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Event Build: The Worm Fang

Tags: #Character Build Necromancer  #Character Build Unarmed  #Character Build Vampire  #Rank:Event Bloodworks  #Event:2in2 
  • Member
    March 28, 2017

    Concept:

    This build is my offering for the Two in Two Skyrim Mini-Build Event. I wanted to construct a build that could be up and ready to play within just a few levels in order to encourage readers to settle into the character, almost right from the start. The Worm Fang is a Khajiit Vampire, Master Necromancer and adept Summoner.

    The two skill trees being perked for this build are Conjuration and Light Armor. The basic concept is to raise the dead, summon minions, and, or course use your claws and fangs aggresisvely across Skyrim. 

    Back Story:

    "The deserts of Elsweyr preserve corpses for centuries, allowing skilled Necromancers to make use of them relatively easily." Corpse Preparation, V1

    The Worm Fang is as friendly with Lord Harkon's minions as can be expected amongst vampires. He respects the Lord of the court, but he is no one's pawn. He uses the night as it should be used and travels alone...with his thoughts and his thralls. He has little interest in prophecy. His calling is darker. 

    "These undead, mindless nightstalkers have an insatiable hunger for blood. But blood is not my vice. The urge to kill and raise the dead is all that satisfies my voracious appetite."
    Journal of the Worm Fang 

    Character Customization:

    Class: NecroVamp
    Race: Khajiit
    Stats: M - 1 H - 1 S - 0
    Stone: Mage --> Lord + Ritual (on the Aetherial Crown)
    Skills: Conjuration, Light Armor
    Spells: Flaming Atronach, Summon Mistman/Wrathman, Raise Zombie-->Revenant, Soul Trap (for leveling only)
    Gear: Adept hood --> Aetherial Crown, Vampire Armor (of Conjuration, if found) / Royal Vampire Armor, Vampire Boots, Gloves of the Pugilist, Ring of the Beast, Necklace of Conjuration
    Blessing: Kynareth for a little extra punching stamina
    Follower: none / Serana if playing on higher difficulty
    Powers: Ritual Stone, Night Eye
    Shouts: None, you are not the Dragonborn
    Moral Alignment: Chaotic Evil


    Getting Started:

    Claw your way out of Helgen and head toward the unmarked Talos Massacre site for the Thalmor Boots and gloves. The bandit camp nearby has Black Mage Robes which will round out your travel gear for the first few levels. If you choose not to sell gear (to avoid leveling speech), start looting for gold until you can afford Raise Zombie and Soul Trap. Once you can cast Raise Zombie, start raising everything you find or kill. Spam Soul Trap on dead bodies to power level Conjuration until you hit Apprentice, Summoner and Necromancy. 

    I got lucky and caught Sanguinare Vampiris at level 1. Literally the first time that's ever happened to me. I actually didn't know it was possible. Either way, you can hitch a ride to a few well know vampire hang outs such as Movarth's Lair and do the same as early as possible. Don some looted vampire armor and boots. 

    Head to Riften and relieve Gian of his precious gloves of the pugilist and train Light Armor with Grelka occasionaly. Take a wagon to Markarth and pay homage to Lord Molag Bal, securing yourself a free Adept Hood from the doomed Vigilant of Stendarr there. This can all take place easily within the first 4-5 levels.

    At level 10, start the Dawnguard questline, freeing Serana and accepting Lord Harkon's gift. Then track down the Aetherium Shards (Lost to the Ages) and craft the Crown. This will allow unlimited use of the Ritual Stone and was viable at level 12 on Adept difficulty. I would also highly recommend continuing to follow the DG questline to track down the RP-friendly Summon Mistman/Wrathman tomes in the Soul Cairn as well as the Ring of the Beast for improved Unarmed damage and a rather helpful extra 100 HP (hat tip - TexasC4). 

    Gameplay Notes:

    For a mini-build, I loved the idea of having almost everything you need within the first few levels. Because Conjuration is so quick and easy to level and claws are so powerful early on, by level 5 you're a fully functional necromancer, conjuror and vampire capable of shredding anything that gets through your minions with razor sharp claws and growing fangs. And by level 10-12, we can use the Ritual Stone at will, making us the most powerful necromancer in Skyrim just a few hours into gameplay. Now, what's a master-conjo-kitty to do in Skyrim?

    Combat Notes:

    The most fun part about necromancy is traveling on foot with your horde of thralls. Choose wisely! There are many great options, but following the Dawnguard questline gives you access to some Master Vampire thralls. These fit your vibe quite nice. Raise them and travel on foot, letting the horde do your dirty work while you clean up the mess with your claws. Early combat relies heaviliy on Atronachs and available bandit thralls. But once you've built the Worm Fang, unleash the devestating power of the Ritual Stone. Travel from place to place, re-raising them as needed. Remember, if you fast travel, you'll lose your precious horde. For a nice piece of irony, feel free to raise a hearty group of slain Dawnguard to do your bidding!

