# 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:** 60
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/1181 "2011-12-23T05:42:05Z")
Cool, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/1182 "2011-12-23T07:57:38Z")
Hi all, dilettante here. I’m just playing my brother’s skyrim over christmas and I was wondering if there was a list of quests sorted roughly by level? I understand that they scale with the player but only within a range. I’m a level 8 mage and most of the quests I’ve come across seem just outside of my comfort zone. Alternatively, are there some really good mage spells that could help me out? ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/1183 "2011-12-23T08:34:42Z")
Honestly, and not to sound cliche, but I’d recommend just wandering and exploring for awhile and talking to lots of people. I’ve let any wind blow me and have never had a problem finding things to do, battle or otherwise engage (even if it is just running for my life) to start building stats and getting loot. The quests are nice and all, but for me at least 80% of the fun is just getting from point A to point B and finding new quest stubs to eventually flesh out down the road or when I’m next in the area wherever that new quest would send me. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/1184 "2011-12-23T08:41:44Z")
Ah, ok. I do know that I’m driving my brother up the wall as every time I enter a new city, I ask him, ok who do I talk to now? Super used to railroad plots, this whole sandbox thing confuses and frightens me. ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/1185 "2011-12-23T09:10:47Z")
Don’t be afraid to wander into caves or ruins that you happen across whether or not you know what is in them. There will be fell beasties and foes inside, but even if you might not be able to beat the bosses or clear the dungeon, you may pick up something useful and gain some stats and still make it out alive. Mages can find spell and skill books and Health and Magica potions and gear and gold and goodies sprinkled liberally throughout. ---
**Author:** ![Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pine_Fresh_Scent)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/1186 "2011-12-23T12:42:22Z")
Hey **Inner Stickler**. I have way too much time to play this game, but here’s a few things I’ve picked up playing as a mage. Maybe they’ll help. Bottom line up front: I use almost every tool in my bag during a fight: enchanted clothing, enchanted weapons, spells, cast runes (land mines), potions before and during the fight, followers, conjured followers and Dragon shouts. It’s a lot to balance but gets easier with repetition. Use the terrain to funnel your enemies into cast runes, or lead them into a giant who will kill them for you. I’m finding that to survive as a mage, I’m spending all my perks mostly on Mage skills (Destruction, Regeneration, Alteration) with a few exceptions (Smithing to get the enhance magic equipment and better kit out my follower, for example). The “cast for half cost” perks are important to keeping my blue bar somewhat full during combat, as are the mage armor perks/spells like Ironflesh and Stoneflesh. If you look closely, you’ll see enemy mages cast this spell on themselves before they attack you. I spread my perks too thin with my first character. Put them in too many different catagories which left me without a knockout punch when I needed it. This time, I’m putting all my level up points into magicka, not health or stamina, and I’m focusing mostly on the perks to make me a “lightning specialist” vs. fire or frost. I make up my weakness in health with potions and a good tank follower. There’s over 200 available perks, but I’ve heard most characters mature to the 50-80 levels, so you won’t get even half the available perks. I suspect the same trend follows for thieves and brawler type characters - stick to five or six perk classes. For mage spells, I’d reccommend specializing fire, frost or shock. Some dragons are either fire or frost resistant, but none are shock resistant (thanks **Der Trihs** ). However, trolls are weak to fire. So I’m shock-heavy with a fire back up and skip frost spells altogether. I don’t mess around with zombie spells or perks, either (too specialized). Upgrade your robes ASAP to increase your magicka regen rate. You can buy better mages’ robes at the mages’ college in Whiterun. Some found equipment like magicka regen rings are better worn as found until your enchant skill increases to the point where it pays off to destroy it to learn the spell and enchant a different pieces of equipment such as boots or a hat. I never have enough magicka or a fast enough regen rate. It’s fight, recover, fight for me. For weapons I only carry a bow, enchanted with weakness to shock. My plan is to use this with an arrow poisoned to slow/paralyze strong enemies then hit them with shock spells. I also hide out of sight and cast flame Atronarchs to fight enemies. I can see how the fight’s going through the enemy’s health bar when the atronarch’s fireballs hit them. Casting fire and shock runes are helpful, too but can kill your followers and atronarchs if you’re not careful. Staffs can help preserve your magicka, too. The Dragon Shouts are helpful. I especially like the one that freezes enemies in ice. My biggest threat is getting chased down by faster bears and cats outside. Once I can get them off their feet I can perch somewhere and kill them at leisure. One drawback is that fire spells thaw them out of their frozen state, so avoid that. None of this is gospel, just the way I’m playing this time around. I’m sure there’s better ways to do things. I hope it helps, though. Hey look at that, it’s quittin’ time! I think I’ll go home and play Skyrim, unless Lundberg calls me in over the weekend. ---
**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:** [December 23, 2011, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/1187 "2011-12-23T13:28:39Z")
My mage strategy was to rely heavily on the Destruction dual-casting perk which staggers your foe. Enchanted clothing and jewelry that increases magicka regen and decreases destruction casting costs, and fireballs. Fireballs are nice because they are area effect, so you don’t need perfect accuracy and shot at your feet will keep any number of melee attackers from hitting you with sharp pointy things. I played without a follower and didn’t use summon meatshield spells, and rarely had any issues (generally only against numerous spread out archer opponents). ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/1188 "2011-12-23T13:32:58Z")
