[PC/360/Ps3] The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Impressions, tweaks and more!

[metallicorphan]

no backward dragons yet, but I still get the occasional one that refuses to fight.

how far are you in the main quest?

Spoiler for Hiden:

...for those Dragons that wont come down to fight i just hit them with Dragonrend,they have no choice then

haven't answered the summons to high hrothgar yet, been busy doing other stuff for the last 46 hours

HA,you are nearly as bad as Myto,she has only just killed the first Dragon,and she has more playtime than me!!

[Chordian]

Source

[Freezer-TPF-]

You don't have to shovel or drive in virtual snow.

[Caine]

maxed out Sneak at 100 tonight.  with a combination of two different things I can do 30X damage when sneaking.  it was kind of satisfying slashing the throat of an unsuspecting Daedra in Mehrune Dagon's place.

I only wish they had made sure that the killing animations would match what you're using.  it looks kind of silly for my character to jump up on a dragons head and then pound nothing into it using my right handed weapon since my left hand is casting firebolts-  apparently they assumed everyone would be dual wielding weapons.  and stabbing someone in the chest with a mace is even more silly looking.

I tend to stick with the greatsword for extra speed but when I swapped out to a warhammer for the armor bypass perk I saw a different killing animation.  It was basically an overhead swing into the enemies head.  If this was a fallout game the head would have probably exploded. 

[Caine]

Here are some vids I found which show almost all of them.
part one
part two

[Gratch]

I sort of like the game, but it's running into the same problem that I have with most Bethesda titles.   I've gotten past the "oooh, I love exploring for exploration's sake" and realized that everything I come across is really just variations on 3-4 themes.  Find a dungeon (white stone, brown stone, or ruin), fight some baddies (typically the same 3-4 enemy types), and haul my loot back to one of several identical looking towns to sell it.  A couple of the quests add a little story to it, but they ultimately boil down to doing this same thing over and over again.  It's all very pretty and still somewhat fun, but the shine is starting to come off and I find myself, well, bored.

If you think, for example, that the towns are "identical looking" then either you haven't seen much of the world or you are never going to be satisfied. Whiterun is nothing like Marketh which is nothing like Solitude, just to name a few examples.

No backwards flying dragons or other noticeable problems in the 10 or so hours I've played since the latest patch dropped. 

Not talking about the major towns, which are all extremely well realized.  It's the smaller towns that look identical to each other.

I wonder if the backwards flying issue only manifests itself with specific dragons.  It happens every time I try to advance the story by killing the dragon at

Spoiler for Hiden:

Kynesgrove

, I run into the bug.  However, I've gone up against two other dragons that haven't had any issues.  Rather annoying that the one dragon that seems to have this bug is the one I need to actually advance the main storyline.   

[Soulchilde]

I've seen the backwards flying dragon twice in my game.  Rather annoying but I think the related to dragons not meant to attack the player. The closer I tried to approach the further the dragon seemed to be pushed away

[TiLT]

I had been wondering where the funny little side stories like the guy with the Boots of Jumping in Morrowind were in this game. Well, I just found one! I accidentally stumbled upon a burning hut in the mountains, and decided to venture inside. There I found nothing of value, but there was a charred corpse there, holding a scroll of Summon Flame Atronach. 

[CeeKay]

The Elder Scrolls Adventures with the Dovahkids

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GVQmYF35w74

[Tokek]

Borrowed from D.A. Lewis over at OO:

For those of you who have not been paying attention, there is an absolutly beautiful cover of the Skyrim theme song.

Beware however, you'll be tempted to play the song over and over instead of playing the game.

the click is totally worth it

Malukah's Cover of "The Dragonborn comes"

[raydude]

I have to say - one thing I like about using the 360 controller while playing Skyrim on the PC is that the used the rumble feature to good effect. It rumbles when you're hitting resistance during lockpicking and rumbles at certain points when something big (a la dragon) or loud (a la greybeards) is affecting you.

Oh, and witnessed something funny last night, exploring a dungeon. Used my detect life and saw there was an enemy up ahead in a branching corridor. Accidentally hit the RB which is tied to my Unrelenting Shout. It triggered a floor plate which set the swinging door trap in motion. It swung out and impaled on it was my ambusher who fell off, dead, at the end of the swing. I was laughing so hard.

[Purge]

I absolutely love running past pressure plates and coaxing my attackers to pass over them.

[CeeKay]

I absolutely love running past pressure plates and coaxing my attackers to pass over them.

I used to trigger them in combat if the enemy wouldn't hit them (I'd position the enemy between myself, the plate and the trap), and then dodge out of the way.  I can't do that anymore, stinks that you cannot disable a perk.

[EddieA]

Borrowed from D.A. Lewis over at OO:

For those of you who have not been paying attention, there is an absolutly beautiful cover of the Skyrim theme song.

