Newbie/Special Help

joe05 · Post by **joe05** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 1:08 pm

... Thanks Fable
With your quick reply I was able to check the game vs your post

Luckily, I do have a before leveling save.

All my MAJORS are Willpower with one Personality.
My MINORS were Intelligence and two Speed(... shortblade + unarmored).
So, I take it, I should re-level up and subsitute Speed for Agility ... I haven't used my shortblade yet, but if Speed helps unarmored, I should put points in Speed ?
Agility does not show up on any of my MAJOR/MINOR categories.

I guess Willpower is #1; Personality #2; Intelligence #3; Speed #4... then Strength or Constitution

That gives you an easy way to pump up a skill, sleep, and gain a high multiplier when you level. Typically, I don't have my characters sleep until they can get smoe really nice multipliers
Could you explain this "multiplier". Especially the second part of your statement = I liked the "nice" part

BlueSky · Post by **BlueSky** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 9:18 am

If you wait to level up, the multiplier is the 2x's or 5x's additions one get to your stats..if you notice on the bar where you level is listed, you can level when 10/10 is shown but if you wait till 14/10 then the multipliers appear.
My first try I did not rest my character till it was listed at 24/10 and got a nice level up.....hmmm...don't really know if this explains it well.
Play around but make sure to have mutliple saves.
Remember the first rule of RPG's ....Save and Save Often...

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 11:30 am

joe05 wrote:... Thanks Fable
With your quick reply I was able to check the game vs your post
Luckily, I do have a before leveling save.

All my MAJORS are Willpower with one Personality.
My MINORS were Intelligence and two Speed(... shortblade + unarmored).
So, I take it, I should re-level up and subsitute Speed for Agility ... I haven't used my shortblade yet, but if Speed helps unarmored, I should put points in Speed ?
Agility does not show up on any of my MAJOR/MINOR categories.

I guess Willpower is #1; Personality #2; Intelligence #3; Speed #4... then Strength or Constitution

That gives you an easy way to pump up a skill, sleep, and gain a high multiplier when you level. Typically, I don't have my characters sleep until they can get smoe really nice multipliers
Could you explain this "multiplier". Especially the second part of your statement = I liked the "nice" part

I'd suggest before you level up again, get together as much money as you can, any way you can, and visit the fighters guild in Balmora. Buy as many points in Heavy Armour, Light Armour and Spear that you can afford, but not more that a total of 10. Health increases are calculated from your endurance, and isn't (in my experience) retroactive. So if you get 4 health points for levelling from 1st to second, even if you increase your endurance later, it will not be increased. Shoot, I'm not explaining this very well, just take my word for it, you really need to concentrate on endurance more than any other ability.

joe05 · Post by **joe05** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 11:57 am

BlueSky - yeah; I'm confuded. I'm slow on the uptake

I have many saves now ... I hit a cave with about 6 enemies + ship ... I'm on that last guy
I can't beat him ... so, I will go back to pre-leveling and see what you mean; if I can find this level line(10/10 etc)
I'm at level 3 ... I'm not sure I want to redo this cave fight = spent 1hr+ and I still haven't beat the guy on the ship
I save after every fight !

Galraen - I decided to go Breton-Mage-Appentice. Just felt like using spells. Only weapon I can use effectively is shortblade ... plus I'm "unarmored"
No option on Endurance in my leveling up; so far ... I'll be sure to pick it if offered

I haven't hit Balmora yet.
At that intermediate town ... I'm wamdering + fighting ... trying to see how/if to get around my limitations in fights

I guessed I already messed up :-(
I should have waited to level up ! .. ok, now I'm bummed ... I wish there was a good leveling up spot = I obviously need to be "stronger" than my enemies !!!
I'm going to try and find this 10/10 number ... every battle is like life or death = I think it's just me ... I can't up my health during a fight = takes a keystroke and I have both hands on the mouse ... may try some fast/pre-arranged hand placement ?

