Come on people, get your noms in before the nomination period expires! Three more days! Or four, something like that.
After some contemplation, I think I've narrowed my noms to three fairly clear winners. I have them open in three other tabs and will be going left to right. There are other really good builds, but I decided to pick three that haven't been nommed before despite being pretty awesome. Yes, I'm aware that nomming one build multiple times is apparently a thing. I'm definitely not saying that the nommed builds aren't worthy of my noms. I just decided that some diversity, especially since we had so many good and great builds in 2017, was a good thing. (Nom nom nom, now I'm hungry.) Anyway, let's begin...
Baranat's Descendant. There's just something about this random Dunmer guy with a funny hat that greatly appeals to my sense of aesthetics, and it helps that the Lore book the build is based on is a pretty amusing read. Baranat's Descendant is very simple in basically every aspect, but don't let that be a mark against it - I wouldn't be nominating it if that simplicity detracted from the build.
Mechanically there are no complaints. Use of only a single spell (Alteration's -flesh line) negates any need for Magicka investment outside enchanted apparel, allowing Baranat's Descendent to bulk up with investment into health. Alteration/Block paired to the Lord Stone is devastatingly effective as a defensive combination, and One-Handed/Enchanting piles on the damage despite the character wielding a lowly Iron Sword. The real cornerstone of this build, though, is clearly Alchemy. Baranat's Descendant packs six two-ingredient potions and poisons to impressive effect, both offensively (the Poison of Weakness to Fire is a nice touch when paired with a flaming sword and Ancestor's Wrath) and defensively (that Fortify Block/Magic Resistance potion is an impressive brew for two dirt-common ingredients).
Aesthetically, the build is, once again, simple. Don't get me wrong, though. It's beautiful. Peppo_o'Paccio almost exclusively utilises screenshots from Skyrim, which lends an aura of authenticity to the build. These screenshots are well-posed and convey exactly the atmosphere that Peppo wants at that point in the build - whether Baranat's Descendant is exploring a dungeon with torch in hand, perched on a bench to read a book, or staring pensively into the distance, all of the screenshots used have a perfect atmosphere and mood. (The screenshots could do with borders of some kind, but it's a minor quibble.)
But where the build really shines is in cohesion - every part of the build reads as a single, seamless product. The original Baranat was described as a skinny little fellow, not really a career adventurer, a little bit fearful but scrappy and courageous despite that, with a tendency to leap before he looked. And this is exactly the kind of character that Peppo has conveyed to us in Baranat's Descendant. From his funny little hat, to the simple Iron Sword and Shield, to the character's Alchemy specialisation befitting a man who is not really an adventurer, Baranat's Descendant reads exactly like Baranat himself... down to the four Blessings of the Saints, impressive combinations of Powers, Potions and Poisons that mimic the four blessings described in the Lore book.
I thoroughly loved this gem. Give it a read!
Saint Delyn the Wise watched the young adventurer from a cloud in the sky, and smiled on him, “Baranat, before you fight, find out what you're fighting for.”
Nom number two is Vaermina's Nightmare, a collaboration between the Lorc of Flowers and the Long-Chapper, bringing us into the role of a dark mage known as Arkved. Fittingly, this build is a joy to read; evocative language pairs well with the dark imagery to send a shiver down your spine. Do not read at midnight. One series of lines I really liked was, "Follower: Jenassa in early levels or any other poor soul of your choice. When you obtain the skull, they then become collateral damage due to how the Skull of Corruption deals damage. Consider it another soul you've given to Vaermina in your service. After your follower dies, you are alone for the rest of the game." That's the sort of casual horror Vaermina's Nightmare deals in. Poor soul. Collateral damage. Alone.
Mechanically, the build is devastatingly simple, even more so than Baranat's Descendent. Vaermina's Nightmare perks only a single skill, Illusion. Cost reduction and the Altmer's bonus to magicka were used to great effect, allowing the squishy 0AR mage to invest entirely into health. Illusion spells, however, deal no direct damage - at least one foe is always left alive - which brings Vaermina's Nightmare to Vaermina's own Daedric artefact, the Skull of Corruption, as its primary damage source on enemies inflicted with Fear and Frenzy.
Every image, every gameplay choice, every ----ing word in the build adds to the overall picture of the dark wizard, armed with dim lantern and dark staff, plodding through the night in search of nightmares. Chillingly cohesive with a flawlessly dark aesthetic, this is definitely a build worthy of a nomination.
Frenzy to mimic Vaermina's nightmares driving their victim insane with rage, making them turn on each other. Fear to mimic the terrors of dark dreams, forcing them to attempt to flee.
My final nomination... has to be Karliah, Barenziah's Legacy. I'm actually tired from doing the above writeups so I'll have a full nom writeup in the thread later (sorry Deebs). But so that my nom actually gets nommed, in case I forget, here's a quickie paragraph.
A darkness of a different shade, Karliah is an entry to the event Follow Me, Follow You and is built around the character of the same name in Skyrim who... surprise, surprise, acts as a follower during the Thieves' Guild questline. This is a heavily modded build for the PC, so that's a thing (unfortunately because of that I can't comment reliably on build mechanics, though I will say that the choice of Ordinator's perks are well explained). Aesthetically it is very well done; the light-coloured banners are a study in contrast to the shadows and deep indigos of the rest of the build's pictures; it is a surprisingly good fit. Where the build really shines is in roleplay; DB has taken us through a vibrant picture of Karliah's lost years; it makes for a surprisingly riveting read.