    Other combat recommendations: you have no direct means of ranged combat, so having a flamed atronach or mistman do the dirty work from distance is very helpful. When running through ruins void of corpses and full of automatons, you'll need to either bring some thralls with you via the Ritual Stone, or take Serana as a way to draw the robotic attentions. For close quarter combat, make sure your foe is distracted by your summons and then rush in with claws. The light armor perks Unhindered* and Wind Walker will make you feel so fast it's like having bat form outside of Vampire Lord transformations! * Note: Unhindered won't proc unless you swap out your crown for a light armor head piece. 

    Roleplay:

    The well known down-sides of vamprisim actually play into this build, as it will force us to do our work at night, giving the already dark build a truly macabre feel. If things get too dark, have no fear and engage your night vision (racial power) which can be reset by tranforming into Vampire Lord and back.

    I avoided towns for the most part and did end up going through the dawnguard questline exclusively. It just felt right for this character. Following the DG questline gives the character some direction, but I spent plenty of time simply wandering on foot, stalking areas for my next thralls. After 1000+ hrs in Syrim over 5 yrs, I figured I'd seen everything, but this playthrough quickly proved that wrong. 

    I found an unmarked prison full of ghosts, an unmarked cave full of spiders and various other creepy places suitable for a necromancer to hang out and mess with his spells.

    And frankly, not initiating Dragon spawns by avoiding the Main Quest was a welcome relief and handy tactic for this mini-build.

    Required Quests: Dawnguard, Lost to the Ages

    Closing Notes: 
    That's it for my Two in Two mini-build! Hope you enjoyed. If you like builds, check out the Motty Tag for all of them!

  • Member
    March 28, 2017

    Awesome build!  Once I finsih mine I might have to give this a try.

  • Member
    March 28, 2017

    Helluvah build, Motty :D A maccabre cat has never looked so appealing, and I find myself waning to read more from the Journal of the Worm Fang. This is on the To Play list, for sure. Pure fun, no hassle, showcased wonderfully by your video :)

  • Member
    March 28, 2017

    TexasC4 said:

    Awesome build!  Once I finsih mine I might have to give this a try.

    Thanks! And thanks again for the Beast Ring reminder :)

  • Member
    March 28, 2017

    Phil said:

    Helluvah build, Motty :D A maccabre cat has never looked so appealing, and I find myself waning to read more from the Journal of the Worm Fang. This is on the To Play list, for sure. Pure fun, no hassle, showcased wonderfully by your video :)

    Kind words Phil! Yeah I was suprised at how quickly it all came together. Probably one of the most 'powerful' starts to the game I can recall. I was actually worried it wouldn't be viable and yet there I am taking out the Forge Master before level 12. Thanks again!

  • March 28, 2017

    Mottyskills said:

    Phil said:

    Helluvah build, Motty :D A maccabre cat has never looked so appealing, and I find myself waning to read more from the Journal of the Worm Fang. This is on the To Play list, for sure. Pure fun, no hassle, showcased wonderfully by your video :)

    Kind words Phil! Yeah I was suprised at how quickly it all came together. Probably one of the most 'powerful' starts to the game I can recall. I was actually worried it wouldn't be viable and yet there I am taking out the Forge Master before level 12. Thanks again!

    Honestly, I've noticed that my builds had a certain extra umph in the earlier levels too. I think it's because the numbers in the two used skills are significantly higher than they would be if we perked other skills as well. I mean, my dual-wielder took on Treva's Watch and Faldar's Tooth on his own and my Archer was zipping her way through the Dwemer ruins of the Thieves guild. My mage sailed through Labyrinthian. At much lower levels than I'd normally take a build if I were perking other skills. 

    Now, to your build. I really enjoyed this, Motty. Great use of gear and using what you got. Khajiit claws, I bet, were really strong. 

    Vampire kitty!

  • Member
    March 28, 2017

    A feline punch-vamp... that's so cool. I love Khajiit pugilists, and I think the whole night-vibe really works well for the build, and since you aren't selling stuff, it doesn't matter that the shops are closed :D

    Conjuration really is the perfect pairing for this: the rp fits nicely, and it is just so immensley useful for an unarmed build--wail away while the bad guys focus on your minions. Dang... now I want to get back to my punch-stuff build from before the event xD

  • Member
    March 28, 2017
    Whoa Shin stamp of approval!? That's like skyrim gold in my builder book :D Thanks for the kind words!
  • Member
    March 28, 2017
    Good point Lis! Yes loading up on two skills did prove quite potent early going. I might add notes to this build should people want to take it past 25...after I play it a bit more. Quite enjoying this cat
  • Member
    March 28, 2017

    This build looks great, but I just have one question. Aren't the Light Armor perks Wind Walker and Custom Fit useless since you're not wearing a light armor hood? The Aetherial Crown is a circlet.