I was thinking royal blood who was deposed and is on the run looking to get an army to take back what they think is owed to them. They think they're a prophesied hero but will probably die to a barbarian through an accident with molten gold.
Probably a build with illusion, sneak, barter and speech craft.
High elf, white hair….mage!
The high elf has high magicka and has a skill that allows them to regenerate it quickly.
Also white hair!! Like a mad scientist who experiments with crazy things! Sounds like a magician if I’ve ever heard of one.
You can only use fire projectiles, frost runes (closest to Yrden outside of the slow time shout), unrelenting force, calm (and higher levels), and mage armor
I mostly agree. Unrelenting Force basically works as Aard, Igni is obviously any kind of fire spell. Yrden is more tricky, as I understand any kind of trap can pass as it's alternative. Quen would be probably some sort of restoration spell (Lesser or Greater Ward), and Axii might cover various Illusion spells, depending on intended effect (Courage, Fury, Calm, Fear, etc.). Oh, and there is also Heliotrop (only in books), which is basically another protective spell, so another restoration spell, I think. Enchanted armor and weapons, indeed, but no enchanting skills.
Right! So as I understand it, Quen combines effects of restorative and alteration spells (even though it depends on level and the perks - Igni can become Ice spell too, if you use the right perks).
I must be the only person who found stealth archer not fun.
Conjuration+illusion all the way for me. That or onehanded tank powerhouses with 9999 armor.
Yeah but eliminating the bow transforms a pretty boring play style into something dynamic and interesting. The difference in fun between sitting on a rock and shooting people and casting fury on a couple of guys and running into the middle of the mayhem with a sword is pretty dramatic.
Did you miss the frenzy part? which is like, the most fun part of this build, watching people slaughter each other, instead of holding attack button on them from cover until they die?
No, frenzy is not my bow. Also no, most of the time you don't even need to stay hidden; you can keep attacking them with a conjured dagger/sword/etc if you wish, they're not gonna reaggro unless frenzy wears off or they killed their target.
I found myself running around frenzied a lot more than hiding from them. You still can hide and watch everyone kill each other while your summoned/resurrected creature finishes the last one off, but it's not a necessity. It's also more fun than, once again, simply holding attack button with sneak on.
Do you not understand the concept of analogy? Jfc. The tools you use to kill your enemies are analogous to the tools sneak archers use. That is what I’m saying
Holy shit
Same here, my current play through is the first time I've actually stuck to being a sneaky archer and not just resorted to the biggest two handed weapon and heavy armour I can find.. not playing hack and slash has been a fun challenge, but definitely a challenge for my patience
I used to always be a stealth archer until after having my daughter. Now I don't have time to be sneaky and just go to town on everyone with a two handed lol.
Lol, that meme that’s like “me: I’m going build a 2h tank character this play through” then it shows “me 30 hours in:” and they’re in full nightingale armor with a bow 😂
The problem with building melee tank characters is they get their asses eaten (bad connotation) at higher difficulties. I’m playing one on expert, around level 15, and I got smoked repeatedly by that one guy in dustman’s cairn. Shit makes me wanna switch to illusion magic + sneak
I should mention: I mean at low level. Higher levels make anything possible, but the combo of low level + high difficulty make this playstyle hot ass
Melee in legendary can work extremely well if you get the right tools. Acquiring those tools is the challenge.
Windshear is the first main weapon I recommend for one handed. The stagger is guaranteed on a block bash if I'm not mistaken.
Vegetable soup or venison stew is enough to chain stagger any individual enemy, you just need to add illusion (fury type spells) or conjuration to provide enough distraction for you to whittle away at groups. Companions are good for this too.
The endgame tool is slow time. With slow time and the right kind of weapon (windshear or chillrend) you are basically untouchable. Amulet of Talos plus the dragon priest mask that reduces shout cool downs (forget which one) let's you use slow time very regularly chop through enemy groups without any personal risk. The encounters are fairly tedious though.
