Don't get me wrong - This build is without doubt a roleplay orientated build. However I would like to think that I have managed to find a balance between gameplay and roleplay in this build, even if the actual backstory leans one way. I hope you enjoy my build!
"Some would call me an Aristocrat, others would call me a bandit. Depends which side you're viewing me from, really."
After a mysterious 5 year disappearance, The almighty Lord of the Black-Briar Family has returned to take the reigns from his darling wife. He has a lot to do, bring Riften into the age of Imperialism so that his wife can become the Jarl, not to mention leading a rabble of Brigands and Thieves that will bend to his every word. Corruption is the key.
Race: Nord, to fit in with the main ideal of Nord families and surnames, however this does not lend to the thievery skill that is particularly needed. For this area, see the Early Gameplay section.
Gender:
Due to the fact that there is an absence of Maven Black-Briar's husband and that there is no lore reason for this you should choose Male to become the patron of the family.
Ratio:
0/1/4 Per every five levels on a scale of Magicka/Health/Stamina.
Major Skills:
Sneak
As this character's gameplay section is heavily based in Stealth and Thievery this skill will be of incredible use to you. You will join and eventually become leader of the Thieves Guild which the rest of the family is highly in support of. Well. Mostly, anyway.
One-Handed
All aristocrats should have proved their strength in battle. Your use of a sword shows great power and significance over the rabble in Riften. It will also become a useful stealth tool, as you may need to perform some... Ghastly activities. A great family must have both allies and enemies. (See Roleplay).
Speech
Smooth moves and honeyed words are the only way to get by in a world of corruption and greed. Use this too pull yourself out of hairy situations and to keep yourself within power.
Minor Skills
Lockpicking
As much as you are a noble, you are a corrupt noble, a thief at that! Knowing the ways to twist a hairpin into a lock will be forever useful in a life of thievery and stealth.
Enchanting
This skill is more on the practical side rather than to do with the roleplay. You'll be able to enchant the several daggers and sword (See Gear) for use across the board with this skill.
Light Armor
Your Blackguard Armor will serve as your shell, your hide and your safety net. Use it well.
Perks
Level 15: http://skyrimcalculator.com/#295740
Level 30: http://skyrimcalculator.com/#295742
Level 45: http://skyrimcalculator.com/#295744
Gear
Out Of Battle:
Noble Clothes can be found at East Empire Company Warehouse where they can be stolen.
Fine Boots can be bought from Radiant Raiment in Solitude.
Ring enchantments can be found in the Dawnstar Secret Chest as well as random loot.
Blades Sword can be found on Fulthiem in Nightgate Inn in Eastmarch.
Gameplay Gear
Blackguard Armor Set can be obtained from Glover Mallory after joining the Thieves Guild and completing his quests on Solsthiem.
Linwe's Armor is a loot-reward for Summerset Shadows side quest in the Thieves Guild.
Dawnguard Boots can be obtained from Gunmar after A New Order in TESV: Dawnguard.
Blades Sword obtained at Nightgate Inn as previously noted.
Enchantments can be found at most levels in the Dawnstar Secret Chest or dungeons.
Various Daggers
All Daggers are advised to be created over time instead of powering through the game. You can obtain Elven Daggers and Dwarven Daggers from practically the start of the game and glass daggers can be obtained a fair way in.
Early Gameplay
Names
Aristocratic names are always based to be highly achieved. I personally chose Lorkhan Black-Briar as my name due to the fact that Nords have high views on him and I hope my character would be the same, except slightly more corrupt.
Ralof (WARNING: Boosting Involved!)
Ralof is a useful tool in beginning stealth in this game, when you are in Helgen Keep, choose him to begin with.
Soon after you will arrive in the room, where you will be attacked by an Imperial Captain and a Soldier. After killing the Captain, steal the key from her body quickly before Ralof can, this will mean he is unable to open the door.
He will be stuck permanently in that position, giving you a good chance to sneak attack him and boost both Sneak and One-Handed.
