Archangel Tyrael

You don’t dabble in Skyrim. You either throw yourself into dozens of hours of exploration and combat, or you stay away. As a result, most gamers interested in Dawnguard have probably already devoted a big chunk of time to Bethesda’s open-world masterpiece. Though the vampire plotline is a tonal step removed from the rest of the game, players should have no illusions; Dawnguard offers more of what you have already played, and it’s squarely targeted to folks who have exhausted the base game’s substantial storylines and still hunger for more. If that’s you, Dawnguard should sate your thirst. Like the Civil War plot thread of Skyrim, Dawnguard’s story brings you into one of two opposing sides of a conflict. On one side is the Dawnguard, a legendary organization of vampire hunters who must prevent a looming undead apocalypse. You gain access to the new crossbow weapons, summon armored trolls into combat, and even develop new abilities as a werewolf, if that’s your thing. If you choose the other side, you become a fledgling vampire lord and attempt to bring unending night down upon the world as you drain your enemies’ blood. At least, that’s the way things start out. Bethesda has done an admirable job in both plotlines of offering meaningful choices at several junctures, letting you guide how things turn out. A few side quests are even peppered in for good measure. Different characters and missions are available in both story paths, but don’t expect entirely different experiences; most locations and general goals echo each other. Whether delving into the life of a vampire lord or exploring the new werewolf perk tree, I wasn’t totally sold on the experience. Your actions in these alternate forms help to improve your monstrous abilities, from turning into mist as a vampire to increased healing from your feedings as a werewolf. The problem is the mechanics themselves; in the heat of battle, transforming takes precious seconds, and you’re then forced to play in third-person as you wreak havoc – not Skyrim’s strong suit. Moreover, the increased size of your monstrous form doesn’t fit through the tight spaces of many corridors, so you have to change back before proceeding. Frankly, I was happy to stick with my powered-up weapons and magic skills when things got really challenging. I appreciate that no matter your choices, Dawnguard doesn’t cling too tightly to its gothic vampire milieu. The Elder Scrolls universe is vast and interconnected, so seeing the tale veer into other planes, long-lost elven races, and forgotten hidden vales is thrilling. New dungeons and outdoor areas provide the sense of discovery and wonder at the heart of the Elder Scrolls experience, and new monsters help the combat feel fresh. The expansion deserves a special nod for a particularly striking combat scene on the surface of a frozen lake. Dawnguard is limited in scope, and its 10-plus hours of playtime (for one path) is significant, but only a drop in the bucket when compared to its base game’s hundreds of hours of quests. Lore enthusiasts will appreciate several significant developments, and no matter your choice, both new organizations have memorable characters and conversations. I had a blast returning to Skyrim after a few months away. Even so, Bethesda did such a fine job of entertaining me the first time out that Dawnguard feels more like an added bonus than an essential ingredient of the whole. Click here for Site and video. http://www.gameinformer.com/games/the_elder_scrolls_v_skyrim__dawnguard/b/xbox360/archive/2012/07/02/skyrim-diverts-into-the-macabre.aspx ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Skyrim's new expansion, Dawnguard, adds a ton of new content for you to explore, but sometimes you just need a really good weapon. We've already shown you the new Dragon Shouts, the new abilities ofWerewolves, and the undead power of Vampire Lords. It’s time for you to hit the forge and find that sharp new thing to stab into the hearts of your enemies. For this guide, we’ve scoured every corner ofDawnguard so you won't have to. You might want to empty out your pockets before you get started on this guide for new weapons and armor in Dawnguard. Zephyr -- This unique Dwarven Bow can be found during the "Lost to the Ages" quest in Arkngthamz. It's enchanted with a unique ability to fire 30% faster than normal. It's a solid choice for a middle tier bow, but there's a better unique bow in Dawnguard. Auriel's Bow -- You get this during the main questline in the Forgotten Vale. Not only is it a pretty strong option for a bow with its fast draw time, but it also does extra damage to undead creatures. You can also equip two different types of unique arrows with it: Sunhallowed and Bloodcursed. Sunhallowed Elven arrows cause the sun to shoot sunbursts at nearby enemies when you shoot them at the sun. Bloodcursed Elven arrows temporarily blot out the sun for a day if you happen to aim for that big ball of fire in the sky. Both arrow types only perform their special abilities when you use them with Auriel’s Bow. You can get more Sunhallowed arrows from Gelebor in the Forgotten Vale, and Serana gives you Bloodcursed arrows after the questline is over. Dawnguard Video: First 15-Minutes of Vampire Lord Walkthrough Auriel's Shield -- You'll need to find one of the hidden Jewel Paragons in the Forgotten Vale and insert it into the Paragon Portal. Once you use the Ruby Paragon and enter the portal, you'll have to kill a Falmer Warmonger to obtain the unique heavy shield for your own use. Like a lot of the new items, it has a unique enchantment. This massive shield stores up the energy from blocked attacks, and then releases it when you do a power bash. Shellbug Helmet -- This heavy armor comes from combining Shellbug Chitin and Iron. There's only one instance of Shellbug Chitin in the game: The Forgotten Vale. Head there and search for a group of Falmer and a Shellbug. You have to mine the shellbug to get the material, so try to remember to bring a pickaxe when you go. Taking a pickaxe to this mighty creature will give you enough chitin to make one helmet. Saint Jiub's Locket -- You'll get this as a reward for finding all 10 pages of Jiub's Opus in the Soul Cairn. It might look like just a necklace, but it has an armor rating, plus it fortifies your Stamina and carry weight by 50 points. This little trinket is a great addition for middle level characters. Harkon's Sword -- Harkon has it on his body after you kill him. It's not super useful if you've been playing a Vampire Hunter, since its enchantment of absorbing 15 points of Health, Magicka, and Stamina only works for those of the Vampire persuasion. Aetherial Items -- Completing the quest "Lost to the Ages" gives you the chance to make a one-of-a-kind item. You'll have the ability to make the Aetherial Crown that lets you use the powers of two Gurdian Stones: the Aetherial Shield that makes you ethereal for 15 seconds after blocking, or the Aetherial Staff that gives you the power to summon a Dwarven Spider or Dwarven Sphere of a limited amount of time. If you don’t like any of those options, you can always sell the item for a lot of gold. Dawnguard Guide: Achievement and Trophies Guide Vampire Royal Armor -- This piece of light armor is a slightly better version of the Vampire Armor. You can find a set in the ruins beneath Castle Volkihar as well as a set on Harkon. Crossbows -- As one of the major additions to Skyrim, members of Dawnguard will be able to undergo a number of quests to get upgrades for this automated weapon, including various ammo types. Jump through enough quest hoops and you’ll eventually obtain the Enhanced Dwarven Crossbow, a crossbow that ignores 50% of the enemy’s armor. Dawnguard Armor -- Created in Light and Heavy variants, a full set of either will grant you 25% less damage from Vampire Attacks and Drain Life spells. Falmer Hardened Armor and Heavy Gear -- These heavy armor versions of Falmer gear are tempered with Chaurus Chitin. This is a relatively strong heavy armor if you haven't quite reached full Ebony sets yet. Dragonbone Weapons -- Other than the crossbows, these are the only non-unique items added, but they're still worth getting. Not only do they look pretty amazing, these bone white weapons are the strongest in the game from a base damage standpoint. For example, a Dragonbone sword starts three points stronger than a Daedric one. Throw an enchantment on one, and you're all set for just about anything. http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/725545/skyrim-dawnguard-weapons-and-armor-guide/

