Skyrim: First Impressions

Glad you like it. I'm playing on Medium. Tried Ultra but I got some serious lag, then High and to be honest I don't see much of a difference between Medium and High (especially with mods). The good mods are not out yet but there are some worth checking out.

Vanilla Skyrim is rather enjoyable. Mods will only make it more fun.

Trolls will always complain. I've read someone ranting about how Skyrim was Fallout with swords... That is so stupid, not only there are swords in Fallout 3 but since Fallout 3 was called Oblivion with guns the circle is now complete.

Sometimes I wonder if these people have actually played the game or just looked at videos and read what real players have posted. If people are playing with the graphics that I currently have to use, yes , the graphics are poor but that isn't the fault of the game. Also I understand that Console graphics are poorer than PC graphics. Pay your money and take your choice. In my opinion the world map could use improvement but then Beth doesn't give the best map in any of their games at least the ones I have played.

The few screenshots of exterior retexturing I have seen did not impress me. Skyrim looks much like Alaska. I lived there for a year and a half so have some idea of what it looks like.

The console version doesn't look that good. I first saw the game on my friend's Xbox 360 and I wasn't impressed. Even at medium on my soon to be three years old laptop the game definitely looks better (and incredibly better with some mods thrown in).

Console users want ease of use. I can understand that. Playing on a computer you never know how the game is going to play. Actual performances vary a lot depending on your machine.

Plenty of people are complaining about Skyrim. Some have valid points, others are ranting about Steam (a major source of annoyance) and there are the ones who are saying that Oblivion is better and that Skyrim is dumbed down -mainly because stats are gone.

How can someone possibly miss the awful level system of Oblivion? Skyrim allows us to play the game instead of having to worry about powergaming just to be able to compete with NPCs...

Oblivion is a better game than Skyrim? People actually think Oblivion is a better game? People miss the leveling system in Oblivion? Madness. Who in their right mind would miss that?

Before the game was released people where saying that the game was dumped down because of the Consoles and maybe it was but it is still a far better game than Oblivion. I can understand people with low level PCs not being happy with the graphics. I am struggling because the graphics on the laptop are not good. Maybe retexturing with brighter textures would help the low level PC I have no idea. Interestinglu enough a couple of friends have low level PCs and they have upped their graphics to high and find that the graphics are pretty good. People should also be sure their graphic card is updated.

There is no perfect game because what one person likes another person hates. The things is those of us who like the game are busy playing it and foreget to tell Bethesda that we do like it.

As for Steam I could do without it but am not complaining. We knew it was coming.

Having a good graphic card help. The one I have allowed me to play Fallout 3 and FNV on Ultra settings. I'm happy playing the game on Medium settings. It looks rather good despite some textures that stand out when I look at them too closely. Still I'd rather have a smooth game and with some mods (FXAA Post Process Injector) the game looks good even on Medium settings.

Perhaps Oblivion was dumbed down for the consoles but Skyrim is definitely an improvement over Oblivion but there are some people with blinkers out there...

Many are complaining that they miss stats and that not having stats makes Skyrim less of an RPG. That is simply not true when stats serve no purpose and only fuel the horrible levelling system in Oblivion.

But that's the internet, loud mouthed self entitled immature people always find reasons to complain. You can't expect such individuals to make sense or recognize that Skyrim is a better game because it doesn't force you to powergame so you can compete with NPCs.

The most hilarious thing happens when people complain that the game is too easy because they've been powergaming like crazy and trying to find loopholes by abusing training, potions, Smithing and Enchanting. I always smile when I read some complaints by people who have spent time and energy to break the game so they can say that it is broken...

Mature players are either silent or too busy playing the game.

These are often the same people who want to load up 300 mods and the complain because a mod has broken their game. Just because they merge mods to stay under the 255 limit they think they should be able to have it all. Life must be rough on them since life just doesn't give it all to you.

There is no way Bethesda can make us 100% happy but they do allow us to freely mod the game. They do not need to. They could say this is the game take it or leave it. It is obvious that the developers spent a lot of time, effort and love on this game. I have the art book and it is a work of art. They made statues of things. I would love to have a few of those. I love the music. I normally turn the music down low or even off in order to have a more immersive game but have not in Skyrim. It is about 50%.

My character is a stealth character and sttealth is working well. I am enjoying the side quests.

Some have complained about lines in the graphics, I haven't seen any, did see some furniture that wasn't complete when my character was near it. When I get my desktop back I will be able to judge better.

