Skyrim Character Building » Discussions

The Ideal Build Requirements

• jakeG

  

  Member
   

  January 8, 2014

  ... and yet somehow or another you are able to learn words of power in mere moments, where Arngeir himself notes only those with "the gift" are able to literally imprint them into their very being.

  ... and yet somehow or another you are able to learn words of power in mere moments, where Arngeir himself notes only those with "the gift" are able to literally imprint them into their very being.

• Vazgen

  

  Member
   

  January 8, 2014

  You are not required to learn them  You can easily avoid word walls without learning shouts. It's a choice you make 

  You are not required to learn them  You can easily avoid word walls without learning shouts. It's a choice you make 

• Mason

  
   

  January 8, 2014

  1. Backstories can destroy a character build VERY easily in my opinion. The main thing to remember when writing any kind of backstory is that this isn't The Story Corner, people come to read builds not stories so when I open a build page only to be greeted with a short novel I usually think that the authors energy has been dedicated to the wrong thing.

  Another problem with backstories is that they bear the soul of the author. All the RP comes spilling out (usually accompanied with bad grammer/spelling) and not everyone likes to RP the same so they start chipping away at their own audience. Then there is the fact that people are generally rather shit at writing works of fiction.

  The perfect backstory in my opinion should simply provide a catalyst for a readers imagination. To tell someone an elaborate story, but at the same time tell absolutely nothing, sending the readers own imagination into overdrive.

  
  2. Artwork. There isn't a screenshot anyone can take from Skyrim that players from all platforms haven't already seen in-game themselves so artwork provides something that people probably haven't seen. It's fresher, and it always will be.

  
  3. Gameplay sections are tricky because as a builder of a game that has been out for so long you sometimes feel like you're stating the obvious, but you do need to remember to cater to any Skyrim noobs. Staying specific and trying not to ramble is important.

  RP sections are something I avoid writing (nor do I read them) because I'm not ignorant enough to assume everyone RP's the same way I do. It's a build, follow it and follow your own imagination while you're at it...

  
  4. 50 was Beths 'soft cap'. Level 50 usually provides enough perks/time to make a build stand out and provide a playthrough.

  
  5. It depends on what crafting skills are being used I guess. If a build is based around a difficult item like Konahrik then the builder should feel obliged to detail what level the item can be expected to arive and maybe provide options.

  
  6. On site. It would have to be an amazing build to take me off site to look at the perks. The way the images are arranged though varies massively. I've seen some really nice perk spreads...

  
  7. A walkthrough. Walkthroughs prove that the author played the build and didn't pull it out their arse...

  1. Backstories can destroy a character build VERY easily in my opinion. The main thing to remember when writing any kind of backstory is that this isn't The Story Corner, people come to read builds not stories so when I open a build page only to be greeted with a short novel I usually think that the authors energy has been dedicated to the wrong thing.

  Another problem with backstories is that they bear the soul of the author. All the RP comes spilling out (usually accompanied with bad grammer/spelling) and not everyone likes to RP the same so they start chipping away at their own audience. Then there is the fact that people are generally rather shit at writing works of fiction.

  The perfect backstory in my opinion should simply provide a catalyst for a readers imagination. To tell someone an elaborate story, but at the same time tell absolutely nothing, sending the readers own imagination into overdrive.

  
  2. Artwork. There isn't a screenshot anyone can take from Skyrim that players from all platforms haven't already seen in-game themselves so artwork provides something that people probably haven't seen. It's fresher, and it always will be.

  
  3. Gameplay sections are tricky because as a builder of a game that has been out for so long you sometimes feel like you're stating the obvious, but you do need to remember to cater to any Skyrim noobs. Staying specific and trying not to ramble is important.

  RP sections are something I avoid writing (nor do I read them) because I'm not ignorant enough to assume everyone RP's the same way I do. It's a build, follow it and follow your own imagination while you're at it...

