Character concept: Will this work?

[Arlais]

I started a Nord today who I want to take through things with light armor, dual wield but also being proficient with shield and a bow (depending on the situation). I'd like to take her through the Thieves Guild and Dark Brotherhood quest lines, as well as Companions, and the main dragon line of course. Not too terribly interested in the Mage College.

I'd like to stick with light armor (hence the shield, for situations that require a bit more protection) and just make her an all around character who is proficient at sneaking/lockpicking along with assassination skills but who can also wade into open view combat in less hairy circumstances where sneak isn't really required. Basically a "warrior lite"/assassin combo. I also don't want to HAVE to worry about only bringing followers along who are the assassin/sneaky type. I've grown fond of Lydia and want to bring her along most of the time (except for the situational shill/numbers/whatever jobs that require major sneaking around in which case she'll be standing watch outside).

Thinking about focusing mostly on 1H offense along with sneaking, and then blocking as a secondary and also putting some perks into ranged for better bow proficiency, and lockpicking for easier access to certain doors/chests.

By "proficient" I mean that I'm not worried about becoming too highly specialized in the various trees, just enough to get by without major issues/hindrances but also without gimping myself.

Have any of you played a character like that? Would like some feedback if possible. I've played a rogue in another game before and did enjoy the playstyle. But it was a combat rogue with maces, because I'm not so very good at positioning myself to worry about getting backstabs in, so would like to maintain that more offensive in-your-face playstyle.

I already have a 2H heavy armor wearer and would like to try a slightly different playstyle while maintaining survivability and self-defense capacity in multi-foe situations.

I also have a high elf mage caster on standby who I'll be focusing on the casting aspects with (eventually anyway), so it's not anything I'm going to worry about with this here Nord.

 

[modi]

My personal opinion....to me, you would be much better off making this character a khajit or bosmer, they would most likely provide the best results for what you are describing.

 

[MoeIsBetter]

I actually just started a similar type player. Male Nord but will never wear heavy armor. Level 15 and just started first major storyline in Riften with the Thieves Guild. Wearing basic Thieves Guild Armor.

Major issues up to this point have been lack of health. Seems like I need to rely on my bow before I charge into a fight. Stay off into the shadows and sneak attack a large group while crouched for 2x damage. When I'm fighting, I'm primarily taking on one at a time so I have less to worry about as the fight goes on. Also dragons can be a pain in the butt. Get behind ledges, use your shouts, KEEP A BOW AND ARROWS HANDY, and save frequently.

Major positives with this type of player is how much awesome stuff I can carry! I have a bow, I have a long sword for big time fights, I have two imperial swords that I can use to get through larger crowds, and also a shield to make sure I have some protections against more one vs one. I pick up armor or larger weapons here and there and sell them in the market. Also waiting to start any other major storylines for a little bit. Want my player to have a "life" before he starts saving the world of skyrim. Traveling blacksmith in search of rare metals, selling merchandise for profit, and kicking all butt in my way. One day life will catch up to me and make me be the "Nord I was destined to be", but right now I'm enjoying the party!

 

[Arlais]

Well she's level 6 and I'm having a blast. I find survivability with 1H and shield and light armor equal to a 2H with heavy armor. Killing doesn't seem slowed either. Had a lot of fun last night really getting acquainted with bow and arrow. Sneaking through a dungeon and 1-shotting a baddy over a railing into the waters below = win.

Took a dragon down without issues while getting mauled by 2 wolves. I'd say survivability so far is just fine.

I'm dividing up my perks into 1H, light armor, sneak and block (in about that priority). And my points into health:stamina about 2:1. So far, so good.

It's also really nice to be able to carry more and therefore sell more loot and make more money.

I thought about going with another race, but I'm honestly not enough of a min-maxer to worry about that sort of thing. I just want to be able to play through the game with the playstyle I'm after and enjoy myself. And I'm really, really liking this Nord, I gotta say.

 

[Forumate]

I like the sound of this build. A thief with some combat skills! You could have all the fun a thief would have and still be able to stand toe to toe with a Dragon.

 

[brandon]

im gonna say drop the shield after lvl 10. then work on dual weild. youll find you go through alot more people that way. and do smithing make glass or dragonscale. dragonscale provides almost the same protection as deadric armor anyway. but its your character. so have at it. i did basically the samething with a dark elf whose now lvl 49.and my dragonscale was so good i started getting bored cause it took anything forever to take my health down below half. so i completed the theives guild and am now wearing nightingale armor. and it provides just enough protection that i have to carry about 10 health potions for those missions that keep me out for about a week.

 

[Arlais]

If my WoW experience taught me anything, I do love an all-around capable class. My favorite there has been my druid. Tank? Check. Melee damage? Check. Sneak and pounce? Sure. Healing? You bet. Not a one-thing uber-l33t specialist but enough all-around capabilities to adapt and overcome whatever situation is at hand.

