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I just got Morrowind, and so far I have really enjoyed it!

I have found, however, that some of the controls and actions are not clearly explained in the manual. I don't think this is really a problem, since the game mimics a real-life immersion experience and I am having a great time figuring things out. I don't really want everything handed to me on a plate.

But since I cannot run a search on this forum (the search function is currently not available for subscribers - I understand that Buck is working to fix this), I may have to ask some questions that have already been answered here. Sorry.

I'm playing a Nord Archer.

My first question is: What is the easiest potion to make? I want to pump up my alchemy skill (currently at 6!) but it seems I fail every time. I am mostly trying to mix various foods to get Restore or Fortify Fatigue potions. Any suggestions? Maybe my alchemy is just too low?

Second question: I like using spears, and they do the best damage when thrusting, which requires pressing "w" and the left mouse button. Since this also moves you forward, how do you keep from running over your opponent and then getting hit from behind?

Hi Gwally Alchemys a fun skill. It can be difficult though. Do you have a mortar, calcinator, alembic and retort? They all help the chances to successfully make a potion. The restore fatigue potions are easy with the ingredients as there's lots of them around. You can also try eating the ingredients like the mushroom luminous russula. If it works it allows water breathing. That or get some gold and pay someone to train you.
For the spear question, don't hold the w button down, just press it quickly. it takes some getting used to

all potions are gonna be tough at that level, i would suggest you buy some training and use the highest quality alchemy set you can find. plus drinking potions / using spells / items that boost your int score.

so far i think each potion is equally hard to make, (not sure) i usually try to make restore fatigue potions. since i always seem to find the ingredients for them.

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there is an option to "always use best attack" it's a check box on the "options" menu.

Thanks for the info, y'all! Looks like I just need to keep trying with the potions. I really didn't want to spend a lot of money on getting training (I want to be a self-taught man ), and I'm not very rich as it is. Kinda makes it difficult to get the better mortar and pestle too.... Looks like I need to improve my thieving skills as well!

Okay, I'll play with trying to shorten my "w" key-stroke or maybe alternating it with the "s". I had forgotten about the "use best attack" option. Seems slightly cheesy (not too cheesy - kinda like a Swiss rather than a Stilton), but its a great fall-back option.


Truth be told, I'm sort of regretting choosing Archer for my class. I am considering making a custom character who is more of an Explorer. Like maybe an Archaeologist.....

That's why we adventure To get better equipment, spells, training etc
I generally start with alchemy as a major or minor skill, the same with enchanting. it makes it easier tostart off with a fair chance of succes. (Also cheaper) There's some nice alchemy sets you can get in places buying, stealing or clearing out caves.

In the beginning, potion-making will fail a lot, until your alchemy skill reaches a decent level. To increase the chances of making potions, equip stacks of ingredients, not just one of each, and keep clicking on CREATE in the alchemy menu. The ingredients for Restore Fatigue potions are very common, so makng these is a good way to boost your alchemy skill (besides, you need these in the beginning, and what you don't need, you can sell, while boosting your mercantile skill )

@Gwally: You can get good alchemy sets easily without paying (otherwise known as stealing ) early in the game *spoiler* enter the door behind an alchemist and go upstairs in Caldera Mages Guild .

Use potions to boost your intelligence and luck (luck rules in this game) helps your chance to develop Alchemy skills. I agree with Koz-ivan, though. Training your skills up to, say 20, gives you confidence at the beginning.

Originally posted by Gwalchmai
My first question is: What is the easiest potion to make? I want to pump up my alchemy skill (currently at 6!) but it seems I fail every time. I am mostly trying to mix various foods to get Restore or Fortify Fatigue potions. Any suggestions? Maybe my alchemy is just too low?

I wouldn't even try making potions at level 6. I'm surprised that no one mentioned this, but just eat all the ingredients you find. Eat them raw so to speak. Even the harmful ones won't affect you for more than a couple of seconds. As you eat them you will find that most of the time nothing happens, but every now and then one will work (only the first effect of the ingredient can affect you when eaten) and you will see that your alchemy point bar just advanced. Eat everything and eat often until you get a higher alchemy level. Eventually you will be able to identify the effects of the ingredients (most have 4 effects and they are only revealed to you when your alchemy skill reaches a certain level). By level 50 or so you should be able to read them all. Even when I'm at level 100 I still eat beneficial ingredients while exploring. Daedra hearts and Void Salts will restore magicka, often to a large degree. Wickwheat restores health, etc. For me this is the real benefit of alchemy - knowing what you can forage from the countryside to heal yourself or boost an attibute.