Come on people, get your noms in before the nomination period expires! Three more days! Or four, something like that.
After some contemplation, I think I've narrowed my noms to three fairly clear winners. I have them open in three other tabs and will be going left to right. There are other really good builds, but I decided to pick three that haven't been nommed before despite being pretty awesome. Yes, I'm aware that nomming one build multiple times is apparently a thing. I'm definitely not saying that the nommed builds aren't worthy of my noms. I just decided that some diversity, especially since we had so many good and great builds in 2017, was a good thing. (Nom nom nom, now I'm hungry.) Anyway, let's begin...
Baranat's Descendant. There's just something about this random Dunmer guy with a funny hat that greatly appeals to my sense of aesthetics, and it helps that the Lore book the build is based on is a pretty amusing read. Baranat's Descendant is very simple in basically every aspect, but don't let that be a mark against it - I wouldn't be nominating it if that simplicity detracted from the build.
Mechanically there are no complaints. Use of only a single spell (Alteration's -flesh line) negates any need for Magicka investment outside enchanted apparel, allowing Baranat's Descendent to bulk up with investment into health. Alteration/Block paired to the Lord Stone is devastatingly effective as a defensive combination, and One-Handed/Enchanting piles on the damage despite the character wielding a lowly Iron Sword. The real cornerstone of this build, though, is clearly Alchemy. Baranat's Descendant packs six two-ingredient potions and poisons to impressive effect, both offensively (the Poison of Weakness to Fire is a nice touch when paired with a flaming sword and Ancestor's Wrath) and defensively (that Fortify Block/Magic Resistance potion is an impressive brew for two dirt-common ingredients).
Aesthetically, the build is, once again, simple. Don't get me wrong, though. It's beautiful. Peppo_o'Paccio almost exclusively utilises screenshots from Skyrim, which lends an aura of authenticity to the build. These screenshots are well-posed and convey exactly the atmosphere that Peppo wants at that point in the build - whether Baranat's Descendant is exploring a dungeon with torch in hand, perched on a bench to read a book, or staring pensively into the distance, all of the screenshots used have a perfect atmosphere and mood. (The screenshots could do with borders of some kind, but it's a minor quibble.)
But where the build really shines is in cohesion - every part of the build reads as a single, seamless product. The original Baranat was described as a skinny little fellow, not really a career adventurer, a little bit fearful but scrappy and courageous despite that, with a tendency to leap before he looked. And this is exactly the kind of character that Peppo has conveyed to us in Baranat's Descendant. From his funny little hat, to the simple Iron Sword and Shield, to the character's Alchemy specialisation befitting a man who is not really an adventurer, Baranat's Descendant reads exactly like Baranat himself... down to the four Blessings of the Saints, impressive combinations of Powers, Potions and Poisons that mimic the four blessings described in the Lore book.
I thoroughly loved this gem. Give it a read!
Saint Delyn the Wise watched the young adventurer from a cloud in the sky, and smiled on him, “Baranat, before you fight, find out what you're fighting for.”
Nom number two is Vaermina's Nightmare, a collaboration between the Lorc of Flowers and the Long-Chapper, bringing us into the role of a dark mage known as Arkved. Fittingly, this build is a joy to read; evocative language pairs well with the dark imagery to send a shiver down your spine. Do not read at midnight. One series of lines I really liked was, "Follower: Jenassa in early levels or any other poor soul of your choice. When you obtain the skull, they then become collateral damage due to how the Skull of Corruption deals damage. Consider it another soul you've given to Vaermina in your service. After your follower dies, you are alone for the rest of the game." That's the sort of casual horror Vaermina's Nightmare deals in. Poor soul. Collateral damage. Alone.
Mechanically, the build is devastatingly simple, even more so than Baranat's Descendent. Vaermina's Nightmare perks only a single skill, Illusion. Cost reduction and the Altmer's bonus to magicka were used to great effect, allowing the squishy 0AR mage to invest entirely into health. Illusion spells, however, deal no direct damage - at least one foe is always left alive - which brings Vaermina's Nightmare to Vaermina's own Daedric artefact, the Skull of Corruption, as its primary damage source on enemies inflicted with Fear and Frenzy.
Every image, every gameplay choice, every ----ing word in the build adds to the overall picture of the dark wizard, armed with dim lantern and dark staff, plodding through the night in search of nightmares. Chillingly cohesive with a flawlessly dark aesthetic, this is definitely a build worthy of a nomination.
Frenzy to mimic Vaermina's nightmares driving their victim insane with rage, making them turn on each other. Fear to mimic the terrors of dark dreams, forcing them to attempt to flee.
My final nomination... has to be Karliah, Barenziah's Legacy. I'm actually tired from doing the above writeups so I'll have a full nom writeup in the thread later (sorry Deebs). But so that my nom actually gets nommed, in case I forget, here's a quickie paragraph.
A darkness of a different shade, Karliah is an entry to the event Follow Me, Follow You and is built around the character of the same name in Skyrim who... surprise, surprise, acts as a follower during the Thieves' Guild questline. This is a heavily modded build for the PC, so that's a thing (unfortunately because of that I can't comment reliably on build mechanics, though I will say that the choice of Ordinator's perks are well explained). Aesthetically it is very well done; the light-coloured banners are a study in contrast to the shadows and deep indigos of the rest of the build's pictures; it is a surprisingly good fit. Where the build really shines is in roleplay; DB has taken us through a vibrant picture of Karliah's lost years; it makes for a surprisingly riveting read.