I thought about putting perks in smithing because the dragonscale does seem sweet, but I'm worried I'll gimp myself elsewhere. I'm still new to Skyrim and uncertain how the perks all play themselves out in the end. I do like having a shield at my disposal though, but also being able to dual wield if the combat situation presents itself, to cut things down quickly if need be. Working on Companions now (I want that shield of Ysgramor!) and then will be heading to Riften to see how this toon does on the Thieves Guild quest line, without armor clankings and sub-par sneak skills always getting in the way of jobs.

 

[Nightshade]

I don't think you'll gimp yourself out at all if you choose to invest in Smithing to get Dragonscale armor! Considering the peak is level 81, you will get to choose 80 perks. My character that I'm using now has attributes of a mage, warrior, and thief (given that I've put more perks in some skills that are mage/thief related) and I invested perks in Smithing for dragonscale. I have not gimped myself at all and chose my perks very wisely.

When choosing perks, keep in mind what would be more beneficial to you in the long run. I'm not saying to not pick perks that allow little aesthetic things to occur, like beheading, if you really want them- but choose what will work best for you strategically.

To plan your perks, use the Perk Calculator (http://skyrimcalculator.com/?utm_source=skyrimforums&utm_medium=www&utm_campaign=linkexchange). It's helped me tons with planning out characters.

Also, here is a list of some good perks to invest in. I'm by no means telling you it's essential to choose these perks for a good character, but they're really useful. (http://skyrimforum.com/threads/the-10-best-perks-skyrims-new-leveling-system-has-to-offer.2120/) Hope this helps!

 

[Arlais]

Great, thank you so very much! I will definitely check into those!

 

[AlimuMC]

My personal opinion....to me, you would be much better off making this character a khajit or bosmer, they would most likely provide the best results for what you are describing.

I wouldn't worry too much about race in Skyrim. The lvl system all but negates the bonuses to skills from race. The only real differences are the powers. An orc thief lvld the same as a wood elf thief would have tje same effectiveness. No more major/minor skills, no true class system means that any play style is available. I have a mage in robes that fights with a 2h axe. Play is tougher than my other characters, but I brought that on myself.

 

[Fate]

My personal opinion....to me, you would be much better off making this character a khajit or bosmer, they would most likely provide the best results for what you are describing.

Or a Breton, Seeing as how they are already adept at archery and good with Light armor.

 

[Arlais]

I personally think the race bonuses/unique skills are situational. I have an Imperial who has used her ... whatever calming spell (voice of the emperor?) ... once in 24 levels. I do like that the Nord has the extra frost resist because frost mages are nothing to sneeze at. But from what I understand, for whatever bonus you get, there's enough of a variety of mobs in the game where it all pans itself out in the end, and your strengths come from your actual playstyle and your choice of gear and the perks you choose. As it should, I believe.

Also, I play in 3rd person view and so the look of my character (backside anyway) does matter to me since I have to continually stare at it and in my minimalist RP approach imagine myself as that character running around. From personal experience and gaming history, I have to actually like a character I make as a whole to stick with it (if that makes any sense). I reckon if you play 1st person then it really doesn't matter what race/look you pick since you never get to see it, really (except in power move animations, maybe?).

 

[brandon]

I personally think the race bonuses/unique skills are situational. I have an Imperial who has used her ... whatever calming spell (voice of the emperor?) ... once in 24 levels. I do like that the Nord has the extra frost resist because frost mages are nothing to sneeze at. But from what I understand, for whatever bonus you get, there's enough of a variety of mobs in the game where it all pans itself out in the end, and your strengths come from your actual playstyle and your choice of gear and the perks you choose. As it should, I believe.

Also, I play in 3rd person view and so the look of my character (backside anyway) does matter to me since I have to continually stare at it and in my minimalist RP approach imagine myself as that character running around. From personal experience and gaming history, I have to actually like a character I make as a whole to stick with it (if that makes any sense). I reckon if you play 1st person then it really doesn't matter what race/look you pick since you never get to see it, really (except in power move animations, maybe?).

the race and gear i pick has to look cool which is why i wanted dragonscale armor in the first place. also thats why i dropped the dragonscale for nightengale armor. but the next guy i make is gonna be an argonian. i made one and he looked awesome. but the game started freezing on my wife and i deleted him. im not done with my dark elf yet.

 

[Arlais]

Why would you delete a character over a game freeze issue? Too many save files/characters? I'm new to the whole single-player RP concept, so bear with me. Also we're on the XBox and I'm still learning how all that works, too. It's all been a bit of a learning curve, for sure!

 

[Teritus]

I wouldn't worry too much about race in Skyrim. The lvl system all but negates the bonuses to skills from race. The only real differences are the powers. An orc thief lvld the same as a wood elf thief would have tje same effectiveness. No more major/minor skills, no true class system means that any play style is available. I have a mage in robes that fights with a 2h axe. Play is tougher than my other characters, but I brought that on myself.

Basically what he said. Choosing one race or another will help you early in the game, but in the long run it won't make much of a difference.