I've played gears quite a lot, BOTS hurt the team more than you think. In Team death match it's free kills for the other team. They bots just go out in the open and just get bodied (shotguned close ranged and blown to many pieces). They are more of a problem then they are a help. They tend to get in your way lots too. If they do add bots, they need to be very hard, otherwise their just a free kill, that is all.

I don't mind them at all really.

Good job undead! Keep it up. Enjoy your pink name.

Skyrim's new DLC Dawnguard adds in not only the Vampire goodness we expected, but also a few new shouts for your Dragonborn to use. For the most part, they're pretty straightforward, closely linked to the questline, but some words are a little tricky. Use this handy guide to go out and learn a few new Words. Drain Vitality - This new shout will drain Health, Magicka. and Stamina from your target. You will find two words for it in areas that are directly related to the Dawnguard quest line, with the final one in Skyrim itself. For the first Word, you are likely to find it located in Dimhollow Crypt, which is quest related. The second Word is tied to a quest area located in the Forgotten Vale, on an island in a Frozen Lake - be prepared for a fight two named dragons for this one though. The final Word is located at Arcwind Point, which is to the south of Ivarstead and east of Riften. Dawnguard Guide: FAQ - Everything You Need To Know Durnehviir - After you've battled this undead Dragon in the Soul Cairn, you have a conversation with him. He'll teach you a shout that allows you to call him to your aid in Tamriel. By doing so, you'll also learn the third new Shout through Durnehviir. Soul Tear - In order to learn the final new shout, you have to first go through the Quest "Beyond Death" which takes you to the Soul Cairn. At the end of that quest, you'll fight Durnehviir, who will teach you his Summon shout. Once you've made it back to Skyrim, you need to summon him three times. Each time he appears, he teaches you a new Word of Power in the Soul Tear shout. Dawnguard Guide: Achievements and Trophies Guide In order to actually use the shout, you need all three words unlocked. Go hunt some more Dragons for their souls to unlock them! Once you learn all three Words of Soul Tear you'll get an achievement as well. http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/725459/skyrim-dawnguard-dragon-shout-guide/

Keep it up Smokin.