The voice acting is better than Oblivion except that most of the men seem to use standard American English. The dialogue is improved over Oblivion's. So far I haven't seen any pathing problems. I like the combat scenes. My Khajiit has been in a couple of fist brawls and at first I found it strange that she could so easily beat up on men much bigger and stronger than she but then I realized tha Khajiit have claws and can use them. The animation did show her flexing her claws plus she would fight dirty. So yes, I am very happy with the game. Now all I need is a decent computer to play it on.

A Khajit does 15 points of extra unarmed damage.

I wonder how NPCs react to a Khajit. I'm really fighting my restarter syndrome. The thing is I'm always losing interest when my character starts to become really strong.

Stealth is so much fun. I haven't focused on it but after trying out the backstab thing I have to say it's really cool. Skyrim really makes you feel like your character is getting good after gaining some levels.

My next character will probably be a Breton thief, the resist magic may be one of the best abilities.

Bethesda can only benefit from all the modding as it means that their games are played years after they're released. Skyrim is a pretty good game without any mods and it will only get better.

I'm waiting for the creation kit to get back into modding. I need to finish my mod and make it a non replacer then I'm going to make a disguise mod. Should be fun.

I know the feeling when my character starts defeating everything in sight without trouble I want to start over or lower the stats. I did that in Oblivion with my Breton Mage. By level twelve she could not be defeated even on difficult.

You should do an Argonian Shadow-whatever. They sound really cool. I am tempted to try that but have controlled myself so far. I also want to do a Nord warrior and a mage something. Maybe a high elf.

What difficulty are playing on, Cara?

Oh, I would like a really nifty rogue outfit. Not solid black but mottled so it really blends into the shdows. A tool belt would be nice too. A nice cape to wear when in towns to hide her outfit.

I'm playing on Adept. It's not that the game is too easy, I still get in trouble when I run into groups of mages, it's just that I've fallen into a routine: see enemy, draw scimitars, get close to enemy and chop enemy to pieces. Move to next target.

I'm playing a Nord Warrior and never felt the need to get him to really use magic. Since the guy is also a blacksmith and an enchanter the more I'll play the stronger he'll get but I can live with that.

It's just that I'm yearning for something different and I'm too far into the game to switch completely to a different playing style.

I had a look at the various trees and Archery seems like a nice change of pace after playing a dual wielding specialist.

I've never been a fan of Khajits but I'm starting to like them more with Skyrim. I don't care much for Argonians. Never really liked them and I don't think I'd like playing one.

Perhaps I need to try out different characters and things for fun before settling down with one; I've managed to stick to my first character for 60 hours and it's a pretty long time.

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Oh, I would like a really nifty rogue outfit. Not solid black but mottled so it really blends into the shdows. A tool belt would be nice too. A nice cape to wear when in towns to hide her outfit.

Sounds like some sort of medieval Batman outfit.

EDIT: also I'm playing a good guys and it's boring. I want to play a cunning and devious thief that looks the part. I've tried making a female character but she either looks too old or too young. I may go for an Orc or a Dark Elf for the looks more than the stats.

I've started a new character. He is a Dunmer and I'm going to play him as a thief and archer so it will be a nice change from my Nord warrior: screenshot and screenshot. I think he looks the part of a devious and cunning antihero.

He looks evil, really evil.
I have never played a Khajiit before but they are much improved in Skyrim. Not such comic characters. Khajiits do not have a natural affinity for magic so I am not doing much with magic. She, Chirhran, doesn't really take this Dragonborn business seriously. I am trying to choose responses that indicate this. I finished up the quest for the horn and did one of Delphine's quest. Right now we are just exploring and trying to do side quests and miscellaneous objectives. She will eventually join the Thieves Guild. My first character on the desktop had joined the TG and done a couple of quests but I decided to wait and get her sneak and dual weilding skills up. Can't take any screenshots on the laptop but when I get the desktop back I will take some.
Since she has already killed off a couple of Thalnors (sp?) she may join the Stormcloaks. She met some of the Companions and they weren't impressed with her.
Actually the rogue outfit is based on the Dark Brotherhood outfit. Should have a hood that covers the face. No skin showing although that wouldn't matter with a Khajiit.
Archery is much better in Skyrim.

Archery is much better and I intend to try out the perks to see what difference they make.

I don't think that we have to stick to a character's starting skills that much, after all there is nothing that would prevent a Khajit from becoming a great mage. Magic skills may be a little lower at the beginning but they will catch up pretty fast.

The thing that really matters is the innate resistance or bonus they get, things that make Bretons more resistant to magic, High Elves having more magic energy and some characters resistant to disease.

I may try making a vampire out of my Dark Elf. Since vampires usually have a weakness to fire, I thought starting with a character who had a resistance to fire was a good idea.

I'm playing now as a Khajiit thief, later to become an assassin. I still have some things to do with my first character (such as the civil war quests), but I know from past experience that once I abandon a character for a new one, I find it very difficult to go back.

