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Character Build: The Technologist

Tags: #Race:Nord  #Character Build Archer  #Character Build Blacksmith  #Character Build Enchanter  #Rank:Recognized  #dawnguard  #Dwarven  #Dwemer  #Crossbow  #Automaton  #Mechanical 
  • August 13, 2012

    Fascinated by the great creations of the Dwemer, the Technologist had not followed the common path of becoming a warrior or a spell-caster, but rather follows the trails that the ancient Dwemer had left behind...

    The Technologist


    Upon the release of the Dawnguard DLC, it wasn't so soon that I had heard about crossbows being the new weapon. When news of the Dwarven crossbow had been unleashed, the thought occurred to me of a play-through using technological weapons. The fact that I was also using mods which added mechanical weapons fitting within the lore that the Dwemer had created the most technologically advanced constructs, had also inspired me even more to think of a build like this.

    "Ever since I was just a milk-drinker, the sights of great mechanical constructs had lead me to where I am now"

    As you can see in the picture above, the Technologist is one who fancies technology more than most things. The build will be focused on using Dwarven armor as well as a Dwarven Crossbow to match the theme of being 'Dwarven'. "What mere swords and magic can do, technology can, but better", is what the motto of this build is, which is why the use of a crossbow is favored over a bow. Though it is viable to ask "How about healing and enchanting?", and the response the Technologist can provide is that "Magic can exist alongside Technology, but only until the moment man can be repaired with mechanical parts". For those seeking a challenge, a view through the Technologist's eyes, this build is for you!

    Lore:

    Being at a young age, the Technologist (or just simply a child) had managed to successfully fail to fit into groups. Not even brave enough to fight even with training swords versus another child, nor the willpower to cast spells, the lonely child had been somewhat alienated. Upon visiting Markath due to its parents having to run an errand, the young Technologist had gazed upon the tall Automatons the Dwemer had left behind. So the young Technologist had returned to its hometown only to be made fun of when it had worn fragments of Dwarven armor. Echoed were the words and phrases of "Freak!", "Haha, weirdo!", "What Nord uses weak Elven stuff?", "lol wut?" into the Technologists ears, and loudly!

    ...

    "Freak? It will be you the freak when your face will be impaled with this sharp blade!" The Technologist had its revenge years later after acquiring lethal Dwarven constructs, even more superior than Nord steel. It had managed to kill each and every person who had bullied it in its childhood, but before the trigger had been pressed, an inner conflict arose, between innocence and sin, between the weak side and the strong, but even shivering in hesitation, "what had to be done, had be done".

    ...

    Though the Technologist may be not be a good person, it isn't wholly evil either. The inner conflict between morality and chaos still continues, and the decision to use Technology for the good or bad, remains the ultimate question. 

    "What mere swords and magic can do, technology can, but better"


    The build:


    Race: 
    Nord

    Primary skills: Archery, Enchanting

    Secondary skills: Heavy Armor, Sneak, Smithing

    Guardian stone: The Lord Stone

    Weapons: Dwarven Crossbow(s), Aetherial Staff

    Armor: Dwarven Armor (Magic, Elemental resistance), Dwarven Armor (Health, Stamina, and regen)

    Spells: Detect Life

    Shouts: Become Ethereal

    Essential quests: Dawnguard quest-line, Unfathomable Depths, Lost to the Ages

    Stats: As much Stamina as necessary ~250, otherwise mainly Health

    This build is a kiting machine. You take down your enemies with your technologically advanced crossbow,  taking advantage of the sneak bonus allowing for easy one hit knock outs. With this, the build can be played as a pseudo assassin character, if you choose to. For those that can obtain access to the quest Lost to the Ages, the reward from that quest should be the staff, as summoning allied automatons feels nice to have a break from the usual Dwarven Sphere trying to cut you up. Since your primary armor will be Dwarven armor, as well as your weapon being a Dwarven crossbow, Dwarven smithing perks are important and should be taken. The high Stamina investment is required for running around, zooming in, bashing enemies back and even to carry more loot. The only spell you should use besides healing should be Detect Life, courtesy of Jo'Daro of finding it, to give the effect that we are 'heat seeking' enemies.

