New Build Scholar/Thief-Hunter

[TheLonelyWolve]

I was thinking of a build. And come up with something like a Scholar(Who explores dungeons and all of skyrim for search of Special books and artifacts/items) And a thief (Looking for artifacts not found in dugeons, in people houses)

He/She would always have a Mercenary/Follower Incase of major battles, but will use and specialise in the bow. No Magic

He/She will be devoted to kynareth (if you try this build, devote to any god you want) as this gives you stamina. And also Partcially devoted to Nocturnal.

Major Skills:
Archery
Speech
Sneak

Minor Skills:
Alchemy
Light armor
Pickpocket

Will use Clothes in the cities and Armor in the Wilds (Nightingale for me/sometimes)

Any Bow up to your fitted levels, and Dagger or sword.

Goes Through the Thieves Guild/ Bards College/ Mages College (I know, No magic, but to get in use magic, IMO alchemy is magic )
Oh and as a Scholar you have to carry afew books, It makes sense.

Any thoughts and/or Ideas on this.

 

[TheMuffinTop]

No thoughts or ideas but I like.

 

[Psiberzerker]

The Mages' College for access to the Arcaneum. Also, keep an eye out when going through Fellglow, there's some nice books in there. Do Shalidor's Insights, and recover all the books for Ulrag. You might want to do Some magic, Alteration for protection, both Spells, and Perks (Mage Armor, Magic Resistance, Spell Absorbtion...) Detect Life/Undead should really help you out with your dungeon crawls, and night time sculking around people's homes. Ebonyflesh, and Light Armor (Especially the Nightengale suit) should be more than enough protection with the stand-off of your Bow. Paralysis for quick, non-lethal getaways. Light spells to see with, and Telekinesis to grab stuff out of reach.

Forbidden Legend, save Sigdis Gauldurson for last to get the fully leveled Blackbow, use Drainspells before that. Enchanting from filling those, and the Staff of Jyrik Gauldurson, a good anti-magic/dragon weapon as well, Mages will probably be your biggest worry, as they shoot back, and the slow/stamina drain from the Nightingale Bow doesn't phase them much. Definitely get Linwe's Hood for the Marksmanship bonus, it matches the Nightengale set well enough, and it's not like you're using the Illusion bonus.

Sounds like a fun play-through, the build is less important than the exploration, and discovery. Invest heavilly in Stamina, to carry all those books, ingredients, and potions. Get a nice home base for your collection with lots of bookshelves, I'm thinking Markarth, both for Historical Significance, and having enough rooms/horizontal surfaces to shew all your stuff. Sounds extremely Breton to me. If you go Male (Breton women are tiny) the Tavern Clothes look nice, and adventuresome, though they have mesh issues with some of the light Bracers (Hide, Wristguards, and the like,) Perfectly fine with the Thalmor, and Nightingale Gloves, though. Hit up Radiant Rainment, they have some pretty nice threads for the money.

Imperials have the Voice of the Emperor power to Calm in a wide Radius, another quick way to get away. Nord's Battle Cry is a similar Fear effect without using Illusion, or shooting someone with poison, AoE to get everyone away from you. Shadowcloak of Nocturnal when your Invisibility potions wear out far from an Alchemist's Station. (Not compatible with Shadow Warrior, so I'd switch to Agent of Strife for a quick, lethal heal.) The Serpent Stone also adds yet another Daily power which can be useful, or the Shadow. Vampire Dust, and Luna Moth Wing makes an Invisibility potion with Regeneration, saved my bacon a number of times.

Take along a good Follower, either another Student from College (Brely can be quite effective) or hire/pursuade a Tank. Jenassa just doesn't care what you do, she'll warn you when trespassing, that's about it, and you can give her the swords you're not using like the Blackblade, and Nightingale Blade. Dual Wielding Absorb health with some Stamina too, she's effectively immortal. Mercer's Dwarven Sword of Devouring is another good one, and give her a good arrow from the Dwemer Museum. You'll be just fine.

 

[Crazykidconnor]

As a scholar, don't forget to be somewhat devout to Hermaeus Mora too. He is the daedric lord of forbidden knowledge after all.

 

[TheLonelyWolve]

^ Thats true, I forgot about Hermaeus mora.

After I made this build I also forgot about the staffs which I will use sometimes, Most likely to use Ones that will help me, I wont use magic so staffs will be best for me.

Should have named it more of Scholar-Archaeologist, It wont be all about the books but Artifacts too. I will try and get all daedrc artifacts, and when I can find stronger bows and armors.

Im adding 2 more skills, smithing and enchanting, taking the main quest to get dragonscale armor.

