Skyrim, Self Imposed Hardcore Mode

[Ranorak]

Yes, I made a Skyrim thread, I am not apologizing to anyone

I liked Fallout New Vegas' hardcore mode.
Or rather, I liked the idea.
What I didn't like was that instead of making me feel like a survivor having to rely on my findings to survive, I just had 3 extra meters I had to keep low. More switching to the Pipboy and less time playing.

But I did like the idea of a tiny bit more, and I hate to use the word, realism.

So, I figured I follow the long time tradition of some other games and impose some limits on myself with my next playthrough.


I can only carry 6-8 potions at a time. Hanging from my belt. I cannot drink them in combat because, well, did you ever have time to finish that beer in a fight?
I can only carry on me: 1 two-hander on my back, 2 one-handers on my sides, a bow on my back, a dagger in my shoe whom I cannot draw during combat. And a shield
I can only carry the body armour that I am wearing. Extra shoes and gloves are fine, but I can't carry a second set of dwarven armour.
Use food and rest to heal my wounds.
No instant travel


Now I'm not under some illusion that this is going to make the game more real.
I mean, I know that it's still going to take several hits to the head with an axe to kill someone, and I'm not trying to make it into a fantasy simulator.

So, can you think of any more fun restrictions I could put on myself to just make it a bit more challenging and entertaining?

 

[Combustion Kevin]

a hardcore mode similar to new vegas would be appreciated, actually.

I guess I'll just wait for the modding community to come up with something awesome. (if they haven't already.)

 

[Valanthe]

This sounds like it would be an amazing Let's Play if you survived for a reasonable amount of time. But on topic, I think you've pretty much covered your bases there and good luck to you, keep us posted on how it goes.

 

[Rosalia Nightsong]

Here are some that I enjoy myself:

-I must rest every night, be it in a bed at an inn or sleeping on the streets.
-I must have breakfast and dinner every day.
-I never run in town, as that would be rude.
-I never run in a dungeon, as that would be foolish.


The one I really want to try but cannot bring myself to do...
-Saving is only for avoiding crashes and taking breaks. If I die, I cannot reload. I must start the game over.

 

[Cheezeypoofs]

Have to sleep at least once every 3 days
One death means game over
That's all I can think of

 

[Ranorak]

I thought about the permanent death thing, but personally, I feel that I wouldn't really uphold that anyway and just reload.
I always Roleplay that death's and reloads are flashy visions my character has, the gods warning him of mistakes he could make.

I do like the sleep and eat regularly idea.

This sounds like it would be an amazing Let's Play if you survived for a reasonable amount of time.

It does, doesn't it, too bad I have the xbox version and no means to record footage.

 

[Zerazar]

A mage can pretty much provide for everything he might need, even weapons. So, if I were to have a hardcore mode it would be as a mage who could only source any abilities from the clothes on his back (and his own skill)

Mages rely more on mana potions though. At least destruction mages did. But I guess conjuration is much more effecient.

I'm pretty sure this could easily be modded in, and probably will at some point.

 

[darth.pixie]

-I never run in town, as that would be rude.

That would really cut into my fun. I tend to sprint and then crash into people for fun and then just walk on by at snail pace.


I went Iron mode through it until an elk(?) ran into me and made me crash off a mountain, I slipped and crashed off a mountain and I accidently killed a chicken (during a DRAGON ATTACK) and the whole village went on a murder spree.

 

[Merkavar]

i dont know if i could follow a self imposed hard mode

but i wouldnt mind a hard mode. like needing to eat, sleep etc maybe some random attacks when fast travelling like some bandits ar a pack of wolves.

 

[Retal19]

I remove my helmet every time I see a Lady, or enter a Domicile. It would be rude to keep it on. When eating, I must place it beside me to ensure I do not lose it, and that I can actually eat. If it is a bulky helm, I must drop it every time I take it off because it cannot possibly hang from my belt like a leather cowl can.

Food must be wrapped in Linen for long journeys, else it is rendered inedible after a few days.

Those are two of mine.

 

[Fishyash]

Luzarius on twitch tv is currently doing a no death run on skyrim. He's died once already and he started all over again.