Do not choose Hadvar, as this will make the glitch not work!
Also, this is good since the character is a Nord they are able to boost some Stealth skills before the game actually starts and as Nords are very weak in this sector this will be a big step in the right direction!
I would suggest boosting yourself to around Level 10-15 and this will take you a maximum of half an hour real time.
Gameplay
Even though you are an Aristocrat, never forget your thieving route. It is the most important part that you keep your identity hidden at all times when in stealth, as this would reveal your corruption to all of Skyrim.
Use a mixture of the Daggers and Blades Sword to create a dramatic effect on the enemy which will paralyse, burn and freeze the target to the spot. Never go into somewhere all guns blazing, keep to the shadows and plan your attack.
You never know what might be around the corner, but make sure to keep to peripheral vision and having the ability to check all around you. This can mean that Aura Whisper becomes a useful shout to see what is ahead of you, use this often in the special moves listed further below.
Roleplay
The roleplay side to this build is fairly clear, you are an aristocratic leader with a corrupt vision. Remember that Maven is your wife, and you should perform all quests for the entire family, leaning particularly to their side.
Always disregard beggars and those who are useless to you, you have no real time for them or their business. The Empire will help you to get power, so you support them in anyway possible. If anything, stay to the shadows when it comes to thievery, and be strong and bold in political matters.
Suggested Quests
- Thieves Guild Questline
- Promises To Keep
- The Lover's Requital
- Dark Brotherhood Questline up to Sanctuary.
- Main Quest up to Diplomatic Immunity.
- Imperial Civil War
Special Moves
Planning Ahead
Use Aura Whisper to search out your enemies or target before you make your attack, Absorbing the Stamina from one enemy and using it to stealth attack the next enemy.
Flying Without Wings
Leap down onto your foe from above, power strike and then use whirlwind sprint to make it as far away from the enemy.
Final Notes: This build fills a gap in lore that Bethesda dare not travel, I hope you appreciate my attempt to fill that gap, bearing in mind that this is my first ever build.
Don't get me wrong - This build is without doubt a roleplay orientated build. However I would like to think that I have managed to find a balance between gameplay and roleplay in this build, even if the actual backstory leans one way. I hope you enjoy my build!
"Some would call me an Aristocrat, others would call me a bandit. Depends which side you're viewing me from, really."
After a mysterious 5 year disappearance, The almighty Lord of the Black-Briar Family has returned to take the reigns from his darling wife. He has a lot to do, bring Riften into the age of Imperialism so that his wife can become the Jarl, not to mention leading a rabble of Brigands and Thieves that will bend to his every word. Corruption is the key.
Race: Nord, to fit in with the main ideal of Nord families and surnames, however this does not lend to the thievery skill that is particularly needed. For this area, see the Early Gameplay section.
Gender:
Due to the fact that there is an absence of Maven Black-Briar's husband and that there is no lore reason for this you should choose Male to become the patron of the family.
Ratio:
0/1/4 Per every five levels on a scale of Magicka/Health/Stamina.
Major Skills:
Sneak
As this character's gameplay section is heavily based in Stealth and Thievery this skill will be of incredible use to you. You will join and eventually become leader of the Thieves Guild which the rest of the family is highly in support of. Well. Mostly, anyway.
One-Handed
All aristocrats should have proved their strength in battle. Your use of a sword shows great power and significance over the rabble in Riften. It will also become a useful stealth tool, as you may need to perform some... Ghastly activities. A great family must have both allies and enemies. (See Roleplay).
Speech
Smooth moves and honeyed words are the only way to get by in a world of corruption and greed. Use this too pull yourself out of hairy situations and to keep yourself within power.
Minor Skills
Lockpicking
As much as you are a noble, you are a corrupt noble, a thief at that! Knowing the ways to twist a hairpin into a lock will be forever useful in a life of thievery and stealth.
Enchanting
This skill is more on the practical side rather than to do with the roleplay. You'll be able to enchant the several daggers and sword (See Gear) for use across the board with this skill.