Here are some of my screenshots.

My Breton battlemage
A unique encounter (possible spoiler)
My Khajiit thief
Nice view of Solitude

These are great pictures! You've done a good job with your Breton's face (I have such a hard time making a nice female face in these games which is why I often end up making weird looking characters instead).

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I know from past experience that once I abandon a character for a new one, I find it very difficult to go back.

Same thing here. Starting a new character can be refreshing. I really like my Dunmer thief.

Thank you, Kana. Very nice Screenshots. I saw the Ghost rider but have no information as to who or why. There must be more to the story.

Thank you, both. Apparently, the ghost rider will lead you to a place with some treasure. I didn't know that at the time I saw him, so I didn't follow. I was on foot and headed in the opposite direction for a quest.

So was I. The next time I see him I will try following. Right now I have a list of miscellaneous objectives a mile long and a bunch of quests. I have met up with Ulliac (sp?) and may end up a Stormcloak whether I want to or not.

I do not find him a sympathetic character.

I like the amiguity. Neither the Stormcloaks nor the Legion are good guys but this is a topic for a different thread. Too many spoilers.

I love ignoring quests and quest givers. My thief is breaking in houses, stealing gold, picking pockets. He isn't much of a fighter but he is getting richer all the time...

I don't find either side of the civil war particularly sympathetic. I'm actually pleasantly surprised by that, though. They're both pretty grey, and I wasn't expecting that from Bethesda. That's one of the things that makes this feel like a much more mature game than Oblivion.

I didn't even touch the civil war quests with my Breton, because I couldn't see either side fitting with her character. I'll probably have my Khajiit side with the Stormcloaks, but more out of self-interest than any kind of ideological attachment. I imagine he would think it would be profitable to have the future High King of Skyrim indebted to him. I also imagine he has a pretty long criminal record in the Empire and wouldn't be keen on doing them any favors.

Having the possibility to completely disregard quests is something that is just great.

I had reasons for my Nord to get involved in the state of affairs and to help the helpless and get paid for that but I'm starting to enjoy the freedom I have with my Dunmer thief who basically refuses to listen to whining NPCs unless they have something that he wants.

Picking callous answers is also very soothing.

That Cara, is why I love playing rogues. Having been raised to be a NICE person I love role playing someone who does not have to be nice if they don't want to.

It's definitely fun playing a rogue, or just an otherwise morally questionable person. That's when I enjoy RPGs the most, when I play a character who is radically different from myself philosophically and ideologically. I played through New Vegas three times, and I probably had the most fun, to my surprise, siding with Caesar's Legion. They embody pretty much everything I despise in the real world, but the point of role playing, for me, is to step into the shoes of someone who is different from me.

With both of my characters in Skyrim, I'm still ending up with quests in my log that I don't want to do. I wish there was a way to abandon quests to get them out of your journal.

My Assassin is now a Hybrid -- Destruction is up considerably. I still sneak, but what isn't dead after he first arrow gets burnt/frozen/shock depending on the situation.

Funny I don't like using magic spells but I like having magic weapons and armours. I think that it has to do with the switching between weapons and magic. I wonder if I'll be able to get enchanting to high levels with this guy since I want to focus on stealth and ranged attacks but that is something I'm starting to consider.

I didn't pick smithing this time. I love it but variety is good and it makes looking for items more important. Pickpocket helps since I got some pretty nice toys early on.

Playing a bad guy in a CRPG is fun because you can simply let go and nobody will get hurt.

I think Bethesda took to heart the lesson they learn from working on the Pitt DLC for Fallout 3. No easy choices is what modern CRPGs are (should be) all about. Grey areas and moral ambiguity make for complex games.

In any case I don't find either side very appealling in Skyrim. I can probably relate to the situation of the Stormcloaks (I tend to side with the underdog) but I can't agree with their radicalism or their leader (just like in FNV I didn't like the Legion or the NCR for different reasons). It's great that the game allows us that sort of depth.

Besides, I've started investing in achery and it's great fun. So much so that I won't invest too much into one hand weapons as I first intended. Archery is definitely a viable choice in this game.

Also is it just me or is the levelling really fast? With my first character I used to spent at least one hour to get a level (and sometimes two) but my new guy is burning through levels really fast.

I will probably skip the stone next time.

If you are very active, sneak around, do alchemy, fight that sort of thing you do level pretty quickly in the beginning. I am stuck at level twelve because I am doing Blood on the Ice which is a mental quest. Find the murder and not a fight or even nead to sneak so far. Very interesting quest. I reallly like it.You should level pretty steadily up to level 50. I understand that after that the leveling slows down quite a bit.