Roleplaying Dilemma

[Psiberzerker]

Thanks for the reply.

As I'm sure you've seen in my other thread, I've been looking at playing a necromancer for a while now. The only problem is the backstory - I'm really OCD when it comes to those and I just can't think of one to go with the character. Why is he/she a necromancer? What is their reason for raising the dead? What are their goals/ambitions/aims/targets? What do they do from day-to-day? Rampaging through forts without touching anybody is a nice idea, but why would he/she do that? There are too many questions that I can't come up with answers for.

Come on brain, work...

In a word, Nihilist. You hate the living, and the Undead requires bodies. Your basic goal is to remake the world, taking out the messy emotional living to replace them with perfect undead. Vampirism comes with boosts to Illusion, and Sneak, so just head straight for Bloodlet Throne, or the like to get infected. After that, it's pretty easy to understand why you went all Evil. Also, the Absorb health spell effect is handy for healing. Let it progress to 4th stage, and everyone starts attacking you (Except the ones that are cool with it, like Eola, Jenassa, and the Dark brotherhood.)

Might want to go with Dunmer for this variant, though. The Fire resistance partially cancels your weakness to it. or breton for Spell Absorbtion. Get the Nightengale Hood, or Vokun to help you with casting Costs. I like Vokun (Fortifies Conjuration, Alteration AND Illusion!) with Ebony Boots/gloves, and Master Robes of Illusion, since that's what you'd be spamming the most. Archmages' make you look more like a Dragon priest, especially with the Staff in hand. They would also match Nightingale Boots/Gloves/Hood pretty well, though. Thalmor boots/gloves match just as better if you want to do your own Enchanting (With the staffs to top off.)

 

[FlickerWick]

In a word, Nihilist. You hate the living, and the Undead requires bodies. Your basic goal is to remake the world, taking out the messy emotional living to replace them with perfect undead.

What would have had to happened to somebody in their past in order to turn out like this? Just need a kickstarter for the background, if you can supply a few then I can get to work.

 

[Psiberzerker]

What would have had to happened to somebody in their past in order to turn out like this? Just need a kickstarter for the background, if you can supply a few then I can get to work.

They turned into a Vampire. Barring that, the Wayne trauma is always good. Parents killed right in front of him, he decided the only way to get them back was by learning the Dark Arts, but by the time he was able, all he could revive were basically draugr. Throw in a little Dr. Frankestein Disorder as well. Attacked by his own creations, he had to kill them again, or be killed by what used to be the bodies of his parents. That'd be more than enough to make him snap. Now, he's convinced there's too much suffering in life, so he'll spare everyone the grief by making them perfect apathic undead. He's not evil, really, he just feels dead inside, and wants to share it with everyone...

 

[Psiberzerker]

I never thought I was a roleplayer, but I'm starting to Realize maybe I am. I do have alot of fun with being a Crusader as my main. (ES name for a "Paladin" type upto now) There has been so much discussion on "Paladin Builds" for a character, but the truth is you can't build a Paladin, you have to "Play" a Paladin. (Just like anything, Assassin, Rouge, etc) I try to let NO one die, ever. I have that lil ol' "Heal Other" spell Hotkeyed on "4" just for when Dragons attack a city. I Didn't get into Brynjolfs little scheme, and destroyed the Dark Brotherhood. Also from playing these games I know not to get into ANY Daedric Princes little taunts/tricks/situations. I will admit that some of them are extremely tricky your first time playing but I knew well enough to not Seek out Morlag Bal, I knew to say "See ya" at the First Sight of Barbas saying "Heya!", and know well enough not to associate with anyone who has a deep Passion for relics from "The Mythic Dawn" cult.

Healing/Fighter build?... Anyone can have a Healing spell. Just because someone has a Healing spell mean's nothing at that point. He could only be using it to help heal the Bear that is chewing apart a villager while watching with glee... that doesn't make him a "Paladin" because of his build.

I do want to say something wierd I've been doing. Ever since I got a Craftable Candles Mod, I've been making shrines to fallen people. I mostly do it for an innocent bystander I come across, and sometimes Bandits. (because Bandits have mothers that will miss them too). I also always have an Amulet of one of the Divines on me (cause I never sell those suckers) and there is always a bowl or plate around to place offerings to Akray to "Guide this spirit home".

So am I a Roleplayer?..or just need serious, serious help?

Uh yeah. Not only are you a natural Role Player, but I think you may have a problem. It's okay, admitting that is the first step...

But seriously, well done. Especially the part about how "You can't build a Paladin, you have to 'Play' a Paladin." I've been trying to explain that one (and similar) for months. It's when you get to the point of making shrines for all who die that maybe spending a little way to much time. It's wonderful, don't get me wrong, but wow, just wow.

