Skyrim Character Building » Discussions


Character Build: The Curer

Tags: #Character Build Healer  #Character Build Alchemist  #Character Build Hero  #Rank:Exemplar 
  • Member
    February 3, 2014

     

    This is the perfect build for restoration lovers. The aim is to take an enormous amount of damage whilst still being able to survive without much of an armor rating. So I’ve decided to make a ‘Doctor’ build.

    “All I want to do is help people.”

     

    The Curer

    There was a tale in Rorikstead about a young boy. It was said that a very old woman was suffering from severe Rockjoint and was once visited by this boy. He told the woman a riddle. No one knows what the riddle was or the answer to the riddle but it is thought that the answer was ‘Cure’. The boy held the woman’s old, near skeleton hand and then left, without even saying goodbye.

    The boy had no family, he didn’t even live in Rorikstead, but it’s said that the woman was cured from the Rockjoint that was about to kill her, the next day.

    There were similar stories. Most of them true. He became famous across the whole of Tamriel. He once had a name, but no one knows what that was, so they called him The Curer. And now he’s staying in Skyrim to help its people (mainly due to the civil war).

    Many men lived due to the Curer’s expertise during the Great War. The young man used to be on the battlefield, fighting the Aldmeri Dominion. He had decided to wear a hood to mask his identity and to suggest that he was a Mage. The Empire recruited him, obviously seeing his gift for restoration. They made him a Doctor on the battlefield. Most of them were killed but he lived on, and even after the defeat, he still supports General Tullius and High King Torygg.

    The Curer: “General Tullius is a good man. No dragon can change that. But no. I won’t fight for him or Ulfric. They shouldn’t even be turning on one another. They all crave blood and victory and I’ve moved on from that, so leave me to help the citizens of Skyrim instead of trying to get me to fight for a lost cause.”

    - General Tullius’ messenger asking for The Curer’s help in the civil war-


     

    Race: Any human race would be fine for RP or Wood Elf for Animal Alliance power

    Stats ratio: 4/1/0 this is due to the demand of Magicka from some Restoration skills

    Stone: Ritual or Lord

    Major Skills: Restoration, Alchemy, Enchanting

    Minor Skills: Archery, Alteration, One Handed. (You could also do Conjuration (Not In perk spread))

    Shouts: Slow Time, Become Ethereal, Call Dragon

     

    Equipment

    Head
    Adept Hood: Increases Magicka by 50 points. Actually suits the rest of the outfit.

    Necklace
    Amulet of Mara: Lowers Restoration costs by 10% which could just save your life.

    Torso
    Tavern Clothes: The Curer’s signature look, and again, hardly used on males (wink, wink) Use Magicka regeneration and Lower restoration cost enchantments on this.

    Gloves
    Leather Bracers. Put a Raise One handed enchantment and Increase Alchemy enchantment.

    Ring
    Ring of Recovery: This baby provides 100% Magicka regeneration. This will defiantly shorten the time needed the wait, leaving you less time out of action or struggling on your own because your follower is down.

    Boots
    Leather Boots: Enchantment should be: Raise One Handed.

    Blade
    Elven Dagger: Apply a Soul Trap enchantment on this.

    Bow/Arrows
    Hunting bow/Iron Arrows: You only use this against extremely high level enemies and Dragon Priests.

    Stave
    Staff of Healing Hands: Just if your Magicka runs out.

     

     

    The Build

    I can never make a Restoration build who is also master warrior, (too much menu switching for one) so I decided to make a character that depends on a follower but CAN inflict damage, whilst still healing yourself and your follower simultaneously.

    So now I had to pick the outfit of a Doctor, and without mods this was frustrating, but rewarding in the end. I had managed to create a character with clothing hardly used and usually over-looked. Creating a unique build, granted, the armor rating is low. But that won’t matter with the master Restoration spells!

