Shadowscale Advice

abigfishy

Sorry if this doesn't belong here I thought there was a builds or a RP forum but I can't find them.

So I decided to make a Shadowscale. I had one in Oblivion and really enjoyed playing him. Obviously I can do this myself but I was just looking for some tips and advice from anyone that will make this build even more fun.

Ok here are my decisions so far and I would love some feedback on what people think.

Name: Speaks-With-Arrow
Race: Argonian
Class: Nightblade
Weapon: Bow
Sign: The Shadow
Guilds: None, I serve only Sithis.
Armour Set: Argonian Style Medium Night Mother's Gaze

So things I need to work out are what skills should I emphasise? Right now they are mainly from the shadow and bow skill lines.

I also need to figure out what my weapon switch should be. Dual wield? Destruction staff?

I guess also attribute points are an issue at the moment I have only put points into magica and health with a 2:1 ratio. Good idea?

Was I right to not join Fighters, Mages or Undaunted?

What else do I need to do to be a true Shadowscale?

Thanks in advance to everyone.

hammer_fella

It's difficult to build with RP in mind and still expect the best results. Not utilizing any of the guild skill lines will limit your options pretty severely, particularly against undead and daedra which constitute many of the game's enemies. Without some Siphoning or a Resto staff for your swap you will have a tough time surviving later on as a NB. Playing how you want has its merits, but you will suffer in the long term if you dismiss certain options simply because they don't fall in line with the type of character you envisioned.

abigfishy

Great advice and I admit I do have Soul Siphon on my bar, too good that skill not to use it.

abigfishy

Great advice and I admit I do have Soul Siphon on my bar, too good that skill not to use it.

So no-one has any other advice?

abigfishy

Anyone?

Woolenthreads

There's a group of shadowscales in Grahtwood which the PC has to defeat. Shdowscales are not restricted to any one weapon. There were melee, bow and magi to eliminate.

Kartalin

Putting your attribute points into health and magicka is fine, but since you did that you would be better with a destruction staff than dual wield. From an RP standpoint I don't think it's an issue either.

abigfishy

I must go to Grahtwood and take a look. Thanks to both of you for the input. Yes a destruction or restoration staff would be awesome as long as it does seem in character.

dodgehopper_ESO

I definitely don't think there's any problem joining any guild if you're a shadowscale. They're infiltrators, and if its to their goal's benefit they'll do it. I actually play a character who is a Shadowscale, although he's on the Aldmeri side. Inspiration came from the argonian village in Grahtwood (He doesn't trust the Dunmer). Other than that, my Shadowscale uses Bows in both quick slots. I cloak, and swap out various archery abilities as needed. Shades, The Stamina/Hasten buff, Mark target.

For Crowd Control Bombard is nice, although the Acid Spray is more dps.
Volley is nice for aoe damage.
Snipe and morphs / Poison Arrow are good for single target damage.
I'm a big fan of Magnum shot to get out of melee range on an opponent.
I also use swallow soul as well.

One tray tends to be single target, and the other area of effect, as needed. I really wish I had a good aoe cc available to other than Bombard, because I like the dps on bombard (and tend to do that). Anyway just some ideas to go on with a similar concept.

Eventually I plan to master all of the weapons, simply because I like doing this on my characters.

Sord

I have been in the process of making the same concept for a shawowscale argonian born under the sign of shadow. I think of them as ninjas if you were to relate it our culture, trained in any and all weapons, masters of disguise and trained killers. When Darkbrotherhood comes available I will certainly join. However I agree with someone above in that you can play in any guild as you are an infiltrator and Shadowscale walk among the average person and could be any Argonian. I think some of the key signatures for Shadowscale are the illusionary type spells and having at least one or two on a bar is good, like Aspect of Terror (and it morphs) or one from the siphoning line.

I was reading here that and I liked the idea of being able to steal another person blade and use it against them but not really a reality in this game so this makes picking any weapon viable. I personally am training all my weapons as I have been having fun with almost all the different ways to possibly build this toon, but I make a more solid discussion more at V5 or so and refine my playstyle with him.

I think this build is pretty open so long as you are an Argonian Nightblade and who intends to join The Dark Brotherhood.

abigfishy

Woolenthreads wrote: »

There's a group of shadowscales in Grahtwood which the PC has to defeat. Shdowscales are not restricted to any one weapon. There were melee, bow and magi to eliminate.

I have an AD character and just played through this entire Grahtwood mission against Slim-Jah taking screenshoots throughout and noted very carefully what everyone was equipped with. There was no heavy armour at all. There were no staves. No shields. In fact there were just three types that I encountered and I took it all very slowly and carefully.

1 dual wielding curved swords/daggers.
2 bows
3 rare but I met about three with 2 handed mauls

That was it. I think I will stick to these parameters.

abigfishy

dodgehopper_ESO wrote: »

I definitely don't think there's any problem joining any guild if you're a shadowscale. They're infiltrators, and if its to their goal's benefit they'll do it. I actually play a character who is a Shadowscale, although he's on the Aldmeri side. Inspiration came from the argonian village in Grahtwood (He doesn't trust the Dunmer). Other than that, my Shadowscale uses Bows in both quick slots. I cloak, and swap out various archery abilities as needed. Shades, The Stamina/Hasten buff, Mark target.

For Crowd Control Bombard is nice, although the Acid Spray is more dps.
Volley is nice for aoe damage.
Snipe and morphs / Poison Arrow are good for single target damage.
I'm a big fan of Magnum shot to get out of melee range on an opponent.
I also use swallow soul as well.

One tray tends to be single target, and the other area of effect, as needed. I really wish I had a good aoe cc available to other than Bombard, because I like the dps on bombard (and tend to do that). Anyway just some ideas to go on with a similar concept.

Eventually I plan to master all of the weapons, simply because I like doing this on my characters.

I can understand becoming infiltrators but you don't really get the chance to do any spying and really help the guilds you join. I think I will stay loyal to Sithis. The only temptation is Undaunted so I can get Inner Fire but I just think I wont.

Bows in both quickslots may be a good call as you said one for single target and one for AOE/CC. The alternative is going to be dual or two handed giving me a close melee option neither really adds a ton but there is an insane two handed ultimate generator.

abigfishy

Sord wrote: »

I have been in the process of making the same concept for a shawowscale argonian born under the sign of shadow. I think of them as ninjas if you were to relate it our culture, trained in any and all weapons, masters of disguise and trained killers. When Darkbrotherhood comes available I will certainly join. However I agree with someone above in that you can play in any guild as you are an infiltrator and Shadowscale walk among the average person and could be any Argonian. I think some of the key signatures for Shadowscale are the illusionary type spells and having at least one or two on a bar is good, like Aspect of Terror (and it morphs) or one from the siphoning line.

I think this build is pretty open so long as you are an Argonian Nightblade and who intends to join The Dark Brotherhood.

Yes with no guilds and maybe just bow my choices are limited so I need some good skills. I like the idea of illusions and Shadowscales - what sort of spells did you mean?

Night_Child

http://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-gb/news/post/2015/07/21/battlemasters-corner--the-shadowscale

Night_Child

https://youtu.be/gCasRO4FyDo