[NobleNick]

Originally posted by Ivelliis: What is the best way to get into the game? I would like to play it fully (seeing as Oblivion is coming out and looks very cool, although that'll require a PC revamp, or persueding my dad to get a new one so I can get his ), but I've never really got into it. It took ages to get into action.

Ivelliis,

There are others more qualified to answer; but, having been sort of in your position just a month ago, I feel compelled to give my 2 cents worth.

Your question implies that you played Morrowind a bit, but lost interest. To get into the game quickly:

1.) Read the "Newbie help" thread that is about 120 posts long, wherein I (the newbie) got lots of help from the fine folks here.

2.) Decide which way(s) you want to lean --> Stealth, Brute force and/or Magic. And roll your character accordingly at the start of the game.

3.) I prefer the safe in town quests to start; but if you want target practice, go over the north walkway, just outside of Seyda Neen. Turn to the left to practice on mudcrabs (near the water) and a few other critters just north of the water. If you turn right, instead of left; there is a cave of bandits just past the Siltstrider service. And be prepared for the occasional rat. In either case, be prepared to run back to town if you get into trouble. (The critters will follow you, but the town guards dispatch them quickly.)

4.) If you want to advance the storyline quickly, say good bye to Seyda Neen (for now), take the Siltstrider service to Balmora (although walking is fun and not too dangerous), find Casius Cosades (I *know* I spelled that wrong) and tell him you will work with him.

5.) If you want to get into doing quests with adventure in them, join a guild or two (or three, but don't join any of the Houses, yet). After doing a "job" or two for a guild (or guilds), return to Cosades and start accepting jobs from him.

6.) Find the Transport Mage at the Balmora Mages guild, and travel to Vivec. Explore all levels of at least one Canton (You'll know what that means when you get there).

7.) By now (10 to 20 hours into the game, if you did steps 1 through 6 and did not take any of the many inviting side trips that will beckon) you should be totally immersed and know plenty of places to get into trouble if that is your desire. Read some books and talk to EVERYONE. This game is about getting immersed in a different world. It is not about getting through the main quest as quickly as possible. I have been told that the game usually takes 100 hours if one simply pursues the main quest line; but that it is closer to 500 hours if one does all the side quests. I am sure my adventure will be much closer to the latter number, since I am pushing 100 hours and have barely scratched the main quest line. The game is designed to allow you to slowly learn enough about the world you are in to then be capable and motivated enough to, sooner or later, press the main storyline. This game is not about seeing how many monsters you can pound into jelly. It is about discovery: Discovery of new (and very interesting) skills, new information, new places, new people to befriend (or use, or help, or steal from, or kill, as your roleplay inclinations and those of the NPCs dictate), new themes, new loot, new tactics, unraveling intertwined threads of intrigue, and yes: plenty of new monsters (to kill).

8.) Something that helped me **A LOT** was to save to a new game name often (like every 10 minutes or so). My character's name is Tarnaq. So I save to Tarnaq_10A as soon as I level. Then save to Tarnaq_10 a few minutes later. Then save to Tarnaq_11 a few minutes after that. Then alternate between saving to Tarnaq_10 and Tarnaq_11 every 10 minutes or so as I travel about. After I level again, I save to new game names Tarnaq_11A, and Tarnaq_12; and then alternate saving to Tarnaq_11 and Tarnaq_12 for the new level, etc. It saves a lot of heartache, especially if your machine crashes every once and a while, corrupting what should have been your last good save.

Hope this helped.

[ 12-12-2005, 03:26 PM: Message edited by: NobleNick ]