Beware however, you'll be tempted to play the song over and over instead of playing the game.

the click is totally worth it

Malukah's Cover of "The Dragonborn comes"

One of the comments - "The amulet of mara at my neck beckons to your thu'um".  There's a pickup line you don't hear every day

[Greg Wak]

Took me to level 35 to figure out this

Spoiler for Hiden:

what the stones do. I saw the stones mentioned in loading screens but never came across any. I just thought they may be part of the main quest or something. then I noticed new map markers "Standing Stones." Hmmmm. Help me level up faster-now you tell me. Better late than never.

[CeeKay]

Took me to level 35 to figure out this

Spoiler for Hiden:

what the stones do. I saw the stones mentioned in loading screens but never came across any. I just thought they may be part of the main quest or something. then I noticed new map markers "Standing Stones." Hmmmm. Help me level up faster-now you tell me. Better late than never.

wait, aren't you introduced to three standing stones right at the beginning after you escape Helgen?

[Arnir]

I don't know why the developers didn't just add a key that commands my follower to impale themselves on my arrows.  It would be faster and more efficient than their constant dancing in front of me to catch every arrow with their bodies that they currently do.

[Greg Wak]

Took me to level 35 to figure out this

Spoiler for Hiden:

what the stones do. I saw the stones mentioned in loading screens but never came across any. I just thought they may be part of the main quest or something. then I noticed new map markers "Standing Stones." Hmmmm. Help me level up faster-now you tell me. Better late than never.

wait, aren't you introduced to three standing stones right at the beginning after you escape Helgen?

Not that I remember. If they did it went right over my tiny little brain.

[Roguetad]

Took me to level 35 to figure out this

Spoiler for Hiden:

what the stones do. I saw the stones mentioned in loading screens but never came across any. I just thought they may be part of the main quest or something. then I noticed new map markers "Standing Stones." Hmmmm. Help me level up faster-now you tell me. Better late than never.

wait, aren't you introduced to three standing stones right at the beginning after you escape Helgen?

Not that I remember. If they did it went right over my tiny little brain.

There's a bug I experienced where that npc takes a different route (past the mine) on the way to Riverwood, without stopping at the stones.  Maybe that happened here?

[Greg Wak]

Took me to level 35 to figure out this

Spoiler for Hiden:

what the stones do. I saw the stones mentioned in loading screens but never came across any. I just thought they may be part of the main quest or something. then I noticed new map markers "Standing Stones." Hmmmm. Help me level up faster-now you tell me. Better late than never.

wait, aren't you introduced to three standing stones right at the beginning after you escape Helgen?

Not that I remember. If they did it went right over my tiny little brain.

There's a bug I experienced where that npc takes a different route (past the mine) on the way to Riverwood, without stopping at the stones.  Maybe that happened here?

Maybe. I sure don't remember anything about stones. that's okay. Enjoying the game and enjoyed finding them now. Still has the ES design decision that I don't like, but I'm getting my money's worth of fun.

[wonderpug]

The sequence you were supposed to encounter has your escort say "Hey!  Let's stop and look at these three stones!  Look at those stones, there!  Let me tell you about them.  Now go on and activate one!  Go try, I can wait!"

[Greg Wak]

The sequence you were supposed to encounter has your escort say "Hey!  Let's stop and look at these three stones!  Look at those stones, there!  Let me tell you about them.  Now go on and activate one!  Go try, I can wait!"

for sure I never had that happen.

[Ralph-Wiggum]

The sequence you were supposed to encounter has your escort say "Hey!  Let's stop and look at these three stones!  Look at those stones, there!  Let me tell you about them.  Now go on and activate one!  Go try, I can wait!"

Never happened for me either. What do these stones do?

[Gratch]

I don't know why the developers didn't just add a key that commands my follower to impale themselves on my arrows.  It would be faster and more efficient than their constant dancing in front of me to catch every arrow with their bodies that they currently do.

In that same vein, if my follower blocks a door I'm trying to get through one more time, I'm going to brain her with my mace.

[wonderpug]

There are 13 guardian stones throughout Skyrim, one for each birthsign.  You can have one active at a time, and they'll do a variety of things for you like increase the rate of skill increase, boost stats, and grant special abilities.  

The first three you're supposed to be guided to in the tutorial segment let you choose between boosting your combat, magic, or stealth skill increase rate by 20%.

[CeeKay]

there is a new tweak guide over at GeForce.com.

[Arclight]

Took someone's advice and played the main story line exclusively till I finished it. I did a few side quests, but not that many at all. Finished the story at lv15. Two-handed, heavy armor, archery, sneak Nord. Fun class to play.
That was a very enjoyable 15 levels of quality RPG'ing. Not much I can say negative about this game at all.
Now to dig my teeth into the rest of the game, of which there is considerably more. Happy gaming days ahead. 