Thanks for the help.
I don't want to restart = I'll go as far as I can and if it's a no-go, then start over

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 12:18 pm

joe05 wrote:BlueSky - yeah; I'm confuded. I'm slow on the uptake
I have many saves now ... I hit a cave with about 6 enemies + ship ... I'm on that last guy
I can't beat him ... so, I will go back to pre-leveling and see what you mean; if I can find this level line(10/10 etc)
I'm at level 3 ... I'm not sure I want to redo this cave fight = spent 1hr+ and I still haven't beat the guy on the ship
I save after every fight !

Galraen - I decided to go Breton-Mage-Appentice. Just felt like using spells. Only weapon I can use effectively is shortblade ... plus I'm "unarmored"
No option on Endurance in my leveling up; so far ... I'll be sure to pick it if offered

I haven't hit Balmora yet.
At that intermediate town ... I'm wamdering + fighting ... trying to see how/if to get around my limitations in fights

I guessed I already messed up :-(
I should have waited to level up ! .. ok, now I'm bummed ... I wish there was a good leveling up spot = I obviously need to be "stronger" than my enemies !!!
I'm going to try and find this 10/10 number ... every battle is like life or death = I think it's just me ... I can't up my health during a fight = takes a keystroke and I have both hands on the mouse ... may try some fast/pre-arranged hand placement ?

Thanks for the help.
I don't want to restart = I'll go as far as I can and if it's a no-go, then start over

Read my last post again, you never will get Endurance option if you don't buy it. Miscelaneous skills in reality are just as important as major and minor skills, just because you haven't designated them as major and minor doesn't mean you can't use them. Don't get obsessed with M&Ms and levelling up quickly.

Let me give you an example:

Noober and Neeber are identical twins, Noober decides to maximise his endurance, Neeber ignores it, both start off with 40 Endurance and health, the effect:

1st level up (to 2nd): Noober increases his End to 45, both get 4 health points taking them up tp 44.

2nd Level up: diito except Noober now has 50 End and gains one more HP
3rd Noober End > 55 now has 2 more HPs
4th Noober End > 60 now has 4 more Hps

By 12th level Noober has 36 more health points than Neeber, Neeber catches on and works like fury on endurance. Eventually Neeber's Endurance will catch up (max 100), but his health will never catch up!

BlueSky · Post by **BlueSky** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 12:36 pm

if you right click to bring up your menus....see where your level is listed...
if you just bring the mouse over it...it will tell you you have x number of points towards next level....ie. 4/10 or if you wait quite awhile to rest you can increase this to example 14/10 then the extra points you can stick in to your stats....
Hope this helps....I'm not very good at telling without seeing...:laugh:

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 1:36 pm

BlueSky wrote:if you right click to bring up your menus....see where your level is listed...
if you just bring the mouse over it...it will tell you you have x number of points towards next level....ie. 4/10 or if you wait quite awhile to rest you can increase this to example 14/10 then the extra points you can stick in to your stats....
Hope this helps....I'm not very good at telling without seeing...:laugh:

The problem with that BlueSky, is that you don't get the points twice, if you're not careful you can find yourself having enough level points to go up twice. Not a major problem if you've got enough money to buy miscelaneous skill points between level ups, but a pain if you're broke.

joe05 · Post by **joe05** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 2:15 pm

... finally beat that guy = had to run/jump him all the way back to the cave door ... then fight and exit/heal; over and over

Well, I'm at level 3, so it seems I messed up a bit ... I should have head straight for Balmora ... but, I hate to pass up a fight/cave/tombe etc
I have $5,000 so far.

BlueSky - ok; I understand. Will check it during my night gameplay = need to rest now
Galraen - ok; understand you too. I'm not going to restart, so I'll have to buy it at whatever level I'm at :-( ... hope I didn't mess up too badly

Back at Seyda Neen(?) ... want to sell my stuff for the most $; then to Balmora
Try to solve the tax collector murder for $500 while I'm here.

Thanks guys ... been a "big" help
I do know this: " I need better spells" !!!

