Hello all! This build is one that I've played with in the past and took for a spin with the new Dragonborn DLC. It's a ton of fun, and very rewarding once you've put some time into it, but if you follow the RP guidelines it has a high difficulty curve. The idea for the class comes from a discussion a friend and I had about a theoretical Wheel of Time MMORPG, and what an Aes Sedai class would look like. The most unique idea we had was for it to be a tank/pet class, where your focus is less on improving your own performance and gear, and more about improving your companion. So, with all that, I give you...
The Servant of All
DLC Required: Dawnguard, Dragonborn
Concept
The Servants of All are an ancient sect of Mara Worshippers known best for the strict, magically binding vows that all members of their order take upon initiation. Servants of All train for years in the light of the Nine before taking their vows. Bare before Mara, she swears three oaths: To never speak an untrue word, to forge no weapon which a man can use to kill another, Never to use magicka as a weapon except against true evil, or in the last extreme defense of her life, the life of her warden, or another Servant. These oaths are bound by an ancient pact with Mara herself - the oath is impossible to break.
The Servants of All travel Tamriel, spreading Mara's love to all they find. They spread Mara's love by helping the poor and hungry, teaching those who wish to be taught, defending against evil those who cannot defend themselves. In her journeys, a Servant of All is bound to come across situations in which she needs protection, and so she travels with her Warden. A Servant's Warden is more than a bodyguard - he is a companion, bonded to her by the same magic that binds her oaths. Wardens are martially skilled and not bound by the same oaths as a Servant, allowing them to take up arms in her defense when she otherwise could not. In return, he benefits from her expertise in restorative magic, enjoying a hardy constitution, limitless stamina, and heightened regenerative ability.
The Build
Gear
Gear choices are much more important for the Servant of All than one might think. While the Servant of All wields no martial weaponry and dons no armor, her Warden is kept outfitted with the best equipment money can buy. Simply put, with this class you are responsible for gearing two characters with equal importance.
When gearing the Servant, your focus is to improve her prowess with Restoration, Illusion, and Alteration Spells. It's also a good idea to improve her Magicka Pool, Magicka Regeneration, Health Pool, and Resistance to all types of Magicka.
Gearing the Warden is a bit more complex. Due to the RP constraints on the character, you may not forge a weapon for the Warden, and unless you twist the RP towards the easy side (your prerogative) this also means not custom enchanting or improving via smithing your Warden's weapon. This drastically decreases your Warden's damage potential.
Additionally, followers do not benefit from all types of enchantment effects. Notably, this means that followers don't benefit from Fortify <Combat Skill>, Fortify <Magic School>, Fortify Carry Weight, etc. With that in mind, your main goal is to make your Warden as sturdy as possible whilst seeking out the best quest reward weapon for your Warden. I think Wardens are at their best when they are wielding 1-handed weapons and a shield, but arguments can be made for 2-handed Wardens. Geear recommendations here include both ideas.
Play Tips
Special Abilities
Hello all! This build is one that I've played with in the past and took for a spin with the new Dragonborn DLC. It's a ton of fun, and very rewarding once you've put some time into it, but if you follow the RP guidelines it has a high difficulty curve. The idea for the class comes from a discussion a friend and I had about a theoretical Wheel of Time MMORPG, and what an Aes Sedai class would look like. The most unique idea we had was for it to be a tank/pet class, where your focus is less on improving your own performance and gear, and more about improving your companion. So, with all that, I give you...
The Servant of All
DLC Required: Dawnguard, Dragonborn
Concept
The Servants of All are an ancient sect of Mara Worshippers known best for the strict, magically binding vows that all members of their order take upon initiation. Servants of All train for years in the light of the Nine before taking their vows. Bare before Mara, she swears three oaths: To never speak an untrue word, to forge no weapon which a man can use to kill another, Never to use magicka as a weapon except against true evil, or in the last extreme defense of her life, the life of her warden, or another Servant. These oaths are bound by an ancient pact with Mara herself - the oath is impossible to break.
The Servants of All travel Tamriel, spreading Mara's love to all they find. They spread Mara's love by helping the poor and hungry, teaching those who wish to be taught, defending against evil those who cannot defend themselves. In her journeys, a Servant of All is bound to come across situations in which she needs protection, and so she travels with her Warden. A Servant's Warden is more than a bodyguard - he is a companion, bonded to her by the same magic that binds her oaths. Wardens are martially skilled and not bound by the same oaths as a Servant, allowing them to take up arms in her defense when she otherwise could not. In return, he benefits from her expertise in restorative magic, enjoying a hardy constitution, limitless stamina, and heightened regenerative ability.
The Build
Gear
Gear choices are much more important for the Servant of All than one might think. While the Servant of All wields no martial weaponry and dons no armor, her Warden is kept outfitted with the best equipment money can buy. Simply put, with this class you are responsible for gearing two characters with equal importance.
When gearing the Servant, your focus is to improve her prowess with Restoration, Illusion, and Alteration Spells. It's also a good idea to improve her Magicka Pool, Magicka Regeneration, Health Pool, and Resistance to all types of Magicka.
