ScorpionX wrote:I think I may have fucked myself...
Time to start reading some wikis...
Question: Do the mobs level up along with you? (become harder as your level goes up?) Or am I just MUCH further along on the side areas than I should be?
I feel completely stuck. I am level 26 but none of my combat skills are over 40 (most of the non-combat ones are MUCH higher) and I am getting OWNED in most of the dungeons I am in (currently in the Companions "Trial", not sure what it was called)
IMO -- Stop levelling your non-combat professions for now. You need to let your Combat skills catch up to your level before you get too high. To be level 26 and have NO combat skills above 40 is a good indication of why you are struggling. You should at least have 1 or 2 of the ones that "define" your character closing in on (or above) the 60 mark. I'm level 23 and my Destruction magic is 61.
Hard to give tips if we dont know what type of class you are playing?
I play a purely caster roll. Darkrytez plays a heavy melee role, so if you are heavy into melee, you may want to ask him. Ask Phrostbyte for tips if you are playing a sneaky Rogue type, as I think thats what he played as.
If you are playing a mage caster type, you really want to invest in the Alteration tree for your defensive capabilities... and obviously the Destruction tree for your offensive. Invest heavily in these areas first... then split off to pick up points elsewhere. The Alteration tree provides you with spells that act as armor against physical attacks... and even a perk that negates 30% of incoming spell damage. With a good alteration tree you will eventually have "armor" that is just as good as the best light armor in the game.
If you are a caster, you want to have a 2 to 1 ratio of Magicka to Health point distribution. You will need a bigger pool of magic to last through longer fights, but at least enough health to take 2-3 hits without dying, so you have time to heal or pot up.
As for gear, it may be tempting to wear light or heavy armor, especially if you say you are getting owned, but if you invest properly in the Alteration tree, you will be able to withstand damage with 0 armor. And believe it or not, for a mage, you should have 0 armor. You should be wearing robes, that give a huge boost to your Magicka regeneration, spell cost reduction, etc... and rings and necklaces that increase your Magicka pool or reduce spell cost. Start the Winterhold College quest line. By the end you will have recieved an amazing staff that is BEAST for use when your magicka runs dry, and a BiS Robe that gives 15% spell cost reduction to ALL schools, and +100% Magicka regen.
Don't be afraid to use pots on difficult fights. It is not uncommon to go through 8+ health/magicka pots fighting some of the more difficult enemies. Always have a good supply on you.
Pots to Always Have:
Fire Resist
Frost Resist
Shock Resist
Restore Health
Restore Magicka
Fortify Health
+Magicka Regeneration
+Destruction Effectiveness
+Restoration Effectiveness
Also, keep in mind that preparation is KEY to many of the "named" fights. If you are about to fight a hefty enemy... prepare your self. Conjure a Flame Atronach, Cast Stoneflesh, pop a +Magicka Regeneration pot, and make sure you have the right Shout/Power selected. Keep in mind, that not unlike WoW, the toughest opponent for a mage, is other magic users... you will come up against bastards called "Dragon Priests"... sometimes you have to just equip a mace and bash their face in melee style. Even if you don't have the point in melee combat, you should be able to stagger their spell casting with power swings, and use your defensive magic to keep yourself up.
On tough dungeons I will often have Healing in one hand, and Flames in the other hand. Channeling both while fighting a tough enemy does damage AND heals you constantly. It's a drain on your Magicka, so make sure you left off the buttons appropriately if you don't need one or the other. Also, the "Impact" skill in the Destruction tree is great for staggering (interupting) opponents.
Thankfully, there are some easy ways to level up your secondary combat skills...To level Alteration, roam a dungeon or the open world until you hear the combat music playing, can see the red dots of enemies on your compass, BUT they don't attack you yet. Usually this happens in areas where you are elevated above the enemies, or you have ran so far away from the mobs you aggroed that they can't find you, but you are still in combat. Once you are in combat, but not being attacked... cast Oakflesh or Stoneflesh on yourself, over and over. This +armor Alteration spell levels up by being used in combat. Every 5-6 casts will level up your Alteration tree by one... though that number will increase as you get higher. Keep doing this until you have at least 50 skill in the Alteration tree. This will allow you to get 2/3 Mage Armor and at least 2/3 Magic Resistance.
To level Restoration, Dual cast Equilibrium AND Healing at the same time.... when your health gets too low, let off of Equilibrium until Healing catches up... then repeat. This will take longer to level up than Alteration, but you at least want to get to the point where you can pick up the Mana cost reduction for your Restoration spells and the +25% Magicka Regeneration perk.
I have to get to work, or I would share more. Let me know if you have any questions, and like I said above, Darkrytez and Phrosty are good resources for melee class questions.
The Champ Is Here.