Scientific fact for chroniclers of games journalism: if we go two weeks without publishing an Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim feature (e.g. nine ways to make it the worst game ever) we develop a highly rarefied form of tinnitus. Snuggled up to our spouses/teddy bears/iPhones in the deep of night, we hear the mounting thunder of war drums and the bellowing of magic dinosaurs.
We hope you'll forgive us, then, this scrappy list of places you might visit. Seasoned Skyrim explorers are doubtless even now scanning the goods with an unforgiving eye, fingers poised to unleash fiery comments thread reproofs. OK, know-it-all - what's on your itinerary? Mention enough places we haven't heard of, and we'll publish a follow-up. The drums must be stilled, the dinosaurs appeased with semi-informative words.
A Draugr tomb notable for being the site of what seems to be a skeleton pilgrimage, and also the Withershins book, which increases your Restoration. Travel south of the Rift Imperial Camp. Clear out your inventory first, as more often than not, Here Be Dragons.
2. Gloombound Mine
Want Daedric Armour? Get ebony ingots. The mines are south-east of Windhelm and south of Narzulbur. Smelt 30 ore for a chest piece, gauntlets, boots and helm.
3. The Wreck of the Brinehammer
There's not much loot to be had here, mudcrabs aside, but you'll find a book left by the (self-described) earliest Aldmer explorer of Tamriel. Have a mosey north of Dawnstar.
4. Temple of Mara
If you want to marry, go to Riften and the Temple of Mara. Talk to Maramel and buy the Amulet of Mara. Skyrim is an embracing place. Gay cat-lizard partnerships? Go for it.
5. Southfringe Sanctum
Home to some angry wizards and a fox named Pumpkin. Here, have a secondary life goal on us: find out why the hell there's a fox called Pumpkin in Skyrim. Also, don't leave that witch hanging there in the web, you monster. Explore south of Helgen to find it.
6. Hjaalmarch Forest
Want canine company that doesn't answer back? Visit the woods of Hjaalmarch. You'll meet a dog called Meeko - follow him to get a new pet. Bear in mind that you can have two companions providing one of them's non-human.
The three stones on your trek into Riverwood boost a third of your skills by 20 per cent. But the Lover Stone boosts every skill by 15 per cent. It's a minute or two walk, east by north-east from Markath. A good place to start, Skyrim tourists.
8. Japhet's Folly
You'll travel here as part of the quest Rise in the East, which can be triggered by visiting the East Empire Company offices near the docks in Windhelm. Make sure you explore fully, as subsequent events will make it difficult to return.
9. The Lunar Forge
You won't have to search hard for this one - it's right slap-bang next to Whiterun, in the Silent Moons Camp. Climb the stairs to find a forge that, in theory, bestows night-specific magical properties on the weapons you create with it. In practice it's just a forge with some neat gear lying nearby. But perhaps there's a way to unlock the place's supernatural potential?
We're hoping Skyrim's DLC will answer questions like this one. Share your own dreams.
16 comments so far...
Maverick_McCool on 5 Feb '12 said:
Here are a few.
Liar's Retreat - southwest of Solitude , a cool little bandit hideout with a Falmer problem , it also holds a unique two handed weapon at the end , just be careful though , as there is a suprise in store as you are about to leave.
Blind Cliff Bastion - Want a Hagraven follower? Check this place out near the lover's stone and give the "lady" a helping hand for a cool staff reward for all you aspiring mages.
Old Hrolden - East of Markarth. Fancy taking a kip in Tiber Septim's old room? This the place for you , spend the night here and a cool little quest will follow.
The amazing part about this is I have 5 different characters spread across over 400 hours of play and the first and third of those locations I only found yesterday! Damn this game is HUUGGGEEE!
Plamsa wing on 5 Feb '12 said:
Don't forget to vist these locations.
Eldergleam Sanctuary - One of the most beautiful places in Skyrm.
Giant's Grove - Not as beautiful as the one above, but it's still pretty breath taking.
Bard's Leap Summit - Jump off the plank with become ethereal on into the water below and enjoy the events that follow.
Blackreach - A stunning naturally lit cavern and the home to a ruined Dwemer city. Don't forget to use Unrelenting Force on the orange globe to summon the dragon Vulthuryol.
The Sky above Skyrim - Let Giantair take you there on a one "road" trip to Oblivion.
STE MO on 6 Feb '12 said:
I'll be trying some of these later. I would share a few but my memory is terrible at the moment, to many games on the go and family commitments make my brain melt down
golliwoza on 6 Feb '12 said:
Stop trying to tempt me on Skyrim. My Mass Effect playthroughs need finishing.
OXM ETboy on 6 Feb '12 said:
By a strange coincidence, I polished off ME2 over the weekend and have now resumed playing Skyrim.
Not enough hours in the day.
Bezza89 on 6 Feb '12 said:
I did exactly the same thing. Loved the 'Bound until Death' quest I did on skyrim straight after.
OXM ETboy on 6 Feb '12 said:
Need to go back and do it properly though. Mordin went and f**king died on me, the wimp.
Bezza89 on 6 Feb '12 said:
I have four shepards, three all called John - let me change the name Bioware!!
My main one is the only to have everyone surviving luckily, but speaking to forumers online we worked out legion and wrex Jnr (or whoever) can be kept alive by not activating them and kasumi and Zaeed are invincible. Mordin, Jack and Garrus are also most common to die, if my playthroughs are anything to go by.
OXM ETboy on 6 Feb '12 said:
Yeah, I'm planning on sending Mordin home early, if you follow my non-spoilerific drift. Failing that, I'll put him in my squad and keep him hopped up on medigel.
Bezza89 on 6 Feb '12 said:
Mordin couldn't handle a certain chunk of 'floating platform' debris when in my squad so I'd watch out there.
golliwoza on 6 Feb '12 said:
The only problems I had were Miri and jack fighting and becoming unloyal so to solve that I just had zaeed unloyal and saved up enough paragon for the rest of the crew to survive and to sort out those two. Im still not happy with my other playthrough ready for ME3 so after finishing ME two more times I am going to try again on ME2.
CunningSmile on 6 Feb '12 said:
From various forums and walk throughs Mordin is safest put on the subs bench and sent home early. He's just way too squishy. And keep Jack close, if for no other reason than she's cute.
Decent_Jam on 6 Feb '12 said:
I get the feeling she wouldn't appreciate that description...hope you have your Magneto helmet handy...
EdDeRs1 on 7 Feb '12 said:
i dont know why everyone is haveing such problems with Jack in ME2, i had her loyal despite f**king Miranda, she survived in both attempts i made of the final mission, i find it best to ONLY use her when a f**king powerful biotic is needed to get past the swarms, i had problems with Tali (couldnt finish dialog, as i f**ked Miranda) and Mordon, who kept on getting a f**king BAZZOKA TO THE HEAD when i sent him into the tunnals, i found it best to send Tali back, and keep Mordon with me into the final battle.
but onto Skyrim, no i dont think i can add to the list, but i say go to the shrine of Azura, its beautiful there... and there is a wired spot that spawns an object called an "achient travalers skull" i took it and next time i was there it had respawned, i think it was somewhere around Dawnstar...
VirtualCynic on 10 Feb '12 said:
I'm on a big ME play through as well - nearly finished 1 (again), then tackling 2 (never played it, really looking forward to it) then buying 3 on release ready to continue. Then I've got Oblivion, then Skyrim - I won't need another game till around 2014 at this rate!
Clanger67 on 10 Feb '12 said:
Ah well at least you will know you will be having a good time for a few years,lol.