# The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim post-release thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 10, 2011, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540 "2011-11-10T22:09:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/381 "2011-11-21T15:32:40Z")
Does anyone know if the dragon bones and scales are useful for anything but sell items? I’ve been saving them back (I don’t really need the money) but might start selling them as I have tons now (literally, since they are quite heavy). I killed a dragon last night when I was on a mountainside near the magic college (I walked down a tunnel from the Midden and was suddenly outside). Sadly, I walked off an edge somehow and couldn’t get back to the dragon, who’s body is still up there in the snow somewhere, presumably. I tried to walk back through the Midden and find my way outside, but there are several exits I guess that put you outside, and I couldn’t find the one that lead back to the body…and once you leave you can’t get back in that way again it seems…you have to go all the way back to the college and through the trap door down. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/382 "2011-11-21T15:52:59Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > The endgame difference between glass and daedric weaponry is pretty minimal anyway. I can only imagine you got this impression by comparing newly crafted non-upgraded daedric weaponry to glass weaponry. Even ebony weaponry is quite a bit stronger than glass, once upgraded. That’s my major gripe with the blacksmithing tree. You can’t craft good weapons if you go down the light armor path, because the dragon armor perk doesn’t bridge glass and daedric perks. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/383 "2011-11-21T15:54:35Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > Does anyone know if the dragon bones and scales are useful for anything but sell items? I’ve been saving them back (I don’t really need the money) but might start selling them as I have tons now (literally, since they are quite heavy). Dragon bones and scales are used to create and improve dragon armor once you get the perk for it. Heavy dragonplate takes both scales and bones, and light dragonscale takes just scales. ---
**Author:** ![Claptree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@Claptree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claptree)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/384 "2011-11-21T15:57:25Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > Does anyone know if the dragon bones and scales are useful for anything but sell items? I’ve been saving them back (I don’t really need the money) but might start selling them as I have tons now (literally, since they are quite heavy). Once you upgrade your smithing you can make armor from them. Scales for light and bones for heavy. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/385 "2011-11-21T15:57:06Z")
Are there any NPCs that can craft that for you, or is this only if you have the smithing skill (which I don’t have)? -XT ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/386 "2011-11-21T15:59:57Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > I can only imagine you got this impression by comparing newly crafted non-upgraded daedric weaponry to glass weaponry. Even ebony weaponry is quite a bit stronger than glass, once upgraded. > > That’s my major gripe with the blacksmithing tree. You can’t craft good weapons if you go down the light armor path, because the dragon armor perk doesn’t bridge glass and daedric perks. Huh. Well, thanks. I guess I’ll just have to go the Heavy Armor side even if I don’t wear it. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/387 "2011-11-21T16:24:23Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > I noticed that sometimes, when you success in some action, there’s a small pop-up in the lower right corner of the screen. For instance, the first time you cut wood, you’re noted as an “hard worker”. > > However, I can’t find anywhere the list of these achievments, nor do I know what consequences they bring, if any. Does anybody have a clue? Achievements are found in many/most games these days. They are generally just milestones in the game so you can roughly chart your progress versus other players. They also seem to satisfy the completion and collection freaks who want to complete 100% of the game. The achievements are listed somewhere outside the game; if you’re on PS3 or 360 they should be listed in the console menus somewhere before you launch the game, or with your gamer profile. If you’re on Steam you should see them on the summary screen if you click once on the game, or right-click on the game. AFAIK the achievements have no effect on your actual Skyrim gameplay. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/388 "2011-11-21T16:25:55Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > Dragon bones and scales are used to create and improve dragon armor once you get the perk for it. Heavy dragonplate takes both scales and bones, and light dragonscale takes just scales. I’ve been selling the scales and bones to merchants and using the money for training and stuff. I write down where I sell them, hopefully they will still be there later. ---
