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Repairing: Boring, Tedious, or Immersive?

Tags: #Game:OB  #Game:MW  #CSH  #Type:Other 
  • Member
    June 29, 2017

    We’ve all had those moments. You’re out exploring the land, when suddenly a Cliff Racer or Wolf jumps out and ambushes you! You draw your trusty blade, but wait! You forgot to repair it, so after a single hit, it brakes. But never fret! You’re Armour should keep you safe, at least until you flee to the nearest town...until, that is, the vile beast destroys that, too.

    While you’re stuck out the wilderness, mercilessly punching the foe to death in your undergarments, you just can’t help but ask yourself: “Why in the name of Oblivion didn’t I stock up on Repair Hammers!?”

    Ah, the joys of degrading equipment! Depending on your playstyle, either a horrid waste of time, a death sentence, or a fun sense of realism.

    So then, what are your thoughts about repairing, repair hammers, degradation, or even the pseudo-Smithing Skill of Armourer in general? Let us know in the comments below!

  • Member
    June 29, 2017

    Cool subject and somewhat topical for me right now. Even though I'm playing TES V, the subject of smithing and whether to perk it for my current character has become something of a procrastination and got me thinking about how I approached it in TES IV.

    I used to incorporate it into the RP and so if I was playing a knight, I'd wait until I got back to Battlehorn Castle and do my repairs there after stocking up on repair hammers. It bacame something of a ritual for me post-questing as I'd use that quiet time to harvest ingredients and brew those special wines that acted like fortification potions.

    By limiting myself to only repairing in that enviroment, I found it added a certain extra dramatic element or something to the game. Heading into a big old dungeon and knowing that by the end my armour would be shredded and my sword blunt, and knowing there wasn't a damned thing I could do about it while in there, made those smithing bonuses from over-smithing an item really pay off and became goals to work towards.

    So I guess it's like resource management, and in an RPG I quite enjoy that mundane aspect of just existing in the world.

  • June 29, 2017

    I'm torn on degrading equipment. I think that it's super annoying when, as you mentioned, you're in the field and get attacked and everything breaks. However, I think that it does add some immersion. Essentially, I think that a certain mod got it right. Essentially, the buffs added to weapons (fine-legendary) were the things that degraded not the tool themselves. This allowed for the immersion of fixing up your weapons, while still having something to use on those pesky wolves if you forgot. 

  • June 29, 2017

    Meh, armor degradation is pretty cool from an immersive stand point. Let's face it, real life armor degardes with time and use. In ESO, it's just one more thing I have to be conscious about. Lol. 

    Although I am never in a dungeon, delve, or whatever long enough to need them, repair kits are fairly inexpensive and easy to get. Plus, merchants who can repair your gear are everywhere. I've trained myself to repair after every Undaunted group dungeon. When I do forget....let's just say, I am reminded rather quickly. 

  • Member
    June 29, 2017

    In Oblivion equipment takes forever to degrade. I once cleared every location between the Imperial City and Bruma in a set of steel armor with a matching sword and shield. I started at the Imperial City at full durability and once I got to Bruma (after about 4 hours of exploring and clearing locations) it was pretty low but I only needed to use a single repair hammer on my sword during the journey and the blacksmith fixed the armor up.

  • Member
    June 30, 2017

    I loved equipment degrading to the extent I am still hoping someone will produce a Mod to bring it back, it is far more immersive (in my opinion) I also liked the idea that visiting an armourer in town is usually a must for one without the skill, while playing oblivion I always went a  did the quest for the Grey Prince for fortify skill, then made a spell which allowed me to repair anything without breaking all my hammers, god I miss that game

  • Member
    June 30, 2017

    I suppose I should give my thoughts here as well:

    Personally, I've never had a big problem with having to repair gear (In either game). It's a bit annoying from time to time, particularly when the hammers seem to brake more than anything else. But once I get Armourer to a good enough level, it feels oddly fulfilling hammering away at everything. I rarely, if ever, pay Blacksmiths though, unless I don't have enough space to take the Armourer Skill. I do definitely think it adds to the immersion as well, as others have said, and it's a bit of a disappointment it wasn't is Skyrim (Though being able to actually craft gear is still pretty nifty).

    In Morrowind, I usually join the Fighter's Guild as soon as possible to take advantage of the Guild chests, while in Oblivion I like to keep at least five with me at all times. I rarely use all of them during a single outing, but it's still good to have the insurance. I also tend to prefer going with quantity in Morrowind, rather than quality, having about ten or so Apprentice Hammers instead of a couple Grand Master ones. Probably not the best choice weight-wise, but at least they get more uses.

  • Member
    June 30, 2017

    Bonelord said:

    I loved equipment degrading to the extent I am still hoping someone will produce a Mod to bring it back,

    They did. It's called "Weapons and Armor Degredation and Repair". A must-have on my mod list.

     

  • Member
    June 30, 2017

    Great news, available for Console? I hope so

  • Member
    June 30, 2017

    Bonelord said:

    Great news, available for Console? I hope so

    I forgot that the consoles can have mods now. Do consoles have MCM yet? If not, then probably not.