HIDDEN GEM The Elder One

• Posted by Paul December 19, 2014 - 890 views

  Welcome to the Hidden Gem Spotlight! This week we’re featuring a build for people who want something a bit… different. You’ve slunk around and stolen everything in Skyrim; you’ve assassinated an emperor; you’ve sworded and boarded; you’ve unraveled the mysteries of Aetherius and have become Archmage—what next? How about becoming an ancient protective ecosystem! Ladies and gentlemen, this week we are pleased to spotlight…

  The Elder One by Oddball

  Background

  For this build Oddball creates some of his own lore that is inspired in part by Tolkien’s Ents and the golems of Jewish mythology, but superbly blends it in with established TES lore. Trapped for ages in a mudslide, The Elder One is the last of an ancient race of nature guardians, a gentle giant until he is attacked or sees the natural balance disturbed. Then watch out!

  Features

  With perks placed in Heavy Armor, One-handed, Restoration, Alchemy and Smithing, and Miraak's sword in each hand, The Elder One gets dangerous when upset. But this build is more than just a hard hitting vine-y tank. Oddball uses the mechanics of vampirism to emulate The Elder One’s susceptibility to fire as a creature of vine and wood. Stage-four vampirism further serves the build's roleplay by eliciting the same reactions in NPC’s that an ancient forest guardian might produce when encountered in the wild. Oddball also cleverly uses Alchemy as a way of creating different aspects of The Elder One: a vine form, a stone form, and a tree form—each utilized for varying combat situations.

  The Bottom Line

  With a fresh take on some of Skyrim’s basic game mechanics, The Elder One is an excellently presented, finely crafted build that just may push you out of your comfort zone and offer you that unique experience in Skyrim you’ve been looking for. If you haven't checked it out already, make sure to give it a read and a well deserved 'like'.