Questions and tips for someone considering getting this game

[OblivionDuruza]

Okay, so I'm seriously considering getting Daggerfall so I can explore more of the lore that it presents (for example, the Warp in the West).

I've noticed that for one thing, character customisation is far more complex in Daggerfall, with many more skills, and the ability to alter your character by giving them weaknesses or resistances, making them more or less proficient with certain materials and so on.

In my reading I've also noticed, that there are many more Guilds to choose from and overall, the game seems very much larger than either Vvardenfell of Cyrodiil.

I tried to get into Arena a while back, but the over genericness of the game didn't sit too well with me, so I decided to use the time I had more effectively, and continue with Morrowind and the many mods available for it.

Is there anything that I should know before I play it, considering the fact that I've read through the wiki and am used to the Morrowind and Oblivion experiences? (particularlly pertaining to character creation)

[Shadowscale]

Your in for one tough tutorial

[Samaelthedestroyer]

When you start, it looks and play sort of like a "point and click" game, its far to awkward for me to control but fortunately you can change it so its like morrowind or oblivion. The tutorial is hard, unreasonably hard for a tutorial. Overall if you can get past the severely outdated graphics it has alot to offer. one of the things i always appreciated was that you can change the "tone" of how you say things to people.

[MARS]

You're right about the character customization. It is much more complex and fun than any previous ES game. You will also get a full written background based on the choices you make.

On the subject of Factions: There may be plenty but they're not that varied. There is a number of quests with various variables that are randomized but the core is very much the same. You will never feel any tie with anything, be it NPC, town or dungeon. It's all pretty mundane and dull.

It is free, so you shouldn't think too much about it. Just pick it up and play it. But be sure to customize the controls and give the game a chance. It takes time to adjust and appreciate it but it's a great game.

[KalleFlaxx]

I can't really think of many tips for you, other than, as Samael said, customize the controls. With default settings it'll be like Arena, which kinda ruins everything. But there are an option that lets you control the camera with the mouse, etc. You should totally fix that.

Other than that, I trust you're pretty confident with what classes the different races are good as, and when you're creating your character it shouldn't be too hard to figure out which skills you want.

As for weaknesses and such, I've found it can be very useful to combine those and make your character stronger.
For example, if you're going for a heavy armored warrior kind of character. With the heaviest armor you can find, big weapons, and a big shield, and don't plan on casting spells. Then you can add Disadvantages such as Inability To Restore Spell Points, Unable To Use Magic In Daylight/Darkness. Since you won't be casting any spells at all, you might as well get something in exchange. You can also add something like Forbidden Armor Type: Leather (since you probably won't have much trouble finding Chain/Plate), Forbidden Shield Type: Buckler (shouldn't be too hard to find a better shield), or Forbidden Weaponry: Short Blade/Missile Weapon (finding larger weapons isn't very hard, although you won't be able to use the Ebony Dagger which you can get when you're answering questions about your past).

Now that you have some Disadvantages, you will be able to choose Advantages without really losing anything. If you're going for the character I described earlier, you might want to choose such Advantages as Expertise In: Long Blade/Axe/Blunt etc., Immunity/Resistance to: Magic/Paralysis, Regenerate Health, or Rapid Healing.

Those are just my preferences when I play a warrior character. It can be tailored to fit pretty much any character you can imagine.

You may want to read this page for more info, if you haven't already.

[Archea47]

As was mentioned, changing the controls will make this game much easier to play. I like to play with WASD as my movement controls (A and D being strafe left and right) and mouse-look on. When I meele I hold the right mouse button down the whole time and slash around - clicking and releasing the right mouse button for me often doesn't swing.

There are some good gameplay writeups on gamefaqs

I suggest using DaggerfallSetup to install the game. See this link for my instructions on improving the graphics and running in widescreen with this install:

http://forums.uesp.net/viewtopic.php?p=464779#p464779

[OblivionDuruza]

Thanks guys , that tip for changing the controls is something I'll definetly look into. I just need to find the time to download it now , but I guess like mars said, I'll just fiddle around with it.

Also, thanks for the link Archea47.

[Velothi]

I got one piece of advice. That is NOT in the Tutorial.

D is automatically crouch, that is the only way to loot from the many-corpses you will create with your Dunmer character. (As first the Tutorial goes thoroughly from attack and rest and save, but you can probably find this out through toying with your keyboard)

You also can not restart creation when you choose which option you want, at the end you have to restart the whole process from when you are given the prompt. (I chose a custom character, so I was somewhat safe from this)

Another note of advice: Attacking. Attacking can come in two manners, due to Daggerfall and Battlespire's similar. This attack is attack and move back, since all enemies are pixels whom are inferior to our sword and intelligence. If you don't feel capable of attack an enemy one-on-one, you attack and immediately press the down-key to travel backwards.

