Skyrim Character Building » Discussions


Character Build: The Sternguard

Tags: #Character Build Archer  #Character Build Mage  #Character Build Enchanter  #Rank:Legendary 
  • May 3, 2013

    The Blackbow would be a backup, not the primary, purely for shooting Warding mages.  The NGB slows, which is very handy for this kind of playstyle.  (Though the Cold effect could be Enchanted, or you can just use Slow poisons when you need it)  The original build mentioned several bows for different circumstances (Yeah, I read it, did you read, and understand My comment?) and uses Crossbows extensively, which are a poor choice for Drawing Speed.

    It's your build, and I like it a lot (Kind of reminds me of a  Torchlight II Outlander with Rune Vault)  If anything would be missing, it's the lower level bows that are available while you train up your skills, and crafts.  I like all of your Endgame choices a lot, though.

  • Member
    May 3, 2013

    I am glad you like it. 

    You are mistaken though. As I stated, crossbows are only pulled out when absorb health will not work. I hardly used them

    A fast rate of fire works best with absorb health because it allows you to absorb health at a faster rate. Some enemies are immune to absorb health (namely automatons and ash spawn), so it is good to have a back up crossbow for when you do not need a fast rate of fire.

    The slow effect is actually useless. The entire point of the build is to be at point blank range of the enemy, you are only doing less damage since your cloak, walls, and runes would not be in effect, 

    For low level bows just use whatever you feel like. Getting level 50 smithing is pretty easy, and until then elven bows work fine. 

    For the blackbow there is not really any point in breaking the wards, since you are using a bow, not missile spells.

  • May 3, 2013
    The crossbow is used solely for collecting souls and/or enemies immune to absorb health (automatons).
  • Member
    May 3, 2013

    Ah yeah soul trapping too, forgot about that :P.

  • May 3, 2013

    I'm unclear on the Lore here, though.  Are the Sternguard like the Artillery/Fire Support arm of the Dawnguard, or a completely seperate Faction?

    All of my suggestions were replacements for the Nordic Bow on the copy build for the poster who didn't have Dragonborn, not your Sternguard (Who doesn't need the help.) Quite honestly, there's no Vanilla Bows to match the power, and speed, but the ones I listed were possible runners up.

  • Member
    May 3, 2013

    The lore section explains it.

    And yeah I can see your suggestions, just unenchanted bows (especially elven) are the best fit replacements. 

  • May 3, 2013

    One last question, (Since I have you here) how do you feel about Poison Rune?  You don't mention it specifically, but some "Good" aligned characters have a problem with using Poison as a hold-over from the Dice&Dossiers days.

  • May 3, 2013

    I read it, again, but it doesn't mention the Dawnguard at all.  Purely from a role-play standpoint, when you join to gain access to Crossbows, are you a lone Sternguard checking out the Competition, Infiltrating, or up from Cyrodiil and joining up with the closest faction to kick some Vampire Butt? 

    I rather like the bit about the Dark Pact/Secret.  That added a lot of spice to the dish.

  • Member
    May 3, 2013

    Yeah, the last one. I briefly mentioned in the suggested quests that killing vampires is a great way to keep up the public image of being a "riotous knight". 

  • Member
    May 3, 2013

    I didn't use poison rune on this character, but from a RP standpoint it is extremely good to use. The Sternguard want to gain any advantage that they can over their enemies, and if it means using poisons, so be it. As for the alignment, they are not truly good,t hey just pretend to be.