How long are your playthroughs?
- Thread starter ZedBite
- Start date
Forever long. Especially thanks to the DLC. And even more with mods when on PC.
On my main, I defeat Alduin, but I still haven't explored Dawnguard, or the Dark Brotherhood, or a million other things.
Then, I recently made a new main who allows me to explore the Stormcloak side of the Civil War.
Both are on console. My computer decided to stop playing nice with Skyrim on Steam, so I'm back to console peasantry, however, some of my most vivid stories and experiences come from console. Even without things like Hypothermia and Death Alternative (I do miss access to long bows, though), there is so much room for imagination and narrative experiences. Every moment between an event is room to create your own story outside the game's main narrative.
That said, some of my best scenes for the Stormcloak came on PC, with a couple of custom followers (most notably Arissa and a male rogue). I'm disappointed not to be able to explore with them, now.
As far as I'm concerned, I'll never be done with a playthrough; I'll just be done being interested in it.
On my main, I defeat Alduin, but I still haven't explored Dawnguard, or the Dark Brotherhood, or a million other things.
Then, I recently made a new main who allows me to explore the Stormcloak side of the Civil War.
Both are on console. My computer decided to stop playing nice with Skyrim on Steam, so I'm back to console peasantry, however, some of my most vivid stories and experiences come from console. Even without things like Hypothermia and Death Alternative (I do miss access to long bows, though), there is so much room for imagination and narrative experiences. Every moment between an event is room to create your own story outside the game's main narrative.
That said, some of my best scenes for the Stormcloak came on PC, with a couple of custom followers (most notably Arissa and a male rogue). I'm disappointed not to be able to explore with them, now.
As far as I'm concerned, I'll never be done with a playthrough; I'll just be done being interested in it.
ZedBite
Member
Its kind of the same with me. I see so many people posting that they have done 37 playthroughs. Once i get stuck to a character i have a hard time stop playing on that one. I have only deleted my characters twice and that was because the files got corrupt
Kohlar the Unkilled
Time for some ale
Yes indeed. With the exception of a few concept characters that I lost interest in fairly quickly, I haven't the heart to erase or overwrite my main characters, of which there's a handful. Most of them have done just about all that I care to have them do. Only one made it to level 81 to fight the Ebony warrior.
My latest playthrough is actually a replay of my original favorite: Kohlar the Unkilled, who's first incarnation did too many things that were inconsistent with the character, (I was new to the game then). So now he's level 50 and hasn't touched Dawnguard, barely scratched the surface of Dragonborn, and is only now starting Diplomatic Immunity of the main quest.
I think the problem I had with my other characters was advancing too quickly. By the time a character really came into his/her own, there wasn't much else left to do. That being said, the actual lengths of time per playthrough varied.
My latest playthrough is actually a replay of my original favorite: Kohlar the Unkilled, who's first incarnation did too many things that were inconsistent with the character, (I was new to the game then). So now he's level 50 and hasn't touched Dawnguard, barely scratched the surface of Dragonborn, and is only now starting Diplomatic Immunity of the main quest.
I think the problem I had with my other characters was advancing too quickly. By the time a character really came into his/her own, there wasn't much else left to do. That being said, the actual lengths of time per playthrough varied.
Daelon DuLac
How do you backstab a Dragon?
months and months and months and months...
The longest I've ever played one character is now well over 3 years.
The longest I've ever played one character is now well over 3 years.
shadowkitty
Mistress of Shadows
I invest a lot into my characters and like to roleplay them a certain way depending on who they are and what their goals are. So yes, I have each character for quite a while. Sometimes I have more than one main and will switch between them if I get bored or sentimental.
My most favourite two Characters are Wyldfyre and Shadow. Wyldfyre for obvious reasons (see my sig) and Shadow because she is a badass at whatever she does, be it assassin, vampire, werewolf or daedra lover. I've played both of them more than once.
And yes, I have fought the Ebony Warrior a couple of times.
My most favourite two Characters are Wyldfyre and Shadow. Wyldfyre for obvious reasons (see my sig) and Shadow because she is a badass at whatever she does, be it assassin, vampire, werewolf or daedra lover. I've played both of them more than once.
And yes, I have fought the Ebony Warrior a couple of times.
Pete
Well-Known Member
I always limit my characters to one guild / faction (if any). That allows me to specialize for that role. More importantly, to me, it makes it feel more natural.
If I'm doing a thief I don't want to be recognized. If I'm a companion, i do. But if a companion, I lock out the civil war, etc..
Once in a role, I try it using various skill sets. I will even master the non-weapon skill trees instead. So many variations. Between talking myself out of bounties, borkal the beast allowing me to walk right in, it just adds new ways to do things.
If I'm doing a thief I don't want to be recognized. If I'm a companion, i do. But if a companion, I lock out the civil war, etc..
Once in a role, I try it using various skill sets. I will even master the non-weapon skill trees instead. So many variations. Between talking myself out of bounties, borkal the beast allowing me to walk right in, it just adds new ways to do things.
Vegito123
Member
I think it is a good thing to play for around 3 to 5 hours in a single playthrough in a sitting and depending on the time I have it can mean how long I can play the game, and try and do exploration or the main mission depending on what I feel like. I do have a warrior character and a mage one and try and play the game using each character for a few hours and like being an elf as well, as they are fast and quick with the bow and also knives like Legolas from Lord of the Rings. It is nice to play a character who is exciting and also enjoyable as well since you have satisfaction when you get to enjoy the game and can try and do more when you have a strong fighter as your character.