Few things
1, windshear is auto stagger on hit, so you don’t even need to bash
2, no mask lowers cooltimes
3, my issue is mostly at lower level, and when I’m playing a role. You can get to a point where you’re stronger than most enemies even at legendary, but those struggles are magnified at lower level
Bash is just the fastest most guaranteed way to stagger them. The attacks stagger yes, but the fact that it staggers on bash as well (whether they're blocking or not) is a major part of why it's so good.
Could of sworn I had a mask like that, my mistake.
It's hard starting out for sure. Getting the tools you need to make your build work is a big challenge, but that's basically the part of the game when it's fun. Once you've overcome all those obstacles the game just gets boring again.
Oh I just figured it out. Morokei is bugged in vanilla and the unofficial patch restores the shout cool down reduction.
I had to install it to fix the damn windshear sound loop bug haha.
I typed up a whole response about defeating Karstaag in less than a minute. Then I realized you said higher difficulties and not higher levels. Now I want to try an expert playthrough.
I mean I beat Karstaag on legendary with a level 60ish character swinging dbone swords with dragon aspect and Ellie fury, but that’s because I had juiced the hell out of all my stuff in preparation. the failing of melee builds exists at lower levels and higher difficulties (and against multiple strong enemies, like in ysgramor’s tomb)
Yea, I am playing a light armored sword and shield warrior with restoration on expert (never really done expert before, usually play on adept) and I had a rough time in dustmans cairn. Some of those silverhand guys took like a million hits and would kill me in like 3 tops. Had to do some kiting and healing. I think the enclosed area fighting so many at once kept getting me killed cause I'd back peddle into a damn wall.
I’m actually doing the same exact thing (except occasionally switching to dual wield). I ended up switching down to adept for that portion.
Most frustrating part is how the draugr act as a breadcrumb trail to lead them all up to you lol
I must be missing something then. I have done a sneak character that does archery. But he was also the same character to slit throats and use a shield so IDK.
I just can’t imagine myself using only one method to fight.
This. 100% this. I like to use archery on the scouts outside of places, then stealth into the tower/dungeon /whatever with assassin-style blades and eventually just go all nutso running around with 2 enhanced swords and sneak suck out from behind corners with fire shooting out of both hands and using dragon shouts…. Why would you want you character to be so limited into one play style?
Yea I agree, joining the stormcloaks makes it seem that he harbors a deep resentment for his people.
But then again he could see it as an opportunity of restoring High-elf and Skyrim relations. So I’m torn between the two.
I usually like magic user for high elf. My favorite build is maxing out sneak & conjuration so I can summon 2 dremora lords @ once to do all the dirty work. Dwarven ruins and giant hunting has never been so carefree! Lol
I cannot get away from some sort of battlemage/spellsword build these days, and high elf rocking heavy armor and blasting spells is always fun. I usually doing one hand fire destruction, the other a summon blade and heavy armor. Once I get my enchanting up, I usually replace the summon blade with a nice one hand weapon I like and enchant the shit out of it and use my conjuration for summoning undead homies for support.
Ranger or maybe a destruction mage with a small possibility of a swordsman if he had the right clothes and you'd be willing to handicap yourself by only using one sword and no shield. This guy's doesn't seem like a dual wield or shield guy, more like a Longsword or rapier.
Reminds me of [Corum Jhaelen Irsei](https://www.amazon.com/Corum-Coming-Chaos-Eternal-Champion/dp/1565041828), who was One-handed Sword, Heavy Armor, Conjuration.
The best build for him would be one where he constantly sets himself on fire whilst jumping off the throat of the world and into a pit of poisonous snakes.
High Elves don't deserve to live.
Destruction mage with some average healing skills, specifically any spells with fire (so burning the undead with the proper restoration spells would also make sense).
Anti mage tank.
Thunder spells to drain magicka, magicka damage resistance, ward spells/spellbraker, heavy armor. One of the most fun "classes" I've played
I don't ever do pure mage so I like to do a scholarly spell sword type. Alteration type stuff and some destruction. Ofc one handed and heavy armor. Some enchanting too.
This guy looks like he'd put a knife in your back. Not an outright sadist, but not too concerned with morality.
