UESP Forums

Often when I have made Mages, or similar such classes; I include Alchemy as a main skill, but wonder why at times. Sure, it is a good way to gain Intelligence, and you can always sell what you do not use. But is Alchemy not much more useful if you use both Potions "and" Poisons?

The main point is that you would have to use some form of weapon, just to be able to use the Poison. So that would imply either Blade, Blunt, or Marksman as a skill to have. (in addition to Destruction)
Is this overkill? Is it wise to spend points on Strength/Agility just so the Sword/Mace/Bow does a bit more damage, and would the use of a Bow as such also merit taking the Sneak skill as a Major Skill, or just training it as a Minor Skill?

Or should a Mage just not bother with using Poison at all, and just either sell it or never make it?
Would feel like using half a Skill if you do not use Poison.

An Oblivion mage can use spells to deal with probably 99% of the opponents. However, alchemy still gives you that extra gear when everything goes into the toilet. If you have a poison that does over 900 points of damage over 37 seconds, then you don't really need a lot of skill with the poisoned weapon of your choice. Some Block skill helps though. My mage always carries a small supply of this poison, a potion that fortifies endurance and gives chameleon for an instant health boost and the ability to escape, and one other that also does chameleon with restore and fortify magicka.

Well that is a good idea. I could also decorate my houses with a collection of pink and green vials. :p

Arguing role playing vs game mechanics is a futile exercise. There is no penalty for using a minor skill. Major skills are the game's way to level you up. They are also training wheels for short game, novice players.

Alchemy builds so quickly there is no reason to start it out at Apprentice level. For the role player, even Arch Mage Traven (owner of the supercalifragilistic alchemy ingredient box) has novice alchemy equipment in his quarters, so he started his game at novice skill level. Likewise, if a blade or bow is only used to deliver poison, there is no reason to have any skill at all for it. Case in point, the Langourwine blade in the dark Brotherhood quest. If you are playing at maximum difficulty, weapon damage (and thus weapon skill) is more or less irrevelent. A poisoned sword might as well be a hypodermic needle even when your skill is 100.

It is a bad idea to have Alchemy as a major skill if you want to use it to build Intelligence because it will level you up before you get the points for your bonus, and it is a bad idea to have blade as a major skill if you are not going to use it for most of your fighting because you will never max it out and reach end game.

That is a good argument. Thanks for your opinion.
I had a Warlock-ish character for a while, with sneak blade conjuration etc and alchemy/mysticism/destruction and 1 other. He got blade to 50 and strength to 60 or so. He uses a master conjuration summoned claymore to strike stuff in between lightning bolts. But that reduces leveling points allocation to willpower etc. So the hypodermic needle thing sounds good. Might start over. This character was getting a bit out of hand. I have the terrible tendency to forget RP specifications of characters and don't remember what they are allowed to do and not. I shall have to write it down for the next one.

As Cassie says, "If you can slip in close enough to his heart, you won't need a sword. Just a needle."

The size and power of a weapon is more for the concern of overcoming the victim's defenses— penetrating armor, or staying far enough out of the reach of their weapons if they're aware of your attack. If you can get past all those defenses by other means, even the smallest of weapons will effect a kill. All you need is to pierce down an inch in order to slice open a vein, if you start your attack right at the skin. The trick is getting to that starting point.

A poisoner doesn't need the biggest of weapons to deliver their product.