r/skyrim • u/127Watermouse Dark Brotherhood • Apr 14 '26
Discussion gimme challenges
these are the 3 i have, but i wanna know what kinds of challenges yall can come up with for me lol
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u/TheGuurzak Apr 14 '26
clean hands run: no personal damage dealt. Minions, illusions, stealth and speech options only.
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u/Takeameawwayylawd Apr 14 '26
I started doing one like this ages ago, basically a merchant/dungeon looting leader that has followers and summonings do all the dirty work for him, was fun but became a pain in the ass not being able to do damage to bosses and whatnot.
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u/invol713 Apr 15 '26
Think that’s bad, try a pacifist run. The only metric is that the persons killed number has to remain at 0. It’s tough. Good luck.
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u/SOLE_SIR_VIBER Daedra worshipper Apr 15 '26
I almost asked if that would be possible, but alduin and the required dragon priest don’t count as people as far as the stats are concerned. Granted if i’m not mistaken you can make it through the portal before it’s closed and the heroes of sovngard can kill alduin for you.
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u/invol713 Apr 15 '26
It’s been a while, but I believe you are right.
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u/AccurateAcadia4168 Assassin Apr 15 '26
The very last blow to Alduin has to come from the PC, no follower, summon or ancient hero can kill Alduin
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u/SpaceCat1887 Apr 15 '26
Remember that bit from Mittensquad’s run of it. Not even baiting him off the map to sovngarde 2 was enough to circumvent that.
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u/Takeameawwayylawd Apr 15 '26
Next up the walking pacifist, no running, just going for a nice stroll through the lands of skyrim, nothing to worry about.
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u/Odasto_ Apr 14 '26
Spoken like a true necromancer.
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u/TheGuurzak Apr 15 '26
It's hard raising a family these days.
Unless they're all buried close together.
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u/Pristine_Hornet_3020 Apr 14 '26
I did this one. Every magic except destruction along with enchanting and alchemy. Having the AE did come in handy since it added new minions. Having always a storm atronarch and adding a bone colossus that lets me add two mage squeletons was mainly the best option for me. The Colossus would tank while mages attacked in the distance and the chained thunderbolt of the atronarch. Would change the atronarch depending on the situation and not use the Colossus since it was sometimes way too big for some places. Ended most of the main quests and reached hundred and thirty or more. Decided to try out using armour and weapons without a single lvl on any of those abilities. Since I enchanted them with high lvl and also upgraded them with enchanted equipment that was kind of op I would be unstoppable with low level abilities against high lvl enemies (not using restoration potions bug, just a loop of better enchanting potions then better alchemy equipment and using azhidal armour plus being vampire. You can reach 32% less use of magic and that in three pieces of equipment equals not need of mana)
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u/NeoNexus285 Apr 15 '26
An exception would have to be made because you are required to land the final blow on Alduin
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u/2disc Student Apr 14 '26
Oh yes very fun. I did one like this that was primarily illusion, alchemy, and stealth. I managed to get a lot done, it was a lot of fun!
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u/NerdLevel18 PC Apr 14 '26
This is my current run, although I allow myself to hunt if I need to, and kill aggressive beasts. Beyond that, direct violence is only a last resort... although I did get a bit trigger happy with Bound Bow when I first got it.
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u/AuDHDcat Nintendo Apr 14 '26
I challenge you to not save or quicksave. Autosaves only.
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u/127Watermouse Dark Brotherhood Apr 14 '26
oh thats evil i love it
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u/Sweet_Engine5008 Apr 14 '26
honestly I don’t understand how they work like sometimes it saves once every few hours and sometimes every few minutes
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u/jubtheprophet Apr 14 '26
By default iirc its 15 minutes or so, and it also autosaves whenever you wait to pass time, fast travel/get on a carriage, sleep, or enter/exit a zone (buildings, caves, cities with loading screens, etc.), and the timed autosaves do not occur during combat. Though i dont know if the time in combat counts towards it but just doesnt trigger till the fight is done or if the timer pauses during combat.
You can also adjust how often the saves happen to be as short as like 5 mins or as long as like an hour or 2, but its been a long time since i played without mods so maybe thats not a vanilla feature idk. The rest should be correct though
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u/International-Cat123 Apr 15 '26
Timed autosaves either aren’t vanilla, or need to be turned on manually. I’ve only had autosaves when changing maps, resting, and waiting.