Highlite for Master Trainer spoiler: In the propylon building at Valenvaryon fort there is a woman who can train you up to 100 in alchemy. To get to her you will have to fight your way through a group of heavily armed orcs. She sells some good alchemy equipment also. For a free starter set of alchemy gear check in the storerooms under Vivic Arena. For better stuff check the caves of necromancers.

Thanks for all the info, everyone. Looks like I should train my alchemy up, and, as Uncle says, I should start eating stuff. So far I've only eaten the bread, thinking that it should be safe. If I ever find Hot Fudge Sundae, its doomed!

Now for another question (not serious but is a spoiler):

I was wandering around in the hills just for the fun of it, checking out this and that, looking for things to pick up, when suddenly a mage fell out of the sky! I LMAO over that one! Does that happen a lot in Morrowind?

Originally posted by Gwalchmai
Truth be told, I'm sort of regretting choosing Archer for my class. I am considering making a custom character who is more of an Explorer. Like maybe an Archaeologist.....

Actually archer, especially woodelf, is a fabulous character to play. I took 2 trial runs at the game before settling on a character I liked, and then went through most of the game (did Main quest and most faction quests) before deciding what character I REALLY wanted to play for 4th run (woodelf archer). I would suggest you abandon your plan to use a spear as your main weapon (personal preference speaking). Most of the superior enchanted weapons are swords (long then short) followed by bows and blunt (hammers and such). Also, because spear is 2-handed, you can't use a shield to help defend yourself.

I have developed a spreadsheet to assist choosing character - see my profile for email address.

Originally posted by Gwalchmai
Now for another question (not serious but is a spoiler):

I was wandering around in the hills just for the fun of it, checking out this and that, looking for things to pick up, when suddenly a mage fell out of the sky! I LMAO over that one! Does that happen a lot in Morrowind?

Not a spoiler at all. As far I know this is the only situation where someone will fall from the sky. You do get a very usefull sword for a starter, and the cap does provide some armour protection very early in the game. Sell the scrolls.

I remember the first time I saw this! It's scripted to happen, by the way. Read the book he falls next to for laughs.

I had been doing some mountain climbing and looked down to see the book lying in the path. I wanted to check it out, but as I approached I heard the guy yelling. I looked all around desperately to see who was being attacked, but I didn’t think to look up! I was sure surprised when he fell!

I wonder if I had seen him soon enough, if I could have positioned myself under him to catch him? Could I have saved him? This is something to try on my next run through the game….

But now that I’ve read his book, I want to try to find a leaping spell that will get up so high I will die on landing! I imagine the view from up there would be awesome!

Originally posted by Gwalchmai
But now that I’ve read his book, I want to try to find a leaping spell that will get up so high I will die on landing! I imagine the view from up there would be awesome!

That would be his scrolls of Icarian Flight - I tried using one, with high attributes, and jumped at least a third of the way across Morrowind (before splatting on landing ). There was a discussion over on the official boards about the longest jump made with these scrolls.

On your next game, as you follow the path west out of Seyda Neen, look for the book. You'll hear him yelling when you get close.

And now for a hunk of rank cheese.

*SPOILER!!* Don't read this if you want the game to retain any semblance of challenge...










Although I doubt you'd be very successful with such a low skill level, alchemy is absolutely the easiest skill to quickly advance. You can reach 100 skill in a matter of minutes, provided alchemy was one of your major or minor skills (which it clearly wasn't in your case).

Here's the deal. Step one is to head off to Balmora. Step two is to locate Nalcarya of White Haven's Fine Alchemist shop, which is right next to the clothier on the far side of town from the silt strider. She's in dire need of resist poison potions, and by the time you're done with her, she'll have thousands...

Step three is to get some decent alchemy equipment, and thankfully, Nalcarya is generous enough to have a grandmaster's mortar and pestle sitting right on her shelf... if only you can get that guard to look somewhere else. You'll need a bit of sneak skill, or perhaps a chameleon spell, but in either case, it's a good idea to get the guard to turn around by standing behind him long enough to get his attention. Wait for him to finish speaking to you, and then waltz back over to the shelf. The guard will stay looking in the other direction, making it much easier to swipe the mortar and pestle.

