Skyrim difficulty and quest level.

[dermainz]

Hi everyone, this is my first post here. I thought this would be the best place to post such a cry for help.

I recently started playing, ATM I play a mage kind of build (destuction mainly). I'm level 18 and use a few mods, nothing gameplay-changing though.

I left difficulty level at "adept" and started doing quests in no particular order. Thing is, I can't do most of them.

 

Example 1: Silent Tongues (UESPwiki recomended lvl: 16). I did it at lvl 8 the first time, was difficult until i encountered the archer+shout undead that stands before the axe.

I got my a** kicked soo bad. Went back at level 18, same thing, little better. But the guy..my fireballs do NO damage to him, nothing does..jesus, impossible.

 

Example 2: Reavealing the Unseen. Same thing, can do most of the dungeon but when i get to the dwarven machine in the little room he simply destroys me, oneshots me.

I've even watched a video but the mob was completely different, the one from the video didn't move or shoot arrows or come at you, mine is not even a "Centurion Master", is somthing else i don't remember..how? why is that?

 

https://youtu.be/4W3XeW8_GeI?t=1426

So, basically, what am I doing wrong? Almost every quest I try to do comes to a point where it is undoable, really undoable. I may be a bad player but.. well, not by so much, if I get oneshotted there must be something wrong. And why the mob difference? Is not the first time that I watch videos where the game responds very differently.

Any help is much appreciated.

[Boombro]

So just fire spells?

Have you thought of followers, summons, runes, wards, enchanted clothing or just same old leveling up?

[dermainz]

I did, except for runes. Summons drain my mag something bad, leave me with no mag for anything else. I should put the perk when I get the chance. Most of the time I go chain lightning, but my cat follower keeps getting damaged. Well, enchanting.. that's a good point,I did very little of it, I still have those 1% increase in whatever, also i wear cloth armor. Not sure what you mean by old leveling up, i'ts what i'm trying to do, but..yes, i get kicked every quest. Maybe I rushed things? Started doing quest line too early? I made almost no armor or enchants, went directly to the mage winterhold for the mages quests, mybe i should have sticked with the companions? If so, should I begin again and take the time to level armor making and enchants? If so, what should i do for the first levels? Explore? I know..lots of questions, I just like the game so much but hate leaving every quest in the middle.. thanks for taking the time I appreciate it.

[Boombro]

Wait, are you using flesh spells with the robes?

 

 

Maybe I rushed things? Started doing quest line too early?

went directly to the mage winterhold for the mages quests, mybe i should have sticked with the companions?

Yup. Mages collages is the hardest faction, I will keep it to level 24-30. For the companies, why are you even there with a pure mage? They are fighters with armors and all. Still, your level fits however.

 

 

if so, what should i do for the first levels? Explore?

That something one should do at all levels. However, for fast and safe loot and leveling, bounty bandits quests are the key.

 

 

If so, should I begin again and take the time to level armor making and enchants?

Both are grindy, to make it less of a chore. Gather stuff when you travel and quest around. when you get to town, craft everything.

 

 

I just like the game so much but hate leaving every quest in the middle..

Everyone does that and it normal. You will have to deal with it or lower difficulty and/or get more followers.

 

 

Most of the time I go chain lightning, but my cat follower keeps getting damaged.

News flash, the cat can't die, you can.

And I meant a human follower to tank with armor and all.

Edited November 2, 2015 by Boombro

[elixxon]

Well....

As a destruction mage theese are essential to survive:

-Use a flesh spell for armor. It is a lifesaver.

-Make sure to have summoned minion and a follower.

-Keep two sets of gear on you. One for combat with fortify destruction and one for buffing with fotify alteration/conjuration/illusion, magicka, and magicka regen.

-Get Agent of Mara, the Magic Resist perk and the Lord Stone buff ASAP for magic resistance. As a Breton you'll become magic resist capped by passives alone(BRETON SUPREMACY IS THE ONLY TRUTH!!!!).