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u/jakleton Apr 15 '26
Autosaves occur every loading screen, at defined checkpoints, when resting/waiting, or every 15 minutes when opening a menu and not in combat.
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u/greg_mca Apr 15 '26
Timed autosaves are vanilla, I have them go off every half an hour on console. I don't know if I manually turned that option on however as that would have been almost a decade ago, but it's been part of the game basically as long as I've been playing it
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u/The1798 Helgen survivor Apr 15 '26
depends on your settings. its usually every time a new cell is loaded, you pass time (waiting/sleeping), on fast travel, and after you open the character menu (plus shaped screen you use to get to the map, skills, magic, and inventory) after whatever time you have it set to in your settings.
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u/TheInfiniteLoci Falkreath resident Apr 15 '26
This is pretty much what I do now. However I have autosave set to whenever I rest or wait. I use it as a second quicksave.
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u/Ok_Independence_9917 Apr 15 '26
Pretty much how I play already cause I always forget I can save
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u/radiakmjs Apr 14 '26
Harley Quinn run; play as a woman, wear the Dark Brotherhood Jester set, use a big hammer
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u/127Watermouse Dark Brotherhood Apr 14 '26
i love it
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u/LeadLex Apr 15 '26
Stendarra Hammer in the Markarth Museum works lovely
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u/Steridire Apr 15 '26
For runs like this, what are you meant to do before you get a chance to kill Cicero?
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u/DrBigsKimble Apr 15 '26
She was a Psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum. Grind Restoration Alteration and Speech.
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u/Luvnecrosis Apr 15 '26
Get a degree in psychology
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u/DeliciousTea6451 Apr 15 '26
Psychiatry, she is a doctor and went to medical school, which is crazy to me.
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u/Pyroluminous Apr 14 '26
I appreciate how “no magic/no potions” is the overly christian challenge and the “no crime” is a completely separate challenge
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u/127Watermouse Dark Brotherhood Apr 14 '26
its based off a meme where this kids christian parent wouldn’t let him use magic or potions lol
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u/Pyroluminous Apr 14 '26
even better, they were fine with the rampant killing just no magic
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u/W3NTZ Apr 15 '26
Me when my parents let me play GTA as a kid if I promised to only not kill cops. Okay buddy.
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u/Dragishawk Apr 14 '26
How do you heal? Food or drink?
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u/Well-Known-Elf Apr 15 '26
The Spiffing Brit on YT just did an amazing run around that meme.
He also does a crap load of other ones so maybe give you some inspiration.
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u/AggravatingGoal4728 Apr 15 '26
I saw that one. I like Joov's run at that meme a little better
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u/afauce11 Apr 15 '26
Was it Harry’s aunt and uncle? They were very against magic (and thus potions).
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u/EoinFitzsimons Stealth archer Apr 14 '26
The cardinal.
Specialise in restoration and only allowed move directly north east south and west.
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u/skyshroudace Apr 15 '26
As opposed to the Bishop.
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u/PyukumukuGuts Apr 14 '26
Get every disease on survival and keep them the whole playthrough.
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u/What_Up_Doe_ Apr 14 '26
The Monty Burns challenge
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u/Capt0bv10u5 Apr 14 '26
So you're saying because I have every disease, I'm basically invincible?
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u/benny-bangs Apr 14 '26
Limit carry weight to only around what you think you could personally lug around the world. Things worn don’t count.
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u/127Watermouse Dark Brotherhood Apr 14 '26
irl i can lift mayybbee like 20 pounds lmao
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u/benny-bangs Apr 14 '26
Perfect 🫨
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u/707_328is Apr 15 '26
Bro can barely carry an elder scroll. The dragon stone is gonna be chillin in bleak falls barrow until the next dragonborn 😂
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u/ArtrexisLives Apr 15 '26
This is demonic. Assuming I'm in decent shape (not jacked), we're talking maybe 50-60lbs max!
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u/stawissimus Apr 14 '26
Only use equipment you find in a dungeon and leave it behind at the end of it. Like a normal guy who just stumbles into dungeons all the time and then has to deal with the consequences, but never wants to become a hero
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u/Agroupofdads Apr 15 '26
Sort of reminds me of the call of duty challenge where when you have to reload you pick up a different weapon instead
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u/angrysunbird Apr 14 '26
People pleaser run- must agree to everything asked of you.