 

[Hawk of Battle]

The only time I do something like this is when I do Thief style ghosting during Thives Guild or Brotherhood missions. For the Guild this basically means

-No killing, at all
-No second level alerts (This means nobody trying to attack you because you're caught tresspessing or stealing)
-I must always change into Nightingale armour so as to disguise myself
-I must infiltrate the target area from a distance, this includes entering cities without being seen
-No illusion magic that directly affects enemies, the only spells that are allowed are muffle, waterbreathing, detect life and the Shadowcloak (and this is only if you have silent casting, otherwise enemies hear you and you blow your cover.
-No potions. Real thieves don't need to use up supplies.
-All valuables must be stolen, such as jewelery, weapons, potions and misc stuff, but not food. Real thieves do not steal food.
-You must leave the area and get a sufficient distance away to be able to change clothes again and carry on as normal as if nothing ever happened.

And if you really want the perfect thief run;

-No first alerts. This means being seen by anyone at all or when anyone says anything along the lines of, "what was that?" Real thieves are utter ghosts.

There are more rules for the Thief games, but these are the ones most applicable to Skyrim.

For Brotherhood missions the same rules apply, except you can only kill the target, and must not be caught, obviously. Kills must also be either done silently with bound weapons (that leave no lasting mark and thus cannot be traced), or with a frenzy spell, to make the target seems like they've gone insane (can only be done with silent casting though). Basically the target must die with no evidence leading back to you at the end of the day.

 

[Levethian]

No instant travel

This is critical. That and Master difficulty, and no waiting or training.

No fast travel means that I habitually sleep at nights.

The rest is a bit too much micro-management, given my level of discipline

 

[Savagezion]

Here are some that I enjoy myself:

-I must rest every night, be it in a bed at an inn or sleeping on the streets.
-I must have breakfast and dinner every day.
-I never run in town, as that would be rude.

I do those, however, I have had my character have to stay up all night and most of the following day. He normally sleeps for 7-9 hours but after staying up all night he crashes for 12 hours. Staying up all night also requires an extra meal.

Also, I am responsible for feeding anyone with me. (Companions/Escort missions)

 

[Pearwood]

It does, doesn't it, too bad I have the xbox version and no means to record footage.

Isn't the rule to do screenshot LPs for RPGs? Otherwise the videoes would come to about 10 hours post-editting.

I disagree with you saying you wouldn't have time to finish a beer in a fight, I think you would find the time if that beer was going to save your life. Especially since you have Unrelenting Force to force a potion break mid fight. My version of Hardcore mode is similar to Diablo 2's version, if I die I lose my armour, weapons and any gold I didn't put in my chest at home. I found myself levelling smithing and enchanting extremely high if not maxing them pretty much the first things I did in the game regardless of what type of character I was making so I made that as a kind of little side challenge. Why bother going that far out of my way to be self sufficient when one armour set and weapon will last forever?

 

[Ranorak]

It does, doesn't it, too bad I have the xbox version and no means to record footage.

Isn't the rule to do screenshot LPs for RPGs? Otherwise the videoes would come to about 10 hours post-editting.

I disagree with you saying you wouldn't have time to finish a beer in a fight, I think you would find the time if that beer was going to save your life. Especially since you have Unrelenting Force to force a potion break mid fight. My version of Hardcore mode is similar to Diablo 2's version, if I die I lose my armour, weapons and any gold I didn't put in my chest at home. I found myself levelling smithing and enchanting extremely high if not maxing them pretty much the first things I did in the game regardless of what type of character I was making so I made that as a kind of little side challenge. Why bother going that far out of my way to be self sufficient when one armour set and weapon will last forever?

Well, yes, you could grab a quick drink when the enemy is staggered or paralized.
but while dealing blows and hitting the menu button for 3 health potions is the sort of thing I prefer to avoid.

 

[Gingerbeard]

A lot of good ideas here, although some sound a bit hard to actually stick to. Most of the time, I try to eat and sleep regularly, as well as use that fur armor in colder places.

I also disguise myself when playing an assassin, but I don't go to the extent of using bound weapons; The "I-used-to-be-an-adventurer-but-then-I-got-a-carrot-up-my-nose" guards aren't really convincing in the role of CSI:Winterhold. But they do notice I'm an elf so I guess they'd notice a guy wearing a dark brotherhood t-shirt.

Still, I hope someone will soon make a mod forcing us (at least) to eat and sleep, with the different recipes being worth more or less food "units"; meaning the Elsweyr soufflé will leave you less hungry (and sensibly higher) than a small chicken breast.
Failure to eat and sleep should result in loss of strength or something.

 

[Terminate421]

Fast travellibg is not aloud, unless it's from say, riften to solitude
I also don't wear a helmet, I am Argonian Mage fighter
Must rest at night somewhere, healing can be done on potions when there is not combat, otherwise, I must use a healing spell.