-Keep the stat-priority: destruction>magicka>magicka regen for combat gear; magicka>alteration+conjuration+illusion>magicka regen for buff gear.

-Keep staves on you! They are lifesavers when you are out of magicka. Dragonpriests gladly give away their Staff of Fireball.

-Watch out for the target's race!!! Nords has 50% frost resist, Dark Elves has 50% fire resist and Bretons has 25% all resist. Also Vampires has additional 50% frost and -50% fire resist(which means nord vampires are frost capped and darkelves are not weak nor resistant against fire). Also various monsters of Skyrim are resistant to frost.

 

 

My gear on my latest mage character that was quite succesful during the whole playthrough because I had experience from the other two mages of mine before(note that I detest crafting because it takes away the progression of collecting items by getting OP stuff):

 

combat gear:

head: Nahkriin(any headpiece will do if it has destruction in it, if you are going for the Mage Armor perk, then you'll need to use circlets)

neck: necklace of ... magicka(Savos Aren's amulet until you find better)

Armor: Archmage's robes, then Expert and Master robes as soon as they get available.

ring: ring of ... destruction(Ring of Peeless Destruction is the best one and as the name implies it has no pee on it at all) XD

glove: Imperial Bracers/Bonemold Gauntlets of Major Destruction(the console says they are in the game... possibly unobtainable tho....); otherwise Cicero's/Jester's/Shrouded gloves as clothing or anything useful.

boots: The lightning resist one from the Archmage's Quarters or Cicero's/Jester's/Shrouded shoes if you stick to the Mage Armor perk. If not, anything useful.

 

buff gear:

head: Vokun(absolute best and you'll have an extra mage follower in the dungeon which is kinda an overkill for the bossfight)

neck: Necromancer's amulet(absolute best)

armor: Archmage's Robes(absolute best)

ring: ring of ... magicka/fortify magicka regen

 

 

Some spellcasting tips:

Channeled spells like Flames are best to spammed in short lines instead of channelling them constantly. They deal more damage like this and burn less mana.

Don't hold charged up spells like firebolt! Shoot them ASAP because as long as you hold a spell your magicka WON'T regenerate.

Keep staves like Fireball in case you run out of mana and need spells to cast.

You can regenerate your magicka quickly by using Equlibirum and a charged healing spell like Fast Healing. You'll need to put some points on health tho...

 

 

Followers:

Tanks like Lydia will only stand in the way. The preferred follower would be a mage. Marcurio is far the best one in my experience. Those lightning spells ows.

For summons I started out with keeping Familiar up until I got apprentice conjuration then used flame atronach pretty much always changing to frost atronach when needed a tank then used only Dremora Lords when I got high enough perks.

 

 

You can further buff your magic damage:

-by "... of Destruction" potions and "... Aversion to Fire/Frost/Lightning/Magic" poisons.

-getting Aspect of Terror perk when having 3/3 Augmented Flames

-being Necromage Vampire(keep being well fed and the magic resist from passives will cover up the fire-weakness)

Edited November 2, 2015 by elixxon

[dermainz]

Thank you, that really is a lot of good advice!

Anyway, I've started again but this time i carry an axe and try to enchant light armor instead of wearing 0 armor pre-enchanted stuff,

At least for the time being. The difference is simply huge.

[Boombro]

Try a battle mage with zombies. You will be a mini boss.

[elixxon]

Since Mage Armor needs a kinda high skill level in Alteration and 3 perk points it is indeed a good idea to use armor pieces too for some defense.

[Boombro]

Robes and hoods with heavy boots and arms is a fine look.

[elixxon]

For headpiece you can use "of ... Destruction", "of ... Magicka" heavy helm and Nahkriin(the dragon priest mask from the main quest).

Nahkriin is pretty much the best non-cloth headpiece for destro mage.

 

Also you could consider using light gear with "Vampire armor of ... Destruction" chestpiece as a "light mage". It is the only non-cloth armor that gives 50% magicka regen with the reduce magicka cost bonus.