Uberpotato
New Member
I always find my playthroughs the longest when I build a god character, usually ranging between 200 and 300 hours. Roleplaying as a certain class, however, I find more variable when it comes to time. Leveling up all my skills and crafting overpowered gear is what makes up most of my time as a god character. However, if I play a certain class, I don't have to level up everything and the playthrough ends up being faster, about 100 hours.
flowerdog
New Member
I have dozens of characters/playthroughs on my game (not all of them active, of course). I love the role playing aspect of Skyrim and I spend a lot of time designing characters to fit different roles. I also write stories/fanfiction about my characters/NPCs (no shame). DLC and mods have definitely made this experience more expansive, and honestly I don't think I've gotten even halfway through the content Skyrim has to offer yet.
My favorite character/playthrough is definitely my thief/assassin, Sicaria the Raven. I've put several hundred hours into her.
I definitely agree with this. I've never deleted a save/character, only had a temporary break from it. I've always come back to play with their stories and tweak their designs.
I've had friends criticize this way of playing the game, telling me that I'm "not doing it right", but is there really a "right" way to enjoy Skyrim?
My favorite character/playthrough is definitely my thief/assassin, Sicaria the Raven. I've put several hundred hours into her.
I definitely agree with this. I've never deleted a save/character, only had a temporary break from it. I've always come back to play with their stories and tweak their designs.
I've had friends criticize this way of playing the game, telling me that I'm "not doing it right", but is there really a "right" way to enjoy Skyrim?
Nope. Just different methods.
Hell, I have a version of one of my characters in vanilla currently just chillin' in an orc stronghold. She smiths things, and spends time in the potions hut, but I don't even make potions in there, because she's meant to only have a basic grasp of potions, not proficiency. So, I leave her standing there with the potions animation running and just imagine the day passing around her.
Occasionally she heads out with an escort to hunt for materials. All part of the establishment of her life before big adventures begin. It's how I play Skyrim on that particular save, and it's just right for me.
On another, I'm exploring the world pre-Western Watch Tower and Mirmulnir. Her goal is researching, cataloguing, and exploring the word walls for a greater and more comprehensive grasp of the dragon language. Timing-wise, she's in Skyrim before the Dragonborn and events of Helgen, so there would only be the normal Skyrim dangers, instead of dragon fights every few hours.
A third is the self-insert (indulgence) game. I'm transported to Skyrim with the potential to be a mage. Overwhelmed by the events at Helgen, the expectation that by virtue of surviving a dragon attack (with the aid of others) I'm equipped to help them defeat another dragon, and suddenly MAGIC IN ME, I decide to run away and hide in the College at Winterhold to escape everything.
That didn't turn out well, actually. I'm not allowing myself to have a follower yet, so I'm this squishy little mage with no experience running around Saarthal. Undead, all of a sudden! Undead I'm seriously, as a player, not sure I can defeat. So, I booked it out of Saarthal. I was like "I'm just going to get a follower. I can't do this."
Then I stopped outside, in the excavation pit, and took a deep breath. It really was like IC being overwhelmed and terrified, doubting in the self. "Maybe I should just go back to the college."
Nope. Dragon.
Circling above. Won't go away. fluff. Can I not get a moment to forget about what the world expects of me now?!
FINE! Draugr it is!
None of these are "traditional" approaches to Skyrim. And I wouldn't give them up for anything.
Hell, I have a version of one of my characters in vanilla currently just chillin' in an orc stronghold. She smiths things, and spends time in the potions hut, but I don't even make potions in there, because she's meant to only have a basic grasp of potions, not proficiency. So, I leave her standing there with the potions animation running and just imagine the day passing around her.
Occasionally she heads out with an escort to hunt for materials. All part of the establishment of her life before big adventures begin. It's how I play Skyrim on that particular save, and it's just right for me.
On another, I'm exploring the world pre-Western Watch Tower and Mirmulnir. Her goal is researching, cataloguing, and exploring the word walls for a greater and more comprehensive grasp of the dragon language. Timing-wise, she's in Skyrim before the Dragonborn and events of Helgen, so there would only be the normal Skyrim dangers, instead of dragon fights every few hours.
A third is the self-insert (indulgence) game. I'm transported to Skyrim with the potential to be a mage. Overwhelmed by the events at Helgen, the expectation that by virtue of surviving a dragon attack (with the aid of others) I'm equipped to help them defeat another dragon, and suddenly MAGIC IN ME, I decide to run away and hide in the College at Winterhold to escape everything.
That didn't turn out well, actually. I'm not allowing myself to have a follower yet, so I'm this squishy little mage with no experience running around Saarthal. Undead, all of a sudden! Undead I'm seriously, as a player, not sure I can defeat. So, I booked it out of Saarthal. I was like "I'm just going to get a follower. I can't do this."
Then I stopped outside, in the excavation pit, and took a deep breath. It really was like IC being overwhelmed and terrified, doubting in the self. "Maybe I should just go back to the college."
Nope. Dragon.
Circling above. Won't go away. fluff. Can I not get a moment to forget about what the world expects of me now?!
FINE! Draugr it is!
None of these are "traditional" approaches to Skyrim. And I wouldn't give them up for anything.
Wallcat
Member
I have to admit, I've never stuck Skyrim out for longer than a few weeks at a time. I just find it to be really time consuming and it frustrates me if I'm not able to invest as much as I'd like to; Then I get distracted by games that require less commitment. On my current play through I'm determined to stick it out. I don't have enough time to play it every day, but when I can fit a session in it'll last for a good while (accompanied by a feeling of relief.) My friends and I have been doing a lot of Dungeons & Dragons lately and it has put me in a role playing mood, so I think I'm finally in the right frame of mind to be able to commit to this. My Skyrim character has also inspired the character I wanted to play in D&D.
