Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Character Creation Guide

Getting a good start in Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim can really help get you on your way, this Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Character Creation Guide will give you some basic tips on what you can do at the very beginning to get you set on the right tracks. Minimal spoilers

Firstly you must make your character, Racial traits are not as vital as previous Elder Scrolls games so I’d pick whatever you feel best suits you from the list below. Main skills get a 10 level bonus to start, sub skills get a 5 level bonus

High Elf
Ability Highborn
Adds 50 Magicka to mana pool
Main Skill: Illusion
Sub-Skills: Alteration, Conjuration, Destruction, Enchanting, Restoration

Argonian
Increase Disease Resistance, 50%
Ability Hitskin
Can breath under water
Main Skill: Lockpicking
Sub-Skills: Alteration, Light Armor, Pickpocket, Restoration, Sneak

Wood Elf
Ability Command Animal
Increase Disease Resistance 50%
Main Skill: Archery
Sub-Skills: Alchemy, Light Armor, Lockpicking, Pickpocket, Sneak

Breton
Ability Dragon Skin
Resistance to Magicka 25%
Main Skill: Conjuration
Sub-Skills: Alchemy, Alteration, Illusion, Restoration, Speech

Dark Elf
Ability Ancestor’s Wrath
Increased Resistance to Fire 50%
Main Skill: Destruction
Sub-Skills: Alchemy, Alteration, Illusion, Light Armor, Sneak

Imperial
Imperial Luck
Ability Voice of the Emperor
Main Skill: Restoration
Sub-Skills: Block, Destruction, Enchanting, Heavy Armor, One-handed

Khajit
Claw attacks
Ability Power of Night
Main Skill: Sneak
Sub-Skills: Alchemy, Archery, Lockpicking, Pickpocket, One-handed

Nord
Ability Battle Cry
Increase Resistance to Frost 50%
Main Skill: 2-Handed
Sub-Skills: Block, Light Armor, One-handed, Smithing, Speech

Orc
Ability Berserk
Main Skill: Heavy Armor
Sub-Skills: Block, Enchanting, One-handed, Smithing, 2-handed

Redguard
Ability Adrenaline Rush
Increased Resistance to Poison 75%
Main Skill: 1-Handed
Sub-Skills: Alteration, Archery, Block, Destruction, Smithing

Once you’ve chosen your character and have control for the first time, you’ll want to follow the guard until you get to the choosing pick. Choose your side and continue on, both sides offer very similar items and opportunities. During your escape you will have chance to pick several locks as well as find a free magic tome book, easy to obtain later but it does increase your offensive magic options early in the game.

Once you’ve escaped Helgen Keep you’ll want to head to the nearest dungeon to grab some loot. If you’re close to full, drop anything heavy and worth less, stacking the chest piece from Helgen Keep is a good idea as they’re worth a nice bit each. Once you’ve cleared your inventory head North West from Helgen Keep and you’ll come across some Guardian Stones. Be sure to get the blessing from either the Magic, Thief or Warrior Stones. Just to the East of their is Embershard Mine, there’s a bandit standing outside so if you run West he’ll aggro you and make the entrance obvious.

Once inside the mine, explore it fully making sure to loot the chest pieces from the enemies inside. You’ll also want to grab all the mushrooms and alchemy ingredients from inside the mines. It’s a very basic dungeon so you won’t have any issues clearing it. Once you cleared Embershard Mine head East to the town of Riverwood. This is your first real opportunity to earn some cash, head to the Riverwood Trader and you can sell most of your items there. If you hang around and listen to the conversation you can get the quest to collect the Golden Hand.

Camila does have a nice bartering necklace but it’s very tough to steal, it reduces prices in shops by %12. She also holds the key to RiverWood trader if you would wish to rob it easily. Follow her directions to the next dungeon, Bleak Falls Barrow, you’ll discover a guarded tower on your way. Make sure to explore the tower as you can get free heavy armor in the form of Iron. There’s also a few lockpicks and a chest located right at the top. Once you’ve cleared the small tower continue on to Bleak Falls Barrow. Once you get inside there’s a few Bandits and a couple of other bad guys, nothing really serious until the end. During your journey inside you’ll come across a few puzzles. The first one offers 3 pillars and a locked gate with a level. Simply match the pillars to the stone faces holding similar images, from left to right, the second 2 are a level above. As you go through you’ll eventually get ambushed by several Dragur, they’re easy to dispatch just be careful for the trap at the exit of the crypt, don’t step on the floor tile. A short while after that, another trap with 2 swinging axes, simply sprint through to avoid damage. When you reach the end you’ll need to unlock the door using the Golden Claw. Be sure to inspect the item to get the combination to the door. Once you get through to the final room, inspect the wall to summon the boss. Easy to kill so no problems, you can now loot and exit.

Once you’ve finished the quest head back to town and go to the Inn. Speak with the bartender and ask about work and rumors, keep asking about rumors until he mentions the Love Triangle comment three times in row. You should have gathered a number of side quests such as finding Azura’s Shrine and going to the Magic School. Whilst your in there, use all your ingredients on the alchemy bench and return to the trader to sell them, you may also want to speak with Sven playing the Flute to unlock another quest.

These are your first basic steps in Skyrim, you’ve now got quests to follow, items to do it and cash to fuel your adventures. The rest is up to you. Feel free to suggest any further tips and I’ll add them to the guide and credit with your name.

Optional: Another choice is to travel to Riften using the cart outside the Whiterun stables. Once in Riften go to the Black-Briar Meadery and speak to the guy behind the counter. Use our Fast Level Guide here to level Speech to 100 in no time at all. Inside you’ll find loads of bottles of Brew, these are worth a nice amount and are very low in weight, clear the place of it all and sell it to the fence at the thieves guild.

Check out our Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Walkthrough Guide for all our guides, including Housing, Trainers, Horses, and Treasure Maps. We’ve also got a Tips and Tricks article that tells you how to get Free Skill Training, how to get rare artifacts and more!

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