I've done somewhat differently from the other end of the morality axis. Playing the DBH, I not only made sure that not only were almost all (Whenever possible) kills were done out of sight, but the bodies were disposed of. The easiest way to do this is Necromancy, so the body follows you off, and turns to ash elsewhere. There's only really 2 places where you actually need to do that in the game, the Gourmand, andAerin, Mkoll's Ducky who follows her into battle, but if he dies, and she sees the body, she'll never follow you again. (Fortunately, they live in Riften, where there's plenty of water.)

 

[FlickerWick]

They turned into a Vampire. Barring that, the Wayne trauma is always good. Parents killed right in front of him, he decided the only way to get them back was by learning the Dark Arts, but by the time he was able, all he could revive were basically draugr. Throw in a little Dr. Frankestein Disorder as well. Attacked by his own creations, he had to kill them again, or be killed by what used to be the bodies of his parents. That'd be more than enough to make him snap. Now, he's convinced there's too much suffering in life, so he'll spare everyone the grief by making them perfect apathic undead. He's not evil, really, he just feels dead inside, and wants to share it with everyone...

Here's a couple more questions if you're bored and feel like answering them. Despite being relentless in asking them, I honestly do appreciate all of the help.

*What's a good necromancer 'lair' that's relatively close to a city? Broken Fang Cave is great (beds, storage, enchanting table, alchemy lab) but it's in the middle of flippin' nowhere. I'm not too concerned about the alchemy lab but an enchanting table is pretty necessary.

*I can't seem to design a decent looking Altmer and I'm very fussy about how my characters look. Can you give me some tips when it comes to them (which features to enlarge/shrink/move to wherever etc) or a suitable alternate race?

*How can I get soul gems without going into cities? If I have to I will, but I'd rather not. I'm going to make him extremely misanthropic.

*Why would somebody want to be immortal? I've come up with a decent goal involving the pursuit of immortality by my character attempting to turn himself into a lich. This'd be done by 'practicing' on lesser souls (AKA leveling up to 100 enchanting) before finally infusing his own soul into a phylactery (crafting it), which is the ES equivalent of a horcrux. So yeah, why would somebody want to do that? Multiple ideas for this would be great.


I'm sure I have a few more but I don't want to overwhelm you. Thanks again!

 

[ChildoftheSky]

Thats whats great about this game because you can level your skill in other manners you don't have to necessarily play certain quest lines to level up. (I mean running around and hunting deer with the bow can be quite tedious lol) But you would be missing whatever story line with that quest. But if you already beat the game and want to go only in one certain direction like you said good/evil I think you could do it without missing too much.

 

[Psiberzerker]

*What's a good necromancer 'lair' that's relatively close to a city? Broken Fang Cave is great (beds, storage, enchanting table, alchemy lab) but it's in the middle of flippin' nowhere. I'm not too concerned about the alchemy lab but an enchanting table is pretty necessary.

I love Broken Fang, Movarth's lair is another good option, but either you want to be close to town, or you don't. Britlleshin Pass has an Enchanter, and entrances to both Whiterun, and Falkreath Hold, not to mention Fort Greymor, and Inalta's Deep for fresh bodies. Once you clean out the fort, it will respawn with Imperials every few days, so there's pretty much an endless supply.

*I can't seem to design a decent looking Altmer and I'm very fussy about how my characters look. Can you give me some tips when it comes to them (which features to enlarge/shrink/move to wherever etc) or a suitable alternate race?

The problem is, I don't know what your aesthetic tastes are, so what looks good to me may not line up with what you're going for. Lower the cheeks, and bring them all the way in, do the same with the Brows, and try to pick a somewhat natural eye shape/color. Bretons make the best Necromancers, hands down. Also, the females are the smallest humans with childlike features if you want to look forever young. I have the Races Plus mod, which gives you a lot more options in the CG, not to mention Luscious Faces, which smooths everything out.

*How can I get soul gems without going into cities? If I have to I will, but I'd rather not. I'm going to make him extremely misanthropic.

At some point, you will probably have to get Azura's Star, it really helps in that department.

*Why would somebody want to be immortal? I've come up with a decent goal involving the pursuit of immortality by my character attempting to turn himself into a lich. This'd be done by 'practicing' on lesser souls (AKA leveling up to 100 enchanting) before finally infusing his own soul into a phylactery (crafting it), which is the ES equivalent of a horcrux. So yeah, why would somebody want to do that? Multiple ideas for this would be great.[death sucks. Altmer are immortal, or close enough they can fake it around the rest of us.

 

[Wildroses]

I'm having a bit of a dilemma with my latest character. I've never had one like this before.

