Skyrim Character Building » Discussions


Character Build: The Gray Fox

Tags: #Character Build Thief  #Character Build Rogue  #Race:Imperial  #Rank:Exemplar 
  • Member
    January 20, 2013

    I'm back, bitches.  I returned to WoW, then got into Dragon Age: Origins.  But due to The Fade: Lost in Dreams, I decided to post a build that I'm surprised isn't on here.  So if you can read, and played Oblivion, you know who I'm talking.  If you don't, you did not play Oblivion, so I take pity on your soul.  Before i Begin, I would also like to Deadpool for helping me with finalize this (even if he did just reply to my comment on the Help Desk :P)

     

     

    "Capital!" said no one ever....

     

    Backstory

    The Gray Fox is the guildmaster of the Thieves Guild. The Gray Fox gets his name from his sneakiness in thievery, and from the gray mask, the Grey Cowl of Nocturnal, that he wears. The first Gray Fox stole the cowl from the Daedric Prince Nocturnal herself. The title of Gray Fox is passed from leader to successor by giving the Gray Cowl of Nocturnal to the successor. Since the successor then becomes the Gray Fox, many think that he has been alive for over 300 years.

     

    In a randomly found book titled "Purloined Shadows", a young female thief is enlisted to help a master thief. During a ritual performed by witches, the Daedric Prince Nocturnal is summoned. Nocturnal removes her cowl during the ritual. The young thief is hiding there, waiting for the master's signal to steal the cowl. Suddenly, the master's voice cries out, warning Nocturnal of the young thief's presence. Nocturnal turns and begins to strangle the young thief. The young thief, before she dies, notices that the cowl has disappeared. It is presumed that the master thief then dons the cowl and becomes the Gray Fox, activating the curse of the cowl in the process.

    It is unknown whether the book is true or not, but it tells possibly the only full story of how the Gray Fox came to be in possession of the cowl. The names of both thieves are never revealed in the book...

    Well, it's all there.  The Gray Fox is a master thief, infamous for his cowl.  However, the Thieves Guild in Skyrim felt so lackluster (well, all of the questlines did).  There was no big heist, and when you were working with Mercer, it didn't have the same feeling as working for the Gray Fox.  Thieves Guild was the best guild in Oblivion hands down (if you played you should agree, but each to his/ her own), and I believe I brought it into Skyrim.

    Core   

    Race: Imperial.  The Gray Fox in Oblivion was Imperial.  If you don't like Imperial (there racials do kinda suck), then go with any human.  

    Name: If you really wanna roleplay it, name him Corvus Umbranox or Emer Daleroth. (Not an Argonian though :P)  

    Stone: The Thief.  You're...a Thief.  The Shadow is good, since there is no magic or alchemy with this build.

    Stat Distribution:  1/1/1 We will be using some magicka, so they can all be leveled equally.

    Skills  Skill Calculator.  (This includes ALL skills listed below.  Add/ Subtract as you wish)

    Primary: Sneak, Lockpicking, Pickpocket.  These are you Thief skills.  You do all your...thieving with these skills.  Sneak is ONLY for remaining hidden.  You're no assassin, you grab 'n go.  Lockpicking is a fun roleplay skill (which I seem to notice I use too much...), although I didn't grab Unbreakable.  Instead, I grabbed Master Lockpicking just because having Unbreakable makes Lockpicking more of a joke. Everything else is taken, because what thief isn't a master lockpicker?  Pickpocket for grabbing money keys, valuables, quest items etc.  No poisoned, no taking armor or weapons.  While it's fun if you wanna be the troll (Forever Alone QQ) of Skyrim, I don't really find it necessary when your trying to pull the Ultimate Hiest.

    Secondary: One-Handed, Light Armor, Block.  If you do get caught, you can run, or you can fight.  One-Handed makes you a pretty able duelist, while Light Armor is used for...armor...imagine that.  One-Handed doesn't get a too hefty investment, but you should be fine none the less.  You're also not using a shield, but you can still Block (see below).  Light Armor has the Armor we will be using, and also doesn't get too much of an investment.  Wind Walker is too good to past up, in my eyes.

    Tertiary: Enchanting, Speech, Illusion. These skills aren't that important, while you play, but Enchanting should be power leveled at the end of the game for our PRIZE :D.  Block makes us not totally shit our pants when were caught, and Speech is more or less optional.  I just found it nice to add to that fear, respect and bribery the Thieves Guild is infamous for.  Illusion is for Invisibility, because the Gray Fox is rumored to have to been able to disappear at will, and to emulate how guards would always attack you if you wore the Cowl in a City.  Purely optional, just don't go all crazy using fury on a Bandit camp, not what it's there for.                                                         

    Gear

    Head: Gray Cowl of Nocturnal, Executioner's Hood enchanted with Fortify Sneak and Carry Wieght.  I play on console so I had to use the black one, However, if your on PC, then use the brighter one.  It still serves its purpose though, concealing your identity, while giving you Nocturnal's powers. (if you want the real deal, heres a mod I found, although I play on PS3.)

