Skyrim: Your Character's Mindset

[acgmacht]

So, I've logged about 18 hours in Skyrim so far, and have literally made no progress (I've since deleted my most recent saves forcing me to start over). The reason for this, is because I often feel like the way I've decided to play isn't logical in terms of the Elder Scrolls lore, etc. That's just the way I have to play.

My question to all of you Elder Scrolls veterans is: how do you play? Are you a ferocious mercenary content with killing anything and everything in their path, regardless of faction, or are you the sympathetic type just looking to explore what Skyrim has to offer? I most often lean toward a Warrior based character, one with incredible strength and skill in battle. But when I actually get to playing, I can't decide whether I want my character to be a bloodthirsty mercenary, only looking out for number one, or a more down-to-earth character that might want to stand up for something (like joining the Imperial Legion and eradicating the rebellion).

I have a hard time choosing because, logically speaking, the character we're playing regardless of race, class, or concentration, is Dragonborn, and is a complete badass. What complete badass would willingly subject themselves to being a grunt in the Imperial Legion (or Stormcloaks, if you prefer)? So, rather than choosing a faction, my character ends up developing into a loner, someone who can handle themselves in combat, but refuses to take orders from anyone incapable of absorbing a dragon's soul.

What do I do? What makes the most logical sense to me is to play a character devoted to themselves (not in an egotistical and selfish way). They're Dragonborn, which, in my mind, means they have better things to be doing than running errands for the Empire (or rebellion), but I still want to complete those side-quests regardless. I just can't figure out how it would be logical for my character to do so.

So, my question is this: what type of character do you play? Not in a physical sense, but an emotional one. How does your character feel about the civil war? Did you participate, or decide to spend your time demolishing dragons like a true Dragonborn?

I realize this is all pretty ridiculous, but I love Skyrim, I'm just terrible at playing it.

 

[Byakuya]

I usually play a straight warrior or a sneaking archer/ranger. But Skyrims magic is so fun I think ill be playing mage a lot more. Also heres a non related comic of how my char acts.

 

[Liliana]

Right now my guy's enjoying the challenge of stealing. (100 Pickpocketing woot)
Eventually he'll discover assassination.
Of course, I also have him go into every dungeon and cave along the way and kill every dragon he finds.

Oh, and considering his (uncaught - 0 lifetime bounty!) criminal record, he's joining up with the Stormcloaks.

 

[Bad Brain]

yeah i get what you're saying, if i was you i'd complete the main quest line then join the imperial legion/stormcloaks under the mindset of "hey, i just saved the planet, time to stop this petty squable" its not like you really get treated like a grunt in the legion anyway, not sure about stormcloaks since i dont like racists .

 

[AnotherAsian]

An awesome werewolf mercenary who doesnt pick sides and kills dragon and criminals and doesnt afraid of anything

 

[acgmacht]

My way of thinking is that since my character is Dragonborn, he has no place amongst the grunts and peons in either the Imperial Army or the Stormcloaks, but that doesn't change the fact that I do want to complete those quest lines. And when I run off and adventure mostly solo (because of the I'm-Dragonborn-and-can-handle-myself mentality), I end up feeling like I'm playing the game alone, and that the characters and factions I encounter along the way are simply there to fill the empty space. I'd love to enlist with the Imperial Army right out of the gate and wage war on the Stormcloaks for hours-on-end, but it just doesn't seem like something a Dragonborn would do.

I really shouldn't put this much thought into how I plan on playing a character in a single-player RPG, but damn it, that's how I was built. A blessing and a curse.

 

[Sexy Beast]

Just a random person who wanders around the countryside, whacking people with axes and every once in a while shout someone on fire. Sometimes people give her money for hitting others with her ax, though it's all in good fun.

 

[Spitfire'd]

I'm actually pretty gripped by the main story, but haven't yet joined a faction. I have no love for the Thalamor I'll tell you that, but I'm pretty neutral in the Empire vs. Stormcloak fight. Probably lean towards the Empire being a Dark Elf and all.

Right now I'm big on exploring while I make a career smithing. I always play something similar to the old "nightblade" which is kind of a rogue/mage, except with heavy armor and Conjuration instead of Illusion. And no pick-pocketing. Basically a stealth warrior with several magic aids if that helps describe him to a T.

Future characters plan to include an Argonian thief and a pure Orc Warrior. Excited for both!

 

[fudpeX]

A dragon saved my life in the beginning. Why on earth would I spend the rest of my days killing them?
I don't kill dragons in skyrim, I save them if others are troubling them.
I never use any type of magic and punish those who do.

Every elder scrolls since elder scrolls I: Arena I have made the same character tree.

Cornelious (Core - Neil - E us)

Elder Scrolls I: Arena - Cornelious The Great (my first character in Tamriel.)
Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall - Cornelious Jr. (the son of Cornelious)
Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind - Cornelious III (4th generation)
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - Glorianne (wife of Cornelious III who moved to cyrodill after C:III was arrested and sent to Morrowind)
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Cornelious (named after long lost great grandfather) "since it takes place 200 years after"

I roll play in the world Todd Howard has created for us. Nirn is an amazing world. I do most of my reading playing these games and collect all the books.
My path in the games are what I chose, I rarely play the main quest unless i stumble upon it and never open up my journal. To me it is unnessicary.
Never went to kavatch in oblivion.. Not a single oblivion gate opened. So I missed that generation.

