Sunday, May 27, 2012

Skyrim: Sneak

There are many ways to play a game, and many ways to beat it, however, one way is always a little smarter than the others. Running headfirst into battle with a stronger enemy (or multiple enemies for that matter) is one way to prove you aren't immortal. It's always beneficial to catch your opponent off-guard, and one sure way to do that is to sneak. Sneaking will make you harder to see, letting you get much closer to enemies without them seeing you or trying to attack you. In addition, attacking an enemy that doesnt see you will also increase the amount of damage you do to them. If you buff this innate ability with a few perks in the sneak tree, soon your archery will do 3X as much damage while sneaking, and your dagger attacks will do 15X the damage if you are undetected! Other sneak perks will allow you to dissapear from long-range enemies, or even stop you from triggering pressure plates! That perk alone will make dungeon delving a much simpler process.

Skyrim: Daedric vs. Dragon

There has been a constant battle over the skyrim forums as to whether Daedric armor is better than its dragon counterpart, and whether the perks to smith either are worth it or not, and they are.... sort of.

The Daedric smithing perk gives you the ability to craft heavy daedric armor as well as daedric weapons, dragon smithing gives you the ability to make light AND heavy armors, however, it does not give you weapons. The Daedric armor has better heavy armor stats, however the daedric hearts may take you some time to locate, however, every dragon you fight will drop dragon bones and scales, which are what you need to make dragon armor. In short, Dragon is better for light armor users, as well as ease of access to the components; Daedric is a better heavy armor, as well as being the best weapons you can use.

Friday, May 25, 2012

Skyrim Races breakdown

Argonian- The most overpowered class (in my opinion) Right off the bat you can increase your health regeneration by 1000%, no that is not a typo. That ability alone will give you an unprecedented edge over other races, regardless of class choice, however it is the MOST useful for a straight melee character (I'll just call them Brawlers). If you supplement this ability with heavy armor you have enough protection and regeneration to survive any onslaught, giving you ample time to deal out damage. You will also be able to breathe underwater (where you can hide from most enemies) which will give you a safe place to use that restorative ability. Argonians starting stats feature increased sneaking pickpocketing and lock-picking a.k.a. the golden trio of thieving.

Breton- They are the best "pure mage" class in the game, the ability to resist half of all magic damage, and absorb 50% magicka (used for spellcasting) in short, they are great at ignoring magic damage, and will able to absorb energy and cast even more spells at enemies. They are an obvious choice to be a mage.

Dark Elf (Dunmer)- The dark elves are very good at magic, as well as alchemy. they are resistant to fire damage, and when threatened in close combat, they can release a fire cloak known as Ancestors Wrath, which is very effective against most enemies, especially the undead. They work best a close range mage.

High Elf (Altmer)- The high elves are the best magic users for anyone looking to play as a non-human. They start with 50% more magicka than the other races, and regenerate magic 50% faster as well. One word- Mage.

Imperial- The penny pincher's class. Find extra money versus other classes, and can calm enemies once a day. Great in the beginning of the game, however much less useful later in the game when gold is more plentiful, and you become stronger than most enemies. Use them with heavy armor and magic or a one handed weapon. The shield is your best off-hand option.

Khajiit- A unique ability night-vision gives this class an edge over other classes at night or in darkness. It is also extremely helpful for archers, Khajiit are also excellent unarmed fighters (due to their claws), which will help in the earlier stages of the game when you can't find a decent weapon. They have higher sneak, archery, one-handed, lock-picking, and pickpocketing; All useful to being an archer and assassin, and useful for making a few gold coins.

Nord- Natives of skyrim, and accustomed to the cold weather, They have a 50% resistance to frost, and can use a Battle-cry to make enemies flee from combat, though you can use spells or potions to achieve an upgraded version of that perk later. Best as a light melee fighter, with quick hits.

Orc (Orsimer)-Take half damage, and do double damage? Yes, Berserker rage will make you feel like a heavy-hitter right away. Beginning stats will give you increased melee abilities, higher heavy armor, and increased smithing and enchanting to buff your armor better. Orcs are a very close second for the most effective Brawler class. They are better at the beginning of the game, but their abilities cannot match up to the healing of argonians long-term. Best as a melee attacker.

Redguard- They can regenerate stamina 1000% faster, and can therefore run longer, or perform more power attacks. This makes them very good for combat in the early goings, and through your travels, stats that are especially efficient at all forms of combat, this higher proficiency is very useful in the early goings, but will eventually become useless. They are also resistant to poison damage, helpful in very tight spots. They are best as mixed soldiers, able to do anything about equally.

Wood Elf (Bosmer)- The ability to make wild animals help you, and attack enemies, they are also resistant to poison AND disease. This helps protect against stat lowering diseases, and the extra damage poison can cause. They are more proficient in archery, sneaking, lock-picking, pickpocketing, alchemy and light armor. They are best suited for archery.

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

It is very rare that a gamer can find a game worth playing for over 40 hours of play time, even rarer to find a game that you can EASILY spend over 100 hours playing before completing the main storyline. Skyrim is one of those games that even if you have done EVERYTHING(which won't happen) you'll be extremely tempted to start over and do it all again, and maybe Spec. your character a little differently. With 10 playable character races, each with their own distinct benefits; ranging from enhanced nightvision to the ability to breathe underwater, or enhanced regeneration. With so many choices, each has its own unique benefits and drawbacks for every playstyle, but we'll talk about that later; my point is that you'll be tempted to see the world through many different pairs of eyes, all with a special story to tell.