So I hadn't played Skyrim on my Switch in a while

[conuly]

and then I kinda wanted to watch Jenn playing, but somehow I ended up playing on the TV while she watched me and now I've been playing it again. Still haven't touched the main plot! I just want to clear up all the side quests before dragons start eating my NPCs. I don't think that's so unreasonable, actually.

Anyway, I have just found out that the person who plays Ivanova on Babylon 5, Claudia Christian, voiced multiple NPCs in this game, all of whom I like. So that's nifty. (I also found out that she is an advocate for the Sinclair Method, which is using medicine to treat alcoholism rather than AA, and my respect for her has grown tenfold. Nothing against anybody who has been helped by AA but I'm pretty sure it's only as prominent as it is because it's cheaper than doctors and also because of shamefilled ideas about "personal responsibility". But it's hard to get off that treadmill of cultural inertia on this subject!)

On a different game-related subject, I have now purchased several houses and learned to craft exploding spiders. Some of them explode into flames or frost, and others explode into mind control. I wish it was as easy to buy a house in the real world as it is in Skyrim... but I guess I'm glad we don't have mind control spiders.

Comments

[cactuswatcher]

Yes, I recognized Claudia Christian as soon as I heard Rikke speak in the game, back many years ago. Max von Sydow as Esbern was the other one that stood out as recognizable among several prominent actors voicing the characters.

Enjoy it, Dovakin!

[conuly]

I really like Rikke! I tried to have a personal conversation with her about her political beliefs and she shut me down. I tried to have a political conversation with her about her personal beliefs and she shut me down even harder. All she'll say on the topic is that the Empire is the safe bet, and you know, I respect that sort of pragmatism, plus the unwillingness to run her mouth to some random adventurer from god knows where. So many NPCs in this game will just say whatever to whoever and not think about the possible fallout!

[movingfinger]

Still plodding through TOTK when I can, there are waaaaay too many armor upgrades calling for lynel guts in this one. I do want to do a big blood-moon-blocking cleanup before the last boss and closing the game, though, and armor makes that go a bit faster.

The Depths are dull. I wish they'd varied the landscape or put some natives with their own culture there or something. Had shades of the dead around to talk to, or dialogue options with the weapon-holding ghosts, or anything more interesting than an entire map cliffs, Gloom/Malice, and Yiga...

[movingfinger]

I always suppose that my character has, in-game, to other characters, a Librarian Face, meaning they look trustworthy and approachable! Librarians hear everything.

[peristaltor]

I've only managed to purchase two houses (plus the Dean's quarters in the Mage College, but I didn't pay in cash for that). Frankly, I didn't want to steel stuff to get the one in Riften. I think I also missed the main side quest in Morthal, where you follow the alchemist and report on his movements. He's long since scarpered off.

Oh, and it's a bit tedious, but DO help Arnial Gane (sp?) at Winterhold with his project! The payout is so subtle you might not notice it, but WOW is it helpful in a pinch!

So. Exploding spiders. Hints?

[conuly]

Frankly, I didn't want to steel stuff to get the one in Riften

Oh, I didn't have to steal anything to get it. I just bought the house, fair and square.

I think I also missed the main side quest in Morthal, where you follow the alchemist and report on his movements. He's long since scarpered off.

Well, the main side quest in Morthal is worth doing, but that's not how you get Myrwatch, I don't think, and you really want Myrwatch.

[peristaltor]

Alas, I get no Myrwatch with this character.

I've noticed that the game is geared for multiple passes. Sometimes there's a proper lighthouse overlooking Dawnstar, sometimes not. Myrwatch must be one of those.

Did you make it to the Dwermer house of opulence, for example? It's the largest dwelling you can occupy in the realm. (If it's there, it will be East of Riften.)