Am I the only one...

[secretsquirrely]

...who enjoys balancing their characters? I see everyone discussing what class they are (warrior, thief, mage, etc.) and I have to say I can't define my strategy so simply. I tend to use my bow a lot, but I also use the Mace of Molog-bal and Dawnstar a hell of a lot. Likewise I sneak around, steal, and pickpocket. I also use magic quite a bit (alebit mainly from staffs for conjuring Dremora). Apart smithing, my perks are all pretty evenly spread. And I'm LOVING it.

Does anyone else like balancing it all out so they are fully prepared for every situation?

 

[andrea]

the problem is that you can't complete perk every skill tree so you need to place your perks wisely trying not to waste them in something not much useful for your gameplay style

 

[secretsquirrely]

True, but that's exactly why I keep my perks rather balanced. I only use the perks I see working for me. In the case of smithing, I never perk it up ebcause in all honesty I am likely to find the various types of armor throughout the game. Granted I would LOVE to boost it up enough to just go crazy and make myself some Daedric armor, but I prefer to not bulk up my character too much as I play. That way I keep a rich and challenging story going. Prhaps in a second playthrough I'll go for the smithing and see what comes of it.

I will say though, tha, as you pointed out, using your perks wisely to benefit your playing style has pushed me in the direction of focusing on my armor rather often. I've come across many mages that wipe me out in 2 hits. So, the more protective my armor is, the better.

 

[Al'Amar]

My friend does that actually, and you are not the only one. You are really a jack of all trades as I consider it. Most people skill and level up in the way of their race. Example, I'm a wood elf so I mainly attack with Archery/One-Handed; using light Armour. So it really just depends on how you like to play the game.

 

[Skullrattla]

Jack-of-all-trades doesn’t seem to work out very well. Armor won't protect you from mages unless enchanted, i think.

 

[Rayven]

My friend does that actually, and you are not the only one. You are really a jack of all trades as I consider it. Most people skill and level up in the way of their race. Example, I'm a wood elf so I mainly attack with Archery/One-Handed; using light Armour. So it really just depends on how you like to play the game.

I think the Jack of all trades model worked well for me in my first playthrough. I certainly wasn't the best at anything. But I'm not as interested in 'minimaxing' my character as I was being able to deal with anything. I was still able to enchant, blacksmith and do a bit of alchemy. Bow ended up being my main weapon and my sneak and lockpick ended up much higher than I figured in the beginning. I had heavy armor and novice mage skills. It wasn't the most efficient build, obviously. But I had great fun with it.

 

[Gemini Sierra]

On one character of mine I wasn't really specializing in any one thing. I did alchemy and enchanting and smithing. I used magics, mostly restoration and destruction, and I used shields and swords. I guess I did specialize in one-hand though because I didn't like how slow two-handed fighting seemed.
I did take only two perks in smithing and those are Steel Smithing and Arcane Blacksmith. Other than that I haven't taken anything else. As you say, you can find everything else eventually.
Heavy Armor got perks as it leveled too because that was the armor I chose to wear but now I've maxed out that skill, but not all the perks in it, I'm using light armor more since I like the bonus' that I get from the set I'm using. My archery and sneak got leveled up also because I like to try and even the odds first before taking on a mob and I put perks into each of those to help me there.
In general though that character is a jack of all trades.

Now my second character is primarily an archer. So, Archery, sneak, light armor were my primary focus. Smithing again got some attention so I can improve the weapons and echanting got some too so I could make a weapon I wanted until I could find one I liked better. I'll probably not improve that character more with other skills, although restoration and destruction might get some attention so I don't have to carry around all the healing potions and I can us lightning on some of the critters that I need to interrupt their magics. Although, the combined skills of sneak and archery have proven quite affective in dealing with most.

So, to answer your question, lol, nope you're not the only one level all your skills. I like to let my skills naturally progress instead of using the exploits to ramp them up quick.

 

[Anonylulz]

I tried it and it didn't work. Maybe if I had spread out the magicka/health/stamina layout more and examined the perk-trees well it would've been easier though. I still think you're better off choosing a particular playstyle and using that until the late 20's or 30's and then spreading out.

 

[dragonkilla]

I don't wear armor so i don't lvl up dodo i go in to battle only with MY LOINCLOTH AND NOTHING ELSE SHOUTING I AM DRAGONBORN HEAR ME ROAR, then fus do ruh i think.

 

[ItsBenniBlack]

i am on the fence with both sides my character is balanced in specific skills and others i have completed the trees. good example there is no point in lockpick, alchemy, and cooking. ive built up my block 3perks and im where i want to be there, ive been able to sell alot of my stuff for a good price so no need for speech to invest money. especally if you do the dark brother hood forever. my character is Heavy/light armor mix with archery dual wielding with a certain level of strength in mage skill. to me that is balanced and also very specific skills.