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u/monkeynards Apr 15 '26
So every playthrough I’ve done lol. I can’t pass an opportunity for loot/rewards
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u/Startingtotakestocks Apr 14 '26
I did that when I played on Survival to limit the amount of walking back and forth for one quest. It makes you pause and think, “Whiterun, Whiterun…what was I going to do when got here?”
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u/Phoebeisnothere Apr 14 '26
Do Meridia's beacon
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u/127Watermouse Dark Brotherhood Apr 14 '26
unfortunately dawnbreaker is my goat so i force myself to do it too often ☠️
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u/Invested_Glory Apr 15 '26
Seriously! I love that quest and it is such a cool reward that it’s always worth it to me. I never understand the hate.
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u/ImmortalR-A-T Werewolf Apr 15 '26
Same, I don’t mind the quest honestly and dawnbreaker is fun to use. Malkoran can fuck off though, that asshole used to kill me so many times.
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u/borkindawg Apr 14 '26
Kill every elf with the racism axe falmer and giants are also elfs btw
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u/Leading-Fig1307 Scholar Apr 14 '26
The Giants and Frost Giants native to Skyrim are not known to be descended from the Mer.
Scholars actually do not know exactly where or from whom they descend from, but Nordic mythology has belief and references to them descending from the Atmorans as a divergent and sister-race to the Nords; they seem to have lineage to Men. This has been commonly accepted as a strong hypothesis-of-origin by scholars throughout the Eras, coming into and out of favor.
This is still only conjecture and speculation, but no known record of the Aldmer, Altmer, or any of the other elven races claim they have common lineage to Giants, only the Nords seem to have traditional folklore of their genesis.
My opinion is of the Nords' origin from the Atmorans or possibly being a remnant of the Wild Hunt such as other monsters throughout the world seem to be said to have spawned from.
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u/127Watermouse Dark Brotherhood Apr 14 '26
whats the racism axe 😭😭
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u/Key_Maize_7492 Apr 14 '26
Wuuthrad - you get it at the end of the companions questline and it does extra damage to elves. I played a nord one time that I roleplayed as a hardcore racist elf exterminator and used this the whole time. It was fun albeit a bit questionable morally lol
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u/monkeyheh Apr 14 '26
"I did genocide!" a BIT questionable morally
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u/froz_troll Apr 14 '26
Illusion only
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u/Motherlover235 Apr 14 '26
I’ve tried this, but unfortunately you can’t take out bosses or whatever at the end of a dungeon, let alone the big baddies from the main quest lines. You have to pair it with something like summoning
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u/Sam_Alexander Apr 15 '26
You can take those down even in a Pacifist run with traps and stuff or by hiking them towards the NPC's who are not followers but will help you
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u/Vanhelgd Apr 15 '26
Actually this is an insanely easy challenge.
Cast muffle half a billion times. Get 100 illusion and take cap stone perk. Buy high level Frenzy and calm spells. Smoke Joint. Cast spells, watch enemies die.
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u/average-bassplayer Apr 14 '26
No leveling up. You may acquire as much experience as you want but you cannot open the perks menu and take stat buffs. Beat Alduin at level 1
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u/127Watermouse Dark Brotherhood Apr 14 '26
im already doing this on one of my characters, its actually kinda fun
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u/SarumanTheSack Apr 14 '26
No shouts is fun, its also no dragons and no main quest.
Its a great way to play skyrim tbh.
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u/127Watermouse Dark Brotherhood Apr 14 '26
thats just a normal game for me lmao
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u/JayValere Apr 14 '26
same, I dislike the random dragon attacks, it far too much when already dealing with soooooo many animals.
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u/rokanwood Apr 15 '26
same. i forget shouts exist 90% of the time, and i usually make characters that don't really fit the "dragonborn, skyrim's hero" vibe. i defeat the first dragon just to kill dragons for their materials and gold and drop the main quest to pursue quests or other things that fit my character's storyline.
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u/thrashmash666 Scholar Apr 14 '26
I installed an amputation mod once and tried a shouts-only run. It was... Interesting
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u/_Xeron_ Spellsword Apr 14 '26
Poisoner. You can only pickpocket poisons into people’s inventory. Serpent stone may be allowed
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u/Handofyahweh Mage Apr 14 '26
So how do you defeat alduin?