    The legendary Aetherium Forge! The ultimate forge in constructing Dwarven items!

    Now I know your probably wondering how this build will sustain itself whilst in battle, or how it heals. That's simply answered: Through gear and shouts. To keep the theme of being a (Dwarven) Technologist, healing must be acquired through other means from the usual potions and magic, therefore we will use another set of gear which can be switched to, to give the impression that we have gear regenerating us whilst in battle. The use of the Thuum, Become Ethereal is the second option we will take, providing us with a few seconds of invulnerability, allowing for an easy re-positioning, or retreating. Do take note that the Become Ethereal shout will not provide regeneration to any stat until you progress through the main quest-line to pick up the one of three shout upgrades.

    "Opps!"

    Perks (Level 50):

    http://skyrimcalculator.com/#174771

    Archery: Overdraw 5/5, Eagle Eye, Steady Hand, Power Shot, Quick Shot, Critical Shot, Hunter's Disciples, Ranger, Bull's Eye

    Heavy Armor: Juggernaut, Well Fitted, Fists of Steel, Cushioned, Conditioning

    Smithing: Steel Smithing, Dwarven Smithing

    Sneak: Stealth 2, Muffled Movement, Backstab, Deadly Aim

    Alchemy: Alchemist 5, Physician, Benefactor

    Alteration: Novice Alteration, Apprentice Alteration, Adept Alteration, Magic Resistance 3

    Enchanting: Enchanter 5, Fire Enchanter, Frost Enchanter, Storm Enchanter, Insightful Enchanter, Corpus Enchanter, Extra Effect

    Feel free to edit around the perks to how you choose to play. If you see, you may notice I may have invested perks to 'min-max' only to obtain the 567 armor rating cap, again, feel free to adjust perks to your play-style.

     

    I hope you enjoyed reading this guide as much as I did creating it! Please leave comments on your opinions about the build and the guide itself. Enjoy and please Like if you enjoy this build.

    Thanks for reading!

  • August 13, 2012
    This is great! +1 i played as a Dwemer once. i made a dark elf as white as i could, so he would look like a dwemer. And i used exactly the same perks. :-)
  • August 13, 2012

    Nice, imo, I think that the high elves would be the closest to becoming dwemer :P

  • Member
    August 13, 2012

    Love this, wanted to play a dawnguard char but all my builds seemed more geared towards Vamps.

    If you play on PC this is a great mod that fits in with the theme.

    http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/14060

  • August 13, 2012

    I had the same idea but involved selecting enchanted weapons and armor to simulate upgrade modules. For example: reinforced exoskeleton (chestplate with fortify heavy armor), pneumatic net launcher (gloves with fortify alteration and the allowance of paralyze) and silenced servo motors (boots with muffle and fortify sneaking)

  • August 13, 2012
    Yes, but the dwemers had white skins, right?
  • Member
    August 13, 2012

    I like this build, and admittedly, was working on something similar. Although I seem to prefer yours anyway! I do have one question though, in the quest Lost to the Ages which Dwemer artifact would you suggest taking?

    Obviously the crown is good on any character as it allows you to get an extra stone, but i'm thinking one of the other two would be better. My guess would be the Aetherial Staff but possibly the Shield? What's your insight on this matter?

    P.S. Sorry if I missed this in the build

    EDIT: Found it. 

  • August 13, 2012

    Thanks for everyone's comments! And yes, this build does work well with some mods, such as the Dwemer Exoskeleton, even Dwemer Certified, for those wanting to control an army of robots :D

    @ Jo'Daro

    Hmmm thats a good idea, might update it to cater for that, never thought of that lol

  • Member
    August 13, 2012

    did you see that technologist from the dwemer ruins, hes got a dwarven cross bow...DWARVEN CROSSBOW

  • August 14, 2012

    Yup, you will even look like a dwarven automaton :P