Currently playing a level 21 dark elf nightblade. It was my first go at a non warrior character. I'm having a hard time getting into character because I kind of just made him to test him out. Looking for people that can help me with the build an RP. I really want to make a character I can get into.

Major skills

Sneak - 1/5, whole right side, left side till silent roll

Illusion - whole tree

1H - 5/5 armsman

Minor skills

Pickpocket - not sure how much to go here, I know I atleast want to be able to poison.

Alchemy - again will take suggestions on how far to take this skill

I am open to any ideas so please post away. I have found my level 21 to struggle badly against dragons but I would like to make this a MQ character, since I have yet to finish it! So to sum it up what I am looking for is:

1. Build tips, what would you change, add, or take away. I know I want to play a dark elf but I would love to hear ideas on male or female. What armor or robes to wear.

2. RP tips and ideas. I'm a TES rookie and don't know much lore. I really want to create a character that I get into for once. So far I have felt I am just playing a game. I have read so many posts of people "loving" there character so much, they refuse to delete it... I want that!

3. This goes with #2 but quest tips. I know I will join the DB early on, level 10-20. Thieves guild later game level 35+. But other than those, what would my nightblade do? I'm thinking joining the storm cloaks makes more sense because the imperials hate dark elves? Maybe complete the college of winter hold instead of just using them to learn new spells and train.

4. Anything else you want to teach me!

Seriously all the smart members in this community and no tips? We will debate reperking and 360 mods till we are blue in the face but when there is a real question everybody is quiet!!!

The Empire is cosmopolitan, the Stormcloaks is the faction with many racists. You've got that confused.

Ulfric Stormcloak doesn't like Dark Elves. There is a special slum for Dark Elves in WIndhelm. Have you been to the city?

Illusion is fun. I love silent casting. I love muffle and invisibility. I have tried some other illusion spells, too, and they are fun to use.

How do you fight or plan to fight dragons?

The imperials don't hate dark elves thats pretty much the stormcloaks.

Becareful though, dragons doesn't affected by all illusion spell.

For dragons you can take your alchemy up to benefactor and make some very good elemental resistance potions.
Also lingering damage health is a good poison to use,along with the marked for death shout and you should do all right,you just need a way to deliver the poisons.

With illusion you really don't need any of the left side of the sneak tree,it's fine to take those perks if you still have enough perks for everything else.
But if you start running out of perks I would skip those for more important perks in alchemy.

How fast should I start to perk alchemy? Should I focus on an other schools of magic?

I made a bunch of characters with similar build. I would recommend to stay with around two to three skills to prevent from bloat right away. Most times when I made my nightblade... sneak, one hand, and light armor took all the perks and illusion suffered. I would start with illusion, one-handed, and something else. When you get your core, I would say, then branch out. But this is only for Masters.

As far as role-playing.. you have to have likes and dislikes. Does he like mead or have refined tastes for wine? Likes all kinds of food or a restricted diet? Attitude and quests you will do based on you allignment? I wouldn't do the Companion guild for example. What will you collect? Motivation in life?

I mean I can go on lol. Just try to create another life in the game. If you have ever played the Sims.. I would incoorperate some activities and likes/dislikes from there too!

You will find leveling up easier if you delay it more and accumulate more ingredients. But there is also considerable advantage to leveling it up early and gradually and actually using the potions that you make. You get access to very good potions and poisons from very beginning of the game. If you are leveling, I would recommend taking perks as soon as they become available, because it makes potions better and leveling quicker. You need 8 perks to make most powerful potions and poisons. I also recommend taking 3 experimenter perks as you level up.

So either way is good. Delay leveling alchemy and level it up quickly when you want to. Or gradually level up alchemy as you play. I've done it both ways and both seemed good in different ways.