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Surprised this hasn't made the rounds yet!

http://www.vg247.com/2012/10/16/skyrim-dragonborn-dlc-files-leaked-dragon-mounts-morrowind-area-incoming-report/

New armor, dragon-mounted combat, takes place on Solstheim, and even includes a Telvanni tower! As a major Morrowind fan, I am really excited about this one. Even so ... I will probably wait for a GotY edition and buy the game again, this time for 360.

I read this somewhere, I thought it was here. Huh, guess not.

I'm really looking forward to this one, looks like it could be a lot of fun. Probably going to wait for the lot to go on sale on Steam, though.

If Oblivion is anything to go by, this will likely be the last Skyrim DLC. Oblivion had some miscellaneous stuf (like Hearth's Fire), a shorter quest (like Dawn Guard), and an expansion (like Dragonborn).

Could well be. I've found the price points on Dawnguard and Hearth's Fire to be a bit over what I can justify to myself. Even at, say, 25% off I'd probably go for them. Just not at their current price.

I've fallen completley in love with Skyrim. I have no problem paying the price for expansions when I get more gameplay out of them than I do most games. (i am, admittedly, both very picky and very loyal to games)

I bought skyrim for my girlfriend who is a big Elder Scrolls fan. I eventually caved, and I've since played through three times. Anything that makes the game bigger and deeper is good on me.

I was a bit disappointed with Skyrim on playthrough 1 and discussed it with a friend who was also playing. We came up with the smithing system being a game breaker. So I waited a month and started my second playthrough without using smithing at all. I enjoyed it much more.

For my first playthrough, I did a sneaky Nord. My second playthrough was as a paladin (Imperial with focus on blade, shield, heavy armor, and healing). I think my GotY playthrough will be as an Argonian, but I'm not sure what character theme yet.

 Polonius wrote:
I've fallen completley in love with Skyrim. I have no problem paying the price for expansions when I get more gameplay out of them than I do most games. (i am, admittedly, both very picky and very loyal to games)

Lol was about to post the same thing. Skyrim is for me, quite simply, the best game ever. I don't care how over-priced the DLC is. The only thing i wish they'd do in the DLC was change some of the game mechanics or add new ones. The game is so tantalisingly close to perfect. If they added Sneak attack spells, Knocking people unconcious, mantling, dodging and a better sprint animation i dont think i would ever play any other fantasy RPG ever again.

 Manchu wrote:
I was a bit disappointed with Skyrim on playthrough 1 and discussed it with a friend who was also playing. We came up with the smithing system being a game breaker. So I waited a month and started my second playthrough without using smithing at all. I enjoyed it much more.

For my first playthrough, I did a sneaky Nord. My second playthrough was as a paladin (Imperial with focus on blade, shield, heavy armor, and healing). I think my GotY playthrough will be as an Argonian, but I'm not sure what character theme yet.

Definitely this, but I found enchanting to be the real gamebreaker. On my second (ish - doing two at once) playthrough now, and I'm only using items that I find or buy. Surprisingly rewarding.

 Manchu wrote:
I was a bit disappointed with Skyrim on playthrough 1 and discussed it with a friend who was also playing. We came up with the smithing system being a game breaker. So I waited a month and started my second playthrough without using smithing at all. I enjoyed it much more.

For my first playthrough, I did a sneaky Nord. My second playthrough was as a paladin (Imperial with focus on blade, shield, heavy armor, and healing). I think my GotY playthrough will be as an Argonian, but I'm not sure what character theme yet.

I've discovered this as well. All of my characters max out smithing and enchanting, and even on Expert I can just whale on stuff. I really wanted to resist the urge to smith, but I just couldn't. Maybe on playthrough four...

I did an Imperial Sword/mage, a Nord two handed tank, and a wood elf archer. The imperial was "Good," the Nord was "evil," and the wood elf was "whatever quest options I haven't explored yet." I ahven't really tackled the Dawnguard quest line in any depth, and I think I might start a new character for that. I'm not sure on play style though. I haven't really used much illusion magic, and the idea of being a sneak mage is kind of neat...

Polonius wrote:I haven't really used much illusion magic, and the idea of being a sneak mage is kind of neat...

This is what I'm doing now. It's brilliant fun, but being fairly squishy and reliant on not being heard has lead to seriously sticky situations. Good to have a backup skill set in case stealth fails you! I went with conjuring for that.

A really fun combo I tried was Conjuring / Illusion. I.e. Sneaky, assassin type guy. Conjuring allows you to skip Smithing pretty easily and the conjuring perk to buff conjured weapons is a great boost in early game.

My paladin's arc was the classic fall from grace, climaxing with Namira's quest and leading up to Dawn Guard ... which has yet to come out for PS3 ... so I guess I'll never know if he found redemption or what.

Agh, ninja'd by htj.

 pretre wrote:
Agh, ninja'd by htj.

Higher Illusion than you, clearly.