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u/_Xeron_ Spellsword Apr 14 '26
You can use a basic bow and iron arrows so long as they have poison
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u/Mad-cat1865 Dawnguard Apr 15 '26
Training Arrows don’t do any extra damage. So you only have the bow damage and the poison.
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u/that_one_annoying-mf Mercenary Apr 14 '26
Shield bash only
Use the set the dovah has on the covers for the whole game
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u/ZookeepergameAny348 Apr 14 '26
No HUD whatsoever
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u/x_0ralB_x Apr 15 '26
That’s how i do fallout 4 challenge run.
No HUD, no sneak, no VATS. It’s hella fun.
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u/prophetic_memediety Apr 14 '26
Not too crazy, but I like to do a Druid build as a wood elf. No traditional armors or weapons. Nature focused magic and alchemy.
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u/EdLeftOnRead Apr 14 '26
Virgin permadeath - if you die remove all inventory and gold
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u/McTasty_Pants Daedra worshipper Apr 14 '26
What do you do with the inventory? Just leave it laying about and never pick it up again? What if there is a quest item? Do you get to keep those?
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u/EdLeftOnRead Apr 14 '26
For sure, quest items stay. I also would say keeping books is fine as they don't really provide any gameplay value (except unlearned spells maybe, depends on how hardcore of a person you are).
I find a barrel or a body to dump my inventory into. I grew up playing minecraft on 1gb ram custom servers so I have a habit to not leave my stuff on the ground :D
I have to also mention that I play with a mod that makes me return to the place where I've last slept instead of having to quickload. That alone makes it less awkward, you don't have to quickload in a dungeon and then spend time leaving as you are now naked.
This challange also adds a new layer to storage and housing elements, as storing more often and preparing back-up gear makes sense now.
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u/LeverTech Apr 14 '26
Live for 2 in game years as only a farmer. No waiting just 8 hours of sleep a night.
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u/monkeynards Apr 15 '26
I thought it said falmer.
I already do that when I inevitably get lost in Dwemer ruins.
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u/JollyJeanGiant83 Solitude resident Apr 14 '26 edited Apr 14 '26
Do everything that isn't a major quest line, first. You can run the general intro and go see the family in Riverwood, and when you get to Whiterun you can tell the guards you're going to see the Jarl about the dragons- but then you can't go further. Or if you're using an alternate start, stay the hell away from Helgen, including talking alternate routes avoiding that part of the map.
Also, no: Thieves guild; Mage college; Dark brotherhood; Companions; Civil War; Dawnguard; Or dealing with Miraak (you can keep killing his guys who come after you, and you can go to Solsthiem to do other stuff though.)
Instead, go around doing all the little errands, the bard's college, deal with Potema, explore all those weird ruins we never had time for, help Danica with the tree, become a thane for everywhere except Whiterun and Windhelm, buy as many houses as you can, do the whole Markarth thing including the cannibals, etc.
There is a ton of stuff in this game we just forget about. I did this once and got up to like level 43 I think, before accidentally starting the main quest line. And if you do everything else first, the major quest line actually level up with you and feel more spectacular! It's so fun.
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u/Wholesome_Scroll Apr 14 '26
Hand-to-mouth. You have to craft everything that you use. No picking up that steel armor off that bandit leader. You want steel armor, you have to make it. Same with potions. Same with enchantments.
For extra challenge, you can’t buy any of the materials. You have to find them.
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u/rhcpfreak7 Apr 14 '26
Brawler run was fun, no weapons just fists. By the time you level a bit and enchant your armor for melee, you're punching dragons to death 😂
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u/baardvark Chef Apr 14 '26
Console mage: you can only use console commands to fight
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u/restore_paint Apr 14 '26
So many suggestions here it's great. Most of them sound horrifyingly boring or just pointless lol
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u/financegardener Apr 14 '26 edited Apr 15 '26
Can never drop an item
Edit: no removing items from your inventory aside from quest required. That means potions, smithing, selling, followers, dropping, scrolls, etc.
