Whats up guys, whats goin' on. Ive had this wicked idea for a vampire build brewing for the longest and I think I need some serious help getting it off the ground. Basicaly I want to take the talents given to vampires and improve their coresponding skills and add in a few of my own to round out the vampire into a deadly beast but this is where it gets hairy. I need to find the balance point between the skills and what skills I should focus on to allow me to SURVIVE as I start leveling up. These freaking snowy sabertooth cats are out for my ass. But first ill give you all a real rundown of the dkills and how I beleve theyll work together

Sneak - Vampires gain a 25% bonus to sneaking and that alone makes room for extra perks as less perks need to be put into sneak. This skill serves as a backbone for this build because it allows sneak attacks to bepowerful sneak attacks to be made, precious little health to be preserved, and it fits into the dark brotherhood and thieves guild faction m.o. which I plan to join because the powers and equipment they grant go beyond perfect with this style. The only perks I plan on using from here are the first few on better sneaking and better one hand sneak attack.

Illusion: This fits in because illusion spells are more effective as a vampire, they pick up my slack in sneaking and it grants crowd control and unexpected allies in a vicious world that shuns vampires. A must have. I plan to master almost all of these perks.

Conjuration: I think this deserves a little attention because allies are needed and the dead are conviwnient distractions. Plus conjuration is actually tied to enchantment in a way so... Yeah. And its awesome to play people and the dead against each other from the shadows. and being a vampire gives you a nice magic cushion for raising the dead as well. Only some perks like the dead raising.

Destruction: Impossible to resist. Vampires have an affinity to cold and so its only righg to add in the pure firepower. Ice magic slows enemies which allows dangerous blows to be avoided and extra hits to get in and at higher levels even freezes enemies solid! Even without that watching enemies fly awat with a huge cunk of ice in them is priceless. There are several dragon shouts that go well with vampiric affinities and make the character seem to be a destructive savant. Not to mention powers gained in the thieves guild that is basicaly a viciously amped up version vampiric drain which is unique to vampires.

Enchantment: this skill seems vital for this play style. I aim to sacrifice a lot of health for magic and gain a few deadly weaknesses and at full power this skill can eliminate a vampires weakness to fire which is a blessing. Magic can also be boosted to an insane level so that helps too. Plus things like pickpocketing and lockpicking can be made easier with out the use of perks so.... and with necromage every enchantment on you is more powerful and dragon icy dragon shouts can be used even faster. And the money is good.

One handed: Taking on the world without a blade just doesnt seem realistic. Just enough perks to hold my own against sabercats sound good to me. Plus theres two great swords that have amazing synergy with this character.

And thats it really. I would like to be decent with light armor for some protection and grinding smithery to 100 is rediculously easy and has many benifits. Im good at picking locks by myself and I can use enchantments to boost pickpocket when I need it. Restoration has some sick stuff and is low on the perk tree but requires lots of skill. Anybody have any tips on improving restoration skill? I know it seems like im trying to do too much but if it came down to it I could forsake certain perks and skills even though I only truly mastering two or three in terms of perks. Anybody have an idea of what could help keep me alive and what I should focus on first? Constructive critisism, sabercat death cheats,.anything?.....

Don't take enchantment. I'll tell you right now, it isn't "vital" as you say. I'm doing a vampire build right now that I've put NO points into health, have NO professions, and NO followers aside from the elemental-daedra that I summon. I'm basically doing exactly what you're doing, only I use archery instead of illusion magic. I also use heavy armor, but with only 100 health and 40 health in daylight, it's an absolute must. Everything else I put into magicka. And really... it isn't that bad. I die a lot, but that forces me to play smarter, and the game provides plenty of potions and anything you need without grinding professions. It's quite simple and a fun challenge to boot.

Oh, and I don't even use lockpicking. Never picked a lock except for getting into Aretino's house for the Dark Brotherhood. So I don't have those "free levels" to put into my other trees.

