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WIP Event Build : The Watchman

Tags: #Character Build Warrior  #Character Build Rogue  #Character Build Hero  #Race:Imperial  #Crossworlds3 
  • December 4, 2017

    The Watchman

     

    They may be called the Palace Guard, the City Guard, or the Patrol. Whatever the name, their purpose in any work of heroic fantasy is identical: it is, round about Chapter Three (or ten minutes into the film) to rush into the room, attack the hero one at a time, and be slaughtered. No-one ever asks them if they wanted to.

    From a book maybe some of you read...

     

    The Character :

     

    He is the watchman, a grey temple, weary eyes, sore foot, local police officer with problems with alcool. He is not paid enough to get killed, too old for this sh*t, and unfortunnately NOT three days from retirement.

    On a bad day he is a mean drunk, and on a good day a awful cynic... but every day he's doing his job : upholding the Law & Justice, which unfortunnately is not exactly the kind of laws and the form of justice the mighty Lords and Ladies of Skyrim would like to see reign in their fair Land... 

    His only tools, a good knack for kicking butts where one least expect it, imaginative use of portable source of light and a total disregard for courtesy.

    His only allies, a ragtag bunch of individuals of various level of competence, morality and keenness to get things done.

    Likely chance of sucess... still processing.

     

    The Basics :

     

    Race : Imperial, male, mostly for RP reasons

    Stats repartition : 3/2/1

    Classic warrior repartition with a small focus on Stamina until 200 is reached, then all in health

     

    Skills :

    One Handed, Archery, Heavy Armor, Block, Sneak, Pickpocket, Speech

     

    One handed & Archery are the stable damage dealers, no fency fencing or marksmanship, just regular use and abuse of what works...

    Heavy armor is here to stay alive... and trow a punch once in a while for the fun or to "subdue" some ruffian

    Block is used in a less than usual way since our "shield" will more offen than not be a burning torch and will also serve as a weapon while the worst damage should be dodged with quick reflex.

    Note : If some one ever crunched the numbers for torch blocking and bashing in Skyrim i'm all for your output !

    Sneak & Pickpocket are RP skills for the most part. Sneak is for approaching and stalking suspects, while Pickopcket is here to "retreave" or "provide" evidence.

    Speech is a all around facilitator with Investor as a requirement for one RP element.

     

    Gameplay :

     

    A few words before starting... during the walkthrough in order to downgrade the epicness that the universe of Skyrim can often reach and build up the immersion a little bit more, I made a few adjustment to my setting :

    1°) Disable the Music, because even if the Elder Scrolls serie has some of the best score in video game you got to be honest and ask yourself the question : from where the f**ck does it comes ?

    2°) Max out the environment sounds, the birds, the wind, the owl of wolves, etc... all these things are as much a wounder for the ears than a actual information allowing to knwo where you are, what happen, what you should care about (i.e if you ear a wolf owl, draw your sword... that's basic but would you really thing about it over the enthralling music of the game ?)

    3°) Maybe the hardest thing to do, disable the HUD, which mean for me on X360 no quest arrow, no compas, but most of all NO health or stamina COUNTER. I made it at first to help me "forget" the development of most detective quest in the game and discovered that it also spike a bit the difficulty without having to turn to eleven the difficulty scale. It also hone the immersive advantage of the previous points, because when you are on the loosing side of a fight you know you are in danger not because you SEE how little health is left, but because you HEAR in your labored breath that things are not good, and for me it made a WORLD of difference...

    First let's not let indulge ourselves in the falshood that Skyrim is not a combat oriented RPG game... It seems to me that it is important to settle this part before talking about quest and all the rest...

    Pretending that the gameplay of the Watchman is specific to its build would be a broad exaggeration, if not a blunt lie.

    A simple footman in a grimly world, the tools in the bag of the Watchman don't include fancy spells or mighty artifacts, so he has to come by what is immediately available, which is the basic combat mechanics of Skyrim.

    80% of the actual gameplay is the repetitive application of Sword & Shield tactics : quick trhusts in your opponent wider targetable area, staggering bash to impede the adversary counter-attack, fall back to a secure postion or behind your compagnion when things goes south.

    Added to the mix are a few shots of crossbow in the back and one or two exploitation of your surrounding by the means of already placed traps, bottle necks or jumping from some heights to evade overwhelming opposition and you have the Watchman fighting style in a nutshell : simple but effective.

    This down to earth approach of combat should reflect the character approach to other situation outside of the heat of the battle : to solve a problem with the tools of the Law within the mechanics of Justice.

    Let's take as a example one of the basic quest everybody here has once in a while been

    Roleplay :

    Work in progress

     

    4 E 201 – Loredas, the 16th of Last Seed :

    Its been some weeks now that the legion has made garrison in this slumped place that is Helgen. Things were doing fine before they came, but I have seen enough of them on the side lines of the Great War to know they are no goods news. The captain is a real bitch with, disregarding my rank of Watch captain as ifI smelled of poop. Her second in command, Hadvar is a good enough fellow through, but he is so doggedly obediant and unimaginative he can’t do shit to help any. I heard some ruckus at the tavern tonight, some posh officer supposed to arrive tommorrow with special « guest »… the executioner has been seen sharpening his axe lately.