  
  4. 50 was Beths 'soft cap'. Level 50 usually provides enough perks/time to make a build stand out and provide a playthrough.

  
  5. It depends on what crafting skills are being used I guess. If a build is based around a difficult item like Konahrik then the builder should feel obliged to detail what level the item can be expected to arive and maybe provide options.

  
  6. On site. It would have to be an amazing build to take me off site to look at the perks. The way the images are arranged though varies massively. I've seen some really nice perk spreads...

  
  7. A walkthrough. Walkthroughs prove that the author played the build and didn't pull it out their arse...

• Vazgen

  

  Member
   

  January 8, 2014

  So you do look for roleplay section in the build, despite making your own?

  So you do look for roleplay section in the build, despite making your own?

• jakeG

  

  Member
   

  January 8, 2014

  No no, but realistically if you are playing and you accidentally encounter a word wall wouldn't you feel fascinated with it and come into close contact with it and study it further?-- I know I would and so will many others. However the thing that separates me, Jake with Dragonborn Jake is this, Dragonborn Jake will literally absorb the words into his very being whereas Jack the Average Person will just stand and ogle at the strange monolith that is the Word Wall.

  No no, but realistically if you are playing and you accidentally encounter a word wall wouldn't you feel fascinated with it and come into close contact with it and study it further?-- I know I would and so will many others. However the thing that separates me, Jake with Dragonborn Jake is this, Dragonborn Jake will literally absorb the words into his very being whereas Jack the Average Person will just stand and ogle at the strange monolith that is the Word Wall.

• The Lone Prisoner

  

  Member
   

  January 8, 2014

  I like roleplay sections, as they tell me how the character is played, but i prefer to make up my own backstory, and I find it easier to ignore roleplay sections if I'm only using the build as a skeleton. I don't know why.

  I like roleplay sections, as they tell me how the character is played, but i prefer to make up my own backstory, and I find it easier to ignore roleplay sections if I'm only using the build as a skeleton. I don't know why.

• Zach

  

  Member
   

  January 8, 2014

  What I mean is, while there is a need for a gameplay section, the whole game play of the build does not have to be there. While the big ideas should be present, and the tactics and all, the feel of the build's game play should be throughout. You should see how the build works from skill descriptions, equipment reasons, etc. Think of my Windwalker. I do have a dedicated stance gameplay section, but tue overall combat feel is talked about throughout the build.

  What I mean is, while there is a need for a gameplay section, the whole game play of the build does not have to be there. While the big ideas should be present, and the tactics and all, the feel of the build's game play should be throughout. You should see how the build works from skill descriptions, equipment reasons, etc. Think of my Windwalker. I do have a dedicated stance gameplay section, but tue overall combat feel is talked about throughout the build.
• Vazgen

  

  Member
   

  January 8, 2014

  I believe roleplaying comes to it's best for players already quite familar with the game who know what word walls are and what they do. I had a thief who never cared about walls, and went for the treasure chests. I also have a mod that makes the sound of the walls barely audible though 

  I believe roleplaying comes to it's best for players already quite familar with the game who know what word walls are and what they do. I had a thief who never cared about walls, and went for the treasure chests. I also have a mod that makes the sound of the walls barely audible though 

• jakeG

  

  Member
   

  January 8, 2014

  I know, but I'm just stating my point.. and that is the game is hardcoded to remind you at every possible time that you are "special" (dragonborn). And those on console won't have a say in that unfortunately.

  I know, but I'm just stating my point.. and that is the game is hardcoded to remind you at every possible time that you are "special" (dragonborn). And those on console won't have a say in that unfortunately.

• Vazgen

  

  Member
   

  January 8, 2014

  Now I get it, you say that the feel of gameplay should be noticeable in all sections, to have the same general tone (close to a character) throughout the build. 

  Now I get it, you say that the feel of gameplay should be noticeable in all sections, to have the same general tone (close to a character) throughout the build.