See more, be more powerful, find everything. Conquer Skyrim with our must-read tips, essential secrets and Word Wall location guide. Better weapons faster, bagging an Armoured Troll, crafting killer Dragonbone weaponry, summoning an Undead army, how to survive longer as a Vampire, how to access a super-powered crossbow, locating the Soul Cairn and grabbing enchanted items for free are only the tip of the iceberg. After 40 hours fighting for and against the neck-chomping vamps of Dawnguard, you can rest assured everything you need is on the next five pages... How to... Get the best weapons faster Depending on which faction you side with, you'll have access to either Fort Dawnguard or Castle Volkihar as a base for future quests - and both offer unique items to assist you. In Volkihar Keep, you'll find Potions of Blood, which not only recover health when used but are also equivalent to a feed, reducing a vampire's need to attack citizens. The Bloodstone Chalice in the room off the main hall can be activated for the 'Blood of the Ancients' active power, which results in the Vampiric Drain spell absorbing magicka and stamina as well as health for one day. Also worth noting: several 'Vampire Cattle' are lying on the tables in the main hall, and - as you'll see if you click on the video below - talking to them repeatedly leads to interesting results... In Fort Dawnguard, there's a plentiful supply of crossbows and bolts, plus a forge where further items can be smithed. Searching the interior reveals a selection of Dawnguard weaponry that is more effective against vampires than the equivalent regular weapon. You can also recruit Armoured Trolls in the fort. (More on that in a sec.) How to... recruit an Armoured Troll After rejecting the Vampires and committing to the Dawnguard, the next quest involves recruiting a Nord named Gunmar to the ranks. Once he's installed in Fort Dawnguard, talk to him and he'll offer you an Armoured Troll follower in exchange for 500 gold. An Armoured Troll can be recruited in addition to a regular follower, and provides strong melee attacks during combat. They can only be given basic commands such as follow, wait and dismiss, and if left waiting for too long they'll return to the wild, and you lose them as a follower. Although exclusive to the Dawnguard, players who side with the Vampires are not completely left out. Interacting with a Death Hound within Castle Volkihar gives the option to recruit it as a follower, and although not as strong as an Armoured Troll it can still dish out melee attacks during combat. How to... Get the best crossbow The crossbow is the main new weapon added to Skyrim, and although it's available to everyone the best version is exclusive to the Dawnguard. After recruiting Sorine Jurard to Fort Dawnguard, speak to her to initiate the 'Ancient Technology' quest. This involves recovering crossbow and exploding bolt schematics from a number of locations across Tamriel (don't worry - the game directs you to the individual locations), and when all of them have been recovered, you unlock the Enhanced Dwarven crossbow for forging or purchase from Sorine. Once created and improved this is the most powerful crossbow available, making armour half as effective and dealing large amounts of damage. How to... Survive longer as a Vampire As a Vampire your health, stamina and magicka are all reduced while in sunlight and they do not regenerate, although this effect can be countered by wearing armour that boosts regeneration speeds. Unlike in vanilla Skyrim, Vampires in Dawnguard are no longer attacked on sight by NPCs once they reach stage 4, lessening the immediate need to feed at this advanced stage. Vampires in Dawnguard also get the Vampire Lord power, which transforms them into the aforementioned megavamp form and gives access to a new perk tree of powers to unlock. These perks are not unlocked in the traditional way by levelling up, but are instead gained by using the Drain Life spell or bite power attacks. While in Vampire Lord form, players can also flap their wings to sprint at the cost of stamina, and use a Bats power similar to the Whirlwind Sprint Shout to rush forward and cross gaps which couldn't normally be jumped over. How to... Craft killer Dragonbone weapons If you thought the Daedric Warhammer you lovingly crafted was the strongest weapon available in Skyrim, think again - Dawnguard's Dragonbone weapons are harder than an Adamantium Stallone (circa Rambo III, plainly). Crafting them is no easy feat, however, as you'll need to have increased your Smithing skill to 100 and unlocked the Dragon Armour perk before you can begin. Once you reach that level all you need is the required number of Dragon Bones, Ebony Ingots and Leather Strips to forge your weapon of choice - which can also then be upgraded using a further Dragon Bone at a grindstone for additional damage. How to... Learn the new dragon shouts There are three new dragon shouts added with the Dawnguard expansion - Drain Vitality, Summon Durnehviir and Soul Tear - which can be obtained as follows: Drain Vitality This allows you to absorb stamina, magicka and health from enemies, and is learned by discovering three new word walls: 1. In Dimhollow Crypt during the 'Awakening' quest 2. In the Forgotten Vale during the 'Touching the Sky' quest 3. At Arcwind Point, located in the mountains southwest of Rift Imperial Camp Summon Durnehviir This is learned after defeating the undead dragon Durnehviir during the 'Beyond Death' quest, and can be used to summon him into Tamriel once all three words have been unlocked with dragon souls. Soul Tear This last one is learned by summoning Durnehviir into Tamriel and allows you to turn enemies into allies who will then fight for you. Each of the first three times you summon Durnehviir to Tamriel he will teach you a new word of the Sour Tear Shout. How to... Fight as part of an undead army After learning the Summon Durnehviir Shout during the 'Beyond Death' quest you can call upon the undead dragon to appear