably a sword, as speed is the essence) and a shield. The pit fighter is a grittier, dirtier version of a traditional warrior, and he is therefore open to using poisons and sneaking-- using the x6 backstab multiplier. The Argonian racial is a literal lifesaver on tougher fights.
  
• No followers allowed whatsoever
  
• No forms of magic whatsoever aside from Restoration (may cast basic healing spells on himself)
  
• Perk focus: One-Handed, Block, Light Armor, Restoration
  
• suggested craft: Alchemy
  
• suggested stone: the lord
  
• suggested shout: unrelenting force

Psionic Ranger (illusion heavy stealth archery) *new*

• suggested race: High Elf or Wood Elf
  
• again, no followers allowed
  
• no armor allowed (or alteration buffs)
  
• no (or very few) points put into health
  
• Perk focus: Archery, Illusion, Destruction (runes only), Restoration (passives only, i.e. avoid death, necromage, etc)
  
• The idea behind this build is simple: Keep your enemies CC'd and snipe them-- if you're hit you're dead. Period. You're only going to have 100 health for the entire game on Master difficulty, so it's imperative you never go toe to toe with anyone. Ever. You have access to Destruction runes and passive abilities from Restoration as well.
  
• suggested craft: Enchanting
  
• suggested stone: the apprentice
  
• suggested shouts: Dismay and Kyne's Peace

I haven't given it much thought, but maybe try to make a "no-perk" character. Since a major part of the skills power lies in the perks having no perks should make even adept decently difficult. I?m not sure how effective sneak is without perks though, so a sneak might still be able to make short work of most enemies.

I'm currently playing a permanent level one character.

You can't put points in health, stamina, or magicka. This also eliminates skill trees and perk points. Most importantly, you can't use smithing and enchanting, or alchemy (you can use them very limited, so I don't even try).

Live off the land, i.e, armor and weapons come from drops when killing bandits, dungeons, or purchased from traders.

My character uses a bow as main weapon, and 2H hammer as backup for fights that turn into melee. Sneak as much as possible, although even at 99 sneak, I'm still seen and heard quite easily - I guess sneak perks really make a difference.

You can impose other limitations on yourself as desired, but the way I'm playing it you're very limited in what you can/cannot do.

Becareful with any training you get - you will still increase/level skills as you go around doing things - but you may not increase your combat abilities, but your enemies will also level and will increase their combat abilities. Best is not to use training at all, which is what I'm doing.

It's a real reward when you kill a draugr overlord who drops a bow that does 4 levels more damage than your current bow.

Good luck.

I started developing this class after reading about the soldiers of the Persian empire.

Suggested race: Khajiit
Perks: One handed, shield, light armor, archery
Weapons: One handed sword/bow
Armor: Light armor or cloth
Suggested equipment: Scimitar, hold guard shield, long bow

The idea is to deliver powerful bows while also remaining agile. The bow is useful as it gives the player a few more tactical options.

Some fun roleplaying techniques:
-Distinguished Persian soldiers wore purple or yellow uniforms. You may want to dress your character in a colored robe.

-Zoroastrianism was the main religion within the Persian empire. In this religion, lying is viewed as the most disgraceful thing a person can do. See how honest you can make your character.