A Gaming Diary
360
Elder Scrolls: Oblivion
Apr 6th
Tonight I finally got access to the Arcane University.
(I really don’t remember doing the Leywain quest, but I guess I must have done.)
So I’ve spent ages enchanting all my items. Haven’t quite got it down yet, so I may have wasted some things. My drain health sword doesn’t seem to work properly. It’s meant to drain 15 points and the effect is meant to last nine seconds, but the sword seems to take a chunk of health off with no lasting effect. I don’t quite understand. It’s only got 12 charges, too, which is a bit rubbish. But my shield now gives me +7 strength, as does a gold ring I had. And an amulet I stole now gives me an extra nine points of willpower.
Now I just need a +30 something of endurance and I won’t keep dying all the time.
Tomb Raider: Legend Demo
Apr 5th
Downloaded the 360 version from Live Marketplace and played through it an about 45 minutes. It’s not a massively generous demo, but it’s not stingy either.
As for the quality of the game, well, it’s… right. Correct. It’s what it should be. Exactly. I am pleased. Not excited, not drooling, but pleased. Satisfied might be a better word. Quiet approval, with a nod and everything.
If I had spare cash I’d buy it.
If I wasn’t addicted to Oblivion and I had spare games I’d trade in for it.
As it is, it’ll have to wait until it’s on budget… or for a moment of weakness.
And I’ll keep an eye on Play Asia‘s compatibility chart…
Elder Scrolls: Oblivion
Apr 5th
Bit of a change of pace this evening.
Just decided to find myself a random cave to loot, to try and make a bit of money.
And loot it I did. Unfortunately, I used up so much magic and knackered my armour so much that I don’t think I managed to make a profit, despite looting some cool weapons. Trouble is, nobody has any money to pay for any of the really good stuff I loot, so I’m a bit stuffed.
I can’t really carry enough. A claymore, a mace and a pair of boots and I’m pretty much full up. Ish.
Still, it was great fun, so I can’t complain too much.
Oh, and I must remember to try and find somewhere to buy some more silver arrows. I’m pretty much out.
Elder Scrolls: Oblivion
Apr 4th
I did it.
I did it.
I only went and fucking did it!
I retook Kvatch.
I thought it was impossible. I thought even clearing the first courtyard was impossible. But I did it. It took all my useful potions. My armor and weapons are in tatters. My magical weapons are completely depleted. I am tired and worn out and covered with dirt and drenched in blood and I will have scars aplenty, but I am alive and I am triumphant.
I’m not at all sure it goes any better than this.
Blazing Angels Demo
Apr 3rd
Bah.
Downloaded the demo. Got to a bit where I had to fly over a church. So I did. Twice. And nothing happened. I wasn’t really enjoying it, anyway. So I turned off.
Elder Scrolls: Oblivion
Apr 3rd
Had the day off work because Telewest were coming round to install a TV Drive. Knock on the door when I was playing Oblivion, so I ran up and let the guy in. He saw the pause screen and started talking about Oblivion, which he’s been playing. Apparently I’ve got a better sword than him.
Anyway, after he left I carried on playing. I’ve just finished the Dark Brotherhood quests. Which is annoying, as they were excellent. Lovely quest line.
I’ve gone back to have a look at the main quest, but the enemies in Kvatch are even harder now than they were before and I just can’t do it, even with help. Bah.
Elder Scrolls: Oblivion
Apr 2nd
Just time for a couple of Dark Brotherhood missions today.
The first one was a major one and has left a pretty bad taste in my mouth. I guess that’s what I get for being a hired murderer, though.
Second one was a lot nicer. Lovely horse ride through a forest, then a nice kill of someone really very evil indeed.
Elder Scrolls: Oblivion
Apr 1st
Lots of Dark Brotherhood quests today. Much fun and one moment of extreme rubbishness when a quest broke and the game structure fell apart for a few minutes until I managed to pull things back on track.
Also got very distracted for a couple hours trying to kill things. I really am a wimp in outright combat. Sneaking, I’m a good. But my dagger against a minotaur or a goblin shaman… I die. I’m fast enough to run rings around most foes firing off arrows, but they take ages and ages to kill anyone. I really need to find more ingredients for some Damage Health potions I can mix up and poison my arrows with. That helps a lot.
I did try turning the difficulty level down a quarter of the way, but that just felt wrong. I could whip my dagger out, stand toe to toe with a heavily armoured barbarian and take him down without even losing half my health. I shouldn’t be able to do that. That’s not what my character is. I need to be luring enemies into traps of my own devising or using poison or running away. That’s who I am.
Elder Scrolls: Oblivion
Apr 1st
Mainly Dark Brotherhood missions this evening. Good stuff.
Unfortunately I had to kill a guard when I forgot to take off my costume and change back to my civilian identity before wandering into Imperial City. He saw, decided killing me would give a fast track promotion and followed me all the way to my bedroom, so I had to kill him there, meaning I’m left with a naked corpse in a corner of the room. I’ve tried to hide him as much as possible, but I can still see him scrunched up between some crates. Annoying.
I’m having real trouble finding places to sell stuff I find. I used to sell all my weapons at the Smash ‘n’ Slash – the orc there loves me now – but I can only get a maximum of 800G for everything there, which is a bit rubbish when something’s worth 3,000G.
I’ve not turned the difficulty level down yet, but I might at some point. I ran into some ice giant today and my arrows just bounced off him. But I suppose I did choose to be a thief. I’m not meant to be going toe-to-toe with giants. So maybe I shouldn’t complain… except that means there’s a lot of stuff I can’t do. I guess I need to wait for cover of night and sneak past, or lure it away and then run until I lose it and then try to beat it back to where it started if it’s somewhere I need to go…
We’ll see.
Elder Scrolls: Oblivion
Mar 30th
Hooray!
I’ve become a master sneak.
That’s my first skill maxed out.
(I got my agility up to 100 before any buffs earlier, too.)