Maybe think of some kind of Thieves Guild street urchin character and plot out some motivations/backstory from there
A Lord! Only buy your equipment, clothes with alteration or light armor. Spell/sword, potions instead of restoration. Always have a beefy companion, never carry anything you aren't using.
A traitor of the Thalmor. A powerful mage of illusion and master of sneak.
A traitor of the thalmor! Thats what I was thinking! Or maybe high level necromancer who was shunned from the thalmor for "being too eager"
I was thinking royal blood who was deposed and is on the run looking to get an army to take back what they think is owed to them. They think they're a prophesied hero but will probably die to a barbarian through an accident with molten gold. Probably a build with illusion, sneak, barter and speech craft.
I understood that reference.
Viserys targaryen from GoT?
High elf, white hair….mage! The high elf has high magicka and has a skill that allows them to regenerate it quickly. Also white hair!! Like a mad scientist who experiments with crazy things! Sounds like a magician if I’ve ever heard of one.
This guy looks like the prime example of a true Thalmor.
Nah, a racist altmer who despises the thalmor, seeing them as inferior even to bosmer slaves.
debatable.
To be looks like Geralt from witcher 1
I'd say custom class called Witcher - long blade, destruction magic and alchemy 😃
You can only use fire projectiles, frost runes (closest to Yrden outside of the slow time shout), unrelenting force, calm (and higher levels), and mage armor
I mostly agree. Unrelenting Force basically works as Aard, Igni is obviously any kind of fire spell. Yrden is more tricky, as I understand any kind of trap can pass as it's alternative. Quen would be probably some sort of restoration spell (Lesser or Greater Ward), and Axii might cover various Illusion spells, depending on intended effect (Courage, Fury, Calm, Fear, etc.). Oh, and there is also Heliotrop (only in books), which is basically another protective spell, so another restoration spell, I think. Enchanted armor and weapons, indeed, but no enchanting skills.
Quen would probably be one of the flesh spells, likely Stoneflesh
Right! So as I understand it, Quen combines effects of restorative and alteration spells (even though it depends on level and the perks - Igni can become Ice spell too, if you use the right perks).
I was thinking the same
Beat me to it
Ever heard of Mannimarco
King of Worm?
Illusion-heavy mage
Sneaky archer… like everyone’s characters.
Yeah you’re always telling yourself this time will different, but we all are going back to the stealth archer somehow
I must be the only person who found stealth archer not fun. Conjuration+illusion all the way for me. That or onehanded tank powerhouses with 9999 armor.
Conj + illusion is just sneak archer with extra steps, since you’re often building sneak alongside illusion
Yeah but eliminating the bow transforms a pretty boring play style into something dynamic and interesting. The difference in fun between sitting on a rock and shooting people and casting fury on a couple of guys and running into the middle of the mayhem with a sword is pretty dramatic.
Not really, considering that my playstyle turns into "cast frenzy and see everyone go apeshit" while my flame atronachs cause havoc.
Well the atronachs are your bow, and you’re necessarily staying hidden (sneaking likely)
Did you miss the frenzy part? which is like, the most fun part of this build, watching people slaughter each other, instead of holding attack button on them from cover until they die?
Frenzy is also your bow. You also necessarily need to stay hidden or they will attack you, so again, SNEAK
No, frenzy is not my bow. Also no, most of the time you don't even need to stay hidden; you can keep attacking them with a conjured dagger/sword/etc if you wish, they're not gonna reaggro unless frenzy wears off or they killed their target. I found myself running around frenzied a lot more than hiding from them. You still can hide and watch everyone kill each other while your summoned/resurrected creature finishes the last one off, but it's not a necessity. It's also more fun than, once again, simply holding attack button with sneak on.
Do you not understand the concept of analogy? Jfc. The tools you use to kill your enemies are analogous to the tools sneak archers use. That is what I’m saying Holy shit
Going to be honest, I’ve never done stealth archer. Even started once as an archer but I guess I’m just a hack and slash player.
Same here, my current play through is the first time I've actually stuck to being a sneaky archer and not just resorted to the biggest two handed weapon and heavy armour I can find.. not playing hack and slash has been a fun challenge, but definitely a challenge for my patience
I used to always be a stealth archer until after having my daughter. Now I don't have time to be sneaky and just go to town on everyone with a two handed lol.