    4 E 201 – Sundas, the 17th of Last Seed :

    It's a metaphor of human bloody existence, a dragon. And if that wasn't bad enough, it's also a bloody great hot flying thing, and of all the cities in all the world it could have flown into, he thought, it's flown into mine !

    4 E – Tirdas, the 18th of Last Seed :

    Been to Whiterun to warn the Jarl, Balgruuf heared my report and sent a few more guards to Riverwood, poor sods will likely be as useful as straw to extinguish a bonfire. Another great idea he had was to send a bloke dillydally in some old tomb to find some whatnot thing… good luck on that ! I’m going someplace else see if its less hotter than the hell they are going to.

    4E – Middas, the 19th of Last Seed :

    I’m at the bottom of my purse, the few coins saved from the recent disasters spent to refurbish myself with what would look like decent armor in a child’s play and cheap liquor. Still got my badge, couldn't find the will to pawn it. I’m sitting near the marketplace, waiting for the hangover of the nigth to subdue a little before going back to do what I know best : looking for trouble… and then finding who start it and gave him a good wallop !

     

     

    The Watch :

    During his numerous travels of the realm, the watchman has met a number of individuals ready to follow him in his endeavour to deal justice in this land. Not all has joined the bandwagon willingly or out of the kindness of their heart, but all have learned in the contact of the watchman a few important things :

    1°) Two types of people laugh at the law: those that break it and those that make it.

    2°) The good are innocent and create justice.  The bad are guilty, which is why they invent mercy.

    3°) Only crimes could take place in darkness.  Punishment had to be done in the light.  That was the job of a good watchman.  To light a candle in the dark.

    4°) Sometimes it’s better to light a flamethrower than curse the darkness.

    5°) When Mister Safety Catch Is Not On, Mister Crossbow Is Not Your Friend.

     

      Corporal Nobby-Nobbs (Faendal) :

     The scrawny bosmer from Riverwood may be a little ugly heckler with as much morality as skeever when it comes to work, love or war, but no one can really discuss about his ability with a bow and his uncanny ability to get into trouble.

    When paired with the watchman, he has the tendency to stay on the back where he can avoid most of the hurt and still contribute to the fight with a few well place shots of crossbow. Now if some misplace shots end in the back side of his supperior... that's just though luck.

     

    Sergent Colon (Cosnach) :

     A bit dense and with a high level procastrination, the Sarge is like his weasel like former colleage a quite unusual person to join the watchman. For sure he more often than not need some encouragement in the from of one or two punches at the back of the head to start moving.

    He joined the watch mostly because it pay more than his former job (in the sense that the previous one didn't pay any). When he has to follow unwillingly the watchman in his investigation, his lack of wits often place him in the uncofortable position of meatshield for his more nimble and efficient partner.

    Lance Constable Carrot Ironfonderson (Erik the Slayer) :

     A young man full of spirit and very low on comon sense, the lance constable is filled to the brim of very simple ideas of what is right and what is wrong, often at odds with the more practicle, some may say corruptible, upholder of the Law.

    The watchman know that there is little to do to disillusion the young man of his code of moral, which come actually from a true code of the watch written ages ago. The best he can do is to have his partner back when he charge with recklessness by providing a few cover shots of his crossbow and flank any ruffians that try to take him down from behind.

    Lance Constable Angua von Überwald (Mjoll the Lioness) :

    To say that this woman need no man to help her in the business of the blade is a understatement. Thaught by the best to be the in this singular domain, she also has a great deal of experience with delinquency in Riften. Not that it help her to get rid of it in her adopted hometown...

    This raw portential of policewoman is best used by the watchman as the crow bar that pry open the delicate wooden doors of society, people tending to look less sure of themselves when a tall woman with a twohanded swords is behind you when you asked sensitive questions about whoswho and whatswhat.

     

      Sergent Detritus (Gorbash the Iron Hand) :

     Sometimes the crudest tool is the best one. A square shoulder, heavy built orc armed with a crossbow often is a argument to end a conversation in your favor.

     

    Some illustration that may be used in the future :

     

  • December 4, 2017

    Hmm, I can't say that I know the source material from what you've mentioned but I think this seems very much like a concept that transcends it and can kind of be used as a stand-in for just about any Town Guard. Very interesting build from a Roleplaying perspective, I assume he's not going to be the Dragonborn of Legend, smiting dragons and fighting the undead, but more of a city-dwelling man who occasionally clears out bandit camps with support? Dunno, I'm very interested in where your going here, any build that even seems like it could be a bit less 'epic' really appeals to me (if that makes sense), they're interesting. 

    Looking good so far overall. I'd maybe suggest the idea of bolding your titles and enhancing their size but that's really it. Looks good so far, will try and comment more when you add to the WiP 

  • Member
    December 4, 2017

    Oh boy, Commander Vimes! Will read this properly when I get home, curious to see how you'll take him from stench of the Ankh to wilds of Skyrim.

  • Member
    December 4, 2017

    LOVE that you included Pratchett's dedication to the story at the very beginning.

