Skyrim, Self Imposed Hardcore Mode

[BiscuitTrouser]

-No first alerts. This means being seen by anyone at all or when anyone says anything along the lines of, "what was that?" Real thieves are utter ghosts.

I completed my first mission by shooting an arrow over the head of a guard into a wall, causing a smilar effect to the throw voice thuum, this was before i knew it existed. I felt like a complete ninja as the guard went to inspect the bush cautiously only to find nothing at all. When we returned to his post i was long gone.

I still use that technique rather than throw voice, it feels a lot more thief like.

No fast travel ever. Its just fun, the amount of crazy stuff you encounter makes it well worth it.

Im going to play a 2 axed nord beserker. That means fighting in the loin cloth, maybe with a horned helmet, leather gloves and boots, and my trusty cloth. Think this guy.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_L78zEKWCMII/TUhxSEjWUcI/AAAAAAAABZo/QiQvgTMEFwI/s1600/Olaf_Splash_2.jpg

In combat i never flee or heal, once i charge, (i can wait to do so when the time is right) i swing until i die, using the wind rush thum to charge enemies that are far away. Tis the way of the nord beserker.

My axes can be vampiric or frost enchanted, but thats not something i enchant, ill buy it with blood gold or loot it. I can only eat when i find on corpses or loot what i earn as spoils of war from fallen enemies. I dont "sneak" or "steal". Nor do i buy, unless its women or axes.

 

[XMark]

The big reason I'd like to see a "hardcore mode" is food. As it is, food is pretty useless in the game. They're basically heavier, less effective potions with no other benefits.

 

[winginson]

For Brotherhood missions the same rules apply, except you can only kill the target, and must not be caught, obviously. Kills must also be either done silently with bound weapons (that leave no lasting mark and thus cannot be traced), or with a frenzy spell, to make the target seems like they've gone insane (can only be done with silent casting though). Basically the target must die with no evidence leading back to you at the end of the day.

I usually make sure that I kill them in different ways. So they don't suspect its the same person. And if use a bow I always use Flamer/Forsworn/Ancient Nord arrows.

On non-DB killings I quite often kill 2 people and make it look like they killed eachother. Or make it look like they were ambushed by some Forsworn.

 

[DustyDrB]

You're probably carrying more weapons than you can efficiently use. Unless you specialize in two-handed weapons, one-handed weapons, block, and archery.

 

[StriderShinryu]

Hmm.. I would add in that you can never go in water, particularly not if north of maybe Whiterun in latitude, and if you did cross through water you could not do it wearing heavy class armour. That first part actually surprised me when I started playing as I figuerd it would already be enforeced by at least slowly draining health. I mean, there's glaciers and chunks of floating ice, but I can swim in it for as long as I want with no penalty?

 

[GeorgW]

I tried no fast travel in Skyrim, I gave up very quickly. It's a damned big world...
Other than that it seems like fun, though the armor thing heavily hinders looting, which I guess is the point.
I really would have loved the option of a hunger meter though, and have thought it many times in my game. There is no need for food whatsoever in the game, and it feels like a lost opportunity.

 

[RastaBadger]

One I use a lot on games like X3 is dead is dead. Save only when you quit. No loading previous saves. You die and you delete the save.
Makes the game a lot more tense.

 

[Headdrivehardscrew]

Put on some pyjamas before going to bed. Sleeping in your armour means you will have to sleep on the floor IRL, with no bedsheets or cushions.