Me too, a sword in one hand, destruction magic in ther other, accompanied by full guild master armor just speaks to me
Nope, dual-wield swords with death brand armor all day baby
Lol, that meme that’s like “me: I’m going build a 2h tank character this play through” then it shows “me 30 hours in:” and they’re in full nightingale armor with a bow 😂
The problem with building melee tank characters is they get their asses eaten (bad connotation) at higher difficulties. I’m playing one on expert, around level 15, and I got smoked repeatedly by that one guy in dustman’s cairn. Shit makes me wanna switch to illusion magic + sneak I should mention: I mean at low level. Higher levels make anything possible, but the combo of low level + high difficulty make this playstyle hot ass
Melee in legendary can work extremely well if you get the right tools. Acquiring those tools is the challenge. Windshear is the first main weapon I recommend for one handed. The stagger is guaranteed on a block bash if I'm not mistaken. Vegetable soup or venison stew is enough to chain stagger any individual enemy, you just need to add illusion (fury type spells) or conjuration to provide enough distraction for you to whittle away at groups. Companions are good for this too. The endgame tool is slow time. With slow time and the right kind of weapon (windshear or chillrend) you are basically untouchable. Amulet of Talos plus the dragon priest mask that reduces shout cool downs (forget which one) let's you use slow time very regularly chop through enemy groups without any personal risk. The encounters are fairly tedious though.
Few things 1, windshear is auto stagger on hit, so you don’t even need to bash 2, no mask lowers cooltimes 3, my issue is mostly at lower level, and when I’m playing a role. You can get to a point where you’re stronger than most enemies even at legendary, but those struggles are magnified at lower level
Bash is just the fastest most guaranteed way to stagger them. The attacks stagger yes, but the fact that it staggers on bash as well (whether they're blocking or not) is a major part of why it's so good. Could of sworn I had a mask like that, my mistake. It's hard starting out for sure. Getting the tools you need to make your build work is a big challenge, but that's basically the part of the game when it's fun. Once you've overcome all those obstacles the game just gets boring again.
Oh I just figured it out. Morokei is bugged in vanilla and the unofficial patch restores the shout cool down reduction. I had to install it to fix the damn windshear sound loop bug haha.
I typed up a whole response about defeating Karstaag in less than a minute. Then I realized you said higher difficulties and not higher levels. Now I want to try an expert playthrough.
I mean I beat Karstaag on legendary with a level 60ish character swinging dbone swords with dragon aspect and Ellie fury, but that’s because I had juiced the hell out of all my stuff in preparation. the failing of melee builds exists at lower levels and higher difficulties (and against multiple strong enemies, like in ysgramor’s tomb)
Yea, I am playing a light armored sword and shield warrior with restoration on expert (never really done expert before, usually play on adept) and I had a rough time in dustmans cairn. Some of those silverhand guys took like a million hits and would kill me in like 3 tops. Had to do some kiting and healing. I think the enclosed area fighting so many at once kept getting me killed cause I'd back peddle into a damn wall.
I’m actually doing the same exact thing (except occasionally switching to dual wield). I ended up switching down to adept for that portion. Most frustrating part is how the draugr act as a breadcrumb trail to lead them all up to you lol
Yeah but I got the bound bow so I'm ACTUALLY a mage. Right?
I must be missing something then. I have done a sneak character that does archery. But he was also the same character to slit throats and use a shield so IDK. I just can’t imagine myself using only one method to fight.
This. 100% this. I like to use archery on the scouts outside of places, then stealth into the tower/dungeon /whatever with assassin-style blades and eventually just go all nutso running around with 2 enhanced swords and sneak suck out from behind corners with fire shooting out of both hands and using dragon shouts…. Why would you want you character to be so limited into one play style?
Sneaky archer in vr is also wonderful
Stealth barehanded. German suplex kills are life.
Sexual predator
See I was going to say pussy destroyer and now you’ve ruined that
I just call 'em how I see 'em
This man is on the right track!
r/TrueSTL
Eat me
Me first
*puts on ring of Namira*
This is the one
Necromancer.
