(I'd have loved to add music to it, it would have probably been too long a song... Either way, if missing the atmosphere for it, click here. Comments are more than welcome)
Thinking of combat mechanics I kept wanting to play a 0AR character. The Agent class showed great promise so I put together a TES based skillset and proceeded with the playthrough details. The result is, as expected, an extremely reliable character built. Who doesn't wear armor. On Master difficulty. I know, stealth is overpowered. But... No Smithing, no Enchanting and no Alchemy as penalties.
The Talos Cult Agent
"I swear that I shall die to put a strong man back on the throne of Tamriel". Marana Rian leaned in and kissed me. We were now sisters in Talos, bound together by the centuries old vow.
Most Legionnaires who fought in The Great War were saying Titus Mede II was a good strategist. There is a difference between battle strategy and politics. Winning a battle doesn't mean the people are happy. The Emperor has to be overthrown, one way or the other.
I am the agent of change.
Name: Lirielle Bantien
Race: Breton (Female)
Stone: The Thief Stone The Shadow Stone The Serpent Stone
Major Skills: Sneak/ Pickpocketing/ Speech
Minor Skills: Illusion/ Lockpicking/ One-handed (concession between Morrowind's Agent having Short Blade as a major skill and Block as a minor skill - this agent will only block [if ever] with the weapon, not with shields)
Weapons: Blade of Woe
Armor: 0 (Clothing - Unique Items (Shrowded Hand Wraps or any item with Backstab are a must)/ Generic Magic Apparel)
Shouts: Become Ethereal/ Marked for Death
Stat Placement: Magicka 2 – Health 2 – Stamina 0
Quests: Any (your status within Skyrim allows for detailed exploration and your decisions are based on as much experience you can get)
Stealth mechanics are both loved and hated. The Devil is in the details. I combined Stealth with 0AR because it's the easiest way to bypass the need for wearing armor.
The Talos Cult Agent is a powerful character who uses the Breton race because "espionage has also proven to be one of their strong suits; Breton double agents, assassins, and spies have turned the tide of wars throughout recorded history." Argonians, Bosmers and Khajiit are known for their Stealth skills but Bretons look like Cyrodiils and Nords so they can infiltrate some territories better; plus, they see politics as an interesting game of wits and will surprise some attackeers with their innate Magic Resistance.
Your mission is double sided. To check if Ulfric is a better suited Emperor and to deal with Titus Mede II. When you went on your mission to Skyrim you had enough valuables on you to provide you with coin for about a year but they were all taken away from you when you were caught. You don't know much about Stealth although you have a lot of information on how skills work. And since you lack the experience, you start to train as soon as you are free. The first step was taken. You had met Ulfric.
Combat doesn't scare you but if you can avoid it you will. Patience is a self-taught trait and you're mastering it. You will start treasuring your relationship with apothecaries and will use their potions to get out of any tricky situations. Of course you will have money to pay for it. All that jewelry you will steal from unaware targets will fetch you good coin from fences...
When in doubt REMAIN HIDDEN
If it's not obvious, the build relies on Stealth mechanics. Using stealth you will improve your equipment, you will make combat easier, you will reset combat encounters or completely ignore them.
Since you will not use Alchemy, Enchanting or Smithing, things are going to be slightly different than they usually are. There will be no tempering of equipped items. You will wear clothing, be it unique or generic magic apparel. As an epitomy of the Empire, your religious allegiance lies with Talos. Thus, you don't care much about the Daedra because you know they are unreliable and capricious. Too many variables for you to rely or depend on.
Where does your success come from? It comes from reading: "always know when to let the mark go", "always carry a bent lockpick [...] (and) copper lockpicks [...] (that) bend easy", "When it's hot (the lock), the springs are all the same". And you know that everybody can hide. Also, that not many can stay hidden. Among all of these there was one citation that always fascinated you that said "the great art of speechcraft is to tell people what they want to hear in a way that gets them to do what you want them to do." It fascinates you be because you always perceived it as a truism about a skill that based its success on one too many variables. Again, variables.
As far as you are concerned, there are two types of agents. The type who needs other people to succeed (by means of speechcraft) and your type. Plus, you heard of agents who prefer bows and crossbows over One-handed weapons. They are probably the ones who cannot stay hidden. You have the confidence that you can. And if something goes wrong you will manage an escape. Before any mission you will always think of everything that could go wrong and make preparations for it.