    Chest: Blackguard/ Guild Master/ Thieves Guild Armor.  These are all perfect armor sets, but the Blackguard Armor set is just...ick to me (so is Linwe's!).  Guild Master is great, but Thieves Guild is the closest to the Leather Armor that the Gray Fox wears in Oblivion.

    Hands: Blackguard/ Guild Master/ Thieves Guild Armor.  See Chest.

    Feet: Blackguard/ Guild Master/ Thieves Guild Armor.  See Chest.

    Sword: I guess it comes down to personal prefrence in this category, because weapons aren't really a main point of this Build.  Keep in mind that the Gray Fox used a leveled shortsword in Oblivion.  Nightingale Blade is short (actually uses the model of the Dwarven Shortsword from Oblivion), but until level 45-48, I'd suggest something that looks elegant and expensive, you won't use no Iron, that's for poor people!  I used Silver, because that's arguably the sexiest sword in the game.  You don't really have to enchant it, but if you do, I'd recommend Fire/ Frost/ Shock damage for damage output or Absorb Health for Survivability.  Fiery Soul Trap is better if you plan to use fire.

     

    This is what were trying to emulate...I know; our's pales in comparison

     

    Shouts

     

    Aura Whisper: Detect Life is an unavailable enchantment in Skyrim (to my knowledge), so this helps us replicate the effects of the Gray Cowl.

     

    Marked for Death: This really has no roleplay what so ever, but it helps in melee combat.  A good DoT makes it that much easier to kill stuff.

     

    Slow Time: Also just to help with not dieing in melee combat.  Dodging arrows and big 2handers tends to make combat easier.

     

    Throw Voice: I use this with every stealth build, because it's just so helpful.  It's especially helpful when you are not trying to kill stuff.  Throw Voice at a wall, Silent Roll past.  Fits together almost too well.

    Unrelenting Force: If you don't use this shout, then what game are you playing?

     

    Playstyle

    Steal everything and don't ask questions.  High pickpocket will allow you to grab gold, rings, etc. when your literally just walking through a town.  High sneak will allow you to get close to people to pickpocket.  You're not an assassin.   Not killing stuff really brings a new light to this game.  You may wanna just bull rush through a dungeon every now and again just to keep your One-Handed/ Block/ Light Armor up.  Speech is also a slow leveler, but sell all your stolen shit to fences, and try every speech check you can, go to trainers with all your money and you should be fine. 

     

    Roleplay

    Thieves Guild is the best questline.  The Gray fox is the leader of the Thieves Guild.  The Companions isn't bad either, radiant quests and the 2 hour questline help practice your swordplay.  Bard's College isn't really a questline, to me anyway, but I did it for the first time on this character so I'll list it here.  When on a Thieves Guild quest, kill no one.  Imagine there is a blood price.  Always give to the poor, a good way to do this is to get training from that beggar in Windhelm.  Donation and Pickpocket skills ups!  You could also get a Redguard follower and imagine its Armand Christope, one of the Doyen from Oblivion

     

    Conclusion

    This build is mainly a roleplay build.  It brings back my favorite character from my favorite game, and is totally lore friendly! A win across the build!  I don't really know what special abilities could be used with this build, or maybe I'm just stupid.  I'm sure I forgot to post something so I'll probably update this as I remember.   Will this get me into legendary? I'll let you decide :P.  Next build, I will try to not make another stealth build, it seems to be all I've made. 

     

  • January 20, 2013

    AWESOME!

  • January 20, 2013
    Turned out really well, if I try this I'll probably throw in illusion for muffle and invisibility (maybe even fury guards to simulate the Gray Fox's reputation).
  • Member
    January 20, 2013

    Or fury (or calm) could represent bribery, such as you bribe someone to attack some poor fool. Or you bribe them to look away (you cannot bribe a bandit with the speech tree). Even without that, great build, I love it. +1

  • Member
    January 20, 2013

    I personally opted against illusion because it made sneak too easy.  but fury spells add better roleplay. good thinking. i'll add it tomorrow

  • Member
    January 20, 2013

    THANKS!

  • Member
    January 20, 2013

    Yeah it can make sneak pretty easy. 

  • Member
    January 20, 2013

    yeah good thinking. people on this site are so creative

  • January 20, 2013

    Seeing as how this is the Gray Fox, master the telekinesis spell (not alteration just this spell) and see how much more easier it may become to steal.

  • January 20, 2013
    I completely see your point, still think I'll take invisibility for the Roleplay element, I'll just avoid Muffle.