    The Curer is the master of Restoration, and Alchemy. He can concoct a complex potion (or poison) out of thin air. He will help anyone in need. Good or evil. His domain is the Temple of Kynareth because it’s heavily based on healing people. Danica Pure-Spring is your mentor, if she needs assistance, you will help. She will also train up your restoration skill. Maramal will also be a contact to help out.

    This build is especially effective against the undead, with the wide range of spells protecting you from them you should not have any problem against them, but wild animals where the hardest to defend yourself against as I found out, so you have to leave that up to your chosen follower.

    I also suggest that you get Azura's star early so you don't need any soul gems.

      

    Gameplay & Combat

    There are a lot of ways to play this build. My favourite play through was when I acted like I did not need any reward. He acts off kindness alone. (He was like that ever since he was born) Make sure to take time out of your day to give a beggar a gold coin to get the gift of charity effect, doesn’t  seem like much but it will help somewhat towards levelling up some of your skills. Try to pick the short options when talking to NPCs. He’s never much of a talkative person unless he finds someone who’s injured or needs help, that’s when he starts to communicate more.

    You will mainly use you Elven dagger in close combat situations. You can also soak in a poison of your choosing. Restoration spells are this builds bread and butter, being able to heal yourself and others quickly and effectively will increase the odds of you surviving.

    He is a traveller who likes looking for unique ingredients. In his spare time he chooses to clear crypts and thin the Bandits’ clan. They terrorize citizens and pilgrims, this increases his hatred towards them. They will be the only people you don’t help. (Including Foresworn)

    It is important to have a tank follower, preferably not an essential one because there is really no need to help them out, which is a bad idea as that is a big chunk of your game-time and roleplay which would be tending to his followers wounds. (Helping your follower out and making sure they have enough health to not die) But if you don’t have one and your follower dies you will have a hard time not losing health so rapidly. For this build, I also included atronachs and had a dog. I also chose to have Esbern and Delphine by my side. This is like travelling in a large group, especially with Twin Souls perk under your belt! That adds up to around six (including The Curer). But more help on your travels when you need them. You could even add the Dwarven Spider that is controlled by the staff. Before combat, try to distract the enemy with an arrow or telling your follower to stand in their line of site. Sneaking in this build is pointless, Barbas and the other dogs will defiantly give you away.

     

    During combat, the restoration spells you will mostly be using are:

    Some of these spells can be duel-cast to increase the effect.

    Bane of the Undead: Sets undead up to level 44 on fire and makes them flee for 30s. (If fire perks invested in destruction skill tree, the damage will be increased.)

    Guardian Circle: Undead up to level 35 entering the circle will flee. Caster heals 20 health per second inside it.

    Healing Hands: Heals the target 10 points per second, but not undead, atronachs, or machines.

    Grand Healing: Heals everyone close to the caster 200 points. Does not affect atronachs or machines.

     

    There are multiple options to start combat depending on the amount of enemies and what enemy types they are:

    One Draugr/Human/Animal enemy: Equip healing hands on both hands then stand behind your chosen follower and keep casting the spell on them until your opponent dies. Or just double team it!

    Multiple Draugr enemies:

    Option 1: Immediately cast Guardian Circle, and your followers should charge at the Draugr (stay in the circle if you are injured). They will either all die due to your helpers or they will defeat your followers. If they do defeat them, then stand behind your Guardian Circle and let the Draugr run into it. They will turn and flee. Use this time to heal anyone who needs it then use your bow on the fleeing undead.

    Option 2: Get involved in the fight. Equip your Elven dagger and the Grand Healing spell. Keep attacking all your foes, and if you find yourself alone, get close to anyone helping you and use Grand Healing, use this as much as you want.

     

    Multiple Animal/Human enemies:

    This is the tricky one. Firstly let your followers deal as much damage as they can, while they distract the beasts you start shooting the animals/ with your bow. If your followers are taking to much damage, muscle your way through and use Grand Healing and your Elven dagger. Retreat and use your bow again.

