So there was a discussion some time back on the old site about playing as real life everyday characters. So this build got it's genesis from that discussion. and the pickaxe became my inspiration and the idea of being a "regular guy" the genesis of an idea.
My name is Asgrald. I've alway been called Asgrald the Burly due to my muscular physique that I've acquired from decades of swinging a pickaxe as foreman in the mines owned by Maven Black-Briar. My last job was to clear out the Lost Prospect Mine. I was nigh the only one who even remembered where that shit-hole was. Little did I know that the Silver-Blood's, from Markarth, had laid claim to the Lost Prospect. This led to a, well let's just say, bad experience upon my next arrival in The City of Stone where I was eventually arrested and thrown into Cidhna Mine. Luckily I was able to escape with a gang of Forsworn refugees held there and slowly made my way back east to reconnect with Maven. Knowing that my advancing years were leading to a gradual retirement from the physicality of mining, not to mention the run in with the Silver-Bloods, Maven sent a member of the Thief's Guild to contact me when I arrived in Riften. This would be my future...my "retirement plan", so to speak. The Guild would teach me the basics of pickpocketing and allow me to venture out on my own to ply my trade for the Guild. So... I continue to do the bidding of Maven. However, I do have my own goals. As a lifelong miner, my ultimate goal, in retirement, is to compile the greatest collection of mining memorabilia in all of Tamriel. I also hope to acquire enough gold to buy a home, possibly in Markarth; as the stone draws my spirit. Of course, that may not be the best place for me to retire to with the Silver-Bloods keeping tabs on me. Whatever might transpire, I now look ahead to the rest of my life, whatever time remains to me. I want to begin seeking out the legendary mining tools of Tamriel and that journey begins now...
Race: Nord Stone: Lord Shrine: Arkay Shouts: None Suggested Quests: The Forsworn Conspiracy; Thieves Guild; Black Star; The Only Cure; Aetherial Crown (for shield) Skill Points (H/S/M): 2/1/0
Level 25 Perk Assignments
Level 50 Perk Assignments
Enchanting: This is a needed perk for this build due to the inherent low damage of a regular pickaxe. Sorry Lissette but you really do need it. We'll use this to add weapon damage to the pickaxe itself and then to boost damage on gear as well using Fortify 1H as much as you can.
Smithing: We really aren't going to smith anything, unless you don't want to wait for your Carved Nordic Armor. It's mainly to improve anything you find, especially something pre-enchanted (with Arcane Blacksmith). Plus any miner worth his salt knows at least the basics of Smithing.
One-Handed: Our main means of attack. Not a lot of perks.
Sneak: Just to boost our pickpocket chances. You may still wish to remove your Heavy Armor and have some Fortify Pickpocket/Fortify Sneak gear to use on those particular situations when you need them. I think going this low into Sneak cripples us a little bit in the gameplay but it fits in from a roleplaying perspective. What non-thief miner would ever be a world class sneak thief? None...that's who.
Pickpocket: Our new career in the Thieves Guild and we need this to acquire our last pickaxe for our collection.
Heavy Armor: Our primary defense. We are not a real thief, so no light armor for us. We're a burly Nord miner and Heavy Armor fits that mold.
Block: Use this skill religiously. Block, Bash, and it may just save your life.
This is a pure melee character relying on sword and board. Well, pick and board at least. Bashing will be huge to interrupt attacks. I found it easier to use a follower in the early going. Definitely not needed as you progress. No alchemy but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to dip a pickaxe tip in a vial of poison if you find one; you just won't be able to brew your own. Same with health potions, etc. No magic at all, no shouts at all. Wade in to combat, bash to stun/interrupt and hack away with your pick. Some gear pieces could help in the combat phase. You will have a little bit of stealth to help your new pickpocketing career but wearing Heavy Armor it doesn't do a ton for you in combat.
When pickpocketing it would be helpful to remove your armor and weapon to increase your silence levels. Use enchanting to craft a set of clothing with Fortify Stealth and Fortify Pickpocket to further improve your chances. Expect to spend some gold with Vyper The Fleet at the Thieves Guild to level up your Pickpocket ability; or just spend alot of time pickpocketing people if you prefer that method of gameplay.
A side note on the Thieves Guild; once you get past Karliah do NOTcontinue on to the Nightengale chain. As a simple miner you will not aspire to be a Nightengale or become the Guild Master for the Thieves Guild. You can safely complete up to (the quest named) "The Pursuit" in the quest line. Once you get the quest "Trinity Restored" stop there. All the TG trainers reset and are accessible at this point. Only Brynolff and Karliah are stuck in the cistern.
