By now, the reviews, wikis and fan pages for Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim listing the plethora of items, quests, mobs and locations to be found in game have all been poured over and everyone has their favorite bookmarked. The plus and minuses of the Gameplay, the bugs and the graphics of new Creation Engine and Radiant AI has all been discussed and analyzed. But even with all of that scrutiny, this game still has the capability to throw one a curve and give surprising results (such as a run to Hrothgar where I ran smack into two Frost Trolls rather than the usual one). As GOTY (Gamespot) it will most assuredly be played and discussed through 2012 and beyond.
So to add our own contribution to the phenomenom that is Skyrim, here are a few hard-earned tips (Xbox & PS3) that may help make the game go smoother for you:
- Save before entering a dungeon, but don't save over that save until you've left the dungeon completely. You may find yourself seriously overmatched and stuck in a death loop. That save could be your only way out (without losing a lot of loot and experience).
- Right after entering a doorway in the dungeon, look down at your feet and on either side of you. There's often some useful loot and potions.
- Skeletons succumb easily to flames. If melee get a flaming enchantment on your weapon. If caster use your fire destruction spells.
- Draugr are also susceptible to flame, but are tougher. Some higher-level ones are nearly as tough as a giant. Try to take them on individually by using your frost shout to slow or freeze them.
- If you have a follower with you in a dungeon, you need to be careful where you aim your shouts. In the close quarters of a dark dungeon, it's easy to get confused as to where they are. To avoid a nasty surprise when after a tough battle you find yourself looting the corpse of your follower, either use your shout early for crowd control, or near the end of the battle, when you can maneuver to the position to avoid your follower.. If you must use it during the thick of the battle, try to have your follower at your back or to one side.
- Your Unrelenting Force shout, when fully powered (all 3 words) can travel through some walls and other solid objects. It is very good for interrupting spell casts, even from cover in some instances.
- Your follower will use torches at night or in dungeons if you give one to them. This can be a blessing, but also a curse if you're trying to sneak. Once you draw your weapon, they will put the torch away.
- Speechcraft is your friend, and arguably the most valuable skill in the game. It will enrich your pocketbook (in game) and likely save your character from dying. Learn it early and practice often. There is an amulet quest that increases speechcraft, plus others have written on ways to level up the skill.
- You should also pick up the lock picking skill as there are many chests and doors that are located in dungeons, and elsewhere, that you will need that skill in order to open them.
- Give your follower armor that you pick up, and they'll use it if it's better than what they're wearing now. Most early in the game are using either steel armor, or for casters, just robes. Followers will wear armor that you have smithed and or enchanted only if it's better than what they're currently wearing.
- Melee followers will always use the best two-handed weapon.
- You can't overload a follower, they will simply refuse to take anything more if it will overload them.
- Save all rings, jeweled headpieces and necklaces to help raise enchanting. The ones that are already enchanted can be disenchanted to gain the attribute for enchanting other items. These are also the best items to enchant for increasing your weight carrying capacity, your archery skills, enchanting skills, and your alchemy skills.
Here's some links to other sites we recommend for more handy tips:
http://www.reddit.com/r/skyrim/comments/mb8la/massive_list_of_all_the_tips_and_tricks/ (Some tips for PC only, has some minor errors, but is one of our favorites)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Elder_Scrolls_V:_Skyrim (great for providing more info on the history and development of Skyrim)
http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Skyrim (largest wiki full of all type of Skyrim facts)
From all of us here at TGR, we wish you a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous and Fun New Year! Happy gaming!
