I meant that as in she doesn't like to touch them. That's why she fights them with ranged weapons And if she does touch one/get touched by one (one snuck up on me, etc), she "purifies" herself (ritual washing - it's roleplayed and involves her washing herself and drinking potions).

Ahaha, so she purifies a lot I'm assuming. I wish they could have included drinkable water in this game though.

I hate that the only thing to drink is alcohol. My character doesn't wanna be an alcoholic "/

Every run I do (after the first one) is a no fast travel, dead-is-dead run. Though I don't restrict what I carry, I just assume he has an invisible wagon or a magic bag.

Each of my char's "restrictions" are a little different. Only I really don't look at them as restrictions, Why would a "pure mage" know smithing? My warrior uses no magic so why would she enchant? ( she does use what she finds) My thief is a jack of all crafting, master of none. I try to stick to what I think is realistic in any of the craft's.

I don't fast travel, I DO use carriges. MY char's all need to eat and sleep. My thief blends into the countyside/town's she is in. ( nothing worse in my mind than a thief or assassin that ppl notice, and I don't just mean "catch")

So I really don't look at it as limit's or restrictions so much as what is most realistic ( in a world with magic, Deadric princes etc). I have rules and restrictions I live by, most of them we call laws, some are moral's, so why shouldn't my char's? Sure my thief and assassin are law breaker's and amoral, but they still live by their own code.

I actually disagree. My "restrictions" are all character-based. If they were enforced, they'd be a chore instead of being fun. I'm glad that all of my restrictions are optional.

She does have to purify herself fairly often, lol. I do wish there was drinkable water, too. Holy water would also be nice, but I'm not an expert on lore so I'm not sure if that would fit in the lore.

It is immoral to use black soul gems, trap black souls, or raise the dead.

My conjuration skills are strictly elemental + banishment

Also, winners don't eat elsweyr fondue

My current character is not allowed to level up, she's a permanent level one.

This also means no perks, no access/using skill trees.

Since you can't level up smithing, all armor/weapons you use are either found from loot drops, or purchased from a trader.

I killed a drauger overlord this morning in a dungeon, and was thrilled to discover he dropped a bow 4 levels higher than the one I was using - it's amazing how simple things like that can exite you, and keep you playing for hours and hours.

Also, soul gems are useless since you can't level enchanting.

No smithing abuse - try to only craft with mined/skinned materials (ok I buy the occaisional ingot)

No enchanting abuse - same general idea as above

won't do quests for evil folk - I'll stare at the quest in the q until the cows come home but I'm not collecting your blood!

No ~ abuse unless I'm stuck

No more trips to Vegas - Cause that got out of hand

Umm, not trying to quibble with how you choose to RP, or play in general, but even without any perks you could still create iron/leather/hide and potentially temper anything if your skill rose high enough. Or do you mean that you choose not to use smithing at all?

Also, soul gems are certainly still useful to recharge weapons whether you enchanted them, loot them or purchase them.

No. i do as i please

i think being a vampire is enough of a restriction givin the new "rule set". no need to make it harder....unless u don't have it on master already...

The only magic allowed is restoration, only to adept spells. No staves, scrolls, or enchanting allowed.

No fast traveling.

No crafting gear, only improving what I already have.

No buying alchemy ingredients, i'll only use what I gather.
Master difficulty, never scaling it down for any reason.

I always use Fast Travel if its a far distance, especially if im just going somewhere to sell stuff. I spend alot of time with Skyrim, but going on a 30 minute run just to complete an objective seems ludicrous to me. I only have few spare hours every day between work and children, so i have to make the most of my time. What i do restrict myself to is Skills and abuse of smithing, enchanting and alchemy. For example, I'll only concentrate on 4-5 skills per character and never use skills that wouldnt make sense to that character. My pure Nord Warrior focuses on Two Handed, Heavy Armor, Block, Archery and a minor in Smithing. I dont touch enchanting or alchemy with this character. The only thing that levels up that i really dont want is Speech from selling items.

Yes, I restrict my character.

Like some others, I don't use a specific set of restrictions to necessarily make the game more "challenging". I do it out of roleplaying purposes and whatever fits my player character.

-But in general I have never used Fast Travel in Skyrim. It doesn't even exist to me as an option (I just find it immersion breaking). It's not like the world is friggin' huge like Daggerfall where you *need* to Fast Travel to really enjoy the game. I just ride my horse everywhere and it's not like I'm trying to rush to "beat the game" anyway.

-I have played on Expert Difficulty since the beginning (currently lvl 17) and it suits me fine. Combat is generally challenging enough, but if I go one up to Master, I am thinking the combat damage may get a little unrealistic (I bash you 30 times with my 2-hand axe and you are still alive!)

-I turned all the HUD GPS, etc. off first thing, because I'd rather get my bearings in game and figure out where stuff is in the gameworld for myself than follow some stupid quest marker. I only use the map to figure out where a location is when they tell you vague directions (if you can call them 'directions') like "Go to ." Once I have some clue where the ruin or town or whatever is, I try to just follow the landmarks to get there.