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 2:31 pm

You'll encounter problems when trying to barter if you've got Skooma or Moon Sugar. Just place it on the ground, but don't forget to pick it up after bartering. There are a couple of Khajit traders in Balmora (one's in the Mages guild) that will pay you a pretty penny for it.

fable · Post by **fable** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 11:07 pm

Post removed. Please remember that if you're going to give away the solutions to things, you need to treat it like a spoiler. Just as the sticky thread says--quite a coincidence, that.

joe05 · Post by **joe05** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 1:57 am

... thanks for the help
Made it to Balmora ... found the Fighters Guild ... bought the skills
I leveled to 4, but I ran out of Magicka, so the best I could do was 11/10 ... unless I wanted to try and shortblade all enemies ... if I could have regenerated my magic, I could have hit the multiplier
Finally added to Intelligence and Endurance.

Bought a bunch of spells ... can't levitate much; yet
Pretty much just bought all the big$ spells that looked like they would help.
Did not see any area killer spells.
Some spells show a 0% chance of success

Guess I'll ask one last question before questing: " what should I do now".
I'd like to ease into the game/quests.
I went into a tomb outside Balmora and the skeleton whooped me quickly.
Any leveling up tips before I delve into the quests.

I met Casius; joined the Fighters and Mage Guilds ... so I could go questing OR join more guilds

To be honest, it's getting a bit mind-numbing

Not sure where to go; what to do etc ....
I have all these journal entries to read ... think 3-4 quests ? (Dark Brotherhood ... Fort Mon? ... Casius/Blades - did not have him give me and duties; yet ... might be missing one)
Could also start guild quests ? ... did not ask for any quests; yet

I could have quests out the whazooo = I feel pulled in so many directions ... I knew this was an open ended game, but the options are staggering.

I don't feel strong enough; yet.
What do you guys do once you talk to Casius ... reach Balmora
Should I wander OR start doing some quests ... give me the easier route; please

At this point, what are the spells most often used ... I'm still on Spark/Fireball etc
Bought .....> poison, paralyze, levitate, crushing boulder, 6th shield, all those Dire spells(? = the ones that cost big$ ... can't use them yet)
Down to $1,000 or so.

I guess the game really starts now ?
Someone point me in a good direction

BlueSky · Post by **BlueSky** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 9:11 am

Yes its very much open ended....I tended to get distracted when presented with many quests and then I stumble upon a cave/tomb to loot and I find myself lost on what to do next....so after a few attempts at the game I have found myself limiting my character to just following the main quest,....
I try(in each game) to only join 1 guild and 1 house, this along with the main(Blades) keeps me from being so overwhelmed with choices ...:laugh: The one game where I tried to join everything possible was a nightmare for me to try to remember exactly which quest I was on and where I was going...
Guess that's what makes this game so re-playable to me..with each new character, I follow a different path. Even after playing quite a few games, I myself am finding some of the hints presented here helpful to me.

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 10:23 am

Do Ajira's 'duties' first is what I would suggest, if you haven't already done them. Visit all the mages and do all their simple quests (but leave Ranis's quest for a while, that isn't simple). Remember your free to loot the equipment chests in both guilds (Caldera doesn't have one though). Buy all the cheapest spells you can, and make your own spells (talk to Estirdalin in Balmora Guild of Mages). As an example of the type of spell you can make:

Cheap levitation
target: Self
magnitude 1/1
Duration: 11
Spell cost to cast: 1
Chance to cast: 100% with skill level 33/34 (depending on Willpower)

Although this is essentially a training spell, it's very useful, it will enable you to fly at will (depending on your skill level of course), and by using it your Alteration will increase rapidly.

I'd suggest making training spells for all disciplines, i.e. spells that only cost 1 magicka point to cast, but don't go too crazy on leveling up with them.

Try making spells that have max effect, eg. Open Lock with a magnitude of 100/100 for 2 seconds, and Resist Magicka 100/100 for 2 seconds, very useful for a certain pair of boots.

Explore all the towns, you can reach them via the Travel Service mages in the guilds, the Silt Striders and by boat.

joe05 · Post by **joe05** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 11:57 am

... ok; thanks for the help !
Sorry to keep bugging you with these "newbie" questions ... don't want this thread to wander

I will refrain from quest help. I just want to get my gameplay strategy/build strategy to a point where I believe I will be able to proceed.

