The Character Build Showcase: The Dungeon Runner

  • Ben has scoured the lower ranks this week to find a build that is sorely underrated - certainly its one that had slipped under my radar anyway.

    Allow us to draw your attention to The Dungeon Runner by Zulfir. 

    Political upheaval threatens the Empire's grip over the land, and old legends are proving to be more dangerous than the flames of war. While power struggles and dragons are considerable threats to Skyrim, some look to this time of conflict and change as a sign – there's profit to be made, and the sooner it's made, the better.

    That's when a Dungeon Runner is hired.

    Some believe them to be nothing more than silver tongued scoundrels, showing more fluency in words than actual skill. Others simply see them as expert retrievers, capable of seeking out priceless artifacts as well as human quarry. Unlike rogues or lesser cutthroats interested in hoarding Septims, however, Dungeon Runners' name comes from their proficiency in swiftly procuring things – for their masters or themselves. Be it crypt, dungeon or ruin, a Runner will often get in and get out with only the main prize in mind, dismissing everything else.


    Let's allow Ben to highlight the unique concept behind this build

    The Dungeon Runner is one of the most unique characters on the site. It brings a mechanic, of sorts, that has not been exploited or even touched upon since. The idea is simple...an alcoholic that runs like hell. The idea is to avoid combat. You run right past the enemies.

    You have a huge stamina pool to make your sprinting prowess the central focus of the character. When you run out of stamina, as will usually happen, you drink alcohol and keep on running. There is a lot of alcohol spread around Skyrim, particularly in dungeons. Like zulfir said, "It's like the designers planned this".

    Zulfir planned a whole strategy around the goal of getting to the end of dungeons and finding the ultimate treasure. Everything from the armor to the shouts is designed to make you better at the overall plan of getting in and getting out. When you are forced into combat you can still use the Dungeon Runner's bag of tricks to take care of business. For anyone who hasn't played this unusual idea you are in for a treat.

Comments

6 Comments
  • Chris H.
    Chris H.   ·  May 6, 2013
    It was only 50 before I 'liked' it. Seems like a novel way to blast through dungeons I have completed way too many times. I think I should start "dungeon-running" now.
  • Chris H.
    Chris H.   ·  May 6, 2013
    I see the showcase bumped this build from Category 20 up to 40 
  • Matt Feeney the New Guy
    Matt Feeney the New Guy   ·  May 5, 2013
    Thanks for the explanation, Ben. You bring up good points with using training, not to mention speech is also a skill (Merchant perk), which will really help as well.
  • Matt Feeney the New Guy
    Matt Feeney the New Guy   ·  May 5, 2013
    I couldn't find any mention of using alcohol on this build :P
    Also I do feel this build would require some grinding (you're avoiding combat but the build revolves around a typically end-game perk of a combat skill). Nevertheless it's certainly a uni...  more
  • Paws
    Paws   ·  May 5, 2013
    Well said Rune. Good job Ben!
  • RuneRed
    RuneRed   ·  May 5, 2013
    I had missed reading this one too.  Great find, Ben.   I played a 'runner' in oblivion, closed gates with an army of daedra in pursuit, but I hadn't thought about a way to adapt it to Skyrim (different challenges, different skill use).   Everyone must rea...  more