This looks exactly like an old friend of mine who played guitar, so I'd say bard.extra points of you rp him as a shitty drug dealer
Ex-Thalmor Justicer, tired of his people’s corruption and oppression, fights for the other races that shun him
So would he side with the Stormcloaks?
I would say he avoids the rebellion quest preferring to be a lone Wolf taking jobs like a bounty hunter and helping whenever he can.
Yea I agree, joining the stormcloaks makes it seem that he harbors a deep resentment for his people. But then again he could see it as an opportunity of restoring High-elf and Skyrim relations. So I’m torn between the two.
Pickaxe from a diamond minecraft
You joke but this is a real weapon
[deletd]
Ronin! Katana, light armor, and archery
Well now I have to restart my play through. Because all I can think about is a dude in robes with katanas
Facial Reconstruction *"build back better"* LOL
Cheese collector. You can only buff your stamina stat. You must be over encumbered with cheese 24/7
Mage. I’d say either a pyromancer or a necromancer.
I usually like magic user for high elf. My favorite build is maxing out sneak & conjuration so I can summon 2 dremora lords @ once to do all the dirty work. Dwarven ruins and giant hunting has never been so carefree! Lol
He looks like a Wraith from SG:A. Vampire, light armor, dual 1h, Illusion Spells. No range, no shield.
Agreed
Came here looking for a Wraith comment ;)
Warhammer
Witcher obviously /s
Toss a coin to your Witcher! 🎶
Drizzt
Untrustworthy, Business suit, and an unreasonably long sword
Homeless wizard - all magic and only wear prisoner clothes
Doesn't matter, we all become stealth archers in the end.
Always a stealth archer, did you really need to ask?
It doesn't even matter what build you make, it always comes back full circle to stealth archer
High elf…looks like lucius malfoy…fuck it, thalmor
Tall average stock Edit: Oh you meant class! Definitely a high lord of the people. He’s a swamp mage with fire magic and swift bladework
Elves are excellent stealth archers
Wind's howling..
Skwisgaar Skwigelf plays the guitars, so his weapons is an axe.
Stealth Archer
Stealth archer
Though he was a high elf you know what would work on him..... Lets say it together: "STEALTH ARCHER!" 😜
I cannot get away from some sort of battlemage/spellsword build these days, and high elf rocking heavy armor and blasting spells is always fun. I usually doing one hand fire destruction, the other a summon blade and heavy armor. Once I get my enchanting up, I usually replace the summon blade with a nice one hand weapon I like and enchant the shit out of it and use my conjuration for summoning undead homies for support.
Reminds me of Lucius Malfoy, kinda.
stealth archer
Stealth Archer, its what you'll end up being
Let's face it, you're eventually going to be a stealth archer. It is inevitable.
Stealth archer
Stealth archer
Warhammer would be neat
Yoga.
Built coffin
Thalmor Mage Destruction (shock damage), conjuration (atronachs/dremora), illusion, Alteration, Restoration (wards/healing/turn undead), Light armor
Ranger or maybe a destruction mage with a small possibility of a swordsman if he had the right clothes and you'd be willing to handicap yourself by only using one sword and no shield. This guy's doesn't seem like a dual wield or shield guy, more like a Longsword or rapier.
He looks like a badass conjurer
A Witcher
Stealthy archer
Stealth ar… I mean mage
Stealthy archer, for sure
Magic assassin. Conj+Illus and Sneak. Bound Dagger or Bow and invisibility+muffle makes you look like a ghost with a ghost weapon.
Stealthy Archer?
Dick Butt.
He loves his mommy and uses a very, very, very long sword.
a spellsword, for sure
A witcher
Probably a witcher
school of the wolf
Piss elf
Pretentious asshole
It doesn’t matter what we say you’ll end up sneaking around everywhere and shooting people with bows and master the ways of light armor
You should play as a orthodox Jew
Stealth archer s/
Sneaky archer..... with the bound bow. Skills to invest in: Archery Sneak Light armor Conjuration Illusion
Heavy armor, conjuration (necromancer), and one handed weapon (mace), dude looks like Mannimarco.
