Skyrim Character Building » Discussions


Character Build: The Darth Sentinel

Tags: #Character Build Spellsword  #Character Build Vampire  #Character Build Villain  #Race:Dunmer  #Rank:Recognized  #Motty Build 
  • Member
    December 28, 2015

    This build is my foray into two previously unexplored mechanics – Unlimited Concentration Casting (UCC) and the Vampiric Grip in Human Form (VGHF) glitch. This powerful combination just seemed insanely fun ever since I saw versions of it used so successfully in The Shade Mistress and The Kinetic. This is also my first posted "no-crafting" build. Frankly, this setup is so powerful, crafting would make it OP to the point of boredom. While I missed the window for the Crossworlds event, I proudly present the Darth Sentinel: bringing the Sith Lord to Skyrim from a galaxy far, far away.

    Art Credit - "Dark Fantasy Lord Vader" by Conor Burke aka Mac-Tire

    Race: Dunmer Vampire Lord, male, pale, bald, lava burn scars

    Stone: Mage to level restoration, Lord will yield 68.75% Magic Resistance (with Necromage and 3/3 Alteration Resistance), which is handy against non-grabbable dragons, dragon priests, etc.

    Stats: 0 Magicka | All Health | 0 Stamina.

    Skills:
    One-handed - Wield sabres of ethereal light, fire and electricity.

    Destruction - Flames, Sparks, Frostbite, Wall of Fire, Frost & Shock.

    Alteration - Flesh spells, detect life/dead (I sense a presence...), magic resistance.

    Conjuration - Bound sword is needed for the VGHF glitch, and mimics the type of sabre he prefers. 

    Illusion - Aspect of terror to boost fire damage with fear (take after augmented fire perks first for maximum effect).

    Restoration - Necromage to boost your vampiric powers, lesser ward for non-grabbable magic users.

    Speech - Right Side (optional RP element, though the better fit is using the Bend Will shout)

    Vampirism - Power of the Grave, Vampiric Grip, Unearthly Will (Useful to reduce cost of VG prior to performing unlimited magicka glitch and to preserve enough magicka to cast bound sword and flesh spells.)

    Level 42 Perks – Skyrim Calculator

    Glitches & Special Mechanics: 
    Unlimited Concentration Casting (UCC) + Unlimited Stamina: By putting no points in magicka nor stamina, using a Potion of health + Philter of health and equipping the Gauldur Amulet, The Dark Sentinel will be blessed with both unlimited magicka and stamina. 

    Vampiric Grip in Human Form (VGHF): Please refer to the link for details on using vampiric grip in human form by casting the bound sword.

    Combining UCC with vampiric grip completely changes the way Skyrim can be played. Normally, this magicka-hungry power is limited to just a few seconds, but in this setup, it’s completely awesome and opens up entirely new combat and gameplay combinations found nowhere else. Make sure to complete the vampiric grip glitch first as vampire lord transformations will un-equip the Gauldur Amulet and remove the unlimited effects.  


    Weapons: Bound Sword, Blades Sword of Fire, Dragonbane

    Gear: Black Vampire Armor of Destruction --> Nightingale Armor*, Ebony Helmet of Magicka, Ebony Gauntlets of One-handed, Ebony Boots of One-Handed, The Gauldur Amulet, Ring of Erudite.

    Shouts: 
    Unrelenting Force - The Force is strong with this one.
    Bend Will - These aren't the droids you're looking for.
    Disarm - Here Han, let me hang on to that blaster for you.

    *Nightingale Armor can be retrieved alongside the third word of Disarm, by using the backdoor/bucketing technique first explained by Ponty's Guide to dungeon backdooring and expanded on here. Simply start the Thieves Guild quest line to the part where you get their armor. Then skip ahead to Snow Veil Sanctum and bucket your way through to the word as he shows. Follow the quest markers through Karliah and you'll skip a ton of the Thieves Guild quests. 

     

    Because no points are put in magicka, notice most of the spells chosen are based around using unlimited concentration casting, except bound sword which will only cost 46 magicka with a 1 point investment in conjuration. From Helgen, prioritize restoration and destruction leveling and training at the college of Winterhold.

    Apprenticeship:
    Buy a bound sword tome from any of the court wizards and start the Dawnguard Questline at level 10. Accept Harkon’s gift and the first time you meet up with Dexion, the vampire there will have a Vampire Armor of Destruction for your outfit. Taking Tolan’s steel plate gauntlets and boots at the start of Dawnguard along with any bought or found steel plate helm is a fine substitute prior to acquiring ebony gear.

    Face Your Fears:
    Start the College questline and finish the Forbidden Legend quest for plenty of leveling and acquiring the glitch dependent amulet. Make sure to buy the necessary potions along the way. Philter of Healing potions don’t show up in merchant inventory until level 20.

    Give in to The Dark Side:
    Once you have them, make sure you’ve got the required vampire lord perks, activate the VGHF glitch, then perform the UCC/Stamina glitch with the Gauldur Amulet and you’re ready to dominate. I completed this at level 24. Only unlock the Necromage perk after completing the glitches as it can make the Gauldur glitch not work. (SAVE a clean game before your ascension to Lordship!).

    Lordship:
    Start the Dragonborn quest line to continue your work with Master Mora. Ebony gear will start showing up at level 34 to finish off the aesthetic and the build. Your training is complete. 

