Monday, April 16, 2012

Let's Play The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

A Blind Let's Play
Platform: PC/Windows
Released: 2011
Genre: RPG
Setting: Fantasy
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks, LLC
Versions: 1.5.26.0.5; 1.6.89.0.6; 1.8.151.0.7

Playlist:

First Video in the Series:


Join aspiring Breton mage Amethyst, as she braves the wilds of the province of Skyrim, in search of her destiny. This is a Let's ROLEplay, but I do take things casually, and may be out of character often. I like to have fun playing too, and thus may joke around and such. I'm also a slow and thoughtful player, and will not race through the game. If any of these styles displease you, then please feel free to go bye-bye. Thanks.


GAME SETTINGS

I'm playing this game on 1920x1080 resolution (1080p), on the High setting, but with shadow detail set to Medium (due to lag from Fraps recording software, otherwise I could play in Ultra with nVidia tweaks enabled). As of episode 7, I completely turned off antialiasing and anisotropic filtering to get the framerate with Fraps a bit higher.

MODS INSTALLED

Even if you've played this game, it may look and sound different to you, due to the various mods I've implemented. These only affect graphics and sound, not gameplay. Here are the mods I'm using (subject to change as game progresses):

• SkyUI v2.2 (improves the interface for PC users): http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=3863

• SKSE v1.4.14 (Skyrim Script Extender - Needed by SkyUI): http://skse.silverlock.org/

• Skyrim HD - 2K Textures v1.5 (upgrades tons of textures to high resolution; in towns, the wild, dungeons, and more): http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=607

• Skyrim Flora Overhaul v1.0.9a (high resolution retextures of trees, grass and shrubs): http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=141

• Lush Trees v1.3 (adds extra branches and needles to make landscape more dense and wild): http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=3385

• Lush Grass v1.4.1 (makes grass look taller and thicker):
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=3288

• Quality World Map With Roads v8.0 (adds roads and better textures to Skyrim's map):
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=4929

• Enhanced Distant Terrain v1.3 (improves distant low-level terrain): http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=1598

• Realistic Lighting With Customization v3.4: Vision Lighting setting (improved lighting, added weather effects, more vibrant spell effects and colorful light sources) (NOTE: I removed this mod as of episode 7): http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=7654

• Sounds of Skyrim: The Wilds v1.0.1 (adds nearly 100 background sound effects to all "outside" areas of Skyrim): http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=10886

• Sounds of Skyrim: The Dungeons v1.1 (adds about 100 background sound effects to all dungeons): http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=8601

• Female Face Retexture - with Lips Tint Mask v1.8.1 (makes skin smoother, lips fuller, and removes age lines - how vain, I know): http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=5106

• Hair Pack v1.0.8 (newer, and usually more attractive, hairstyles - I hate the unwashed hair look in Skyrim - again, vain but oh well): http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=3809

• Female Bard Cover by Malukah Ingame v1.1 (replaces bard songs with their renditions by YouTube sensation Malukah! (I haven't tested this as of this writing, but hopefully it'll work.)): http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=6162


Added as of episode 36:
-------------------------------
• 101 BugsHD HighRes HighSpawn v4 (adds more bugs and ingredients to the world): http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=4955

• Categorized Favorites Menu v0.1.14 (though I don't get it working until episode 69): http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=4862

• SkyTEST (which stands for The Elder Scrolls Tweaks) Realistic Animals and Predators v1.16, with Quieter Spiders Footsteps v1: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=10175 (REMOVED AS OF EPISODE 52)


Added as of Episode 48:
-------------------------------
• Shadow Striping Fix v1.3.1 (fixes annoying stripe effect on faces when near light sources): http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=8043

• Breezehome Library v1ab (adds a basement library to Breezehome: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=9563


SYSTEM INFO

• Intel Core i5-2550K Processor (4 Cores at 3.4 Ghz)
• Two nVidia GeForce GTX 560 Ti's, 2GB each, in SLI Mode
• 16 GB of RAM (4 sticks, 4 GB each), by Corsair
• ASUS P8 Z68 V Motherboard
• 1050 Watt Corsair Power Supply
• 120 GB AData S510 SSD Drive
• 2 TB Seagate Barracuda HD, 7200 RPM, 6 GB/S, 64M Cache

[Total Game Time - 321:25:55]

Selected Comments From YouTube: 

• After all those classic RPG's, I never saw this one coming. :-)

• LOL when i reached riverwood i was practicing swinging my sword when i accidentally hit that chicken running around. the entire town turned on me and lynched me. i was dead 30 seconds later =D 

• Woo! :D Good Lp so far!