in Tamriel. Firstly you'll need to acquire three dragon souls to unlock all three words of the Shout, as with any less than all three words the Shout will not work. Once completed, you can Shout to summon Durnehviir to arrive and assist you in battle. Durnehviir not only provides physical attacks on enemies, but also conjures up ranks of undead soldiers to fight alongside you, making him a more than worthy ally. How to... Fast travel to the Soul Cairn During the quest 'Chasing Echoes' you explore the ruined tower of Castle Volkihar, before performing a ritual to open up a portal to the Soul Cairn. Getting to and from this area via the dark passageways of the Vampire stronghold can be a pain, but there is a shortcut that will save you a lot of time. Once you reach the room where the portal opens up, look for a door up some stairs marked 'Volkihar Balcony' which takes you outside. This will add the location 'Castle Volkihar Balcony' to your map which you can then fast travel to and from, providing easy access direct to the Soul Cairn whenever you like. How to... Unlock the fastest horse in Skyrim While travelling around the Soul Cairn you may encounter the spectral form of an undead horse named Arvak, although it disappears when you try to approach it. By locating Arvak's skull within the Soul Cairn and returning it to his soul master nearby, you will learn the conjuration spell Summon Arvak. Casting this spell at a cost of 120 magicka causes the undead steed to materialise in front of you, and this can be cast back in the real world of Tamriel. Not only is Arvak the fastest horse in Skyrim, but it can also be summoned at will, meaning you'll never be stuck without transport again. Follow our video below for the exact location of Arvak's skull. How to... Find Jiub Fans of The Elder Scrolls series should recognise the name Jiub, as he was encountered during the introduction of the third instalment Morrowind. In Dawnguard his spirit has been trapped in the Soul Cairn, and by tracking him down he will tell you his story before setting you the quest 'Impatience of a Saint' to recover the missing pages of his book. By tracking down all ten pages within the Soul Cairn and returning them to Jiub he will reward you with a valuable book containing the complete manuscript. More importantly you'll also receive the 'Locket of St Jiub', a very useful amulet that grants +50 stamina and +50 weight capacity to the wearer. Want the exact location? Hit Play on the video below... How to... Grab enchanted items - for free Once you go through the gap in the wall into the second area of the Soul Cairn, look to the right and you'll see a spectral trader by the name of Morven Stroud. Speak to him and he'll offer to trade his remaining items in exchange for Soul Husks, which can be harvested throughout the Soul Cairn. For every 25 Soul Husks returned to Morven you can choose to receive a sword, battleaxe, light armour, heavy armour or spell tome. These items are blessed with a random enchantment, so if there's a specific type that you're after you can save before making the trade, then reload and repeat until you receive the item you want. How to... Open barred doors in the Soul Cairn Within the Soul Cairn there are a number of areas that are inaccessible as the doors are barred, with no obvious switches or levers to open them. Think a bit more laterally though and you'll notice there are glowing orbs set in stones nearby. Shoot through these with either a bow or crossbow and the gate will open once all targets are hit, allowing you access to the hidden booty inside. How to... Cure Vampirism Being a bloodsucker is all well and good if you side with Vampire Lord Harkon, but it tends to be frowned upon if you're a member of the Vampire-hunting Dawnguard faction. If a Vampire attacks you there's a chance you'll become infected with Sanguinare Vampiris, which you then have three in-game days to cure by using a Potion of Cure Disease or activating any of the shrine blessings. Should you end up going full Vampire, there's still a way back to normality. Speak to any barkeeper while affected by Vampirism and you'll be directed to a mage named Falion in the city of Morthal. After finding him and providing the item he asks for, he'll perform a curing ritual to rid you of any Vampiric tendencies, and this process can be repeated as many times as required. How to... Access the new Werewolf powers Vampires are not the only group to receive a makeover in Dawnguard, as Werewolves have also been overhauled. If you're already a Werewolf you'll lose that power by becoming a Vampire as you can't be both at once, but if you side with the Dawnguard or subsequently contract Lycanthropy then a new perk tree of Werewolf powers is available. Like the Vampire Lord powers these perks are not unlocked by levelling up, but instead by feeding on the hearts of dead corpses, with a greater number of hearts required as more perks are gained. The new perks include greater strength, the ability to summon stronger allies and an additional health and stamina boost - which as a Werewolf unable to wear armour could make all the difference. How to... Beat everyone at mounted combat To coincide with the release of Dawnguard, the latest Skyrim update adds the ability to fight on horseback to your arsenal. Sadly you can't use magic in this situation so drive-by spellcasting is out, and bows/crossbows should only be employed for longer distance attacks as they are completely useless at close range. Ideally, a long weapon such as a Warhammer or Battleaxe should be used for mounted combat as they can swing further and deal greater damage. Although this type of fighting can prove fiddly, it's useful as your horse will absorb some or all of the damage you would otherwise have taken... although you and your horse can still be killed so be wary against tougher foes. http://www.computerandvideogames.com/356028/skyrim-dawnguard-dlc-guide-tips-and-secrets-dragonbone-weapons-dragon-shouts-and-horses/?page=5#top_banner