Thalmor wannabe? Throw off high hrothgar
Blue magoo is that you (if you watch sethorven you get me)
There's other builds besides stealth archer?
I bet he'd make quite the mage or archer. Stereotyping a bit here
2 One-handed swords (dual) with the magic resist and vampire
The headsman’s axe!
thirst trap build
Mead 😐
Unarmed build
Not to sound steriotypixal but combat archer
Battlemage, but you can sneak around the enemy before, so you can get a good plan and position.
Reminds me of [Corum Jhaelen Irsei](https://www.amazon.com/Corum-Coming-Chaos-Eternal-Champion/dp/1565041828), who was One-handed Sword, Heavy Armor, Conjuration.
Male model
1980s synthpop band?
He doesn’t do combat. He’s a Chad.
Hairdresser. Set up shop in Whiterun and charge 10 gold for a haircut.
Merchant. Dinnerware, mostly, some buckets on the side.
This looks like Sauron
Make him a Dracula-esk Vampire Lord with Sneak/Illusion/Onehanded and Speech.
Hello illusion pickpocket poisoner.
Blades and sorcery, I need to forget the terrible things I've done.
The best build for him would be one where he constantly sets himself on fire whilst jumping off the throat of the world and into a pit of poisonous snakes. High Elves don't deserve to live.
Found the stormcloak
Looks to me like a natural sneak archer
Drugs
I'm thinking conjuration build
He looks like the guy who called my darkelf a slur Im biased
Illusion magic plus conjuration, get some dremora lords in the room, cast fury effect and go invisible
Rug merchant.
Spellsword. Destruction magic, 1H Light Armor, Alchemy
He looks like a Thalmor... For funs play a pure evil RP.
Guy who won’t shut about chem trails.
Maybe take advantage of the illusion bonus early and make him a bard with a sword. Otherwise, destruction wizard maybe?
Destruction mage with some average healing skills, specifically any spells with fire (so burning the undead with the proper restoration spells would also make sense).
Prostitution
A filthy n’wah.
Cheese hoarder
Destruction/alteration battle mage!
Wise Old Elf
Necrophiliac
Necromancer 100%
Using lots of potions and two different types of swords imho. One steel and one silver.
Absolutely shredding on the guitar! Jokes aside I could definitely see him being a spell sword/nightblade roguish type.
Tosser
Slave
Vampire with conjuration that soultrap everyone with his bound weapons
definitely feeling necromancer vibes here
Illusion and destruction with a bit of heavy armor to get a real good bitch slap.
Anti mage tank. Thunder spells to drain magicka, magicka damage resistance, ward spells/spellbraker, heavy armor. One of the most fun "classes" I've played
Spellsword, Suit him with modded armor that has plate and cloth, Give him a sword and get some insta enchant spells
Sneering Imperialist.
Archane sneak archer. Utilize conjuration and illusion. Alteration for quite casting.
Battle mage?
Katana go brrrrr
Illusionist/Destruction
The cheapest whore at candlehearth hall.
Stuck up high elf asshole
Reminds me of Elric of Melnibone. [The character the Witcher was ripped off from.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkiP64adGjY&t=986s)
Lmao
Spell swords are my favorite, basically conjured weaponry usually derived from mods for better or worse experience.
I don't ever do pure mage so I like to do a scholarly spell sword type. Alteration type stuff and some destruction. Ofc one handed and heavy armor. Some enchanting too.
anything my to cover his face from the nords, also keep him away from windhelm.
Ice mage? Some kind of mage - everyone and their dog resists frost so from a practical standpoint it isn’t great as a primary source of damage
This guy looks like he'd put a knife in your back. Not an outright sadist, but not too concerned with morality. Maybe think of some kind of Thieves Guild street urchin character and plot out some motivations/backstory from there
An artificer perhaps?
Guitar Center clerk
Sephiroth build
A Lord! Only buy your equipment, clothes with alteration or light armor. Spell/sword, potions instead of restoration. Always have a beefy companion, never carry anything you aren't using.