• I always give in to the urge to put chamber pots on the heads of a sleeping characters...XB

• orcs with enormous axes make very big holes in adventurers in this game xD 

• the companions you say? better bring a flea collar =P

• you like killing bandits, you say? the way your character is developing you should team up with them and split the loot! xD

• I am loving your lp's keep up the good work :)
 

 Links of Interest:


The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on MobyGames

VIDEOS 



Skyrim: 2012
          Part 1
          Part 2
          Part 3
To Lydia With Love

Skyrim Cartoons and Animation

Man vs Skyrim - Ep 2. Creatures of the Night
Man vs Skyrim - Ep 3. A Dark Discovery
Man vs Skyrim - Ep 4. It's Back!!!
Man vs Skyrim - Ep 5. Still Got Meeko...
Man vs Skyrim - Ep 6. We Will Never Forget You...
Man vs Skyrim - Ep 7. I Travel Alone...
Man vs Skyrim - Ep 8. Dungeon Crawling
Man vs Skyrim - Ep 9. Attack of the Dragon
Man vs Skyrim - Ep 10. Leap of Faith
Man vs Skyrim - Ep 11. Moar Dragons!!!
Man vs Skyrim - Ep 12. Deep in the Gorge...
Man vs Skyrim - Ep 13. Clearing Out the Gorge
Man vs Skyrim - Ep 14. We Made It!!!
Man vs Skyrim - Ep 15. Going Deep... Super Deep 
Man vs Skyrim - Ep 16. Catching Diseases... 
Man vs Skyrim - Ep 17. Is This the End? 
Man vs Skyrim - Ep 18. Amnesia 
Man vs Skyrim - Ep 19. Vengeance Will Be Mine...   
Man vs Skyrim - Ep 20. Animal Sex... 
Man vs Skyrim - Ep 21. Bareback Riding...

Malukah's Vocal Covers


Skyrim Metal Covers


Skyrim Piano/Violin Covers
This post is backdated to reflect the date of the original Let's Play. My apologies for the two-week delay. I found myself so stuck in the game!
Scribed by on Monday, April 16, 2012 0 comments
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Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Legend of Grimrock: Pre-Ordered!

I pre-ordered Legend of Grimrock, and you can too, for a measly price of $11.99!

What the hell is Legend of Grimrock? If you already know, skip the following paragraph.

Legend of Grimrock (developed by Almost Human Games) is a dungeon crawling role playing game with an oldschool heart but a modern execution. It's inspired by Dungeon Master, Eye of the Beholder, and Ultima Underworld. It brings back the oldschool challenge with highly tactical real-time combat and grid-based movement, devious hidden switches and secrets, as well as deadly traps and horrible monsters.

Here's a few screenshots:

This is some plantlike thing called a Herder. My guess is it doesn't need sunlight to thrive.

 Here's a Tunnel Ogre. Wazzzup! *crunch* Owww...

I wonder if these cloaked statues would come alive and attack?

A tiny peek at the automap. There's an option to turn it off, and use a supplied printable graph paper.

Death by Undead Soldiers!

What I'm hoping is that LoG, and Wasteland 2, will bring a resurgence of old-school gameplay. We need a return to challenging, immersive games. Games that made you think and strategize.

Anyway, what did I get for pre-ordering? I immediately got the following goodies:

• A manual. Not too long, but it includes: An introductory story; some info on character generation, movement and combat; some spell rune descriptions; and a bestiary, with only five creatures listed. There are no specific items or spells listed here. That's just fine with me, as I prefer to discover these things for myself.

• A world map. This must be for mere flavor, since you spend all your time in a dungeon. It does tie in with the intro story in the manual.

• Graph paper, for those who prefer to turn off the automap and go mapping out dungeon levels. I've had some fun with that in the past, but if given a choice, I'd rather use the automap.

• A set of three wallpapers, at four different resolutions.

• A photo of the Almost Human Games staff.

• A whole bunch of art photos, such as from the intro cinematic, sketches, monsters, and the default player characters.

• Last but not least, an MP3 of the main theme, by Stakula. I love this song. It's so mysterious and majestic.


 Grimrock graph paper!

 You can pre-order now from gog.com (DRM free!), or order it on release day from Steam. (No, there is no pre-order on Steam. Yes, there will be achievements.) Or, better yet, order directly from the developer, which supports their efforts to a higher degree, and gives them the needed cash to create more games like this, and possibly expansions or other DLCs for Legend of Grimrock!

Website/Blog/Forum: http://www.grimrock.net
YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/AlmostHumanGames
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/grimrockgame

Scribed by on Tuesday, April 03, 2012 13 comments
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