That's almost like asking if it's cruel of me to set it on Master everytime my seven year old nephew wants to play. -chuckles- Play how you want. If later on you get bored with combat or something bump the diff up a bit and give it another shot. This isn't one of those games that hands you an acheivment/trophy for beating it on a difficulty setting that made you tear your hair out and replace a shattered controler. (thank you DMC4 on Dante Must Die). Then again you never actualy 'beat' a game like skyrim. There is always more things to do and different ways you could have done them.

As others have said, play however you want. I was never one for playing on super-hard difficulties either. A game loses its fun once you've died at a particular section for the 50th time.

Skyrim is one of the few games that you play how YOU want.

IF you want to play on Novice, then that is your choice. There's no n00bs in Skyrim

http://objection.mrdictionary.net/go.php?n=5909486

You actually have the correct attitude for this TES games. It is not about the combat, but immersing yourself in the world and exploring. Of course there is combat in the world, and you usually have to deal with it at some level. Some people look forward to the combat, some people think it is an obstacle to exploration. However, the character progression is such, that with certain choices, you can make an uber character that is not challenged at all by combat, which leaves you free to explore the world without worrying about combat.

Of course, if you want to be more involved with combat, you build a different kind of character for that.

Well, ok there are N00bs, but since its not an mmo and we more experienced players can't "pwn" them....

On my first character I used the default difficulty setting. After getting chewed up by two Blood Dragons in the town of Winterhold, I finally turned the difficulty down one notch. I'd realized it just wasn't that fun to end up hoarse from swearing at the game during each battle. Even on a lower difficulty setting, the game can be really challenging. There was Bandit Chief in a camp on a beach near Winterhold who taught me a big lesson in humility...

And as others have said, in a single-player game that has the option to choose the difficulty level, you should play on the setting that you find the most fun.

Yep thats me, thanks bro

It's a single-player game, so you shouldn't feel uncomfortable about playing on a lower difficulty.

I started on whatever the default is, but soon after developing my character and beefing up weapons and getting the hang of it in general I kicked it out to one below whatever the top difficulty is.

Adjust to maintain your fun level. Thats all.

This game is single player. You can play on novice and it doesn't matter if you do. I play on novice due to being a slow person when it comes to TES games. I play on easy in most games because I have terrible reflexes. Besides, we aren't playing this to prove anything. We're playing for enjoyment and some of us just happen to prefer the "noob" difficulties. I play TES games more for playing roles and creating stories. I don't play for challenge. I have tried the harder difficulties and didn't like them. I feel that novice makes the most sense due to the fact that the enemies aren't just soaking tons of damage while wearing fur armor. My main, Guslit, wears only one piece of armor and has a robe and hood on. It still is a bit tough when your character refuses to wear certain things.

If I wanted challenge, I'd play the original version of Devil May Cry 3(which isn't as unplayable as many say... Maybe I am good at hard games, but just only if they have a half demon who kills demons shirtless in the first level...). I don't have anything to prove. I don't care if anyone says I'm making my game less fun. I'm having fun.

I've never played Skyrim on anything other than the default difficulty, even after hundreds of hours played and despite the fact that I played Oblivion on the hardest difficulty for a while. I think the default difficulty is pretty good ... there are enemies that my characters can one-shot and enemies who can give them a run for their money. (I don't think I've ever met a Sabre cat who was easy.)

That said, sometimes with Skyrim you want to work, and sometimes you just want to play a character who can summon two atronachs and go loot while they get the job done. There's nothing wrong with just relaxing with the game ... it's all about variety.

My first run through I like to have some challenge, but usually not a tear my hair out challenge (although if I am in that mood I boot up darks souls). That first run through I also like to try to do every possible thing in the game. It helps me connect to the story more.

If I like the gameplay I may bump up difficulty mid game. Or wait for a 2nd run through.

I have the innate ability to play on the highest sensitivity and highest difficulty on every video game I play, making it rage inducing and extremely hard, but fun for me. You have fun on novice, that's your preference.

No harm in it - I'm (slowly) working through New Vegas for the first time on hardcoe, just because I played a lot of Fallout 3 and want a good challenge. Conversely, I wish that any multiplayer FPS i play on console had an e-z mode, cause I am horrible at them. In short, play with what you are comfortable with - tweak difficulity down the line maybe. You might find your skills have improved!

Not at all, but I think you should consider raising the difficulty as you reach higher levels. Playing on harder difficulties will give you a better idea of how your build works against more powerful enemies and will make the perks you choose more satisfying.

I have never once raised the difficulty in Skyrim. I have, however, downgraded my equipment when it got too powerful.

you are a noob for asking if asking if you're a noob makes you a noob. noob. but it is okay, noobs are the true rulers of the interwebz, the uber and L337 will fall and we will own all o the internets

you play how the hell you want,aint no ones buisiness but your own.
and to gash505,rrrespect to the beard! cheers

I play on Apprentice, and play Fallout on easy

I play on novice too, its more fun that way. xD

No you're not, and why do you care what people think?