After you escape from Helgen you begin your journey by starting to train your Pickpocket skill. Your valuables are gone and you need gold for anything you cannot steal. You don't train in plain sight and you like sleeping targets. Tresspassing is one word. But to tresspass without using Sneak, Lockpicking or Pickpocketing is just committing a gratuitous petty crime. So your training usually happens within cities, between midnight and 7-8 in the morning, when everyone should be asleep.
You primarily train your Pickpocketing skill. After your skill allows you to place fake evidence in other people's pockets and pickpocket somebody's equipped weapon your training sessions will start to concentrate more on your Sneak skill. By the time you gather a commendable hoard, you will have made contact with the Thieves Guild in Riften and used their Fence to get rid of unwanted items. Any jewelry that would fortify your skills you will keep. Anything else is just good for coin. And you immediately start doing their special missions. You know that will open new doors as the reputation of the Guild will start expanding over other cities in Skyrim and new fences will become available. Best thing about it? You report the Guild's activity to your Cult superior.
You have to sniff the air around Ulfric Stormcloak so whenever on missions in Windhelm you ask everybody about him, about the Stormcloak Rebellion and about Talos. While in the city you also check the rumours about a child who is said to be performing the Black Sacrament in order to summon a Dark Brotherhood assassin. You get involved for a reason and you are not very surprised when, after going to sleep one night you wake up with what seems one of the Brotherhood's assassins asking you to repay your debt for stealing one of their contract kills. Heh, since you cannot take any chances with an assassin, before doing anything you pickpocket her weapon. Alea Quintus obviously has to die. And the Cult can only benefit from a spy in the Brotherhood.
Starting to work on Brotherhood contracts helps you increase your Sneak skill. You are always chuckling while on these missions... they remind you of the books you read... "hand over the mouth (with your thumb under the chin - for sleeping targets), then you use your other hand to slit the throat"... heh, Morrowind assassins... One of the first Spell Tomes you will buy is a detailed treatise on the Muffle spell. You never hoped that by using just one spell over and over again you will turn into an Illusion master. But you can't help using it since not being heard leaves you only with not being seen. Which helps you tremendously since it seems that using Muffle is like needing half the skill in Sneak.
Your sworn mission will place you into the heart of everything this northernmost province of Tamriel is all about: the Nord culture, its traditions and myths, their society, their music and mead, their hunting Ice Wraiths as a rite of passage... the Thu'um and their dragons... Who would have expected you, a Breton, not even a Nord, to be a Dragonborn? An archetype for everything a Nord should be? The gods always played their tricks.
Your actions still have to determine things of major importance. Is Titus Mede II fit to rule over the Empire? Would Ulfric Stormcloak make for a better Emperor? Would Amaund Motierre? You can use the Thu'um. So can Ulfric. So could Tiber Septim. Talos. Why did the Greybeards call you "Stormcrown"? Wasn't this one of Tiber Septim's titles? Is it possible? Are you to be the next Emperor?
What will you decide?
Equipment
General tips
1. Use any type of attire that helps you with not raising suspicions
- if you want an attire to fit almost if not all needs, wear Hooded Monk Robes
- if you are dealing with nobles, wear Noble Clothes or a Wedding Dress
- if you are dealing with commoners, wear Merchant or Tavern Clothes
- if you didn't choose a side in the Civil War, wear Mourner's Clothes and venture in Imperial and Stormcloak camps; it will be worth your while
- be on a lookout for an Amulet of Dibella and Generic Magic jewelry: Necklaces and Rings with Fortify Pickpocket ("of Deft Hands")/ Fortify Sneak ("of Sneaking")/ Fortify One-handed ("of Wielding")/ Fortify Lockpicking ("of Lockpicking")/ Barter ("of Haggling")
2. When ready for action, use the best suited pieces of apparel
Note: exceeding a combined 100% skill increase may result in unwanted effects (depending on installed updates/ patches)
PERK PLACEMENT - LEVEL 50
Wildcards
- Standard Potions/ Poisons
- The build does not have access to super potions/ poisons because training Alchemy is forbidden. But this is not to say that you cannot buy potions/ poisons from apothecaries/ pawnbrokers/ fences.
