
A good way to start out is to get a weapon you like and put that in your right hand and get a spell that you like and put that in your left hand, because that will give you a taste of both.

With that in mind, Howard said, "I would say to try out the various play styles. Meanwhile, the new perks system will let you further enhance and fine tune those skills. Instead, there are a variety of skills at your disposal - enchanting, archery or alchemy for example - and those skills that you enjoy and use will improve as you use them. That is, in "Skyrim," you don't have to pick a specific class for your character to be at the outset. The folks at Bethesda have taken what they learned from the previous "Elder Scrolls" game "Oblivion" as well as from their work on "Fallout 3" and revamped the character system for "Skyrim." What that means is, they've made it far easier to change up how you play the game as you go.įor example, if you're unsure whether you want to be a magic-wielding mage, a sword-swinging warrior or stealthy thief, you will be relieved to know that, unlike in "Oblivion," you don't have to make a permanent decision.

Play around with the different play styles Where do you find these factions? Don't worry, it won't be long before a character in the game points you in the right direction. Those are good avenues for those archetypes that will give you interesting things to do and make you more powerful." "The best way to get ahead is if you try to join a faction in the archetype that you're playing - whether that’s the College of Winterhold for mages, the Thieves Guild for thieves, or the Companions for warriors. Of course, if you want to jump into the game at a gallop and level up quickly, Howard has this to say: "The game has a lot of parts and if you just kind of take it easy and explore for your first couple of hours you’ll find it quite rewarding." "That’s what I think is special about the game: being able to explore at your own pace," he says. "I wouldn’t dissuade anybody from doing the main quest, but I think my preference is, when somebody first plays the game, that they just wander initially because I think that's when they’re going to start making their own story and be like 'ok this is what interests me.' And that's what Howard suggests that new players and veteran players alike do. Once you get past the introductory action and basic character creation, you can set out in almost any direction you'd like. But the nice thing is, you don't have to follow it. Meanwhile, lo and behold, dragons have also returned to the land and, bam, you'll come face-to-face with one of the fiery beasts.Īt this point, you've been teased with a wee taste of the story that lies ahead and it's fairly easy to discern which way to go if you want to follow that main plot line. There's a civil war afoot and you've been caught up in the middle of it.

When Skyrim starts, you'll find yourself launched into the thick of things. Here are five tips he offered to those about to step into "Skyrim."
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I asked game director Todd Howard of Bethesda Game Studios what he would tell players - those new to the "Elder Scrolls" series and veterans alike - to help them get the most out of their game. While there is a 656-page "Skyrim" strategy guide players can consult, for something a bit more succinct I went straight to the source. Still, with "Skyrim" putting so much before you, one can't help but want a little guidance. "Skyrim" - the fifth game in the "Elder Scrolls" series - is all about following your own path and living out your own personal fantastical journey. There's so much to do, so much to see and so many choices to make, you can't help but wonder, "What should I be doing?"

This medieval-themed role-playing game offers up a vast virtual world to explore, an epic adventure to experience and a stunning 300-plus hours of possible gameplay.īut having already spent a bit of time in "Skyrim," I can say from experience that jumping into this gargantuan game can feel a bit. One of the year's most anticipated games - the "Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim" - has just launched.