> [@Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](#): > > I also hide out of sight and cast flame Atronarchs to fight enemies. I can see how the fight’s going through the enemy’s health bar when the atronarch’s fireballs hit them. Casting fire and shock runes are helpful, too but can kill your followers and atronarchs if you’re not careful. Staffs can help preserve your magicka, too. Useful tip: Atronachs appear to be immune to damage by their element, so if you have say a Storm Atronach you can spam shock damage spells with no worries about damaging it. That’s also useful when you are faced with an enemy that likes a particular elemental attack; your Flame Atronach for example can help tank fire using enemies for you. ---
**Author:** ![Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pine_Fresh_Scent)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/1189 "2011-12-23T13:56:44Z")
I’m looking forward to getting the Destruction perk that disintegrates enemies hit with shock spells. I didn’t take the Blood n’ Guts perk in Fallout 3 but this one sounds too cool. I hope they explode into tiny bits and don’t just burn into a pile of ash. ---
**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:** [December 23, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/1190 "2011-12-23T15:39:42Z")
> [@Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](#): > > I’m looking forward to getting the Destruction perk that disintegrates enemies hit with shock spells. I didn’t take the Blood n’ Guts perk in Fallout 3 but this one sounds too cool. I hope they explode into tiny bits and don’t just burn into a pile of ash. I want this one badly, but a word of warning: some people report it has screwed them from getting quest items. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/1191 "2011-12-23T16:34:01Z")
Yeah… I don’t understand why someone would want it, tbh. It sounds like a ‘custom loot destruction perk’ to me. ---
**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:** [December 23, 2011, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/1192 "2011-12-23T17:14:17Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > Yeah… I don’t understand why someone would want it, tbh. It sounds like a ‘custom loot destruction perk’ to me. Well, it’s not supposed to destroy the loot. Just leave a convenient ash pile. Doesn’t always work. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/1193 "2011-12-23T19:27:03Z")
Hey, I got Skyrim for my dad. According to the System Requirements Lab, it says it can’t run it because of the GEForce 9200 that’s in his desktop, although I can’t see why it can’t run it. Am I going to have to upgrade his video card (I assume I will)? ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/1194 "2011-12-23T23:08:18Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > Well, it’s not supposed to destroy the loot. Just leave a convenient ash pile. Hrm… fair enough. Still, seems odd to waste a perk slot just to dispose of bodies. At least the frost and fire perks do something useful. ---
**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:** [December 23, 2011, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/1195 "2011-12-23T23:13:39Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > Hrm… fair enough. Still, seems odd to waste a perk slot just to dispose of bodies. At least the frost and fire perks do something useful. A chance of insta-kill isn’t useful? It’s basically the same effect as the Fallout 3 crit hit with a laser turns the target to ash. I think it’s even the same ash pile. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/1196 "2011-12-23T23:20:44Z")
FYI a mix of laziness and curiosity caused me to try the disable and enable trick with Lydia while her inventory was full. It seems to have worked with all the stuff intact. Getlevel says she is 20 now like me and all her stuff is there. YMMV. ---
**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:** [December 24, 2011, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/1197 "2011-12-24T00:39:50Z")
BTW, while a huge number of critters have resistance to Frost, it may have the most powerful and dangerous spell effects in the game. It can slow nearly anything with a simple Apprentice spell, and the Frost bonus perk actually gives you the ability to paralyze damn near anything for three seconds. It is _nasty_, and I fear fighting spellcasters with frost more than anything else in the game. ---
**Author:** ![wonderlust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonderlust/32/7237_2.png) [@wonderlust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderlust)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/1198 "2011-12-24T03:27:20Z")
I’m only level 11, but bought my first house today, and Lydia is supposed to take care of it for me. Boy, she can’t do housework worth a damn. What does she do while I’m out adventuring with my companion, play video games all day? You’d think she could at least clear out the cobwebs! To whoever was asking, I like using the huge hardcopy game guide. I can check it to make sure I’ve cleared all the important things out of a dungeon, get tips for fighting the mobs in a particular area, etc. I’ve found it very useful (but the text is too small and too lightly printed). FWIW, when playing Oblivion, once I started using console commands and add-ons, the game lost its fun, even though the commands were necessary to get around some of the bugs. For Skyrim, I’m going to try to play vanilla all the way, except for or until a Bug Fix Add-on comes out (just in case). ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/1199 "2011-12-24T03:48:09Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > You also get something like [this](http://i.imgur.com/RF7wu.jpg). That’s a pricey razor. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540/1200 "2011-12-24T04:24:19Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > A chance of insta-kill isn’t useful? It’s basically the same effect as the Fallout 3 crit hit with a laser turns the target to ash. I think it’s even the same ash pile. Ah, I must’ve misread the perk, didn’t realize it was an instakill, just thought it disintegrated shit you killed through straight damage. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540.md?page=59) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-post-release-thread/602540.md?page=61)