Skyrim's new DLC add-on adds a whole new way to play as a member of the Undead - Vampire Lords. Early during the new questline, you're presented to Lord Harkon, the Patriarch of the Volkihar vampires. He gives you the option to become a Vampire Lord like him. While not transformed, you act just like a normal Vampire as always. For those people not familiar, basically, feeding on people resets your level of Vampirism, and lets you interact easier with NPCs. At more advanced stages of Vampirism, however, you have access to a number of abilities that can come in handy. For a more in depth refresher on the basic Vampire, check out our original Vampire guide. Dawnguard Video: First 15-Minute of Vampire Lord Walkthrough The meat of the new powers comes when you transform into the Vampire Lord. Much like Werewolves, you zoom out to third person and lose your equipped gear. You have access to a whole new set of powers and abilities, including Blood Magic. Powers like the ability to turn into a group of bats during a dodge, the power to raise the dead to fight along side you and a spell called Vampiric Drainball - essentially a fireball-like spell that also drains health. You also will be able to upgrade your powers thanks to the skill tree added. In order to gain skill points you need to kill enemies with the Drain Life power or bite them. Here are all the new perks you’ll get to play with when you choose to be a Vampire Lord. Power of the Grave: A quick boost of 50 points to health, magicka, and stamina while transformed. You have to grab this in order to start branching out. Detect All Creatures: Lets you see all creatures around you, even through walls. It's a boosted version of both the Detect Life and Detect Dead spells. Mist Form: You turn into an invincible cloud of mist while you regenerate health, magicka, and stamina. Useful to recover after a tough fight. Supernatural Reflexes: Your actions will be quicker, while the enemies are slower. Blood Healing: When you kill an enemy with the Bite power attack, you will restore all your health. It’s a nice way to keep you going during long fights. Unearthly Will: All Night Powers and Blood Magic cost a third less to use. Again, the perk just makes you that much stronger. Dawnguard Guide: Achievement and Trophies Guide Poison Talons: Your melee attacks will deal 20 points of Poison damage, on top of the actual melee damage. Be cautious, as there are certain enemies that resist poison damage. Night Cloak: Essentially a cloak spell that has a swarm of bats flying around you dealing damage to anyone at close range. Vampiric Grip: This Blood Magic spell grabs a creature at range, yanks them right near you, then does the Darth Vader and chokes them. Use the Dark Side with this spell. Summon Gargoyle: Throughout the Dawnguard questline, you'll encounter the new enemies - Gargoyles. As a Vampire Lord, you'll be able to summon one to fight along you. Corpse Curse: Essentially a relatively high level Paralyze spell. Paralyze is one of the more useful spell effects in the game, so this can be really great to get. One final thing to take note of, when you're transformed, NPCs will be hostile to you, unless they're also Vampire Faction. Just don't walk around town as a Vampire Lord, and you'll be fine. Now go out there and take out the Sun. http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/725414/skyrim-dawnguard-vampire-lord-perk-guide/