Step four is to create a large, replenishing stockpile of the ingredients you'll need. Nalcarya has a few ingredients that offer the resist poison effect, but the two cheapest are Guar and Alit hide. She carries ten of each. Buy all of them (she'll give you much better prices if she likes you--try bribing her once you're making a profit). Now return to the barter screen; notice that Nalcarya still has ten portions of Guar and Alit hide, because these ingredients automatically replenish every time you barter with her. Now, sell her your ten portions of the hides. Return to the barter screen once again. She now has twenty portions of Guar and Alit hide: the original ten that she always has, plus the ten that you sold her. If you were to now buy all of them, and then sell them all back, she'd have forty portions every time you barter with her. See where this is going?

Now simply equip your shiny new mortar and pestle, select the ingredients to mix (start out with groups of 50, and work your way up), and give your index finger a nice workout clicking the "Create" button over and over again. You'll fail a lot when you're first starting out, but you'll quickly start turning a profit selling her your potions. Nalcarya has a replenishing stockpile of 3000 gold (every 24 hours, that is), which is more than enough to get you started. She's basically an infinite money pump, which you can use to not only rapidly improve your alchemy skill level, but also buy training from several other people all over Balmora.

Once you're strong enough to take on Ordinators, you can say goodbye to Nalcarya and start dealing with Creeper instead. But that's another story entirely.

-Fnord

LOL @ Sojourner! Has anyone been able to survive one of those jumps? Maybe by landing in water?

Thanks, @ Fnord. I'll give it a shot next time and see if I can get my alchemy skill up a bit.


Speaking of skills, I tried out hand-to-hand combat yesterday. I was told to get a key from some rich guy in Balmora. I thought I would try to pickpocket him, though I'm not very good at it. So I took off my armor and snuck into his house. He didn't see me at first, but then turned around and spoke to me just as I got up to him. I decided to give it up and just talk to him, so I hit the space bar - unfortunately, I was still holding the ctrl key! So I tried to pick his pocket in full view! Well, this made him mad and he started to attack me. I figured I was bound for a save game, since I didn't want to have a criminal record. But no crime was reported at first, and this guy was just flailing at me with his fists, hardly causing any damage at all. So, remembering some advice I was given about getting out of a murder rap, I put away my weapon and started hitting the guy back. I figured I could knock the guy out, steal the key, then when I met a guard I could confess and pay a smaller fine than if I had killed him.

Well, two things: First, my Hand-to-hand skill was only about 8, so the fight lasted about 20 minutes. I kept leveling up the skill during the fight, all the way up to 25! Second, I could knock the guy out, but I couldn't access his inventory until I killed him. Turns out this was okay, since my crime was never reported at all! Why would a rich guy hang out in his house without any one else around? Or is it possible that failed pick-pocketing works like taunting when it comes to fights? Does that work in places where others might see you (like out on the street)?

Originally posted by Gwalchmai
LOL @ Sojourner! Has anyone been able to survive one of those jumps? Maybe by landing in water?

Thanks, @ Fnord. I'll give it a shot next time and see if I can get my alchemy skill up a bit.

Or is it possible that failed pick-pocketing works like taunting when it comes to fights? Does that work in places where others might see you (like out on the street)?

i've landed in water and survived, it's a long swim back though, and i was more than tired of fighting off the fish, but it was worth it. not something i'm aching to try again though...

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failed pickpocket, if you're seen it's a totally different matter, great way to get whole areas against you...

the practice of hand to hand fighting is a good idea though, esp if you hope to raise your speed attribute on level ups. even lowly rats can provide a few levels per fight...

Heh, heh. I'm going to try that. I'll aim for a lake so the swim won't be so bad. I wonder if the physics are such that you are propelled very deep under the water and have a long way to swim up?

I have to say, I am very much enjoying this game. Its perfect for a non-power gamer like me!

i'm guessing that if you had a slowfall potion / spell / item, you could land a jump anywhere and be fine.

i don't remember how my char landed the jump, i think you're right about the long swim to the surface...

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the only flaw to the non powergame side of morrowwind, is the odd balance in the game, it seems to really reward the power game angle.

example - enchanting a "feather" item (to carry more stuff) is just as expensive as enchanting a "fortify strength" item. which is much more powerful.

likewise many weapons seem out of balance...

Originally posted by Gwalchmai
Or is it possible that failed pick-pocketing works like taunting when it comes to fights? Does that work in places where others might see you (like out on the street)?

EXACTLY. When you need to dispose of someone legally, there are several ways to do it, and that is one. Then they on the hook for attacking you and there is no penalty.