My fictional family in this world are wise and intelligent people. They use absolutely no magic and see magic as the devils touch. We never friend any mages,
we don't help anyone with magic, and we teach each other the ways of stealth and assassins trickery to defeat all those who use it.

We are a family of alchemist. We befriend those who raise gardens and seek refuge in their homes if need be. Alchemy is our way of profit, and reading is our way of pastime.
We challenge ourselves to find all written and published pages created by all authors and unknown sources. It is a never-ending challenge, and a challenge that has no
"quest marker". may i forever be on the look-out for new and lost material.

That's how I will always play todd Howard's Elder Scrolls.

tl;dr
i'm a family of assassin alchemist's who collect books. my quest is never ending.

 

[Liliana]

Akatosh

Nirn.
:3

I've got a good reason for why you should kill dragons (especially the one that saved you): they are trying to kill you.

 

[fudpeX]

Nirn.
:3

I've got a good reason for why you should kill dragons (especially the one that saved you): they are trying to kill you.

Thank you, what a terrible mishap.

Nirn!

I keep making that mistake and people keep correcting me. I'm never going to learn.

Nirn > Tamriel

Akatosh = Dragon God of Time

(i think i keep making that mistake because its so close to Azeroth)

*sigh*

and as far as them killing me, thats a good point, but I'm still playing it the way I like. Besides, I've seen how easy it is to kill the dragons, I find it harder to avoid them. lol

 

[Spitfire'd]

It's not a contest or anything, but Fudpex wins. I enjoyed reading that.

 

[fudpeX]

If you enjoyed reading that, imagine reading the material in the game. All the books are there for a reason. They give you clues to epic loot, and give you lore on the world.

For instance, there is The Staff of Chaos.

This staff was crafted by an enchanter called Dalak. Tharn used the staff to teleport Uriel Septim VII to a plane of oblivion, then used a spell to make him look like Uriel Septim. He then broke the Staff of Chaos into eight pieces and hid the pieces all around Tamriel.

This staff has the power to open portals to other worlds. The power of the staff is unimaginable and will soon be able to be weilded soon in the future of the elder scrolls world. (I'm guessing in the next 2 games at the most)

The staff was originally found in Fangs Lair which is located in Hammerfell.

But after the events that unfolded, and the pieces were scattered throughout Tamriel, Only "The Book of Chaos: Volumes 1-8" is able to locate the pieces. (That is if you find out how to translate it.) Which can be done by reading the books that teach you.

In Morrowind, there was a piece in Dagoth-Ur.
Also, there was a piece in the Crystal Tower on Summerset Isle. (Oblivion)

I think in Skyrim, there is another piece in Labyrinthian.

*I was told that they instead, replaced the piece of the staff with another whole staff all together. So if you ever find Labyrinthian, I'm sure there is something there worth your while. Beware though, I'm sure It will be heavily guarded.

*Let me know if that's true.



----


This is just one of the MANY MANY MANY MANY MANY things you can find out from reading the books in the game. I strongly recommend it to everyone. (and if anyone tells you you play games too much, tell them your reading instead. )

There was an oblivion mod that let you obtain one. It was pretty sexy. but it wasn't the same.

 

[Gizzmo]

there was a piece in Dagoth-Ur.
Also, there was a piece in the Crystal Tower on Summerset Isle. (Oblivion)
I think in Skyrim, there is another piece in Labyrinthian.

*Flips through books in personal library* Nope nope nope, I don't have those books. Therefore, they do not exist.

 

[Cacophonus]

Staff of Magnus? But that staff is terrible; only good thing about obtaining it was being allowed to decapitate that stupid thalmor in mid speech.

 

[Spitfire'd]

Oh the books are amazing no doubt about that, I caught up on what happened between Oblivion and Skyrim through an in-game book and I've done more reading in this game than in any of the other ones. Loving that about it!

Now if I could just get a copy of The Lusty Argonian Maid, lol!

 

[Liliana]

Oh the books are amazing no doubt about that, I caught up on what happened between Oblivion and Skyrim through an in-game book and I've done more reading in this game than in any of the other ones. Loving that about it!

Now if I could just get a copy of The Lusty Argonian Maid, lol!

Meh, I read the wiki. Too lazy to read books.

 

[RustyPwns!]

I play a sneaky assassin with no sympathy for the weak. Almost nothing is a challenge for a Dark Brotherhood Assassin. I can take on anything, as long as I keep myself stealthy. I walk with the shadows, the night mother guides me.

Lolol, geekiness aside, I kinda broke the game, I sneak pass bosses and one hit, two hit dragons, nothing's a challenge to me. I'm only in the 2nd main quest and I got to level 30 with 100 sneak in a week. I stopped playing because I went on a road trip to washington d.c for thanksgiving

 

[fudpeX]

Staff of Magnus? But that staff is terrible; only good thing about obtaining it was being allowed to decapitate that stupid thalmor in mid speech.

Is that whats in Labyrinthian?

What are the stats on it? That disappoints me. :/

I guess they stopped making OP items? They should have at lest kept to the original story and place epic times around the history..

 

[Cakeman]

Kill everyone that gets in my way and make as little noise as possible.