    Possible followers:

    Erik the Slayer: My favourite choice, he’s quick in Light armour but can pack a punch with his two-handed skill. I found this guy to be amazing for the build. He has a good health pool, but you can still heal him quickly using Healing hands. When he uses Light Armor he is great at appearing out of nowhere and controlling the fight with either his bow or Two handed sword, using the armor makes him able to dance around enemies with ease.

    Uthgerd the Unbroken: One of the best followers at the start of the game, until you find Erik of course! She is a tank! Her heavy Steel Plate Armor weighs her down considerably, but this is somewhat softened by how much damage she can deal out in a short period of time.

    Mjoll the Lioness: Marked as ‘Essential’ which means she can’t die, which is inconvenient but she could just be the best tank in the game. She will power through most enemies, but guaranteed to get out of the battle alive. But not an ideal choice, as the point of the build is to have the feeling of your follower could die and you need to heal them quickly before they do.

    Golldir: Found outside Hillgrund’s Tomb. He asks you to kill a pesky necromancer, Vals Veran. His sword and shield technique helps somewhat, he does have a decent two-handed skill though. If you like the look of this guy, then use him! I found that actually a sword and board works very well. When is shield is up it gives you the freedom to just attack without any fear of damage given to you, this hold-back technique works incredibly well when using your Hunting bow too.

    Stenvar: This Hireling looks so brutish with his steel armour! He is up there with the likes of Erik the Slayer! I found that this guy is very talkative when approaching caves and the likes of that. He is also quite aggressive, just make sure not to hit him with arrows as he rages at the enemy.

    There are a few more that would fit too like Housecarls or Orc stronghold followers!

     

    These are extra followers that can stand with your follower from above.

    Esbern and Delphine: You can exploit the main questline to give you these two followers.

    Dog: Barbas AND Meeko or Vigilance. No need for stealth. Also Barbas can get quite annoying at times as he barks every two seconds and keeps bumping into you.

    Horse: Frost is my preferred option as he is a bit more aggressive.

    Atronachs or Undead: If you invest in Conjuration.

     

    Special moves:

    Coward

    Things becoming frantic? Use Bane of Undead which will set fire to your undead enemies and they will start to flee, then use Slow Time and shoot at them with your bow.

    Bane of Undead + Slow Time + Bow of choice

     

    Surrounded

    (NOTE: This is especially effective in crypts and quite hard to do!) While your followers are fighting run around and get behind your enemies and cast Guardian circle. Then use critical charge on an opponent and then immediately cast Bane of the Undead, the undead should run towards your followers or the Guardian Circle, if they choose the circle they will have to turn around as they run into it, which then makes them vulnerable to another charge attack.

    Guardian Circle then Bane of Undead + Charge Attack

     

     

     Credits

    Special thanks to Curse Never Dying for the perkspread, Henson for reading over the build and checking for any pot-holes. Also to Morta for these amazing screenshots!

     

    Thanks for reading and feel free to like and comment!

  • February 3, 2014
    Alright just have to point out that Fortify Alchemy cannot go on the boots other than that good build I like the lack of Illusion for a support character. +1
  • Member
    February 3, 2014

    You need to complete the dark brotherhood questline for gilded wristguards.

  • Member
    February 3, 2014

    *Head in hands* Well......

    Just use Leather Bracers..

  • Member
    February 3, 2014

    Well-presented, nice screenies... I'll give you a like, since it looks nice :3

  • Member
    February 3, 2014

    I might give this one a go because it seems to be viable as a dead is dead character. I don't know if you mentioned it, but you can heal followers with alchemy by crafting a certain poison that actually heals the victim and then apply that poison to the extremely low damage knife or fork weapon or the wooden sword and hitting them with it.Kind of like injecting them. If you did mention it then forgive my goobiness. Anyway, this build looks fun and interesting to play so I'll give it a +1.

  • Member
    February 3, 2014

    Very interesting character and skill usage.

  • Member
    February 4, 2014

    Thanks!

    The enchantment was removed.

  • Member
    February 5, 2014

    Well, thank you!

  • Member
    February 7, 2014

    I actually didn't know about that poison. I'll make a note of it for the future.

    I'm glad you're liking it!