    Stance 1 – Vampiric Grip left hand, Sword of choice right hand

    Stance 2 – Vampiric Grip left hand, Destruction spell right hand

    With the combination of an absurdly high health pool and the ability to hurl opponents all over the place, most battles require little to no protection. However casting a flesh spell heading into trouble spots against dragons, automotans and other foes that you can’t grab is recommended. Then switch to your offense of choice in the right hand and fire away. Keep enemies off of you with quick grips, which act like an extended stagger, knocking them down for long periods of time. Or, pick them up and inflict maximum fall and momentum damage. Finally, against grabbable single oponents, hold them in front of you, incapacitate them and finish them with sword or spell. *Note power attacks break vampiric grip. 

    Master Mora has entrusted you with two objectives:
    1. Maintain power and protect his knowledge with an iron fist.
    2. Find a suitable apprentice.  

    Becoming a champion of Hermaeus Mora is as close to having an Emperor Palpatine / Supreme Leader as I could think of. I considered other daedra, but this one ultimately fit the role, especially with the addition of the Bend Will shout and the passing "down" of apprentice/championship from Miraak. I used the Oghma Infinium to finish the last 5 levels of Restoration to get to 70, and Necromage. 

    For the apprentice search, I basically took followers and "tested" them. If they lived they stuck with me for a while. Let's just say Sven didn't make it out of Sarthal. Some good sorcerer class followers to "test" include ValdimarOnmund and Teldryn Sero. Ultimately, Serana is essential and as such made a nice substitute for Luke (or Rey, if you will). Since she's a powerful sorcerer, it felt like a good enough fit.

    “The Lava of Mustafar”
    Requirements: Unlimited Vampiric Grip + Flames
    Description: Hold your foe and test them with fire. A good way to level destruction also.

    “The Machine”
    Requirements: Unlimited Vampiric Grip + Sword
    Description: Hold your foe and smite them with your sword of choice.

    “Twisted & Evil”
    Requirements: VGHF + UCC + Wall of Flames (Shock)
    Description: Pile up a gaggle of weak minded fools and fry (or shock) them to death.

    “The Force Unleashed”
    Requirements: Unlimited Vampiric Grip + Unrelenting Force
    Description: Toss and launch bandits like bean bags. 

    (Optional RP Ending)
    "World-Ender"
    Requirements: Secret of Arcana + UCC + Lightning Storm
    Description: Should you run into, say a World-Eater, and need an extra kick, an unending stream of buffed lighting should do the trick. * Note, you will lose your Vampiric Grip, which in of itself is easy enough to replace. But, if you have the necromage perk, you won't be able to re-acquire the Gauldur Amulet glitch. So...basically, don't perk necromage or don't use this power, outside of a final, end-game, last-move, that's it - game over...now jump off the whale bone bridge. 

    Forbidden Legend - Acquiring the Gauldur Amulet is a good test of your early skills. 

    Dawnguard – Volkihar option for Vampire Lord / Vampiric Grip power.

    College of Winterhold – Training and the first piece of the Gauldur Amulet.

    Discerning the Transmundane - Meet your Master.

    Dragonborn - Continue Championing your Master's will. Obtain Bend Will Shout.

    Main Quest - Through the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller to open shouts and initiate the Dragonborn questline.

    I can't tell you enough how much fun vampiric grip can be and how in debt I am to the many wonderful builders on this site. I've mentioned it already, but please go like The Shade Mistress by Karver and Kael, and The Kinetic by Halifax as they are the main inspiration for me trying this style of play. Thanks to Doc PGB for the Nightingale armor suggestion. I fully recognize the responsibility that comes from posting a Star Wars Build - I hope I did it justice. Tip of the cap to the team of Kael and ShinJin for their awesome Yoda inspired crossworlds event build - The Small One. Thanks to Raidriar for finding the opening artwork and Relycs for making the first two graphics look so cool. Lastly, if you haven't seen Albino's excellent guide to Necromage Vampirism, I highly recommend checking it out!

    May the Force Be With You, Sith Lords.

  • Member
    December 28, 2015

    Awesome work with Vader in Skyrim Motty, you know, I have an old character where I tried a similar thing, might post it eventually

  • Member
    December 28, 2015
    *heavy breathing*
  • Member
    December 28, 2015
    Haha...I mean trying to breath under a full helm is sure to produce some heavy breathing. Are there any air holes in those things? :)
  • Member
    December 28, 2015
    Thanks bud. I'd love to see your take! What- you couldn't get 6 Crossworlds builds out?!! Haha
  • Member
    December 28, 2015
    Come to the dark side of the force! We have cookies and UNLIMITED POWAH'!!!
  • Member
    December 28, 2015

    Oh hah, I had so many ideas for Crossworlds. Though, let's say I have a build inspired by another Star Wars character currently in the works. Not a Jedi, Sith, he's not even a Force user, or a light saber wielder, well, except in a few fan films. 

  • Member
    December 28, 2015

    nice

  • Member
    December 28, 2015
    Very cool Motty. I think you nailed it. I had the most difficult time getting that glitch to work for the vampiric grip and ended up having to get a mod which thankfully was available. It was very difficult to be challenged because he could basically hold the person up against the wall and then hit them with flames until they were dead and literally I don't think anything touched me for 30 levels. +1
  • Member
    December 28, 2015

    I really didn't have any trouble getting the glitch to take. And you're right - it becomes pretty OP once you've got both glitches working. But, you ARE Vader...the most feared dude in the galaxy. But this is definitely one that requires some restraint as you noted - pinning guys forever gets old quickly. Truthfully, I had more fun launching people from high places and snatching bandits from their lookout perches unseen. A particularly memorable one was the tower near the dock at Volkihar Castle...the Dawnguard will spawn up there from time to time. I went up and launched him to the right...so far down! Ha!

    Thanks.