Day 2 continued

18 Last Seed, 4E 201

After leaving the old lady’s home I continue to wander in search of ingredients on this side of the river. I don’t find much other than Thistle, which I leave where it is, I think 15 stalks of it is enough when it has no financial value, but I do eventually spot some large mammoth bones up the mountain a ways while I walk and I run over to investigate. They look old (and therefore the danger is likely past) and it’ll be a nice distraction from my thus far hungry and only mildly productive day.

Day 2

18 Last Seed, 4E 201

I get up early on day 2, the plan is to take the bridge across the river and search the other side for more ingredients, then return, craft some more potions and sell the ones from last night, plus the ones from today at Lucan’s before he closes for the day.

Day 1 Continued

17 Last Seed, 4E 201

Now that I’m in Riverwood the first thing I do is head to the general store. Inside, the owner Lucan is arguing with someone who turns out to be his sister. Something about thieves, so I’m certainly not going to get involved! I stand awkwardly off to the side until they’re done.

Beginnings – Day 1

17 Last Seed, 4E 201

The goal is to start from the barest beginnings and work my way up from there, so I skip the entire tutorial after I’m given full control of my character by simply running through and ignoring all danger, loot, etc. The only things I pick up are an Iron dagger off of a dead imperial and a sack of 10 gold.

The Setup

We’ll keep this post short and to the point. I’ve enjoyed somewhere around 100 hours of Skyrim playing normally and it’s amazing! However, there are several blogs I’ve come across recently which have introduced me to an alternative method of play which intrigues me and so I have set out to attempt it. This alternative style of play is both immersive and acknowledges the fourth wall, almost like an immersive metagame experience.

Purpose

To play as a non-essential character, to survive for as long as possible and discover whether it is possible to thrive. I shall be a commoner.

The Rules

1.) No heroics. Fight when you must, flee when you can. The world of Skyrim is vast, dangerous and packed full of opportunities for heroics, both virtuous and vile. The game will literally thrust these events on you and it will be my job, as part of rule #1, to recognize and avoid them whenever possible. Quests such as “carry this object across town” or “ask soandso this mundane question if you happen across them” are acceptable but “retrieve [randomObject] from [dangerousLocation]” or “kill [threat]” are not.

2.) Walking. Except when appropriate, the primary means of movement will be walking. Should I amass enough gold to buy a horse, I may do so, at which point trotting and galloping are acceptable. – This rule also means no fast travel. Wagons are permissible as an in-setting “fast travel” system but the map-based meta-game fast travel is not.

3.) Essentials of Life. I must eat, drink and sleep regularly and in appropriate amounts. There are currently no realism mods available for Skyrim to impose penalties for not doing these things, but I must take upon myself the responsibility of remembering to do these things.

4.) Income. Obviously I’ll need a source of income. The goal is to survive and, ultimately, thrive. This goal is open and broad, I can pursue any methods of survival and thriving that I wish with the exception of the limits imposed by Rule # 1. I can join a guild, but as soon as they want me to perform a task which could be considered “heroic” I’m done. Find someone else, I’m not your guy. The Companions are clearly out as are the Dark Brotherhood. Others, we’ll see what happens and what they ask me to do.

5.) No Reloading. If external influences cause a character death or something then I can reload from an earlier save but otherwise dead is dead and I must accept the consequences of all actions.