I use Restoration magic as well, but in moderation. Once I get Necromage at level 90, I'm quitting it cold turkey and using a combination of the Ebony Blade and the Vampiric Drain abilities (destruction tree). With minimal health, the heals from these are actually beneficial.

I suppose I gave you my build more than what's constructive to yours... but I feel that this way you offer yourself a unique and challenging gameplay that doesn't fall back on overpowered professions that eventually make it all too easy.

Thanks I appreciate it at least you replied lol. Although I could just raist the difficulty to harder if I 'break' the game.

Playing a vampire as well but I cant resist to boost health to 500 before starting adding Magicka/Stamina... of course my character is not focused on destruction spells if hardly using any, and although I enjoy roleplaying and random approaches when it comes to strategy and tactics, I hate dying, really... I also tend to melee with dragons, even on light armor, so I need a lot of health but I admit running around with 100 health/40 during the day is quite challenging and very solid if you like a more realistic approach.

With all of the Magicc Skillas that you've listed, I'd replace Enchanting with Restoration and get the Necromage Perk.

It'll pay itself back in benefits almost immediately. lol

My vampire's stat focus is 6:2:2. I've gone with restoration and alteration for defence and conjuration for attack. I deal most damage with bound weapons and have the soul trap perk for those. I use destruction staffs on top of that. I craft alchemy and enchanting, and only wear robes.

Pretty fun build so far and I've captured a couple of vids from the 360

Faendal Falls Victim to a Vampire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y68Y4-stbtY

Anneka Crag-Jumper's Date With Death
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7tRbcxl6w0&feature=relmfu

Very wicked.

How can you ignore necromage? It's an instant 25% buff to a whole bunch of abilities. I'd ditch conjuration or enchanting and insure I have restoration, especially since your not going to be recovering health an stamina in daylight.

I have never had the need for the Necro prk. All of my vamps have Conjurer-Illusionists. That alone is powerful enough without the glitch.

OP wanted to take advantage of vampire perks to build a "Beast", if that's the case you should really be using restoration.p

I have a vamp build as well. I am doing the same as you but have been wondering if the necromage perk is really that good.

It does increase everything, from spells to enchantments to potions, but it is a glitch. I don't knock anybody for doing it, but it isn't a must have. Beast or not. Given the fact of being a Vamp, and a Master of Illusion is enough in itself. Then you add Conjuration, and you are a "Beast", as you call it. No need for exploits.

I'd say it's too good.

Why so?

If you are a Vampire it makes every magical thing more powerful. I was already a powerful level 81 character before I accidentally became a Vampire, and now I am even more powerful. I could even improve all of my gear considerably. For instance my bow now does 841 damage. I am thinking that the dynamic between the Necromage perk and Vampirism may not have been intended to be so powerful.

Got it. i've never used the necro mage perk. Thanks for clarifying

It's still fun though.

How is it a glitch? Vampires are undead, and "all spells are stronger against undead." If you're buffing an undead, that would count as being "more powerful," and therefore fits right into the description of the perk.

I didn't say it was a glitch, just that when applied to enchantments, it can unwittingly end up as an extra layer of power over everything, not just 'spells' as in the description. My weapons are more powerful because I'm a Vampire?
It's just my opinion that the Necromage perk may have ended up more powerful than what was anticipated design wise.

I think that post was directed to my comment on it being a "glitch". Even though Nukasa didn't quote the post he/she was referring to.

I look at it as a glitch, because I don't think it was intended to affect the PC. That perk is in the Resto tree and it targeted to undead.


Yes, your character is tagged as "undead", but IMO it is an oversite on the what the perk is to affect. I doubt the devs intended it to buff a Vamp PC with 25% to 50% increase in spells, enchantments, and potions. The Vamp is buffed enough. I see that perk as being intended to be used by the player against the enemy and not by the player for the player.

But, let's be clear. I don't fault anyone that chooses to do this. It is a very powerful avenue to follow. If one so chooses to do take this approach, I wish them well. I will alose add that I feel these things should be left alone. They need to be in the game. PC users have commands. Console users do not have that option.