Out of the breton and imperial, what one do you think is better. Im going male, and how tall is breton compared to imperial and nord?

 

[TheLonelyWolve]

Infact, I'll be making 2 of the same build, one a magic user and this one, to see how it feels for me, I might try and get out of my bow fantasy

 

[OckhamsFolly]

As a scholar/archeologist, you don't have to directly use magic to get into the mages guild. My first playthrough, I had to cast Summon Flame Atronach, and I just happened to be carrying a staff of the same; she accepted the usage as legitimate. I believe you can also use a scroll to get by, and I think conceptually scroll usage fits right in with your character's forte. Something to consider for the non-mage variant.

 

[TheLonelyWolve]

Thanks, thats even better, can I find a staff of scroll for the first lesson as well when tolfdir gets you to cast a shield?

 

[Psiberzerker]

Thanks, thats even better, can I find a staff of scroll for the first lesson as well when tolfdir gets you to cast a shield?

Sorry, no. There are no staffs, nor Scrolls of Ward, but Spellbreaker might work. Unfortunately, it's a high level item, but you would still have access to the Arcaneum until then.

 

[OckhamsFolly]

Unfortunately, no. But Spellbreaker might work, and that's exacy the kind of artifact you should be looking for!

Edit: beaten to the punch by Psiberzerker. Do ou know the minimum level for the quest?

Double ddit: NVM, looked it up. 10 if you run into an afflicted refugee, 12 if you go directly to Peryite's Shrine. That's not too bad.

 

[TheLonelyWolve]

I was just about to ask that, im gonna try keep to the minimum level until Ive done alot of quests, i dont want to start fighting Draugr Wrights and deathlords.

 

[OckhamsFolly]

Upon further examination, the dungeon you need to go to has a minimum spawn level of 16, probably for Dwarven Spheres. So it'd probably be really rough. But still worth it.

And so you don't need to decide on a maybe, UESP says Spellbreaker works for Tolfdir's lesson.

 

[TheLonelyWolve]

Hmm, I might just Learn the ward spell, after all I wont use it again.
Other question (again) Best Race to use for this build Breton or imperial?
And what is the significant Difference in height of Imperial,Breton and nord? Because I dont like to tall characters and once I had been a breton and he was as tall as hardvar, then once again and he was shorter.

 

[Psiberzerker]

Male Bretons, and Imperials are the same, only the Breton women are so short. I'd say Breton male, unless you want to use the Voice of the Emperor. The Magic Resistance is good, and Spell Absorbtion great, when you need it.

 

[TheLonelyWolve]

Maybe I was standing on invisible block at the time, Ive seen NPC's do that. Well thats good then, because skyrim has more bretons than imperials, the college is full of them and thieves guild has some. And I can possibly join the forsworn, or destory them, or both I dont know why some people have a problem with them, just because there forehead has some wrinkles?

 

[Psiberzerker]

Maybe I was standing on invisible block at the time, Ive seen NPC's do that. Well thats good then, because skyrim has more bretons than imperials, the college is full of them and thieves guild has some. And I can possibly join the forsworn, or destory them, or both I dont know why some people have a problem with them, just because there forehead has some wrinkles?

The best you can hope for is assisting, or killing Madanach in Cidnha mine, and yeah, you can sweep the Reach of them, but some respawn at some point. There aren't any satisfactory quests involving them, really.

 

[OckhamsFolly]

Specifically, if you help Madanach, forsworn won't attack on sight anymore. Instead they warn you like some bandits and only attack if you persist. Also, the forsworn at their headquarters will be friendly and let you come and go freely.

 

[Psiberzerker]

Specifically, if you help Madanach, forsworn won't attack on sight anymore. Instead they warn you like some bandits and only attack if you persist. Also, the forsworn at their headquarters will be friendly and let you come and go freely.

Untrue. There's one Redoubt you'll be welcome, the rest still attack on sight.

 

[TheLonelyWolve]

Well, once before I had joined them, and killed them at druadach redoubt(non hostile place). It was hard as he and his followers from cidnha mine are strong. It's best to complete them straight away as im sick of Eltry following me around some times.

Also I guess the best way to get markarth house is doing the mainquest, also the only way if I dont want to get to lvl 20 straight away and not join the stormcloaks (Hail the empire ).

 

[Morgan]

The "Alternative Life" mod gives you the option of starting the game as a Foresworn if you're a Breton. However, it's not like this involves any quests or anything; it basically just toggles them to be neutral to you. Free gear and all kinds of facilities and chests you don't have to fight for though.