Skyrim Character Building » Discussions


Character Build: The Arcane Rogue

Tags: #Character Build Archer  #Character Build Healer  #Character Build Witchhunter  #Race:Altmer  #SE Rank:Adept 
  • Member
    March 3, 2017

    The Class

    In this build I take some of my favourite things in RPGs and put them together: An Adventurer - Rogue type of character, a Healer, Archery, Witch-hunter, Undead - Monster Slayer, Quest hunting. The Arcane Rogue as the title suggests is a build that has elements of the Rogue (not sneaking), Archer and Healer class. Bound Weapons, Bow, Dagger, Flesh spells, Healing spells, Turn Undead Spells and Shouts are the skills and tools used by the Arcane Rogue. 

      

     Backstory

    I will not go too deep into the backstory of the character, the players can chose who their character is. For my personal character I will just mention that he is a young lord Altmer who was born and grew up in High Rock. After an unfortunate series of events he lost his position and all his fortune which made him to lead the life of an Adventurer. At some point he became acquainted with a priestess of Azura whom he asked for advice and she told him to go in Skyrim. Also this character had a serious case of social anxiety he spent most of his time holed up in his tower reading books. After another series of events he managed to work up his self confidence and become what he wanted to be all his life, an Adventurer.

      

     Character Profile

    Race: Altmer

    Alignment: Chaotic Good

    Alignment: Chaotic Good

    Magicka / Health / Stamina (for Altmer): 2 / 7 / 1 (dat juicy health, all hail the master race! joking, but seriously..).

    Major Skills: Archery, Alteration, Restoration, Enchanting

    Minor Skills: One Handed, Speech, Alchemy unperked more info in gameplay section. For Speech, Lockpicking see gameplay section.

    Stone: Atronach

    Weapons: Bound bow, Bound dagger (or sword depending on your preference)

    Armor: College robes, Any self enchanted clothing you like.

    Companions: None

    Shouts: Any. I used shouts for CC so my main ones were Ice Form, Unrelenting Forsce, Cyclone, Slow Time.

    Factions: College of Winterhold, Bards College, Dawnguard

     

      

     Enchantments

     

    Arcane Rogue's Starter Pack: Already Enchanted College Robes, Necromancer's Amulet (or Gauldur Amulet).

     

    Self Enchanted Gear:

    Head: Fortify Alteration, Fortify Archery

    Gloves: Fortify Archery, Fortify One-Handed

    Boots: Resist Fire, Resist Shock

    Armor: I used the already enchanted Archmage robes (the ones from the Black mage armor mod though) if you want to use another armor put Fortify Conjuration, Magicka Regen.

    Necklace: Fortify Restoration, Resist Frost if you want even more archery damage you can carry another one with - Fortify Archery + Whatever you need. 

    Ring: Fortify Archery, Fortify One-Handed

    Important note: I use a modded skyrim so naturally I 'm using USLEEP which is giving the ability to wear circlets and hoods together. My circlet had Fortify magicka, Fortify Magicka Regen. If you can't or for some reason you don't want to use USLEEP the difference is not that great since the Archmage's Armor covers everything regarding mana pool/magicka regen. An alternative would be to carry around an amulet with these two enchantments and equip it when you need it.

     

     

     Perks

     

    Level 50 Perk Spread: Click Here

    Level 60 Perk Spread (roleplay purposes): Click Here

     

     

     Roleplay

    Regarding the roleplay this character has a pretty standard one. He is the Adventurer/Hero type of character. He will go around and complete various tasks/quests given to him or venture into his own personal adventures for a few basic and simple reasons - fame, wealth, become stronger, acquire knowledge and make the world a better place. He was deceived in the past and he knows how it is to have everything stolen from you so he will often take bounties and kill any bandits/thieves/assassins he comes across and any other things that might prey on innocent people.

     

     

     Gameplay

    The gameplay for the Arcane Rogue is simple but caution and planing before every fight is advised. When entering combat always cast a flesh spell and the bound bow (or dagger), most of the build's focus is on the bound bow and the bound dagger (or sword) is used for more utility and as a way to deal damage while applying CC (crowd control) or healing. For an Archer the most important thing is to keep his distance from his enemies. This is possible by using CC abilities like the turn undead spells and circles from the restoration magic for undead and the Ice Form shout for the living and the undead. Also when available the alteration spell paralyze can be used to thin the herd. In my playthrough I also used unperked alchemy to create a few potions, there is no need to go overboard just create a few basic ones. This gave me that rogue-ish feeling, even though you are no master you are a resourceful sir or lady who knows how to make his/her job easier.

    Potions/Effects: Fortify Archery, Fortify One-handed, Paralyze (might save you in the beginning of your adventure), Elemental Resistance (fire/frost/lightning), Magic Resistance, Cure Disease

     

     

    Limitations of the character

     

    1) The Arcane Rogue is unable to cast Destruction, Illusion, Necromancy or Deadra Summoning spells. No matter how hard he tries the magicka just escapes from his grasp. The only spells he can use are those of the Restoration and Alteration schools along with his Bound weapon spells.