My problem is that my min/max munchkin took over after my first play through (which was based on what seemed cool, I basically tried to be a fantasy Jedi).

It's hard to overcome things you know are incredibly useful. I also have a planning instinct, and I know I'll have about 40-50 perks to really use, meaning I can only max out so many skills. Though perhaps doing a character with no crafting at all could be fun.

 Manchu wrote:
Surprised this hasn't made the rounds yet!

http://www.vg247.com/2012/10/16/skyrim-dragonborn-dlc-files-leaked-dragon-mounts-morrowind-area-incoming-report/

New armor, dragon-mounted combat, takes place on Solstheim, and even includes a Telvanni tower! As a major Morrowind fan, I am really excited about this one. Even so ... I will probably wait for a GotY edition and buy the game again, this time for 360.

...

Manchu has a 360? Since when?

Wait...so now the game has building your own house, Dragon mounted combat AND Laura Bailey playing a Rayne expy?

Skyrim is getting increasingly more awesome, and I am feeling bad for criticizing it. I stand by my opinion that it fails as an RPG though.

 Kanluwen wrote:
Manchu has a 360? Since when?

2007, IIRC. Got it to play Mass Effect (was late to the party, I know). It's now my preferred console since PS3 is so hard for Bethesda to dev for.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 CthuluIsSpy wrote:
it fails as an RPG

lolwut?


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Polonius wrote:
Though perhaps doing a character with no crafting at all could be fun.

It improved my experience significantly and to be honest I didn't miss it at all.

 CthuluIsSpy wrote:
Wait...so now the game has building your own house, Dragon mounted combat AND Laura Bailey playing a Rayne expy?

Skyrim is getting increasingly more awesome, and I am feeling bad for criticizing it. I stand by my opinion that it fails as an RPG though.

You criticized it? And yet you have Sheogorath as avatar? That doesnt make sence... well, guess it does

 CthuluIsSpy wrote:


Skyrim is getting increasingly more awesome, and I am feeling bad for criticizing it. I stand by my opinion that it fails as an RPG though.

Thats just crazy talk!

Fails why? I mean, I could understand if you are comparing it to an MMORPG, but don't you think the internet has spoiled us? I mean, you cant expect as rich an experience playing solo on your own.

At the end of the day, I got a good 40 hours out of skyrim before I got sick... the worlds huge, there are numerous quests, and the story is excellent, I think it is definitely a fantastic RPG. Really what would you say beats it? I grew up in the eighties so I've played and loved RPGS for years, and its bigger and more immersive, than anything else I raved over in my younger days. So i'd say the ones to beat for me would be...all the Zelda games, the FF series, the Diablo games and Star Wars KOTOR.

Skyrim is easily their equal. Perhaps not as good a story as say, the Ocarina of time, but far less linear, bigger, and also less cartoony which I also prefer.

I can see your point, in that we all like different stuff, but surely its harsh to say it "fails"!?

What about "I merely thought it was "decent"

Manchu you had my rapt attention at "dragon mounted combat"

Its just that to me, a RPG requires 2 thing:

- To play a role (as in ROLE playing game).

- To have a great story where your choices actually have an impact.

In Skyrim you can do everything, so there really isn't a role. Well, ok, I guess in the early game there are some limitations, but eventually you become so unbelievably skilled that it doesn't matter what you were before. There's also the fact taht you can join the mages, join the theives and join the assassins all the same playthrough. Where are the limitations, where are the actual choices?

And there is no story in skyrim. Not really. In order for there to be a story there must be an end. Skyrim has no end.
What you do in the game is pretty much irrevelant; I'm the slayer of Alduin, lord of the vampires and storm cloak war hero of the rebellion, and this results in...nothing. No recognition or any significant change in the world.
Well, I guess there are a few more storm cloaks, but other than that, nope.

Now as an Action Adventure game, Skyrim is friggen brilliant. Still doesn't make it an RPG.

Consider the Fallout series. You have to choose your skills and your stats. If you become friendly with one faction you might end up pissing off another. If you slaughter children and start shooting people through the head for gaks and giggles, people will notice.

Oh, and I friggen love Sheogorath, he's easily one of the best characters in the entire game.
Note though that I said "criticize" and not "hate." What you see above are some of the problems that I have with the game. Doesn't mean I hate it though.

You're a bit off-base as to what a "role" is in a RPG. "Role" does not mean the same thing as a "role" in a script. If that were true, then God of War would be a roleplaying game. RPGs have more to do with being able to create a character (that's the role we're talking about) that is unique to you, wherein Skyrim does a great job. As to having an impact on the world ... well, have you actually played the main quest at all?

I'll hand it to you that your efforts in Skyrim don't come to much insofar as huge changes being felt throughout the game world. I would have liked some more definitive outcome regarding the Empire and the Aldmeri Dominion. This is par for the course, however. Elder Scrolls games have self-contained plots: a crisis arises within the plot and is solved within the plot. There's very little spill-over between games and what there is, is largely incidental. For example, take the Dunmer refugees in Windhelm.