- The only drawback is that the bonus skill increase from standard potions/ poisons will generally be 2-3 times less than it would otherwise be with custom made potions.
- Standard Spell Scrolls
- Ever thought what you would do with a Scroll of Mass Paralysis at level 1? Think of something fun...
- The trick is you will be using Spells without needing a Magicka pool to cover their costs.
Abilities
Quick Disable Some enemies react faster than others. In such situations, your only chance of success depends on getting close to your target as soon as possible and pinch then with the tip of your poisoned dagger.
Requires - Silent Roll + Poison of Paralysis
Uncanny Evasion When disabling the enemy failed, sometimes your only hope comes from your nimble fingers. You gulp a potion just before getting hit. It will save your life. Rolling away from danger, you can take care of becoming invisible again.
Requires - Potion of Fortify Health + Silent Roll + Potion of Invisibility
Buffed to Kill Wearing the right apparel is imperative. You study your targets. Knowing if there are weapons in the room is a must. You make yourself hidden or invisible, you gulp down a potion or two... Fortify One-handed, Fortify Sneak... Sometimes you're amused when you have to hack at your target with consecutive slashes... Goes to prove Endurance is overrated.
Requires - Scroll of Call to Arms + Potion of Fortify One-handed + Potion of Fortify Sneak + Backstab
Draconic Apotheosis Thank Talos you're a Breton and have some Magic Resistance. You always carry with you protective Necklaces and Rings (each of them can add between 15 to 70% protection against Fire/ Frost/ Shock Damage). Circlets and Rings also help you with Fortify Archery... Potions can help with Magic Resistance and also with Fortifying Archery or One-handed. I am Dragonborn. I have the ability to absorb a slain dragon's soul. But Dragons are Dragons and I am still a Breton...
Requires - Wits
(There are no real combat tricks when playing a Stealth character. Silent Rolling towards an enemy is generally better when engaged in combat. If you manage to roll under their raised arm, the better... If you want to find something new, put yourself in new situations. The Uncanny Evasion above is based on evading a Giant's club when such an encounter was overpowering me.)
(Thank you for putting up with my no-frills pictures)
(I'd have loved to add music to it, it would have probably been too long a song... Either way, if missing the atmosphere for it, click here. Comments are more than welcome)
Thinking of combat mechanics I kept wanting to play a 0AR character. The Agent class showed great promise so I put together a TES based skillset and proceeded with the playthrough details. The result is, as expected, an extremely reliable character built. Who doesn't wear armor. On Master difficulty. I know, stealth is overpowered. But... No Smithing, no Enchanting and no Alchemy as penalties.
The Talos Cult Agent
"I swear that I shall die to put a strong man back on the throne of Tamriel". Marana Rian leaned in and kissed me. We were now sisters in Talos, bound together by the centuries old vow.
Most Legionnaires who fought in The Great War were saying Titus Mede II was a good strategist. There is a difference between battle strategy and politics. Winning a battle doesn't mean the people are happy. The Emperor has to be overthrown, one way or the other.
I am the agent of change.
Name: Lirielle Bantien
Race: Breton (Female)
Stone: The Thief Stone The Shadow Stone The Serpent Stone
Major Skills: Sneak/ Pickpocketing/ Speech
Minor Skills: Illusion/ Lockpicking/ One-handed (concession between Morrowind's Agent having Short Blade as a major skill and Block as a minor skill - this agent will only block [if ever] with the weapon, not with shields)
Weapons: Blade of Woe
Armor: 0 (Clothing - Unique Items (Shrowded Hand Wraps or any item with Backstab are a must)/ Generic Magic Apparel)
Shouts: Become Ethereal/ Marked for Death
Stat Placement: Magicka 2 – Health 2 – Stamina 0
Quests: Any (your status within Skyrim allows for detailed exploration and your decisions are based on as much experience you can get)
Stealth mechanics are both loved and hated. The Devil is in the details. I combined Stealth with 0AR because it's the easiest way to bypass the need for wearing armor.
The Talos Cult Agent is a powerful character who uses the Breton race because "espionage has also proven to be one of their strong suits; Breton double agents, assassins, and spies have turned the tide of wars throughout recorded history." Argonians, Bosmers and Khajiit are known for their Stealth skills but Bretons look like Cyrodiils and Nords so they can infiltrate some territories better; plus, they see politics as an interesting game of wits and will surprise some attackeers with their innate Magic Resistance.