Make your way to Markarth and Cidhna Mine to start your adventure. Don't forget to gear up with pickaxes while there. I made it a habit to pick up every one I came across until I no longer needed them (+30 Fire Damage was about the max I got on Enchanting, so that's when I stopped gathering any plain pickaxes).
Early Set: Heavy Armor (of choice); PickAxe; Iron Shield to start. Improve as you find gear or can craft better gear. Enchant items as you go to level that up and earn gold. Final Set: Nordic Carved set (heavy) + Nordic Carved Shield. Pickaxes: Pickaxe; Notched PickAxe; Hoarfrost; Ancient Nordic PickAxe; Rocksplitter Shields: Nordic (for everyday combat); Aetherial (when facing heavy odds); Spellbreaker (for mage/dragon combat); Targe of the Blooded (Use this on humans for bleed effect although they may not last long enough to worry about it).
A video walkthrough of The Prospector.
I'd like to thank Relycs and Blooded for the perk shots and Blooded for his Gear art which came out nicely. My thanks to you both.
So there was a discussion some time back on the old site about playing as real life everyday characters. So this build got it's genesis from that discussion. and the pickaxe became my inspiration and the idea of being a "regular guy" the genesis of an idea.
My name is Asgrald. I've alway been called Asgrald the Burly due to my muscular physique that I've acquired from decades of swinging a pickaxe as foreman in the mines owned by Maven Black-Briar. My last job was to clear out the Lost Prospect Mine. I was nigh the only one who even remembered where that shit-hole was. Little did I know that the Silver-Blood's, from Markarth, had laid claim to the Lost Prospect. This led to a, well let's just say, bad experience upon my next arrival in The City of Stone where I was eventually arrested and thrown into Cidhna Mine. Luckily I was able to escape with a gang of Forsworn refugees held there and slowly made my way back east to reconnect with Maven. Knowing that my advancing years were leading to a gradual retirement from the physicality of mining, not to mention the run in with the Silver-Bloods, Maven sent a member of the Thief's Guild to contact me when I arrived in Riften. This would be my future...my "retirement plan", so to speak. The Guild would teach me the basics of pickpocketing and allow me to venture out on my own to ply my trade for the Guild. So... I continue to do the bidding of Maven. However, I do have my own goals. As a lifelong miner, my ultimate goal, in retirement, is to compile the greatest collection of mining memorabilia in all of Tamriel. I also hope to acquire enough gold to buy a home, possibly in Markarth; as the stone draws my spirit. Of course, that may not be the best place for me to retire to with the Silver-Bloods keeping tabs on me. Whatever might transpire, I now look ahead to the rest of my life, whatever time remains to me. I want to begin seeking out the legendary mining tools of Tamriel and that journey begins now...
Race: Nord Stone: Lord Shrine: Arkay Shouts: None Suggested Quests: The Forsworn Conspiracy; Thieves Guild; Black Star; The Only Cure; Aetherial Crown (for shield) Skill Points (H/S/M): 2/1/0
Level 25 Perk Assignments
Level 50 Perk Assignments
Enchanting: This is a needed perk for this build due to the inherent low damage of a regular pickaxe. Sorry Lissette but you really do need it. We'll use this to add weapon damage to the pickaxe itself and then to boost damage on gear as well using Fortify 1H as much as you can.
Smithing: We really aren't going to smith anything, unless you don't want to wait for your Carved Nordic Armor. It's mainly to improve anything you find, especially something pre-enchanted (with Arcane Blacksmith). Plus any miner worth his salt knows at least the basics of Smithing.
One-Handed: Our main means of attack. Not a lot of perks.
Sneak: Just to boost our pickpocket chances. You may still wish to remove your Heavy Armor and have some Fortify Pickpocket/Fortify Sneak gear to use on those particular situations when you need them. I think going this low into Sneak cripples us a little bit in the gameplay but it fits in from a roleplaying perspective. What non-thief miner would ever be a world class sneak thief? None...that's who.
Pickpocket: Our new career in the Thieves Guild and we need this to acquire our last pickaxe for our collection.
Heavy Armor: Our primary defense. We are not a real thief, so no light armor for us. We're a burly Nord miner and Heavy Armor fits that mold.
