This would've saved me a lot of time and nerves if I knew it back when I last played the Companions questline (June-July of 2012) 

How are you guys coming up with stuff like this... and why am I not figuring it out on my own? xD

Hey! Thanks, Vaz :D

After so many OP playthroughs when I first got the game, I've become pretty good at limiting my Sneak archery to just an opener, and I don't perk the right side of the Sneak tree anymore either.

The TG questions are valid (and my fault). I just answered this a couple minutes ago, but the topic is buried a couple pages back. I'm lazy, so I'll just copy and paste it here for you so that (a) I don't have to re-write it, and (b) so you don't have to scrounge around to find it ;D...

People tend to be mistrustful of rangers... they spend a lot of time alone out in the wild looking for trouble, and they have some unsavory connections for information at times. That's where the TG fit in for me... part of the info network.

To roleplay it, I kept in the guild's good graces by taking on various quest assignments, but never taking on side jobs. Also, I did them sparingly. When I say late game, I didn't get Nightingale gear till level 43 or so. Just when it seemed like the guild might wonder if I was still alive, I'd take on the next quest, report, and disappear for several levels while I did my ranger thing. It actually fit in rather nicely with the game play.

I even gave Nocturnal her key back... seemed it was best to get rid of the thing so that it couldn't fall into the hands of another Mercer Frey. I had a pretty 'whatever' attitude toward the Nightingales as an orginazation (much like Brynjolf).

People tend to be mistrustful of rangers... they spend a lot of time alone out in the wild looking for trouble, and they have some unsavory connections for information at times. That's where the TG fit in for me... part of the info network.

I think this comment has done more to sell me the look and rp of this character than anything in the build itself. I have a dislike for both the TG and DB because of how they are handled by Skyrim, falling far, far short of the excellence they were in Oblivion, but your ranger has made me want to play through the questline again, if only to get that look. I strongly suggest you put that quote into the build because it is f-ing sweet!

(To be fair, I didn't even like the DB in Oblivion - Lucian Lachance was a git -  but TG was probably the best guild questline in the entire game).

I feel you there! DB has always left a bad taste in my mouth. I've only been able to get myself to do it twice... once in Oblivion and once in Skyrim. I always destroy them now :D

I did have that quote (more or less) in an additional paragraph in the backstory bit at the very beginning, but as I looked at it I thought it would be off-putting (too much reading right off). You're right though... I think I'll add a sentence or two into the build intro after the initial backstory blurb.

Good call! ;D

Aww, Phil, we all know you keep a small shrine of Lucien Lachance  Nothing distasteful, just a photograph and a few candles 

Well, technically the key was in Nocturnal's possession when Mercer Frey took it and there are still Nightingales around  Personally, I'd avoid the Guild and get the information from Khajiit caravans (sell them some Moon Sugar or skooma for information) 

I have no clue what you're talking about... folk such as we keep meticulous tabs on every build that comes out. Nothing flies under the radar. For folk such as we.

Can't tell you how many times I've said, "Wait! Where was I when this came out?" xD

Thanks Elysium! I'm with you; conflicted characters that try to do good by less-than-good means have always appealed to me. And if it's got an obscure word or two in there as well... well that's gravy ;D

Anathema in greek literally means "damn".

Fantastic armor combos you've got here, I love this so much.