Skyrim

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Well, the story remains consistent, but there's a big jump in gameplay and graphics etc. between the previous one (Oblivion) and this one.

Looking forward to the next one. (There are of course the online multiplayer ones, The Elder Scrolls Online, but I don't do online multiplayer so...)

--A

[peter]

Are you a journey by foot/horse man Av, or a fast-traveller? I've seen a fairly vigorous debate in a dedicated forum on the question and I am firmly in the former category. The game's immersive experience is multiplied a thousandfold by the exploratory discoveries and diversions of peripatetic wandering between quest locations and I'd happily see the fast travel feature disappear!

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Wait 'til you get a couple hundred hours in...

Mostly by foot. Never liked the horseback thing. (Although Shadowmere was pretty cool.) I did love walking around and seeing the random encounters, but by the time you're on play-through three, fast travel is a boon.

--A

[peter]

Fair comment! One last thing, then I'll leave you in peace I promise - did you opt to join the Empire or the Storm cloak rebellion?Maybe you've played both game scenarios and have a preference (they have different quest threads apparently). In terms of 'right and wrong', like many true life conflicts, there doesn't seem to be a good side Vs a bad side to base your decision on, so you have to go for the best gameplay. I'm doubtful that I'll play the game more than once so your take on this would be valuable to me.

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Haha, no need to leave me in peace, I'm happy to talk about it.

Stormcloaks through and through actually. I did try an empire play-through, but I can't stand those imperial bastards and ended up stabbing them in the back anyway. Nord independence all the way.

Still, my preference is for a thief / assassin role, so sometimes I've completely ignored that story-line.

In terms of gameplay, they're really much of a muchness...only the story telling is different really.

--A

[peter]

I'm also on the Thieves Guild/Dark Brotherhood path Av - but with reservations. Oddly, I find myself reluctant to slay innocents just to progress my character through the game. I'm trying to behave in Skyrim as I'd like to do so in real life. If I can pick a pocket while the 'victim' sleeps I do so; I don't kill people who aren't trying to kill me first - this kind of stuff. On one occasion I stopped playing a game called Manhunt because I was uncomfortable with what it required of the player in order to progress; Skyrim to me is no different. I am who I am, and can't really change that even in a game. Silly I know but hey ........



Have you played Witcher by the way; I'm being encouraged by friends to move on to it as a more adult and demanding RPG, but have my reservations. I'm not the best at fighting/battles and understand that they are somewhat more demanding than in Skyrim so wonder if it would work the same for me. Any thoughts on this?

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Haha, funny enough, I feel similarly about the Assassins...That guy looking for his dead sister was the worst.

I don't mind the political ones, but after the main assassins storyline, (I do always save them though), you have the option to just keep doing randomly generated assassin quests, and I never do.

Yes, I've played The Witcher. If you do, go straight to TW3 and its expansions, and just play it on easy. It's pretty good, and it's perfectly possible to enjoy the game and story without having to struggle to get the hang of the combat, which can be a bit of a learning curve.

The GOTY edition of The Witcher 3 is frequently on sale on Steam for around 50-60% off. Sale coming up in about 10 days.

I have TW2 as well (my first ever GOG game) and as well as not being as "open world" the combat was very difficult. Definitely improved in 3 and there's a lot of serious decision making in it.

--A

[peter]

Sounds good Av. By the time I've completed Skyrim however I estimate that Witcher 15 or so will be out......in fact you'll probably be playing it in a virtual reality world with a sword in your hand!

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Haha, all good things come to an end. I played it, I played it again, I modded it, I modded it more, and eventually even I'm over it for now.

That and Fallout New Vegas are the standard by which I judge all open world RPG's though. And Skyrim is the better of the two (that levelling system...)

--A

[peter]

I saw on YouTube the other day that you can get to level 1000. Level 1000! No - that has to be a joke (no?).

I'm having a few 'glitch' problems with the marker system in the miscellaneous quests, and also a few that I've completed not registering as having been so. Did you get any problems with these?

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Probably a mod.

(Oh, maybe not...the hard level cap of 81 (Legendary Edition) has been removed. But it's a complicated process...once you max a skill, you have the option to make it legendary, which lets you continue getting xp and levelling up...it's hell of a slow to level once you get higher...if you max out every skill and make every one legendary, you can keep levelling. But the highest you can go without making any skill legendary is still 81.)

Probably still a mod...much easier.

As for glitches and bugs...yes, plenty. Because I played on a pc, I used 3rd-party mods (player-created modifications to the game which are then shared) to resolve most of them. (And improve a host of things about the game.)

You're probably stuck with them, since IRC, you can't mod console games (or couldn't back then anyway, now there are ways).

Anyway, the Witcher 3 is on sale on GOG. Have PM'd you the link.

--A

[peter]

Have been checking out some of the mods to Skyrim available and see that some of them allow for more .......intimate contact shall we say, with the female characters in the game. I'll resist the temptation to ponder whether the addition of such a mod would increase one's "One Handed Skill".........