Your mission is double sided. To check if Ulfric is a better suited Emperor and to deal with Titus Mede II. When you went on your mission to Skyrim you had enough valuables on you to provide you with coin for about a year but they were all taken away from you when you were caught. You don't know much about Stealth although you have a lot of information on how skills work. And since you lack the experience, you start to train as soon as you are free. The first step was taken. You had met Ulfric.
Combat doesn't scare you but if you can avoid it you will. Patience is a self-taught trait and you're mastering it. You will start treasuring your relationship with apothecaries and will use their potions to get out of any tricky situations. Of course you will have money to pay for it. All that jewelry you will steal from unaware targets will fetch you good coin from fences...
When in doubt REMAIN HIDDEN
If it's not obvious, the build relies on Stealth mechanics. Using stealth you will improve your equipment, you will make combat easier, you will reset combat encounters or completely ignore them.
Since you will not use Alchemy, Enchanting or Smithing, things are going to be slightly different than they usually are. There will be no tempering of equipped items. You will wear clothing, be it unique or generic magic apparel. As an epitomy of the Empire, your religious allegiance lies with Talos. Thus, you don't care much about the Daedra because you know they are unreliable and capricious. Too many variables for you to rely or depend on.
Where does your success come from? It comes from reading: "always know when to let the mark go", "always carry a bent lockpick [...] (and) copper lockpicks [...] (that) bend easy", "When it's hot (the lock), the springs are all the same". And you know that everybody can hide. Also, that not many can stay hidden. Among all of these there was one citation that always fascinated you that said "the great art of speechcraft is to tell people what they want to hear in a way that gets them to do what you want them to do." It fascinates you be because you always perceived it as a truism about a skill that based its success on one too many variables. Again, variables.
As far as you are concerned, there are two types of agents. The type who needs other people to succeed (by means of speechcraft) and your type. Plus, you heard of agents who prefer bows and crossbows over One-handed weapons. They are probably the ones who cannot stay hidden. You have the confidence that you can. And if something goes wrong you will manage an escape. Before any mission you will always think of everything that could go wrong and make preparations for it.
After you escape from Helgen you begin your journey by starting to train your Pickpocket skill. Your valuables are gone and you need gold for anything you cannot steal. You don't train in plain sight and you like sleeping targets. Tresspassing is one word. But to tresspass without using Sneak, Lockpicking or Pickpocketing is just committing a gratuitous petty crime. So your training usually happens within cities, between midnight and 7-8 in the morning, when everyone should be asleep.
You primarily train your Pickpocketing skill. After your skill allows you to place fake evidence in other people's pockets and pickpocket somebody's equipped weapon your training sessions will start to concentrate more on your Sneak skill. By the time you gather a commendable hoard, you will have made contact with the Thieves Guild in Riften and used their Fence to get rid of unwanted items. Any jewelry that would fortify your skills you will keep. Anything else is just good for coin. And you immediately start doing their special missions. You know that will open new doors as the reputation of the Guild will start expanding over other cities in Skyrim and new fences will become available. Best thing about it? You report the Guild's activity to your Cult superior.
You have to sniff the air around Ulfric Stormcloak so whenever on missions in Windhelm you ask everybody about him, about the Stormcloak Rebellion and about Talos. While in the city you also check the rumours about a child who is said to be performing the Black Sacrament in order to summon a Dark Brotherhood assassin. You get involved for a reason and you are not very surprised when, after going to sleep one night you wake up with what seems one of the Brotherhood's assassins asking you to repay your debt for stealing one of their contract kills. Heh, since you cannot take any chances with an assassin, before doing anything you pickpocket her weapon. Alea Quintus obviously has to die. And the Cult can only benefit from a spy in the Brotherhood.
Starting to work on Brotherhood contracts helps you increase your Sneak skill. You are always chuckling while on these missions... they remind you of the books you read... "hand over the mouth (with your thumb under the chin - for sleeping targets), then you use your other hand to slit the throat"... heh, Morrowind assassins... One of the first Spell Tomes you will buy is a detailed treatise on the Muffle spell. You never hoped that by using just one spell over and over again you will turn into an Illusion master. But you can't help using it since not being heard leaves you only with not being seen. Which helps you tremendously since it seems that using Muffle is like needing half the skill in Sneak.
