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WiP Event Mini-Build: Corvus Direnni

Tags: #Character Build Mage  #Character Build Bound Weapons  #Dragonborn1721  #Duvain  #Workshop Event: Four in Four  #Theme Two: Resurrection 
  • November 12, 2017

    Blah, blah. Duvain and Deeb bring you Corvus Direnni, a build for the Ressurection Theme of the Four in Four Event. It's a Level 20 build focusing on Conjuration, namely the Bound Sword coupled with Ordinator, Imperious, Aurora, Apocolypse and a few other mods here and there. I won't write a full opening/introduction at the moment, but just start writing out my sections (the more Gameplay oriented parts of the build) so I've got them down. 

    Going to be more Introduction stuff here, dunno what else, but there you have it.

    Race: Altmer.

    Altmer for the Race is not only one of two choices that was even plausible for the character. The Direnni Clan is an Altmeri and Breton family that mostly focuses on being merchants. At that point it was just a combination of Duvain and I thinking that Corvus felt more like an Altmer name, and the changes that Imperious makes to the Altmer. Mostly, it's the fact that enchantments gain a boost while weapon damage is slightly decreased, basically, it just gives us a quick 15% boost that makes any enchantments we end up adding to gear actually viable.

    Skills: Conjuration, Enchanting and One-Handed.

    Conjuration is probably the main skill of this build but it's weirdly less focused than the other two. Rather than dedicate Corvus to a single skill-line or even two, I'm kinda focusing on all branches of Conjuration. Atronachs, Zombies, Bound Weapons, Totem Summons, Daedra and Buffs from Apocolypse will all be taken to an extent, though there is an emphasis on the Bound Sword. Enchanting is just something to boost the combination of Staffs and Bound Swords while One-Handed is ah, mostly just a minor skill where I'll be taking a few perks to increase damage.

    Stats: 2 Magicka, 1 Health, 0 Stamina.

    Because of the large number of Conjuration Spells this build uses, it's rather important to have a larger supply of Magicka in order to keep our summons running. Bound Swords aren't exactly expensive but because Corvus won't be taking a lot of perks that increase the duration of summons, we'll have to keep summoning new ones. Health is important simply because we'll be fighting in close combat, and if you struggle a bit running 0 AR in melee, then you can grab more Health. 

    Standing Stone: The Apprentice.

    Conjuration: Conjuration Mastery 2/2, Mystic Binding, Soul Raider, Rend from the World, Void Burn, Planemeld, Ravenous Dead and Preservation [9 Perks]

    Enchanting: Enchanting Mastery 2/2, Staff Channeler, Secretkeeper, Flame of Magnus and Gem Dust [6]

    Weapons: Staff of Jyrik Galdursson/Staff of Magnus, Staff of Paralysis.

    The three main staves in this build have completely different uses and create a kind of interesting boost to Corvus' general combat style. The Staff of Paralysis is our support staff and is designed mostly for after your summon collapses and you need just a little bit of time to either summon another create or just get some room. It's an easy one to grab considering there's a set location for the Staff of Paralysis in Snapleg Cave. The other two staves are our main two ranged weapons but really they're mostly Anti-Mage Staves that lets Corvus narrow down the options of their enemies. 

    Clothing: Fine Clothes, Fine Boots.

    Yeah, I can't really think of a better set at the moment. I don't want to go around looking like a Mage so, the Fine Clothes (of any design really) fit rather well with this character and the air I wanted to give off. Corvus is an aristocrat who belongs to a family of merchants. Sure he's also one of the world's best Conjurers, but there really aren't any Vanilla robes that feel 'grand' enough to fit Corvus. I might have to look at Oppulant Outfits a little more, but if anyone has a good suggestion for a set of Fancy Mage-y Robes then let me know


    Honestly, the combat for this build is mostly average, conjure a Bound Sword, whack people with your sword, they die. Occasionally it's good to use your Staff and blast them with some magic powers, but really that could sum up combat against all types of opponents. Ah, that doesn't really sell the build does it? Well never fear, for what makes this build fun and unique is the wide range of minions that it can summon. Because we're focusing on Apocolypse, Ordinator, etc. there are some really fun combinations that can be made with Conjuration, and that makes up for the character's normal lack of combat potential. Oh right, yeah to be honest the Bound Sword isn't that strong for this character because we aren't taking One-Handed perks and Altmer with Imperious suffer from normal damage (but a boost to the enchantments), it makes the sword a bit more of a utility tool than a powerful weapon. 

    Because of this, we need to essentially rely on the summoned minions to make any fight against something stronger than a Bandit/Draugr easy to win. And we get a whole range of them. I focused mostly on the new ones added by Apocolypse with a particular focus on the Cat Totem, which summons a Saber Cat that can transform into a Nordic Warrior which heals the Totem. It's rather useful to be honest, having the power of a Saber Cat at a low level is just awesome, and it being able to heal itself is just icing on the cake. 

    Once we hit Adept Level Conjuration (40 or so) we get access to some really cool spells. The Dremora Pit Fighter is easily the strongest in terms of melee combat because the damn thing wields a Daedric Battleaxe and just goes around smashing things. It's insanely strong, ridiculously durable and is a perfect tank to complement Corvus' somewhat more frail nature. The Xivilai Sorcerer is another weird one because it's one of the best 'Mage-Type' summons that I've ever used, with a powerful set of spells and shields that just make it incredibly useful to summon. They also have the rather interesting limtation in that they do 50 Fire Damge to the caster whenever they're summoned, which makes them a lot more balanced than they might be otherwise.

  • November 12, 2017

    Cool a new WiP. :D There will be a resurrection too. 

  • Member
    November 12, 2017

    Yay! This bad boy is out! I 'm glad that this random idea I had for some time became a collab build for the event! This one has a person from my favorite "clan" in ES and has to do with one of my two favorite schools of magic Conjuration (alteration being the other).

  • November 14, 2017
    I would think an Imperial would more likely be called Corvus, as Imperials are generally given Latin and Italian names, but I am quite curious to see how this build develops.
  • Member
    November 14, 2017

    @Kodaav - It could sound Imperial-ish but it is indeed a legit Altmer name. Regarding the build we went for the good ol' Gandalf style with the addition of summons. DB is doing the playtesting but I have played an exact same build with staves, sword and conjuration and I can say it can be engaging and fun at times because you have many ways to go about doing your battles with swords, staves or just let the summons wreck them and stay back to watch the spectacle. :P

    Oh if you 're interested in racial names you can check the Grand Naming Guides on each race at the Roleplay section, I 'm always using them and the wiki when I want to name a character.