    2) No Sneaking!

    3) No companions (optional). I know that some people love to have companions in their adventures but there are certain reasons this is in the list. With this character you will be considerably strong in the beginning with the bound bow and with a companion the game will be too easy. Without one you will come to appreciate your skills in controlling the battle with turn undead and the like or running and escaping. Later the power of the bound bow is falling when the 20-25 level point (I play on master) and until your enchanting is leveled up and perked your bow damage will not be as strong as it was in the beginning which make you again to appreciate your skillset and use any means you have to escape your enemies' grasp and kill them. Also enchanting plays an important role in this build because it is the skill that will give you the damage boost needed for the 25+ levels.

     

     

     

    Things that will ensure a smooth gameplay are:

    1) Head over to Fort Amol and obtain the bound bow spell tome (PC users can also use the console command to obtain it if you don't consider this one a form of cheating the game).

    2) Buy the best enchanted college robes available depending on your level (apprentice, adept etc) until you can enchant your own gear. The magicka regen they offer is amazing and much needed!

    3) Blessing of Talos offers 20% shout cooldown your shouts is one of your main CC abilities and CC can save lives! You can even use an amulet of Talos if you have no need for other effects on your amulet and is not against your character's backstory/beliefs.

    4) Obtain the enchanted Necromancer's Amulet during the "Blood on the Ice" quest. This amulet helped me a lot until i could enchant my own. Good stamina management and the perk Respite can offset the - 75% stamina regen. An alternative could be the Gauldur amulet.

    5)Run, dodge, evade! You are a rogue so you should act like one and be all slick and fabulous dancing on the battlefield! Prioritize avoiding damage and healing then think about dealing damage.

    6) If you don't have enough perks don't hesitate to make a skill legendary and gain a few more levels. Enchanting is a skill that can be made legendary easier than the rest (a bit grindy though) along with Restoration since the circles will raise your restoration skill rapidly when the skill is at lower levels.
     

    7) If you perk Speech (see bellow) head over to Sadri's Used Wares in Windhelm and do a minor quest Revyn Sadri will give you. After completion you will have the option to be taught speech from him up to level 50 for the juicy merchant perk.

     


    Important, Speech / Lockpicking: I know some people wouldn't want to "waste" perks in these two. Personally on my own playthrough for roleplay and practical purposes i perked both. In lockpicking I took all the main perks from novice - master level clearly for roleplay purposes (I wanted to feel as rogue as possible if that makes sense) and in speech I took all the perks in the right side of the tree and up to merchant on the left side of the tree. The merchant perk is an amazing one since it enables you to sell all of your self enchanted gear to any merchant and don't forget that this character is an adventurer, selling his loot is a serious matter! Whether you perk these two skills or not is up to you.

     

    Quests: Main quest, Dawnguard (good guys), Dragonborn, College of Winterhold, Bards College, Blood on the Ice, Gauldur Legend, The Heart of Dibella, The Book of Love, Azura's Star (give it to Azura), Tending the flames, Dragon Research, Frostflow Lighthouse, The White Phial, Destroy the Dark Brotherhood, any bounty quests you come across, any other quest you come across and you think it fits with the character's profile (bellow is what defines that profile, in case you didn't notice yet he is on the Light side).

     

    Character's Goals: Survive - Have a fulfilling life - Become the greatest adventurer, attain godhood and become the Adventurer God - Get Rich - Acquire as much knowledge as possible - Become as strong as possible and some more - Become immortal through his ability to devour magicka, his restoration magic and his special soul (insert evil laugh here ---> Mu ha ha ha ha..) - Find true love .

     

     

    Mod suggestions:

    Live Another Life : Escape cell option. This will put you in the best place to start your adventure right beside Fort Amol and close to the Atronach Stone.

    Disparity : Character Class creation mod. This is what I used to define my character's class and give him the beginner spells he should had, after all he didn't pop up one day in skyrim without having any prior skills or knowledge! (disable the mod's racial abilities and standing stones effects).

    iHud : Used this to disable the crosshair from my bow.

    Pumping Iron: This added a lot to immersion for me because I could see my character growing stronger slowly.

    TK Dodge : What kind of Rogue doesn't have some Evasion skills?!?!

    Black Mage Armor: My personal choice of armor.

     

    Well done O courageous adventurers for making it here. Duvain is pleased with your actions and offers his thanks for your time!

    This is my first build in the site. I hope it is well received.

    Happy Adventures!