A Dunmer who goes by Nona, born in a rural area which still practised slavery. As an adolescent she was sold to a vampire who was setting up a cattle pen for his remote coven. It's given her mixed feelings about vampires. Even though she saw them doing terrible things to others, she had to work hard, and she didn't have a choice about them using her for food and sex (you don't meet a lot of women when you are hiding from a world which wants to kill you) she doesn't actually think she personally was treated badly, certainly no worse than being a slave to a non-vampiric household would have been. She was the only cattle to survive when a group of bandits looking for a hideout came calling because the Master Vampire had become fond of her, and didn't order her to lay down her life in a futile effort at protecting him. The bandits decided to keep her around because she was pretty, but they treated her very badly so she poisoned the soup one night. She left for Skyrim because that bandit group had included two Argonians and a Khajiit who had a grudge against all Dunmer for years of Morrowind slave raids, and somewhere which didn't let Argonians and Khajiit in cities sounded great.

I'm not really having any trouble playing her with this in mind. She's terrified of dying now her life is finally her own (playing dead is dead style) so she frantically learns arts to keep her alive. She just loves being in the wilderness as she didn't see much nature being vampire cattle. She wants to be a fine lady and not a slave, so she made a thaneship, building her own steading and getting a household a priority. This means she is chronically short of cash as she has to buy her household food, pay wages (my own roleplaying technique), and can't stop buying pretty and exotic things just for the thrill of owning them. She hasn't been adventuring much due to her fear of dying and inability to do people favours unless she gets something in return, but being a fine lady is expensive so I think she'll get serious about it soon, especially now she is so good at alchemy, smithing and archery.

My problem is... the Thalmor have sent four patrols after her with Justiciar Execution Orders. She actively disrupted activities and caused great harm? By the nine, how?! All she did was build Lakeview Manor and earn a Thaneship. Literally nothing else, she's just been earning money via alchemy and grinding smithing by improving weapons and making building materials (Actually making weapons and armour is beyond her). How could clearing one bandit camp, finding a journal, picking crops, delivering ashes, making potions and selling them possibly have disrupted the Thalmor and caused great harm? She couldn't possibly have disrupted Thalmor activities prior to arriving in Skyrim as she spent most of her life as a slave locked up in remote places which avoided interaction with the authorities. I managed to rationalise the Dark Brotherhood Assassin as one of the bandits surviving the poison, but this has me stumped.

I really, really don't know why the Thalmor want to kill her so badly. And it's bugging me something awful.

 

[kyleekay]

My problem is... the Thalmor have sent four patrols after her with Justiciar Execution Orders. She actively disrupted activities and caused great harm? By the nine, how?!

Oddly enough, that happened to me as well (last night, in fact. Then shortly after I was attacked by thugs. ). Which was odd considering 99% of the quests I've done have been simple "misc" quests, with the exception of the Forsworn Conspiracy. I'm assuming I got attacked because of the Forsworn bit.

I just did a quick Google search, which didn't yield much, other than this:

The Thalmor may send an execution team out for the Dragonborn even if he or she hasn't done anything to them (I.E, have not attacked their patrols, rescued Thorald Gray-Mane, or started Diplomatic Immunity).

(Here's the site Thalmor Justiciar - The Elder Scrolls Wiki).

The same site also said if you're wearing a Talos necklace they are likely to attack you. So... if you're not wearing a Talos necklace and you haven't done Diplomatic Immunity... It's probably a bug.

 

[Psiberzerker]

The same site also said if you're wearing a Talos necklace they are likely to attack you. So... if you're not wearing a Talos necklace and you haven't done Diplomatic Immunity... It's probably a bug.

They won't attack you on sight for wearing the amulet, but if you talk to one of the prisoner escort teams (2 soldiers, and a wizard/Justicarl) you can skip a lot of dialog for them to attack you so you don't have to worry about Bounty (as long as they hit you first, regardless of Witnesses.) The teams with your name on them are random, and level dependent, they kick in about level 10-15 regardless of your actions, much like the Assassins. (The latter are usually for looting the wrong chest, or some random killing on the road. First the send Hired Thugs, and barring that, it escalates to a Black Sacrament.) This mayy also be caused by killing a Briarheart.

Wildroses, consider the possibility that her Family may have had something to do with the Thalmor attacks, all the way back in Vvardenfeld. The AD doesn't tend to forget, and holds grudges for generations, as they tend to outlive their enemies if even from Old Age. (Altmer are Immortal, or long enough lived to fake it.) Perhaps this was the kind of persecution that led her to flee to Skyrim in the first place? She could flash back to the death of her family/village at the hands of golden armored soldiers, and a black robed inquisitor. This may have been how she wound up in the hands of slavers, but she was too young to remember, nor understand and/or supressed it from the trauma. As she has more encounters like this, it may be clearer what happened, by whom, and why...

 

[kyleekay]

Dar'Ajira's newest blog is up. Kind of "meh", but it's a transitional piece, so... yeah.

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