Gearing the Warden is a bit more complex. Due to the RP constraints on the character, you may not forge a weapon for the Warden, and unless you twist the RP towards the easy side (your prerogative) this also means not custom enchanting or improving via smithing your Warden's weapon. This drastically decreases your Warden's damage potential.
Additionally, followers do not benefit from all types of enchantment effects. Notably, this means that followers don't benefit from Fortify <Combat Skill>, Fortify <Magic School>, Fortify Carry Weight, etc. With that in mind, your main goal is to make your Warden as sturdy as possible whilst seeking out the best quest reward weapon for your Warden. I think Wardens are at their best when they are wielding 1-handed weapons and a shield, but arguments can be made for 2-handed Wardens. Geear recommendations here include both ideas.
Play Tips
Special Abilities
Adding (Dragonborn) to title. I'll remove the Dragonborn stuff from the build if too many people object, though the Dragonborn stuff is really what makes it shine.
Adding (Dragonborn) to title. I'll remove the Dragonborn stuff from the build if too many people object, though the Dragonborn stuff is really what makes it shine.
Really don't worry about this Dragonborn/PS3 business! People have already bombarded the activity stream with spoilers (some people are even visiting my threads just to post a spoiler). You stated in the first line of your build that this was a Dragonborn build, nobody should have reason to object...
Looks good! +1
Really don't worry about this Dragonborn/PS3 business! People have already bombarded the activity stream with spoilers (some people are even visiting my threads just to post a spoiler). You stated in the first line of your build that this was a Dragonborn build, nobody should have reason to object...
Looks good! +1
D'oh! I meant to add a section discussing who I recommended... Long story short, Celann from the Dawnguard works quite well, especially if you're going to take your Servant to level 81 (which is a painful process), because he has no level cap.
D'oh! I meant to add a section discussing who I recommended... Long story short, Celann from the Dawnguard works quite well, especially if you're going to take your Servant to level 81 (which is a painful process), because he has no level cap.
Sorry to double reply here, just realized that you're PS3. I'm bad about forgetting about the situation PS3 players are in (I do sympathize, hopefully they'll get DLC out to you soon).
Any of the housecarls work well, since they mostly specialize in Heavy Armor and One-handed. Lydia is the easiest to get, but for RP purposes I would go for a male follower.
Companions followers work well too, except that you have to do the companions quest line to get most of them.
Sorry to double reply here, just realized that you're PS3. I'm bad about forgetting about the situation PS3 players are in (I do sympathize, hopefully they'll get DLC out to you soon).
Any of the housecarls work well, since they mostly specialize in Heavy Armor and One-handed. Lydia is the easiest to get, but for RP purposes I would go for a male follower.
Companions followers work well too, except that you have to do the companions quest line to get most of them.
For those reading, and especially those familiar with the Wheel of Time novels, I have a question. I've added limitations to this build that I'm starting to rethink, namely the restriction on weapon enchanting. (Slight spoilers for the Wheel of time book 13 follow)
In Towers of Midnight, Aes Sedai rediscover the ability to use the One Power to enhance forged items, the first of these being the warhammer Mah'alleinir (as seen in my profile picture.) Taking this into account, do I remove the restriction on enchanting weapons? And, if I do, do I also then remove the restriction on smithing improvements?
For those reading, and especially those familiar with the Wheel of Time novels, I have a question. I've added limitations to this build that I'm starting to rethink, namely the restriction on weapon enchanting. (Slight spoilers for the Wheel of time book 13 follow)
In Towers of Midnight, Aes Sedai rediscover the ability to use the One Power to enhance forged items, the first of these being the warhammer Mah'alleinir (as seen in my profile picture.) Taking this into account, do I remove the restriction on enchanting weapons? And, if I do, do I also then remove the restriction on smithing improvements?
Arath, firstly thank you for putting a spoiler warning with regards to TWoT as i am only on book 5 and have avoided looking at your second paragraph. I love the Aes Sedai idea being bound by the oaths/having a warder (i have often toyed with making such a build). My only query being however, why did you not include destruction? It seems to feature fairly heavily (in the books i have read) particularly the use of flames and occassionally lightning, i appreciate the RP not using it except for in line with the 3 oaths but believe that disintegrating a shadow spawn or send them running whilst on fire would be somewhat apt and one of the few pleasures of being Aes Sedai? Also storm call would be very kl for a special move with the manipulating weather aspect but i appreciate that our trusty warder would be in some jeopardy lol
Arath, firstly thank you for putting a spoiler warning with regards to TWoT as i am only on book 5 and have avoided looking at your second paragraph. I love the Aes Sedai idea being bound by the oaths/having a warder (i have often toyed with making such a build). My only query being however, why did you not include destruction? It seems to feature fairly heavily (in the books i have read) particularly the use of flames and occassionally lightning, i appreciate the RP not using it except for in line with the 3 oaths but believe that disintegrating a shadow spawn or send them running whilst on fire would be somewhat apt and one of the few pleasures of being Aes Sedai? Also storm call would be very kl for a special move with the manipulating weather aspect but i appreciate that our trusty warder would be in some jeopardy lol