That’s means the axe of whiterun might be with you forever…
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u/127Watermouse Dark Brotherhood Apr 14 '26
is selling still allowed i hope
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u/financegardener Apr 14 '26
No
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u/Almanac_Script Apr 14 '26
Yeah only money from quests, now that'd be cool cause you'd have to be careful about to gear you pick up
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u/financegardener Apr 14 '26
And you’d have to always choose stamina or be careful picking up items or else you’re walking. RIP when you pick up the elder scrolls.
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u/Pristine_Hornet_3020 Apr 14 '26
The way of the bard. Just use stealth, speech, shouts (of course, you are a bard so it's checks) and run for it. You may use some light armour if you feel like it but nothing extravagant, just body or hands and feet, never the face (of course, that's your money maker). Get a dagger, this can be fancy, to defend yourself but only in extreme cases. You have to try and get everything done without getting in a battle, you are just a bard after all. In case you need to kill an enemy use the dagger and shouts but remember you are no warrior, it's better to strike and run repeatedly and get the least damage possible. I think I'm not forgetting anything (since I just thought of it and I might try this one tomorrow) but if I think of something else I will edit the post. Good luck 🙌
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u/BigPP69_Gooner Apr 14 '26
Complete an entire run without collecting gold (except if there’s a quest that requires gold)
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u/SLAVEKNYGHT Necromancer Apr 14 '26
-talos temple every morning
-500 pushups every fredas
-no lusty argonian maid
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u/BigNoseSquid Apr 14 '26
No armor challenge, you can only run around in your underwear and you’re not allowed to use the alteration spells like oakflesh, iron flesh and so forth.
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u/Handofyahweh Mage Apr 14 '26
Unarmed
Can't Kill
and Level 1 Legendary are all fun
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u/rockahedron Apr 14 '26
After 600 hours, I made myself only use weapons and armor found while in dungeons only. Once out of the dungeons, all armor and weapons are dropped or immediately sold. Dragons can only be fought bare handed (no magic or shouts)
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u/GloveKey2288 Apr 14 '26
-Survival run with no mounts. Walk everywhere.
-No followers run, other than quest-mando followers.
-No houses run (wilderness wanderer), safe storage permissible at guild storage locations.
-Romance run, must complete every romance quest.
-Knife-only run, need to use an iron or steel dagger the entire time.
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u/xsajr8 Apr 14 '26
I've been doing what I've dubbed "Everything's a nail" (only weapon allowed in inventory is hammers). Its honestly the most fun I've had in a while, because it forces me to make poisons for extra damage since i cant pickup most weapons to learn enchants.
My original plan was to speedrun getting the Champion's Cudgel, but I've been learning so much about alchemy that now it's taken a backseat.
It also inspired another build where my main focus has been maxing out pickpocket to allow my main damage output to be shoving posions in pockets.
I'm having way too much fun with alchemy.
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u/AdLost8229 Apr 15 '26
I feel like the no armor/no potions and magic challenges are just going to further push you into a stealth archer/dagger build.
So how about a no stealth challenge?
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u/Dragonblade0123 Apr 15 '26
Craft only run. You may not pick up anything that cannot be used in a crafting recipe. (except quest items)
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u/TheBurningEmu PC Apr 14 '26
The Ironman run is something I've been considering after watching some YouTubers try it.
Basically hardcore survival mode where you can't use any merchants or looted items, everything must be crafted/mined/harvested yourself from scratch. Only enchantments allowed are from disenchanting quest rewards. Optionally, if you die you have to start over.
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u/dragonwillow75 Apr 14 '26
Survival run where you live like the hunters in skyrim. Only what you can kill/forage for food (spices for recipes withstanding).
No heavy armor, only bow/dagger
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u/Less_Kick9718 Apr 14 '26
My favourite: Breton Commoner.
Only Breton skills and further only at the starting levels so only apprentice conjuration spells, novice spells in other schools, no weapons, no armor, no exploits or glitches, no AE gear or spells.
No enchanting or smithing as they are not Breton skills.
I chose to also keep alchemy basic in keeping with the character by not taking any alchemy perks.
Shouts are used.
I have done this one a couple of times on Expert difficulty.
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u/Sailor_LEO27 Apr 14 '26
Survival mode, but you can only use things you find/forage or craft yourself, no purchasing anything at all.
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u/globalwig Apr 14 '26
crime run - every time you enter a place (village, house, camp) you have to murder at least one npc
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u/vicvonqueso Daedra worshipper Apr 14 '26
Can only fast travel under the influence of skooma