  • Member
    March 3, 2017

    Rogue, non-Sneak Archery, bound weaopns AND Altmer with way more health than magica... where do I sign up? xD

    In all seriousness, this looks like a lot of fun--your quest list includes many of my favorites. Also, Rogues tend to be quirky in the first place, but a no-sneak one is quite the anomaly. I like that :D

  • Member
    March 3, 2017

    ShinJin said:

    Rogue, non-Sneak Archery, bound weaopns AND Altmer with way more health than magica... where do I sign up? xD

    In all seriousness, this looks like a lot of fun--your quest list includes many of my favorites. Also, Rogues tend to be quirky in the first place, but a no-sneak one is quite the anomaly. I like that :D

    Haha thanks, I 'm glad you like it! Yeah I played this one right after I finished an assassin playthrough and it just felt so much better and refreshing with all the action going on during the gameplay.

  • March 3, 2017

    A roguey arcane archer - I like it! Very magical, as befits an Altmer, but not a mage per se.

    I like the way you've considered how to keep gameplay challenging, and love the pictures, they really bring the character alive.

    My only question is - wasn't it awkward switching between bound bow and crowd control spells? Presumably you cast any turn undead/paralyse spells before you cast your bow, then stuck to the bow? I've always struggle with playing archer/spellcaster classes, the gameplay can feel more clunky than playing a spellsword.

  • Member
    March 3, 2017

    Plunders-The-Mountains said:

    A roguey arcane archer - I like it! Very magical, as befits an Altmer, but not a mage per se.

    I like the way you've considered how to keep gameplay challenging, and love the pictures, they really bring the character alive.

    My only question is - wasn't it awkward switching between bound bow and crowd control spells? Presumably you cast any turn undead/paralyse spells before you cast your bow, then stuck to the bow? I've always struggle with playing archer/spellcaster classes, the gameplay can feel more clunky than playing a spellsword.

    Glad you like it! With the atronach stone which i took in the beggining of the game and the novice mage hood I had 230 MP right off the bat also the robes helped to offset the -50% magicka regen from the stone. Also during the first levels the bound bow is quite strong so with some runing and shooting most of the enemies will be dead without the need of any CC. When I couldn't cast the bow I would fall back to my bound sword or dagger and restoration. The Highborn power was also a great help when i found myself in a tight spot or i used a few magicka potions. Most of the time yes I cast the spells before hand but later on when i purchased the apprentice - adept robes and got the necromancer's amulet i didn't have a big problem switching between CC spells and the bound bow.

    Edit: To be honest up until like level 13-15 or something I used 70% my dagger + restoration combo and 30 % my bow. The resons were because i wanted to level up my restoration a bit more in the beginning and because i enjoyed this kind of gameplay weaken them 1st and finish them off with the big guns in the end :P .

  • March 3, 2017

    Nice to see this build up. I always like me a non-sneak archer and I also enjoy that you've limited his strength by limiting his schools of magic and whether or not he can have companions. 

    Well-done. 

  • Member
    March 3, 2017

    Lissette Long-Chapper said:

    Nice to see this build up. I always like me a non-sneak archer and I also enjoy that you've limited his strength by limiting his schools of magic and whether or not he can have companions. 

    Well-done. 

    Thanks! ^^

  • March 3, 2017

    Interesting, I'm always one for non-stealth Archers and the Bound Bow so this is really a treat to see, I especially like the fact that you only use the Bound Weapons in the Conjuration tree, it makes the focus on that skill a bit more interesting because it isn't something people usually do.

    I've got a few quick suggestions, the first is to add links to all of the mods that you recommended (and maybe the chuunibyou thing), that just  makes it easier for people who might not be experienced with mods to quickly jump over and see how they might change this character.

    I think it would be nice to see what you went with in terms of equipment (and what enchantments you used), it would really help define the look of the character and make it more obvious what we would help improve the character (which might be obvious to 90% of people, but if it helps that other 10% then it's even better). You can still say that it's up to the reader but yeah, just that little bit of direction can benefit a build.

    That's really all I can think of, this is a really solid first build and definitely an interesting one. I hope to see more builds from you in the future mate.

  • Member
    March 4, 2017

    Dragonborn1721 said:

    Interesting, I'm always one for non-stealth Archers and the Bound Bow so this is really a treat to see, I especially like the fact that you only use the Bound Weapons in the Conjuration tree, it makes the focus on that skill a bit more interesting because it isn't something people usually do.

    I've got a few quick suggestions, the first is to add links to all of the mods that you recommended (and maybe the chuunibyou thing), that just  makes it easier for people who might not be experienced with mods to quickly jump over and see how they might change this character.

    I think it would be nice to see what you went with in terms of equipment (and what enchantments you used), it would really help define the look of the character and make it more obvious what we would help improve the character (which might be obvious to 90% of people, but if it helps that other 10% then it's even better). You can still say that it's up to the reader but yeah, just that little bit of direction can benefit a build.

    That's really all I can think of, this is a really solid first build and definitely an interesting one. I hope to see more builds from you in the future mate.

    Glad you found it interesting and thanks for the suggestions. Actually, I was also thinking to make a section to talk about my enchanted gear (which I 'll do) and also add the links of the mods I suggested. It is indeed convenient for the reader to have these 2 mentioned.

  • Member
    March 8, 2017

    Project Restorations have been pushing builds down in the feed, so... BUMP!