[CeeKay]

play with the Kinect!

[Razgon]

There are 13 guardian stones throughout Skyrim, one for each birthsign.  You can have one active at a time, and they'll do a variety of things for you like increase the rate of skill increase, boost stats, and grant special abilities.  

The first three you're supposed to be guided to in the tutorial segment let you choose between boosting your combat, magic, or stealth skill increase rate by 20%.

Who is supposed to guide you to those again? The guy you are with dumps you as soon as you are out of the cave, leaving you to make your way to the village on your own.

[metallicorphan]

I saw some stones generate magic skills faster and some generate Thief skills faster etc

I just went with the Lover Stone,which generates all skills faster...i think this stone generates all skills 15% faster,where as the separate Magic or Thief or whatever generate 20% faster,so 5% difference,only you are not doing all skills


Raz-not sure if it makes a difference i sided with the Empire guy at the beginning and followed him(didn't know there was a choice actually),and he lead me all the way to Riverwood afterwards..it was me however who found the stones(i say found,but they were on the road to Riverwood so hard to miss),if he said anything about them as we came up to them though then i missed it

[Razgon]

Well, that empire guy specifically says "Its better if we split up" once you exit the cave. I know this, since I've started a new character 5 times ;-)

[metallicorphan]

Well, that empire guy specifically says "Its better if we split up" once you exit the cave. I know this, since I've started a new character 5 times ;-)

so did he not introduce you to the Blacksmith and his family in Riverwood? ..he went with me and we all sat down and had a meal,and his wife wasn't all that happy,LOL

[Razgon]

Oh, but he did - we met up again in the village, but he did say to part ways :-)

[metallicorphan]

Oh, but he did - we met up again in the village, but he did say to part ways :-)

ahh i see,i was probably meant to do the same then,but stuck with him/followed him to Riverwood...he did however wait for me at the stones

[MonkeyFinger]

There are 13 guardian stones throughout Skyrim, one for each birthsign.  You can have one active at a time, and they'll do a variety of things for you like increase the rate of skill increase, boost stats, and grant special abilities.  

The first three you're supposed to be guided to in the tutorial segment let you choose between boosting your combat, magic, or stealth skill increase rate by 20%.

Who is supposed to guide you to those again? The guy you are with dumps you as soon as you are out of the cave, leaving you to make your way to the village on your own.

I followed him anyways and got the whole 'hey look, stones' sequence. And then got the introductions and sit down as well when we hit his town.

[raydude]

Well, that empire guy specifically says "Its better if we split up" once you exit the cave. I know this, since I've started a new character 5 times ;-)

Yeah, the Stormcloak guy says that too. I was going to split up then thought to myself "well, there's no harm in tailing him. I have no idea where I am, I still don't really trust this guy, and two sword hands are better than one. So I'll just stick close to him and see if he's telling the truth." Hence, stones.

[EngineNo9]

If you guys haven't heard of it, you may want to check out the Steed Stone.  It gives you +100 to your carry weight and your armor doesn't add to encumbrance.  A life saver for me, personally.  Although I've heard they may have broken the armor part of that in the 1.2 patch...

Oh, and I had no idea that first guy was supposed to lead you to those stones, but I did find them anyway since I was exploring all options around those initial paths.

[Roguetad]

The part is a bit confusing.  I'm not sure why they had the stormcloak/empire guy say that it would be better to split up, when they clearly have the stones tutorial right along his path.  Both npcs will also point out bleak falls barrow too.  He even thanks you for followng him at one point.

The first time I played that section I also went with him, just to see what would happen.  And, any movie buff knows that splitting up in the woods after someone says, "It's probably better if we split up", is a horrible idea. 

[Arkon]

If you guys haven't heard of it, you may want to check out the Steed Stone.  It gives you +100 to your carry weight and your armor doesn't add to encumbrance.  A life saver for me, personally.  Although I've heard they may have broken the armor part of that in the 1.2 patch...

Oh, and I had no idea that first guy was supposed to lead you to those stones, but I did find them anyway since I was exploring all options around those initial paths.

I need to double check, but I thought the Steed Stone gave +100 carry weight, and removed the speed/movement penalty of armor, rather than making your equipped armor weightless.

[Ralph-Wiggum]

If you guys haven't heard of it, you may want to check out the Steed Stone.  It gives you +100 to your carry weight and your armor doesn't add to encumbrance.  A life saver for me, personally.  Although I've heard they may have broken the armor part of that in the 1.2 patch...

Oh, and I had no idea that first guy was supposed to lead you to those stones, but I did find them anyway since I was exploring all options around those initial paths.

 

Where is this wonderful stone??