Your sworn mission will place you into the heart of everything this northernmost province of Tamriel is all about: the Nord culture, its traditions and myths, their society, their music and mead, their hunting Ice Wraiths as a rite of passage... the Thu'um and their dragons... Who would have expected you, a Breton, not even a Nord, to be a Dragonborn? An archetype for everything a Nord should be? The gods always played their tricks.
Your actions still have to determine things of major importance. Is Titus Mede II fit to rule over the Empire? Would Ulfric Stormcloak make for a better Emperor? Would Amaund Motierre? You can use the Thu'um. So can Ulfric. So could Tiber Septim. Talos. Why did the Greybeards call you "Stormcrown"? Wasn't this one of Tiber Septim's titles? Is it possible? Are you to be the next Emperor?
What will you decide?
Equipment
General tips
1. Use any type of attire that helps you with not raising suspicions
- if you want an attire to fit almost if not all needs, wear Hooded Monk Robes
- if you are dealing with nobles, wear Noble Clothes or a Wedding Dress
- if you are dealing with commoners, wear Merchant or Tavern Clothes
- if you didn't choose a side in the Civil War, wear Mourner's Clothes and venture in Imperial and Stormcloak camps; it will be worth your while
- be on a lookout for an Amulet of Dibella and Generic Magic jewelry: Necklaces and Rings with Fortify Pickpocket ("of Deft Hands")/ Fortify Sneak ("of Sneaking")/ Fortify One-handed ("of Wielding")/ Fortify Lockpicking ("of Lockpicking")/ Barter ("of Haggling")
2. When ready for action, use the best suited pieces of apparel
Note: exceeding a combined 100% skill increase may result in unwanted effects (depending on installed updates/ patches)
PERK PLACEMENT - LEVEL 50
Wildcards
- Standard Potions/ Poisons
- The build does not have access to super potions/ poisons because training Alchemy is forbidden. But this is not to say that you cannot buy potions/ poisons from apothecaries/ pawnbrokers/ fences.
- The only drawback is that the bonus skill increase from standard potions/ poisons will generally be 2-3 times less than it would otherwise be with custom made potions.
- Standard Spell Scrolls
- Ever thought what you would do with a Scroll of Mass Paralysis at level 1? Think of something fun...
- The trick is you will be using Spells without needing a Magicka pool to cover their costs.
Abilities
Quick Disable Some enemies react faster than others. In such situations, your only chance of success depends on getting close to your target as soon as possible and pinch then with the tip of your poisoned dagger.
Requires - Silent Roll + Poison of Paralysis
Uncanny Evasion When disabling the enemy failed, sometimes your only hope comes from your nimble fingers. You gulp a potion just before getting hit. It will save your life. Rolling away from danger, you can take care of becoming invisible again.
Requires - Potion of Fortify Health + Silent Roll + Potion of Invisibility
Buffed to Kill Wearing the right apparel is imperative. You study your targets. Knowing if there are weapons in the room is a must. You make yourself hidden or invisible, you gulp down a potion or two... Fortify One-handed, Fortify Sneak... Sometimes you're amused when you have to hack at your target with consecutive slashes... Goes to prove Endurance is overrated.
Requires - Scroll of Call to Arms + Potion of Fortify One-handed + Potion of Fortify Sneak + Backstab
Draconic Apotheosis Thank Talos you're a Breton and have some Magic Resistance. You always carry with you protective Necklaces and Rings (each of them can add between 15 to 70% protection against Fire/ Frost/ Shock Damage). Circlets and Rings also help you with Fortify Archery... Potions can help with Magic Resistance and also with Fortifying Archery or One-handed. I am Dragonborn. I have the ability to absorb a slain dragon's soul. But Dragons are Dragons and I am still a Breton...
Requires - Wits
(There are no real combat tricks when playing a Stealth character. Silent Rolling towards an enemy is generally better when engaged in combat. If you manage to roll under their raised arm, the better... If you want to find something new, put yourself in new situations. The Uncanny Evasion above is based on evading a Giant's club when such an encounter was overpowering me.)
(Thank you for putting up with my no-frills pictures)
Here it is
(and Scrolls of Storm Thrall 
)