**Author:** ![Jbone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@Jbone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jbone)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/389 "2011-11-21T17:03:00Z")
I rented the console version first and then bought the PC version after I saw how awesome it is. I’ve concluded that the PC is version is better for me. I saw a noticeable improvement in graphics on the PC, and also load times were much faster. The actual gameplay is better to. I can’t hit a moving target with a bow to save my life on the console. I think just having more keys to hit helps immensely. That being said, I would like to make this my hub for any questions I have that are Skyrim related. I can Google around for answers, but sometimes those gaming sites have a ton of crap to load, and my Internet connection isn’t the greatest. So, here comes the PC list so far; thanks guys! Steam – I can run the game in offline mode, but is there anyway to bypass Steam completely? I would think it’s installed locally and I could just click on the Skyrim.exe or something instead of having to have Steam up and running. Enemies – is there anyway to tell if a NPC is friend or foe? I snuck up to a ruined castle and saw some guards on the walls, but I couldn’t tell if they were friendly or not. If I put my crosshairs on them, it doesn’t tell me their name or anything. I have to get close enough to interact, or un-sneak so they see me. It seems once there aggressive towards me, I can then see their name and health until I split their skull with my axe. Health – is there a way to see a NPC’s health without being in combat against them? For instance, if two NPCs are fighting, how can I see who is winning? Making money – Any tips for making money early on? I’ve been trying to sell all the swords/armor I can from dungeons, but it seems the value set when I pick up is different from what I actually get selling it (usually about 2/3 less). Any way to change that? Also, has anyone heard of any item vs vendor price lists to maximize what to pick up and what to leave? I think Penny-Arcade described me the best: [http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2011/11/14](http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2011/11/14) ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/390 "2011-11-21T17:13:52Z")
> [@Jbone](#): > > Steam – I can run the game in offline mode, but is there anyway to bypass Steam completely? I would think it’s installed locally and I could just click on the Skyrim.exe or something instead of having to have Steam up and running. > > Enemies – is there anyway to tell if a NPC is friend or foe? I snuck up to a ruined castle and saw some guards on the walls, but I couldn’t tell if they were friendly or not. If I put my crosshairs on them, it doesn’t tell me their name or anything. I have to get close enough to interact, or un-sneak so they see me. It seems once there aggressive towards me, I can then see their name and health until I split their skull with my axe. I think you can run TESV.exe which should be in some path like: \Program Files ( x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\skyrim The only thing you will miss are patches and achievements. I don’t have any better idea on enemies than you do, just walk up to them and see if they get pissed at me. I’m talking to you GIANTS. I just want to be your friend. WHY DO YOU HATE ME? ---
**Author:** ![Claptree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@Claptree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claptree)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/391 "2011-11-21T17:19:53Z")
Wow. I’ve been a [busy fellow.](http://www.imagebam.com/image/49a835160546537) ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/392 "2011-11-21T17:25:17Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Mainly, I’m just happy the vikings in this game don’t have Scottish accents. It sounds to my ear that some of the guards in Whiterun have a bad Austrian/Schwarzenegger accent. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/393 "2011-11-21T17:31:45Z")
[QUOTE=Jbone] Enemies – is there anyway to tell if a NPC is friend or foe? I snuck up to a ruined castle and saw some guards on the walls, but I couldn’t tell if they were friendly or not. If I put my crosshairs on them, it doesn’t tell me their name or anything. I have to get close enough to interact, or un-sneak so they see me. It seems once there aggressive towards me, I can then see their name and health until I split their skull with my axe [/QUOTE] Hopefully there will be a mod for this. Unfortunately, afaik, mobs don’t show up as red dots unless they agro you, and by then it’s too late. What I have been doing is, if there is any question (in a dungeon I just kill everything), I’ll do a quick save, come out of stealth and walk up to them. If they attack me then I’ll reload and kill everything in the area. -XT ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/394 "2011-11-21T17:32:59Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > They’re in the STEAM menu for the game. > > Well, I got it. Started playing and decided I wanted to do something differently. I \*love \* smithing for some reason, and really want those bonuses > > I am curious as to whether it matters if I go “right” or “left” on the Smithing tree. This new character would prefer light armor, and I’m curious as to whether it matters. I know that while it looks like a circle, you can’t go past Dragon is coming from the right, and presumably Daedric if soming from the left. The endgame difference between glass and daedric weaponry is pretty minimal anyway. I do wonder about upgrading what I find, since perhaps some of the powerful endgame gear is Daedric. I think that to get a “pick” on the tree, you have to have already picked the talent that is lower on the tree branch. No skipping. Have to pick Steel smithing before you can select/learn Elven, for example… ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/395 "2011-11-21T17:42:54Z")