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--A

[I'm Murrin]

I'd highly recommend watching the Touch the Skyrim series on youtube. They're hilarious, and showcase a lot of the weirder mods.

[peter]

Will do Murrin.

[peter]

Am on my second Skyrim playthrough and have reached level 57. It's the first time I've done the Dragonborn and Dawnguard DLC's and am thoroughly enjoying them. This time around I've taken much more time to get to grips with the whole Elder Scrolls backstory and it has paid off. I'm much more involved in what transpires and while after hundreds of hours of play I still get days where I seem to loose direction, in the main I'm very focused on where I'm going with it.

In fact I'd say that on my first play (I'm now realising) I only scratched the surface; I only yesterday rode a dragon for the first time, I recently learned about 'salmon roe' - how you only get this magical food from catching the salmon as they migrate up to their spawning grounds, jumping up the rapids: it's things like this that make the ongoing play worth the effort.

And I just love the land - always did in fact. I love to walk in the early morning or evening, in the Rift or over in the Markarth region, where the scenery can be spectacular. Solsteim has the flavour of Morrowind about it, with the Red Mountain smoking in the background (and occasional snatches of the Morrowind theme tune breaking in for the initiated to recognise). I'm wandering around, eating plants and stuff, getting their properties, learning to Smith, to enchant, to mine and forge armour........all the stuff I never got to on my first foray into the game. My level building is slow - but it's coming. My ultimate aim is to get to level 83 - the grail of Skyrim Masters and receive the challenge of the Ebony Warrior (and of course defeat him). Only then will I be satisfied, sitting amongst the Skyrim Elect looking down in paternalistic amusement at lesser mortals at level 50 ( ).

Only one problem so far: I've lost 'my old friend' Shadowmere. He was with me for so long, through thick and thin, always ready (sometimes when you least wanted him to) to pitch into the fray. He inexplicably turned from the tank he normally was into a 'shadow' of his former self, dying at the smallest swipe of a bear's claw or orc's cudgel. I looked online and saw that others had noted this phenomenon as well. One guy postulated that perhaps he had inadvertantly been hit by the 'marked for death' shout, permanently debilitating him. Anyways, it got to be such a problem that when a possible solution presented itself I jumped at it. I was informed in a YouTube post that if you allowed him to be killed, that he would respawn in the same spot fifteen days later. When he was killed by a dragon outside the gates of Riften I duly left things to run, but to no avail. Weeks later in game time, there is still no sign of him and I fear he is gone for good. I may have inadvertently messed up the respawning process myself by riding another horse in the meantime while I waited. I tried to leave him behind, but rather endearingly, he turns up whenever I fast-travel and though the little sod will never stay put where he is left he seems determined to stick with me. I haven't the heart to strike him dead after all of his, albeit detached, loyalty, so it looks like I'm stuck with him.(until I get Avrak that is, when he will no doubt go off in a huff). I still live in hopes that Shadowmere will turn up somewhere (perhaps back in his pool at the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary in Falkreath) but I have my doubts.

I'm still a long way from finishing the game - I have three of the Black Books from Dragonborn and have barely started Dawnguard - so there is a long way to go yet. I'm working with a guy in my new job who has reached the fabled level aforementioned, but useful though he is, he's incapable of telling you anything without spoiling the whole story at the same time. Today I'm going to Morthal - I think if I recall correctly, there's a nasty little nest of vampires that needs cleaning out!

Ahhhh - the joy of vicarious living!

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Haha, yeah, I liked Dawnguard, although Dragonborn wasn't my favourite. Never got the Ebony Warrior either TBH.

--A

[peter]

No sign of Covid-19 in Skyrim as yet and no requirement to practice social distancing or self-isolation as yet. In fact I find I can get all of the exercise and fresh air I require in Tamriel these days. 16 weeks housebound - not a problem!

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I know how you feel...Bannerlord releases next Tuesday, so that'll be me sorted for the next few months...

--A

[peter]

This is right thinking Av! (Mind you - I would have expected no less )

Yesterday I made my last foray out and secured a copy of Assassin's Creed - the Ezio Collection. Three games on one disk starting with AC 2, plus two more follow up games in the series. I've never played AC before excepting a very brief toe dip into AC 2 on one occasion before (I bought my ps 4 within days of beginning it and moved on to other games on the new consul) and am looking forward to immersing myself in the character of Ezio for the duration.

In my first few hours of play yesterday I began to get a feel for the game: the 'non-game' screens (ie the map, the data, the HUD etc) are a bit confusing as yet but will no doubt fall into place in due course. I like the information screens on various parts of Florentine society and culture, architecture etc, very much. This helps you get a true feel for the time and setting and enriches your immersion factor in the game no end.

I doubt it will ever replace Skyrim as my go-to game.......but it will do for the time being, and given the number of games in the series should provide a good bit of entertainment over the weeks and months. Roll on Elder Scrolls VI - but I don't suppose it'll happen any time soon!