Block: Use this skill religiously. Block, Bash, and it may just save your life.
This is a pure melee character relying on sword and board. Well, pick and board at least. Bashing will be huge to interrupt attacks. I found it easier to use a follower in the early going. Definitely not needed as you progress. No alchemy but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to dip a pickaxe tip in a vial of poison if you find one; you just won't be able to brew your own. Same with health potions, etc. No magic at all, no shouts at all. Wade in to combat, bash to stun/interrupt and hack away with your pick. Some gear pieces could help in the combat phase. You will have a little bit of stealth to help your new pickpocketing career but wearing Heavy Armor it doesn't do a ton for you in combat.
When pickpocketing it would be helpful to remove your armor and weapon to increase your silence levels. Use enchanting to craft a set of clothing with Fortify Stealth and Fortify Pickpocket to further improve your chances. Expect to spend some gold with Vyper The Fleet at the Thieves Guild to level up your Pickpocket ability; or just spend alot of time pickpocketing people if you prefer that method of gameplay.
A side note on the Thieves Guild; once you get past Karliah do NOTcontinue on to the Nightengale chain. As a simple miner you will not aspire to be a Nightengale or become the Guild Master for the Thieves Guild. You can safely complete up to (the quest named) "The Pursuit" in the quest line. Once you get the quest "Trinity Restored" stop there. All the TG trainers reset and are accessible at this point. Only Brynolff and Karliah are stuck in the cistern.
Make your way to Markarth and Cidhna Mine to start your adventure. Don't forget to gear up with pickaxes while there. I made it a habit to pick up every one I came across until I no longer needed them (+30 Fire Damage was about the max I got on Enchanting, so that's when I stopped gathering any plain pickaxes).
Early Set: Heavy Armor (of choice); PickAxe; Iron Shield to start. Improve as you find gear or can craft better gear. Enchant items as you go to level that up and earn gold. Final Set: Nordic Carved set (heavy) + Nordic Carved Shield. Pickaxes: Pickaxe; Notched PickAxe; Hoarfrost; Ancient Nordic PickAxe; Rocksplitter Shields: Nordic (for everyday combat); Aetherial (when facing heavy odds); Spellbreaker (for mage/dragon combat); Targe of the Blooded (Use this on humans for bleed effect although they may not last long enough to worry about it).
A video walkthrough of The Prospector.
I'd like to thank Relycs and Blooded for the perk shots and Blooded for his Gear art which came out nicely. My thanks to you both.
I really do like this build. It is a fun way to play as a regular person. Nice quest choices too.
I wanna play this after seeing the video. I laughed so hard at the spider at Bleak Falls Barrow. It is a nice build for the SE I think as you don't require mods. May put my own twist into it though. *cough* no enchanting *cough* I think it can be done if the difficulty isn't too high. A nice shoot the breeze character.
I really do like this build. It is a fun way to play as a regular person. Nice quest choices too.
I wanna play this after seeing the video. I laughed so hard at the spider at Bleak Falls Barrow. It is a nice build for the SE I think as you don't require mods. May put my own twist into it though. *cough* no enchanting *cough* I think it can be done if the difficulty isn't too high. A nice shoot the breeze character.
Thanks Lissette. Yes, I know you abhore enchanting (although to me it's the easist crafter to level...lol) and man, the damage on pickaxe's suck with no enchants. Even with all the 1-H perks you're still looking at just, what, 500 damage per hit? That's a LOT of hits. I guess you could but you'd be very dependent on potions bought.
Thanks Lissette. Yes, I know you abhore enchanting (although to me it's the easist crafter to level...lol) and man, the damage on pickaxe's suck with no enchants. Even with all the 1-H perks you're still looking at just, what, 500 damage per hit? That's a LOT of hits. I guess you could but you'd be very dependent on potions bought.
I don't abhore enchanting, I just don't see a Nord miner practicing it beyond recharging weapons. It's a roleplaying thing for me. I do see him whacking the shit out of things and eating soup and stew.
I don't abhore enchanting, I just don't see a Nord miner practicing it beyond recharging weapons. It's a roleplaying thing for me. I do see him whacking the shit out of things and eating soup and stew.
I am in agreement with Lissette mate, its very entertaining and great fun, wonderful concept, and well put together, the video is informative and fun to watch, good job +1
I am in agreement with Lissette mate, its very entertaining and great fun, wonderful concept, and well put together, the video is informative and fun to watch, good job +1