Ooh yeah 1 year!!! Keep doing the good work Jester and everyone else. Also, thanks for the compliment Jester.

Most of us use english here, but hello and welcome to 343i community forums.

Glad you enjoyed the interview everyone, i know i did and can't wait for the next interview Drizzy!

Just like Bethesda's Fallout titles, Skyrim's DLC adds in a few new Achievements to grab. For the most part, they're pretty straightforward, relating to the questline. But there are a few that are off the beaten path. If you just happen to be one of those PS3 gamers, worry not. Many of the same tasks will transfer over once the vampires invade your Sony console. For players looking for a couple of extra points or trophies, everything you need to know on how to gain those extra goodies in Dawnguard is in this guide. Awakening, Beyond Death, Kindred Judgement, and Lost to the Ages: All four are quest related, and you get the achievement just for completing the quests you find along your journey. Nothing tricky here. Play through the game and the points are yours. Soul Tear: In order to get this one, you need to learn all three words of the new Soul Tear shout. You learn this shout during the questline in the Soul Cairn, so again, it shouldn't be too tricky to grab. Auriel's Bow: You need to use the special power of Auriel's Bow. Auriel's Bow is related to the questline, so again, you should have no trouble picking this one up. Dawnguard Guide: FAQ - Everything You Need To Know Werewolf Mastered and Vampire Mastered: Both require you to get all 11 perks in the respective skill tree. Werewolves need to eat corpses to gain skill points. Vampires need to attack the living and feed on them to make your way up the vampire skill tree. Legend: Slay a legendary Dragon. Pretty self-explanatory. Dawnguard adds in a few new levels of Dragon - Revered and Legendary. Find a Legendary tier dragon, and then kill it. Good luck. A New Face: Find Galathil in Riften's Ragged Flaggon and pay her 1000 Gold to alter your character's appearance. Simple, but it’s a tough quest if you don't know where to look. Try to make a better looking face this time. http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/725367/skyrim-dawnguard-achievement-and-trophies-guide/

Welcome back Vitamin PWN.