    As far as characters go, rogues that are (whether they want to admit it or not) untimately good deep down are my favorite character type to play. Now throw in how well this story aligns to the resources you are given in Skyrim, and there is a LOT that you've got going for you as a builder. The more I look at this and the more I think on it, you just couldn't choose a better story to Skyrim-ize... this is gonna be good :D

     

  • Member
    December 4, 2017

    Oh, and while I don't know the stats for torch blocking (my mechanics-fu is weak) I think it's a fantastic RP convention for a night watchman! :D

  • December 5, 2017

    Thanks everyone for your kind words, I hope my work will be up to your expectation.

    I have a lot of work to do, especially a lot of planning to give Skyrim quest system a more "procedural" feel to resolve them as per all good policework should do but I'm confident I will make it work somehow...

    Quick question all around : do anyone here ever try to play skyrim without the HUD ? I just found out it is a actual thing you can do in the option and I believe it will be a good tool for immersion (especially to get rid of the quest arrow), but since it also mask the health and stamina bar it may be a bit hardcore to play ?

  • Member
    December 5, 2017

    JustRed said:

    Quick question all around : do anyone here ever try to play skyrim without the HUD ? I just found out it is a actual thing you can do in the option and I believe it will be a good tool for immersion (especially to get rid of the quest arrow), but since it also mask the health and stamina bar it may be a bit hardcore to play ?

    I've been tempted, but I get very little playtime (I average about 30 minutes a day), and I can see myself getting absolutely nothing done in a single sitting--which would frustrate the be-jinkies out of me xD

    Still, if your goal is to immerse yourself in the game, a HUD-less playthrough is a pretty boss way to do it ;D

  • December 5, 2017

    ShinJin said:

    JustRed said:

    Quick question all around : do anyone here ever try to play skyrim without the HUD ? I just found out it is a actual thing you can do in the option and I believe it will be a good tool for immersion (especially to get rid of the quest arrow), but since it also mask the health and stamina bar it may be a bit hardcore to play ?

    I've been tempted, but I get very little playtime (I average about 30 minutes a day), and I can see myself getting absolutely nothing done in a single sitting--which would frustrate the be-jinkies out of me xD

    Still, if your goal is to immerse yourself in the game, a HUD-less playthrough is a pretty boss way to do it ;D

    I play with iHud in Oldrim, which makes the Hud much more immersive and removes quest markers and stuff like that, Very fun when you are exploring a new location. I also play with an amazing map mod that is soooo awesome that I can't play without it now. 

  • December 5, 2017

    JustRed said:

    Thanks everyone for your kind words, I hope my work will be up to your expectation.

    I have a lot of work to do, especially a lot of planning to give Skyrim quest system a more "procedural" feel to resolve them as per all good policework should do but I'm confident I will make it work somehow...

    Quick question all around : do anyone here ever try to play skyrim without the HUD ? I just found out it is a actual thing you can do in the option and I believe it will be a good tool for immersion (especially to get rid of the quest arrow), but since it also mask the health and stamina bar it may be a bit hardcore to play ?

    I think this is going to be one of those builds that will have a fun time being Skyrimized. I look forward to what you do with this. Are you going to give him a home city, or is he going to travel? 

    I almost did a Crossorlds build based on the main character from Hot Fuzz. 

  • December 7, 2017

    Thanks everyone for your answers !

    ShinJin said:

    JustRed said:

    Quick question all around : do anyone here ever try to play skyrim without the HUD ? I just found out it is a actual thing you can do in the option and I believe it will be a good tool for immersion (especially to get rid of the quest arrow), but since it also mask the health and stamina bar it may be a bit hardcore to play ?

    I've been tempted, but I get very little playtime (I average about 30 minutes a day), and I can see myself getting absolutely nothing done in a single sitting--which would frustrate the be-jinkies out of me xD

    Still, if your goal is to immerse yourself in the game, a HUD-less playthrough is a pretty boss way to do it ;D

    I think I will take the easy road with HUD for the 10 first level in order to build the Health bar to 200 and then see if its playable on Expert afterward...

     

    The Long-Chapper said:

    JustRed said:

    Thanks everyone for your kind words, I hope my work will be up to your expectation.

    I have a lot of work to do, especially a lot of planning to give Skyrim quest system a more "procedural" feel to resolve them as per all good policework should do but I'm confident I will make it work somehow...

    Quick question all around : do anyone here ever try to play skyrim without the HUD ? I just found out it is a actual thing you can do in the option and I believe it will be a good tool for immersion (especially to get rid of the quest arrow), but since it also mask the health and stamina bar it may be a bit hardcore to play ?

    I think this is going to be one of those builds that will have a fun time being Skyrimized. I look forward to what you do with this. Are you going to give him a home city, or is he going to travel? 

    I almost did a Crossorlds build based on the main character from Hot Fuzz. 

    Unfortunnately I don't think there is enough quest in one location of Skyrim to feed one playthrough, but there is more than one location in the Discworld.

    Currently I'm thinking of Solitude for Ankh-Morpork and Markarth and its surrounding for Uberwald... feel free to chimes in if you have any suggestion !

     

    I will start to play this week-end and should have soon more concrete things to add