Skyrim Character Building » Discussions


Event Build: The Herald of the Fang

Tags: #Character Build Spellsword  #Character Build Enchanter  #Rank:Event Recognized  #Event:Artifacts 
  • Member
    February 28, 2016

    Hello all! So this is my entry to the Artefacts event. I have to say this has been a very satisfying build for me to date, something about recreating by favourite artefact added a huge amount joy into the character. So, with further ado I present…

     

      

    Nourishing… Yes… that’s what it wants. What it needs. I must stop this voice. Sate its hunger. This blade is mine, and mine alone. None shall take it for they will die in the attempt. No one shall take my fang, for I am its Herald.

     

     The Build

     

     

     

    It took a while but I finally envisioned the build I wanted to make. Truly incorporating Dusk/Dawnfang allows for some interesting roleplay factors, and an immensely satisfying no wait, no fast travel build, with our extensive use of enchanting means this build quickly becomes a true instrument of power.

     

    Race: Really, it can be anything. I chose Altmer for the magicka boost, but anything works (you could try Argonian because of the blade’s Tsaesci heritage).

     Attribute Spread: 1/1/0

     Stone: Mage/Lover then, once enchanting is of a respectable level, Lord. Atronach is also perfectly viable.

     Skills: Enchanting, Destruction, One-Handed, Smithing, Restoration, Heavy Armour.

     Quests: College of Winterhold, Main Quest, Dawguard/Volkihar, Ironbind Barrow, The Black Star.

     

     

    Skills

     Enchanting: We can’t simply recreate an Artefact as powerful as this without some extensive enchanting. We ignore the Storm Enchanter perks for obvious reasons.

     Destruction: Mainly used to beef up the Fang’s damage, although it allowed for decent ranged combat. We focus on Augmented Flame and Frost.

     One-Handed: Not really much to say here. We focus on Armsman and Savage Strike. Bladesman is perked late game.

     Smithing: To upgrade our artefact. VERY lightly perk.

     Restoration: Mainly used for in combat sustain. Lightly perked

     Heavy Armour: Mainly for aesthetic. Can easily be swapped out for light, depending on personal preference.

     

     

     

    Level 35 build

     

    Duskfang and Dawnfang 

     

     

     

     I just adore this weapon! Was easily a favourite from Oblivion. When trying to bring it to Skyrim, I figured it’d be handy enough… boy how wrong was I. I toyed with so many ideas, but didn’t want to perk the smithing tree too heavily, which proved a problem until I recalled a holy grail for this build. The Blades Sword. It was simply perfect, fitting with the Blades' Akaviri descent, working off the steel smithing perk while retaining elven damage is perfect for this build. Early game I simply used enchanted steel swords until I retrieved the weapons needed from Cloud Ruler and Delphine’s secret room.

     Building off of Oblivion’s iteration of the sword, Dawnfang was enchanted with fire damage and health absorb was later added. Duskfang was respectively enchanted with frost damage and magicka drain.

     

    Roleplay

     

    I really wanted the weapon to feel special, because of that I centred the character itself to be more of a mercenary, that way all of the builds speciality would be placed solely on the blade.

     When playing, we want to switch between the respective Fangs at each day/night cycle. Dawnfang would be used during 6am-6pm and Duskfang from 6pm-6am. Due to the fact that wait and fast travel wasn’t used in this playthrough, it created some interesting situations and some very calculated dungeon clearing, although sometimes you’re forced into a situation you’d rather avoid (attempting to clear Bleak Falls with Duskfang proved disgustingly difficult).

     From reading Grommok’s Journal found in the Shivering Isles, we learn that once he slew an enemy a voice began counting in his head. Expanding on this, the Herald also hears this voice, and the closer it gets to the end of the blade’s interval the more desperate the Herald will be to reach the quota of twelve kills. To be honest, this didn’t prove to be a problem the majority of the time, although in times when on the road or crafting in one of the hold capitals can sometimes lead to less than savoury actions (poor Nazeem :P). If the quota isn’t reach no negative effects should be implemented I just decided to make the desire to fill the quota stronger than before, but if you feel a punishment is suitable feel free to add one.

     As you can imagine, when using this artefact, we want to use the respective element from the destruction school to fit the sword that we are using.

     I also allowed the time of day to dictate my choices in certain occasions, for example, when Harkon was offering me his blood the time of day dictated that I say no (although it was incredibly close at 6:02am).

     

    Gameplay

    So at low levels we want to be wielding whatever incarnation of the Fang with a respective destruction or resto spell. I also carried around soul trap to quickly fill our gems and The Black Star once we obtain it, until then I mainly used the college as a means of purchasing any gems we need. As regarding combat, it’s actually rather simple, opening with a soul trap and using Dusk/Dawnfang to cut our foes down.

     Enchanting means that the power of our artefact can greatly surpass the base damage of Oblivion’s model, near doubling its damage output at level 35, and would only grow stronger if we added potions, which is exactly why I didn’t. Furthermore, when enchanting, I didn’t enchant my armour or any other weapons, other than our Artefact, this was mainly to further the ‘mercenary’ feel of the build and add to the unique weapon we wield. Although, I made a point of investing in rings and circlets of destruction at Radiant Raiments in Solitude.

     Finally, my chosen armour was Steel Plate (I acquired mine from Ironbind Barrow), again for the mercenary feel but really anything goes! I toyed with the idea of blades armour, but I didn’t want to seem like a blade with a fancy sword.

     

    Closing Notes

     

    I want to give a big thanks to Iron Spider for listening to my endless rants about the build, and keeping my head on straight.

     Also I would like to thank Manik for taking the time to create the perk spread, thanks man.

    Thanks to the CB group for hosting this event and I want to wish all the participants good luck in their event builds ( I need to keep reminding myself that this isn’t a comp)

     Please feel free to post your criticisms below, they’ll be greatly appreciated.

     Thank you all for reading and I hope you enjoyed!

  • Member
    February 28, 2016

    I was having trouble with images if the still don't appear please let me know

  • Member
    February 28, 2016
    They do not.
  • Member
    February 28, 2016

    I'm not seeing them either.

    EDIT: Also you have some spelling errors in the text. I must say I am suprised you didn't just go with DawnBreaker and The Pale Sword.

  • Member
    February 28, 2016

    okay images are edited and should be appearing now

  • Member
    February 28, 2016

    I would've but i wanted to create something new instead of using what the game provided

  • Member
    February 28, 2016

    Ok now tighten it up. All the negative/blank space is very distracting and disrupts the flow of the build.

  • Member
    February 28, 2016
    If you're talking about the first section at the top I'm already working on it. And besides that I'm not seeing random blank spaces?
  • Member
    February 28, 2016

    Done.

  • Member
    February 28, 2016

    Here is a perkspread so you can keep everything on one page. It will work until you can get something better.