[QUOTE=Jbone] Making money – Any tips for making money early on? I’ve been trying to sell all the swords/armor I can from dungeons, but it seems the value set when I pick up is different from what I actually get selling it (usually about 2/3 less). Any way to change that? Also, has anyone heard of any item vs vendor price lists to maximize what to pick up and what to leave? I think Penny-Arcade described me the best: [Thulsa Broom - Penny Arcade](http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2011/11/14) [/QUOTE] Yeah, you don’t get near the value. What I do is look at the theoretical value verse the weight. Also, find yourself some items that increase what you get from vendors. I have the helmet from the thieves guild that gives me a bonus to buying and selling, and a ring and amulet that does the same thing. Even though I haven’t put anything into speech I’m getting some pretty decent prices buying and selling. Early on the best thing I can tell you is get a follower that you can load down as your pack mule and maybe save up to buy a horse. If you have a horse you can load up in a dungeon and waddle out, and then fast travel back to the town of your choice and start selling stuff. I really never had any issues with coin in this game…the only thing I ever really buy is arrows, and if I was willing to use the cheap iron ones I wouldn’t even have to buy those. Between iron arrows and ancient Nord arrows I have enough to fire. It’s only wanting to fire better stuff to hit harder that has caused me to buy some of the better, specialty arrows. As far as armor and weapons goes, I still haven’t bought either…the stuff I’ve found or gotten on quests has done well enough by me so far. I did buy a house fairly early on, but it’s not something I really need…more something I thought would be cool. -XT ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/396 "2011-11-21T17:48:38Z")
One ‘trick’ I’ve found is that if you are over loaded, you actually can move faster if you have your bow out and drawn. Not sure why that’s the case, but with my bow drawn and out of stealth mode my guy moves fairly quickly even when I’m loaded down with tons of extra loot. It helps get me to the horse quicker (I generally pile the extra stuff up in chests and stuff along the way to get back out so I can just pick it all up when I’m done), though you have to be careful not to shoot the horse or someone else if the arrow randomly fires. 😛 -XT ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/397 "2011-11-21T18:36:25Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > It sounds to my ear that some of the guards in Whiterun have a bad Austrian/Schwarzenegger accent. I hear it as a mild Swedish accent. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/398 "2011-11-21T18:38:11Z")
Jeez why are you guys loading up so much crap? I have like 70k gold and not a whole lot to spend it on. I’m down to picking up 1) magic items that have enchantments I haven’t learned yet, 2) gold/gems/jewelry, 3) potions (which I need to stop and just pick up the ones I might actually use). I can understand carrying cartloads of hide bracers from the first few dungeons when you have no coin, but sheesh. I can’t ever sell all my loot even with my selective approach due to lack of merchant gold, so I just don’t understand people who play like vacuum cleaners. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/399 "2011-11-21T18:54:44Z")
Well, s/he said early on…you didn’t start off with 70k gold after all. I don’t do this stuff anymore, though I generally take anything worth 200 gold or more, or anything that looks cool…plus, I pick up every book. Not sure why, since I never sell them, but…just habit I guess. I have about 30k gold, and I don’t have much to spend it on either, though I understand there are some more expensive houses out there and a lot more expensive mods to the houses. The main thing I spend coin on is getting trained every time I meet someone who can train me at something. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Jbone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@Jbone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jbone)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/400 "2011-11-21T19:03:36Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > It sounds to my ear that some of the guards in Whiterun have a bad Austrian/Schwarzenegger accent. I found some of the accents on guards/npcs to be laughable. I’ve also noticed a few recognizable voices from other games. Since I was playing Baldur’s Gate 2 right before Skyrim, I noticed Minsc’s unmistakable voice in the Companion’s hall. [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0191906/](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0191906/) > [@Gorsnak](#): > > Jeez why are you guys loading up so much crap? I have like 70k gold and not a whole lot to spend it on. I’m down to picking up 1) magic items that have enchantments I haven’t learned yet, 2) gold/gems/jewelry, 3) potions (which I need to stop and just pick up the ones I might actually use). > > I can understand carrying cartloads of hide bracers from the first few dungeons when you have no coin, but sheesh. > > I can’t ever sell all my loot even with my selective approach due to lack of merchant gold, so I just don’t understand people who play like vacuum cleaners. I am still in the beginning, and am about to buy my first house from my last load of dungeon trash. Completing quests seems to only give a couple hundred gold right now, and I can make a lot more by loading up my housecarl. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540.md?page=21)