Light Armor
Your Blackguard Armor will serve as your shell, your hide and your safety net. Use it well.
Perks
Level 15: http://skyrimcalculator.com/#295740
Level 30: http://skyrimcalculator.com/#295742
Level 45: http://skyrimcalculator.com/#295744
Gear
Out Of Battle:
Noble Clothes can be found at East Empire Company Warehouse where they can be stolen.
Fine Boots can be bought from Radiant Raiment in Solitude.
Ring enchantments can be found in the Dawnstar Secret Chest as well as random loot.
Blades Sword can be found on Fulthiem in Nightgate Inn in Eastmarch.
Gameplay Gear
Blackguard Armor Set can be obtained from Glover Mallory after joining the Thieves Guild and completing his quests on Solsthiem.
Linwe's Armor is a loot-reward for Summerset Shadows side quest in the Thieves Guild.
Dawnguard Boots can be obtained from Gunmar after A New Order in TESV: Dawnguard.
Blades Sword obtained at Nightgate Inn as previously noted.
Enchantments can be found at most levels in the Dawnstar Secret Chest or dungeons.
Various Daggers
All Daggers are advised to be created over time instead of powering through the game. You can obtain Elven Daggers and Dwarven Daggers from practically the start of the game and glass daggers can be obtained a fair way in.
Early Gameplay
Names
Aristocratic names are always based to be highly achieved. I personally chose Lorkhan Black-Briar as my name due to the fact that Nords have high views on him and I hope my character would be the same, except slightly more corrupt.
Ralof (WARNING: Boosting Involved!)
Ralof is a useful tool in beginning stealth in this game, when you are in Helgen Keep, choose him to begin with.
Soon after you will arrive in the room, where you will be attacked by an Imperial Captain and a Soldier. After killing the Captain, steal the key from her body quickly before Ralof can, this will mean he is unable to open the door.
He will be stuck permanently in that position, giving you a good chance to sneak attack him and boost both Sneak and One-Handed.
Do not choose Hadvar, as this will make the glitch not work!
Also, this is good since the character is a Nord they are able to boost some Stealth skills before the game actually starts and as Nords are very weak in this sector this will be a big step in the right direction!
I would suggest boosting yourself to around Level 10-15 and this will take you a maximum of half an hour real time.
Gameplay
Even though you are an Aristocrat, never forget your thieving route. It is the most important part that you keep your identity hidden at all times when in stealth, as this would reveal your corruption to all of Skyrim.
Use a mixture of the Daggers and Blades Sword to create a dramatic effect on the enemy which will paralyse, burn and freeze the target to the spot. Never go into somewhere all guns blazing, keep to the shadows and plan your attack.
You never know what might be around the corner, but make sure to keep to peripheral vision and having the ability to check all around you. This can mean that Aura Whisper becomes a useful shout to see what is ahead of you, use this often in the special moves listed further below.
Roleplay
The roleplay side to this build is fairly clear, you are an aristocratic leader with a corrupt vision. Remember that Maven is your wife, and you should perform all quests for the entire family, leaning particularly to their side.
Always disregard beggars and those who are useless to you, you have no real time for them or their business. The Empire will help you to get power, so you support them in anyway possible. If anything, stay to the shadows when it comes to thievery, and be strong and bold in political matters.
Suggested Quests
- Thieves Guild Questline
- Promises To Keep
- The Lover's Requital
- Dark Brotherhood Questline up to Sanctuary.
- Main Quest up to Diplomatic Immunity.
- Imperial Civil War
Special Moves
Planning Ahead
Use Aura Whisper to search out your enemies or target before you make your attack, Absorbing the Stamina from one enemy and using it to stealth attack the next enemy.
Flying Without Wings
Leap down onto your foe from above, power strike and then use whirlwind sprint to make it as far away from the enemy.
Final Notes: This build fills a gap in lore that Bethesda dare not travel, I hope you appreciate my attempt to fill that gap, bearing in mind that this is my first ever build.