-I tend to eat regularly (sometimes after a battle, but not like a dozen pieces of fish or something ridiculous like that - that's what I use potions for).

-I don't use potions during battle unless I can fall back or retreat if outnumbered to a safe spot and drink one or two potions and get back into the battle.

-I don't use a follower anymore unless it's one of my "pack" brothers/sister, mainly because I'm more of a lone wolf, and they are too slow when I'm riding my horse. Certain quests, I still might use one if it seems required or if I'm gonna be badly outnumbered.

-I try to sleep *at least* 4-6 hours a night. I'd sleep more, but I'm a werewolf, so it's not like I'm getting any benefit anyway, it's more for RP purposes.

-Also, being a werewolf, I try to go hunting regularly to "satisfy the cravings of the blood". If I go out and notice that it's a full moon, then I'm going on a killing spree. Since I'd rather not kill anyone I might need later and my character is more or less "good" when not in beast form, I try to leave the confines of "civilization" and kill mostly bandits, Thalmor or Imperial soldiers, etc. Maybe not completely "chaotic" but whatever. There aren't enough people in Skyrim to go around killing everyone or there'd soon be no one left.

-I don't use spells *at all* since I'm playing a warrior who has no knowledge or interest in spellcasting.

-I use Smithing, but I don't over use it. I only craft armor and weapons that I think my character would use - like I don't use Dwarven at all because it's too heavy and it doesn't suit my character's look. Elven, also, isn't really my style. I still wear the "Wolf Armor" until I see or craft something I like better.

-My char 'dabbles' a little in Enchanting, but not to make uber gear, mainly to make a cool named Fire Sword or something like that. I still haven't enchanted any of my armor.

I have a lot of restrictions too many to list lol

Null

I only use Carriage for fast travel ( i use fast travel occasionaly)

My warrior never uses magic ( not even the healing spell)

I eat and sleep like a normal human being would.

My character has a good set of morals preventing him from doing any evil quests.

My character has to sleep, to eat and to drink. Normaly I do not use fast travel ( I use fast travel only if I have rare time to play...).

Mostly I use mods to do the restrictions for me. However, one thing that is important all my characters is to treat the dead with respect. I drag bodies off roads and lay them down peacefully, I hardly ever loot the dead (I will take weapons, and my rogue will sometimes nick an enemies' boots, but reach inside a dead man's pocket? Never.) And never, ever kill if it can be helped.

Yes, because of roleplay and challenge reasons. I find roleplaying more fun than powerplaying, and when powerplaying the game becomes too easy.


I roleplay and only do what my character would do. So as an example I don't wear the best possible armor, and I don't take anything from urns. I also eat and sleep regularly.

I've also installed a bunch of balance mods, which rebalance things like Lockpicking and Smithing. I've also halved my character's carrying capacity, and slowed down his running speed (roleplay purpose).

My Nord warrior uses no magic whatsoever - no enchanting or alchemy either, unless he finds some enchanted items or ready-made potions. He's also a skooma addict, and tends to become violent if he goes a few days without skooma ... I've also started to play without fast travel recently, although I still use it when I want to complete specific quests quickly.

I'm using a couple of 'realistic effect' alcohol and other substance mods, and my current character has a bit of a habit...it makes things interesting.

Other than that, on this run through I'm just sticking to basics, limited fast travel, regular meals and sleep, etc.

Next run through I'll go hardcoe.

I think my next character is going to have more limitations, but I will have to think through them.
All of this is really interesting.

First and foremost, avoid having one character who does everything.
I always run 4 different builds . Each has a purpose and each is enjoyable for different reasons. Though no one character will do and see everything, I get to experience the entire game through each.
Note: These are base types, though not locked in to hamper oneself:

1. Male Nord Tracker/Cartographer. He lives off the land and doesn't do a single quest. Not one. Wears Light Armour and wields a 1H Axe and Bow. He also utilizes a torch for blocking. Simply roleplaying as a bystander in the province, occasionally helping a local met on the roads, charting the province as he goes. Has a penchant for freeing any and all prisoners seen, then smiting the escorts, no matter who. LOVE that guy.

2. Male Bosmer Rascal/Fisherman. He's my rogue type, wearing only clothing and dual-wielding daggers. Good at heart but can't keep his mits off all those shiny baubles strewn about the world.
*Note: He recently drowned under the ice...I don't want to talk about it*

3. Female Breton Seeker/Healer. Working her way around the Holds, studiously making her own charts of ingredient locales. She's my Mage build focusing on Restoration and Alchemy. With only enchanted robes and clothing, a dagger rests on the hip for times when those with ill-intent come too close.

4. Female Redguard Vindictor. This lass has a chip the size of Ysgramor on her shoulder. She's working the main storyline with nary a minute to stop and take names. My tank build, but only wearing Steel Plate and wielding a 2H blade. She'll most likely join the Companions at some point. Undecided on that.

It's YOUR game, so play it as you choose. I choose to limit my characters based on questlines.
Sparse out the duties and interests and you'll always have a character ready to suit your current mood.
One person's opinion.