portable-HD-Camcorder: Which option is best in Death Knight build in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Which option is best in Death Knight build in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
A Death Knight, in the sense that I use the term, is a melee fighter who raises his enemies to fight alongside him (so basically a warrior/necromancer). I have a couple of different ideas but very much would appreciate feedback from anyone, especially if you have firsthand experience with this particular build. An Orc that focuses on 2 handed weapons, heavy armor, smithing and conjuration. The thought is with berserk and the big weapon he would be able to raise the first corpse quickly to help deflect attention from my shield less fighter. What are some of the pitfalls of going this route and will shouts be enough to help with casters since I will be very vulnerable as I approach them for the kill. Also how would you guys recommend that I distribute my stat points? Lastly, would I have enough skill points to dabble in enchantment or would it make more sense to use extra perks in restoration to add healing properties? A Dark Elf that would use a shield, 1 handed weapon, conjuration and I don't know what else would work well: restoration? light armor? My thought was this guy would be heavier in magic and would use a bound sword and with the shield would have a lot more survivability in most fights although it may be a little tougher to drop the first bad guy. I would also be looking for help on how I should distribute my attribute points if I were to go this direction.
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#2
Old 20-11-2011
Shae Shae is offline
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Re: Which option is best in Death Knight build in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Honestly I would wait for mods. All the tools are there for an awesome, stylized lich king-type character, but it just seems too much of a niche to create as one of your first characters. Once all the perks and skills and such are fleshed out by the modding community is when I plan to start making some odd combos.
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#3
Old 20-11-2011
Ashley Parker Ashley Parker is offline
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Re: Which option is best in Death Knight build in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Heavy Armor will be better for either build, light armor is just not a good choice for a melee character IMO. I'd say go 1h+shield, 2h weapons are too slow and shields are great as well as fun in melee.
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#4
Old 20-11-2011
DougWison DougWison is offline
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Re: Which option is best in Death Knight build in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Its a good build, I think. I would go dark elf for the fire resist when fighting some dragons and casters. I am planning a similar build and I am considering red guard, just because they look cool. Plus adrenaline rush is decent, and 50% poison resist is nice. Altmer could work too, for the magicka bonus for conjuration. In my build, I am planning to go one-handed, block, heavy, conjuration, and sneak for perks. It should work well. I am not going to bother with restoration. I will shoot for enough manna only to cast the top summon. Otherwise health and stamina.
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#5
Old 20-11-2011
Irene-I Irene-I is offline
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Re: Which option is best in Death Knight build in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
I think both builds have their strengths. My only real thought is in regards to your concern about magic users. Even if you decide to go for 2h focus, I would still work block up to the level you get 50% magic resistance with the shield raised. That way you can focus on 2h damage, but when around casters you can summon a bound sword and raise your shield, while your summons does the dirty work.
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#6
Old 20-11-2011
MinkaM MinkaM is offline
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Re: Which option is best in Death Knight build in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
This is a really super cool idea, but the trouble is that with an Orc, you do so much damage that if you can take the first guy down quickly, you can take them all down quickly, which is why I'd go the necromancer dark elf route, personally, except for the fact that dark elves racial ability damages everything in a certain range, which makes companions/minions a bad idea. I don’t know, i guess. An Orc conjurer just seems odd to me, but the more i think about it the better it seems that it would be. Personally i would use either two-handed or dual wielding, and rush in and kill the first guy, re-animate him, and use him as your shield. And it seems like an extremely cool idea, i love it! Unusual, and i like that!
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#7
Old 20-11-2011
GaganGang GaganGang is offline
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Re: Which option is best in Death Knight build in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Orc, Heavy Armor, One-handed, Block, Conjuration. You could swap out Orc for Altmer for better magic potential, or Breton for some good magic defense. Dunmer is really sort of weak, the racial would be ok if you don't go down destruction at all, but really you'll get way more out of those other 3 races. I'd go Orc. After you get a strong base in your 4 main abilities I'd consider going smithing and enchanting as well. Weapon choice you can either not specialize in one or pick one. I prefer not specializing so I can just use the best one available, plus I can't really decide which is best. I sort of lean towards maces though for the extra stagger.
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#8
Old 20-11-2011
Chakradevroy Chakradevroy is offline
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Re: Which option is best in Death Knight build in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
I'm actually playing this now -- an Orc "death knight" with one-handed (dual wielding) heavy armor, conjuration, enchanting, smithing, and alchemy perks. However, I vastly prefer summoning the Dremora Lords -- not only do they pack a punch, but with Twin Souls and my own Daedric equipment, we make for quite a roving squadron of scary grim dark knights. Dual wielding might be against the typical death knight trope, but it makes summoning in combat a cinch. While Berserking was extremely useful early in the character's career, at level 47 I find myself wishing just a bit I'd gone Breton, if only for the magic resistance.
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#9
Old 20-11-2011
Daksha90 Daksha90 is offline
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Re: Which option is best in Death Knight build in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
I think you should go with two-handed weapons, as this will allow you to use the Ebony Blade. If you're going to be a Death Knight, you should have an evil sword that forces you to murder your friends. You might be better off as a Breton than an Orc though, the Breton's racial abilities will ruin an enemy caster's day.
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#10
Old 20-11-2011
Halle Halle is offline
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Re: Which option is best in Death Knight build in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
If you really stay to the death Knight-Stuff (e.g. only summoning undead, no Atronach, no Dremora) you will have a fairly balanced, challenging character, becoming powerful but not easygoing-invincible (at least, as long as you don´t make the alchemy-enchantment-smithing-exploiting-stuff). Its balanced because you need to actually KILL someone by yourself before you can make use of your conjuration skill instead of just summoning two Dremora Lords and enjoy the show without any actual handy work.
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#11
Old 21-11-2011
Nimos Nimos is offline
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Re: Which option is best in Death Knight build in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
I am doing a death knight build with 2H sword Heavy Armor Conjuration and Destruction. He is now level 28 i absolutely love this guy. He is beast however destruction is pretty useless in my opinion. it's too much of a hassle than to just use 2h weapon. i originally got it to have a ranged ability for dragons and bad guys on cliffs etc. The Cloaks could make it more useful but I’m not sure since i just picked one up.
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