Xbox 360 The Bane of Me! (The Compass System, Questing for A Beginner)

[Whitechapel]

I've played Fallout 3. Not a whole lot, but I loved it! Except one of the biggest turn offs is the compass system, which also caused me to just stop playing the game all together, I didn't understand the compass system or really how to quest with it. I do not understand it at all. How am I supposed to get to point to point in quests in general? I've never quite understood how to quest in Fallout 3 or Skyrim. I understand the map helps as well, and I discovered the Start button -> Show on map, and then I place a custom target on the map and then just run (I stole a horse. But I somehow ended up back at the place I stole it from and dismounted. I was like "dammit I'm right back where I was!" I thought I was nowhere near it. So I shut off the Xbox, haha. It's also 6 AM! ...need moar sleep) I guess once I become efficient at that then the game will become much more enjoyable.

Also, can anyone comment on the melee combat system? What do you find works best? I have an iron mace I'm wielding right now. I chased a moose around for a couple minutes then tried clubbing it to death with my mace, then some dog ran up and tried to get at me so I took him out like I was Mike Vick. Solid.

Any

 

[PsyLens]

If your just using the compass to quest and are directionally challenged you could try the clairvoyance spell. As far as using the compass for questing, Bethesda wants everyone to be taken in by their world so you should probably slow down and enjoy a stroll down the road ... until you get attacked. The compass is really just to help you keep your bearings by checking which way your facing on a map and compare that to the general direction your trying to go and landscape that may be stopping you (just in case you don't know you can also toggle between local and world map for a more precise look at ur surroundings)
And for combat adding perks your style works with helps a lot; but don't forget simply stepping out of the way and blocking (if you don't dual wield) are the most effective ways to not die. Still getting killed? consider a spell to increase your armor or a ward to stop a more serious magical threat.
Happy Questing

 

[Gemini Sierra]

The compass is just that a compass. it works just like a real compass and tells you what direction you are heading.
Now, if you have a quest activated (go into journal, select quest) there will be a marker showing on your compass. This is just that a marker. It gives you an idea which direction you need to go. It doesn't take into account that there may be a giant mountain between you and where you need to go.
So, open your map, look at where you are and where you quest marker is located. Zoom in a little and try to figure the best route to the quest. Once you've explored a lot and have a lot of places marked on your map, you can fast travel to the closest place and walk from there. You could fast travel to the place marked if it is already known too.
If you clicked on the map, you can place marker in addition to your quest marker. This marker will stay where you place it until you move it. If you can't go from your location to the quest directly, because that mountain is in the way, use the marker and place it in a location that looks like you can travel to with out getting blocked. close the map, turn in that direction so the marker (it will be blue) shows up on the compass in front of you. Now start walking/running/riding in that direction. Again, you have to take into account the terrain. The map might have looked easy to get there but, oh hey look a cliff. Well you can scale the cliff or work your way around it. Just always keep heading toward the blue marker and then towards your quest marker.
The compass will also show you places you have been to (they'll be white) and places you haven't been to (they'll be grey). The different places have different symbols. Also, as you get closer to a place that symbol will get a little bigger.

As for combat, that's more a player style. For example, my first go through I was all sword and board. Hacking and slashing and bashing. This time through because I found in the first run that I also tend use a bow and sneak up and one shot from a distance, I am running a character that primarily uses a bow and focus' on Archery and Sneak skills while others are seconday.
Combat is what you make of it. If you want to go around with a mace and smash things, focus on the one-handed skill tree and take the perks for mace. Don't forget a shield though and then the blocking skills too.
Might want to focus on the light or heavy armor skills too.

Get out there and travel and run quests and a have fun exploring and check out the sites.