This causing a glitch of the attack pixel not coming when it is suppose to, causing said pixel to revert into a move-mode to which you can attack.

I find it both cheap and somewhat hard (This is coming from a person whose been playing TIE Fighter without a Joy-Stick) to do this. As you have to both swish your mouse back and forth, whilst holding the right click and simultaneously moving backwards to make the pixels cry.

But that's if you are..say facing a skeleton warrior, and you don't want to face the creature.

A big thing is; Imps..are NOT (I repeat; NOT) affected by normal weapons.

But other then that? Use climb when you need to to get out of the first dungeon quickly, when you see it to be used.

Other then that; don't die by large rats and bats. If you can't see them (due to our wonderful menu), keep slashing. They eventually die if you choose both a good character or one that can endure pain like a Dunmer.

[OblivionDuruza]

I started playing last night and I took Samael's advice and changed the controls (using the arrow keys to move is just annoying ).

I did find that you have to crouch to loot, although thanks for the heads up Velothi .

I also did find that Imps are not affected by Normal Weapons, but I had an Elven Tanto, so I used that to kill it.

One other thing that annoyed me, was that the click and drag attack system, is worse than Arena's (which I could manage). This one seems off centre, so it's very hard to hit enemies, especially small ones like rats and bears, unless you crouch.

Anyhow, it's aggravating me a little, but I'll keep trying to get it all.

[MARS]

I take it you haven't changed to mouse movement? It makes the game a lot easier. I'll let you know how to do it as soon as I get home (I can't remember right now).

[OblivionDuruza]

That would be correct I'll try and google it, but I'd appreciate your help when you get a chance .

[Velothi]

You mean the spam attack (right click and hold, then SWOOOOSH)?

Yeah, take note because Daggerfall's combat is basically Arena's only two-four years of work. So there are alot of similarities; but I should warn you.

The moving back and attack glitch does work, but make sure you not have room but you do it simultaneously. (I can not stress this enough)

If you do not, the glitch corrects itself rather quickly and gives you a stab in your gut that costs you alot of points.

EDIT: F10 changes your menu screen, use it if you need more room of seeing the enemy.

[KalleFlaxx]

@Velothi: You do know that a lot of your problems can be solved by activating the mouse-controlled camera option, right?

How to activate: press Escape, Controls, Mouse (bottom of the screen), and switch to View under Mouse Controls, instead of Movement.
Should solve problems with not being able to loot, since you now can simply look down on the creature.

[OblivionDuruza]

I uped the mouse sensitivity and changed to view. It's working a fair bit better now! Thanks for the tip guys.

[OblivionDuruza]

Okay, sorry for the double post, but I'm having trouble finding Daggerfall City. I typed it into the map search function and was returned with no entries. So far I've visited a settlement, taken on a quest to steal an item from a store, stolen the item and been handed a note asking for it back. Currently I'm trying to figure out what the enchantment on the item does, but I can't find an enemy to kill, so I'm going to try and wait in the centre of town at night time. Help would be appreciated, with finding the city. I feel pretty silly, but I just can't work the tiny little map with the hundreds of little pixels on it, each representing a fairly generic location.

[MARS]

Did you type "Daggerfall City"? That's wrong. "Daggerall" will suffice.

[OblivionDuruza]

I tried both "Daggerfall" and "Daggerfall City". But I'll try again.

[Pingpat]

It's been a while since I've played, but are you zoomed in the right kingdom as well? Maybe capitalization matters? (I doubt it, though)
Just for added info: every kingdom and its capital have the exact same name, I believe (that is, if it IS a kingdom).



And no, Mars, "Daggerall" will not suffice!

[OblivionDuruza]

All sorted, I needed to type "Daggerfall" only. I had been trying "Daggerfall City", "daggerfall city" and "daggerfall". But I somehow missed "Daggerfall" . Thanks for the help.

[Trelares]

Just to add it, many times the first 3-6 letters are enoug and you will find it on the world map^^. Although sometimes there are villages/dungeons with very similar names.

[Unionhack]

Changing it to mouse movement works wonders for making it more enjoyable.

I really want a mod that lets us start OUTSIDE the beginning dungeon. I'd definitely make more characters if I didn't have to run that one dungeon over and over again. So far I've beaten the game with one character and made it out of Privateer's Hold with one other, and that's about all I can be bothered to do. The game is great, the beginning is just a pain.

[Dark Lord Cam]

This thread is a bit old now. I'm gonna go ahead and lock it. Feel free to PM me or make a new one.