In a way I agree. The infinite sand box nature of Skyrim allows for every character to do everything. In the end, there is no real differences anymore.

It doesn't help that for every time there is dialoge reconizing your achievement, there's a wizard telling you to looking into the mage's college after you're the Arch-Mage.

I'd agree that a little more change to the world based on actions would be nice.

Still, I think it's also a bug/feaure debate. Skyrim doesn't tell you a story, but it does allow you tell nearly any story you want.

And while it might not make sense for the companions to welcome the thieve's guildmaster or listener... the alternative is for players to find themselves locked out of options based on early choices.

 Manchu wrote:
You're a bit off-base as to what a "role" is in a RPG. "Role" does not mean the same thing as a "role" in a script. If that were true, then God of War would be a roleplaying game. RPGs have more to do with being able to create a character (that's the role we're talking about) that is unique to you, wherein Skyrim does a great job. As to having an impact on the world ... well, have you actually played the main quest at all?

I have beaten the main quest, and I have Experianced little to no impact from slaying Alduin.
And I was thinking role as in Dungeons and Dragons sort of role. You play as a mage, you stay as a mage. You do not rush the big orc and engage him in hand to hand combat. Doing so will get you killed.
Not really much point in creating a character if no one recognizes your exploits, and I hardly consider a jack of all trades, master of all an interesting character.

To me, an RPG is about choice. You choose to focus on combat skills? Ok, fine, good luck trying to negotiate with/sneak past/bribe 20 odd bandits. You choose to spend all of your cyber module on the energy weapons skill (system shock 2)? Ok cool, have fun trying to search for a new weapon every time the one you have breaks.
Being able to do everything takes that choice away.

Then again, I guess I do have a very limited idea of what an RPG is. Polonius does have a point that Skyrim allows a certain degree of freedom in your exploits, allowing you to create your own saga. To me though is this an empty experiance, as your deeds have no impact in the world. I'm not asking much...maybe a tapestry or something showing your exploits, or a Dragonborn cult or something, anything really. I guess I'm just a vain bastard, I dunno.

Well the 'you choose mage, you stay mage' is indeed not there. Because players from Oblivion regulary did not like they had to choose their play style from the start of the game. Hence, they removed it.

 thenoobbomb wrote:
Well the 'you choose mage, you stay mage' is indeed not there. Because players from Oblivion regulary did not like they had to choose their play style from the start of the game. Hence, they removed it.

Oh really? I should try oblivion then. That sounds a bit more like the RPG I'm interested in.

 CthuluIsSpy wrote:

 thenoobbomb wrote:
Well the 'you choose mage, you stay mage' is indeed not there. Because players from Oblivion regulary did not like they had to choose their play style from the start of the game. Hence, they removed it.

Oh really? I should try oblivion then. That sounds a bit more like the RPG I'm interested in.

Heh, maybe it is.
The faces suck though, but the locations are great.
The dungeons a bit more similar to all the others in the game, but it's nice.
No smithing, only repairing yer gear (it wears down)
You can create your own spells and enchant your items if you are in the mages guild. It costs money.
You can do all questlines with one character.

However, you choose your race with it's bonuses, then it's birthsign (wich stays that way), and then the class wich also will stay the same the entire game. You can make your own class too.

 thenoobbomb wrote:

 CthuluIsSpy wrote:

 thenoobbomb wrote:
Well the 'you choose mage, you stay mage' is indeed not there. Because players from Oblivion regulary did not like they had to choose their play style from the start of the game. Hence, they removed it.

Oh really? I should try oblivion then. That sounds a bit more like the RPG I'm interested in.

Heh, maybe it is.
The faces suck though, but the locations are great.
The dungeons a bit more similar to all the others in the game, but it's nice.
No smithing, only repairing yer gear (it wears down)
You can create your own spells and enchant your items if you are in the mages guild. It costs money.
You can do all questlines with one character.

However, you choose your race with it's bonuses, then it's birthsign (wich stays that way), and then the class wich also will stay the same the entire game. You can make your own class too.

Hmmm Crappy faces I'm fine with, as long as it doesn't make me sick.
Repetitive dungeons...eh, I can live with that.
No smithing is a bother, but I do like that the gear degrades over time. One of the problems I have with skyrim is that weapons do not degrade, which made levelling up smithing...tedious.
Making your own spells sounds fun
Doing all quests with one character, not so fun. Again, another problem I have with TES5

The birthsign and class selection sounds interesting though.

If you are playing Skyrim on PC there are mods that basically institute a class/racial bonus/birthsign system. You can still level all the skills, but your class skills level faster and your non class skills level slower. I started as a Briton, with a Magicka based class and birthsign, and I started with like 140 magicka, 60 hp, and 70 stamina - definitely more of the "squishy mage" archetype you seem to want.