Skyrim - Your typical playstyle

[MeChaNiZ3D]

Mostly Stormcloak, but in retrospect I don't like either of them, and possibly I even like Imperial more. As far as characters, I made 4, an Orc (two-handed), a High Elf (pure magic), a Khajiit (SnS) and an Argonian (assassin), so I think I pretty much like anything non-human. That said, I liked the Orc best, so that's what I'm going to examine. Virtually never used health potions (same with any game for me, I'd rather grind than stoop to using them), two-handed all the way (so unfortunately no magic aside from some practical self-healing), virtually never blocked just because I didn't realise how it worked until later, used Beserk if there was something I couldn't take out by hacking and slashing, smithing and enchanting to the MAX (those are really the only things you need, screw every other skill), was a werewolf but never used it because I like my loot, would walk like a snail for hours if I had to to get loot back to a chest, mostly acted justly, but since it was my first character, I also compromised that a lot for the sake of playing the game. I destroyed the Brotherhood, but I wouldn't have joined the Theives or College.

 

[Spectral Dragon]

In Skyrim, I've had tons of fun as a sneaky bow conjurer - You've got conjured arrows in your face before you know I'm there, and then have to run past my massive block of walking ice, and J'zargo, only to be sorely disappointed that I'm now behind them with a conjured sword and lightning magic. Well, usually, I only need step one - arrows to the face. I'm likely to one shot Draugur Deathlords.

The other Elder scrolls I've been thinking about getting into, but I always get distracted... Though I usually play as some sort of mage if it's valid.

 

[White Lightning]

Mega meleeing bad ass. Maxed Alchemy, Enchanting, and Smithing. I basically run around on master one hitting everything... EVERYTHING.

 

[Cowabungaa]

Think an angry, Viking version of Gandalf. Big axe in one hand, big fireballs in the other.

 

[Toaster Hunter]

I usually play as a fighter with a weapon (usually and axe) and a shield, magic is for healing in desperate situations, like when I run out of potions. Recently, though, I've tried the "magic knight" method, a weapon in one hand and the other with magic with the other. I usually play as Nord, but have tried both Imperial and Breton. There is also very liberal use of FUS RO DAH!

 

[MiracleOfSound]

Smack everything in the face with a big fucking mace.

 

[Randomologist]

First character, I was a sneaky archer, because I've always favoured the stealthy option to running in guns blazing.

I didn't touch any magic at all until I noticed the tab menu option on the left. I was level 43 at this point, which completely contradicts how observant I am in looking for things to loot. I also put off all thieving skills and missions as I don't hold with it IRL.

I eventually did some pickpocketing, just to gain the extra pockets perk, though I still haven't done the thieves guild mission where Maven wants you do something. If she wasn't immortal, I'd have slaughtered most of her whole family by now. Odd sense of justice, isn't it?

 

[The Heik]

When I play Skyrim, there's usually a certain way I like to play the game. For example, I almost never cast any magic spells, instead opting for more physical combat. I usually choose the Imperials over the Stormcloaks. I usually choose Imperials or Nords as my race of choice and I usually don't even bother blocking, isntead choosing to just throw as many health potions on my character as possible.

But what about all of you?

Is there any particular was of playing Skyrim that you prefer above other ways? Some factions you prefer more than others or perhaps a different way of fighting.

I would like to know exactly how diverse the Escapist community's play styles are.

To be honest, I usually play just like you. Go melee, don't really use magic, don't block ( or rather can't because ussualy I duel wield) and I side with the imperials and I have enough health potions to bring the Emperor of Man back to life, though I do favour Heavy armor and Shouts as a result, and I usually max out my smithing before anything else (and somehow I'm also friggin good at stealth in spite of the Dragonplate Armor I usually wear).

The only times I tend to break this trend is when I'm trying out specific kinds of characters, and even then a couple of my more basic traits tend to seep in just due to my disposition in the game ( I tend to smith with EVERYONE)

I chose Stormcloaks because they seemed less stuck-up.

I don't mean to question your preference, but really? I'll admit the Imperials aren't the most humble faction in the game, but their high horse are more of the "*sigh* another rebellion? Come soldiers, lets go smack down these guys too...". The Stormcloaks on the other hand with their "Nordland for Nordkind" schpiel A) always seemed ignorant on how many non-Nords keep the country's economy running and B) had so many Nazi undertones exist in that. Seriously, think about it: The Nords are primarily blue-eyed and blonde-hair people led by a charismatic but secretly greedy leader in the pursuit of purifying their land of foreign influences. They're just a red colour schemes and some body pits away from being the real thing. Once I saw those parallels I could not distance myself from that faction fast enough.

 

[Terminate421]

On my Argonian I use Ebony Armor, no helmets at all, use one handed Weapons, Crossbows, and Magic, though rarely do I touch conjuration.

 

[Saviordd1]

Normally I make a sword and shield warrior with restoration and destruction back ups.

If not that I make the ultimate hybrid of magic,swords and stealth.

 

[PPB]

- I don't really like joining the civil war, but if I do I'm always Imperial.
- I always use restoration magic a lot. I tried a "no magic whatsoever" character and ended up binging on restoration within a few hours.
- After playing 2 characters extensively (doing MQ, factions, many random dungeons, etc.), I get stuck in a seemingly perpetual "I'll just go and make a new character, it's going to be fun" loop.

As for the characters themselves, the same story has been repeating itself since Morrowind. I start out with a clear archetype (usually a ranger of some sort) and really like the character a lot. Then I create some kind of basic fighter to play on the side, but this new character somehow ends up as my main focus and I go on to finish the MQ for the first time on him.

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

Spoiler: I'm playing a Bosmer/Wood Elf sneaky archer with illusion magics. I support the Stormcloaks because my character hates Thalmor as part of her backstory (They killed her parents when she was a baby and kept her as a slave) She is true neutral and will do what she feels is appropriate at the time. She wears full Dragon Scale Armour. I play on Master.

I have 265 hours on Skyrim and I still have to do a couple of the Daedra quests and restore the thieves guild. I have also downloaded a couple of quest mods that I haven't started yet.

 

[TheKruzdawg]

I'm pretty stealth based. Here's how a typical encounter goes: I sneak up on my opponents and hit them with a poisoned arrow or two. If they somehow survive that, I rush up on them with my sword and shield. I typically use light armor and really enjoy assassinating people for money.

I've tried a few different races and play styles, like a heavy armor wearing and battle-axe wielding Orc; or a dagger/magic using Breton, but after awhile I usually devolve into my usual style. I just can't help it.

 

[bluerocker]

I only have one character at the moment, but with so much to do in Skyrim; I don't feel like I'm any less for it.

I'm an Argonian, because I love reptiles, and I play a mace and shield fighter supplemented with a small amount of magic from Destruction, Restoration and Alchemy. I like to forge my own stuff, but the skill takes forever to build up.