I can't beat melee types.
I'm going to try and buy a "shield spell" that works with my level 4 character ... the 6th level shield had a 0% success rate and cost big$
Plus those other spells I bought "Dire ??? - one for each destructive type" can't be used either.

I'm using/buying a ranged spell for each destructive type offered( electricity/fire/poison) + touch spells(cold/poison/fire/crushing boulder).
Then paralyze and levitate ... did not see others at Balmora worth buying

Tried Chameleon ... only 10% of me disappears = can;t sneak up on anyone

So, I'm going to replay from entering the Fighters Guild.
See if I can save some $ ... buy only what I can use

Will buy all the cheap spells !
Will try these training spells ... I'll probably get confused and be back for clarification

I still have to figure out 2 things:
1) how to beat melee fighters (.. about 3 whacks and I'm dead vs their health bar is half full)
2) how to regenerate magicka without resting

I like this game; alot.
But, it's killing my resting time

... I've been playing/re-playing morning and night ... I even forget to take my pain pill on time

I will simplify the questing + try and specialize in whatever the Mage Guild can do with/for me.

Hope my redo of Balmora ends better this time

Thanks BlueSky and Galraen !

BlueSky · Post by **BlueSky** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 12:06 pm

Melee....

My new character is now a level 5 and there's a cave near Pelagiad that 2 whacks and I'm dead:laugh: so don't feel bad for yourself..and yes the game can feel a bit overwhelming with so many choices...but that is part of the appeal IMO

Ferrick · Post by **Ferrick** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 2:22 pm

joe05, your current gaming experience sounds almost exactly like mine over 4 years ago. I eventually just stopped and uninstalled the game. Now I am coming back but will attempt to play more like what Bluesky is doing.

I'll concentrate on the main quest and probably do the lower level quests for both the fighter and mages guilds.

Here is the really neat thing about the game: after you finish the main quest you can go back and do tons of side quests. In other words, the game is far from over even if you complete the main quest.

This open endedness is sheer genius.

joe05 · Post by **joe05** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 9:29 pm

... I'm used to fighting everything in my way
Can't do it here

I'm redoing Balmora; again ... wasting to much $ on spells I'm not sure I need

I did notice an Alchemist in Balmora.
Some expensive mixing stuff.
Is it worth it ?
Can I make "magicka regeneration" potions ?
If so, what Alchemy level would I need.

If so, is there a book to buy to explain how to mix/what to mix(... I did not see one for sale) etc ...
Or, do you just wing it

mr_sir · Post by **mr_sir** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 10:10 pm

joe05 wrote:If so, is there a book to buy to explain how to mix/what to mix(... I did not see one for sale) etc ...
Or, do you just wing it

Found [url="http://morrowind.melian.cc/"]this website[/url] in a post Fable made in another thread. It has the info you need

Ferrick · Post by **Ferrick** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 11:55 pm

That is a great link! Thanks for posting it.mr_sir.

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 1:27 am

If you're getting into alchemy, and you should, then I think you'll find this mod a godsend, it'll reduce the amount of mouse manipulation a lot when collecting ingredients in the wild:

Herbalism Lite - Planet Elder Scrolls

PS I just created a Breton mage (birthsign Apprentice) to check out a few things.

First thing that struck me is that all the armour skills are miscelaneous and are therefore you only a skill rank of 5 in them. Unarmed is absolutely useless in this game, no wonder you're going down so quickly.

You can create a frost spell which does 20 damage over 2 seconds in an area of 10', with a 78% chance of success. I know 'cos I just made one, and took out a DB Assassin in two 'rounds', he hit me once but didn't do much damage, I rested again and another blighter turned up, same result. So now I had two sets of DB Armour. Wearing that I wasn't much better off than before (4 A/C instead of 2). Spoiler on how to improve your A/C:

Spoiler

However, if you go to Ald-Ruhn you can take the Strider to Maar-Gan, in that town you will find the Andus Trade House. In the cellar is a charming Wood-elf lass called Aerin who will train you in light armour for a fee. I bought 10 skill points, and my A/C went up to 13, and when I level up I'll be able to add 5 points of agility, further helping my A/C, and sneak, attack etc.. I suggest you do the same ASAP.

Spoiler ends.