I bought some books in the first town I was in from the local trader, unless you're talking about more rare spells.

I put about 15 hours into this game over the weekend. I love it. Not disappointed at all and the game - other than the awful menus on PC - has exceeded all of my expectations.

I'm doing stealth and archery with the wood elf race, and at level 13 I already almost feel too powerful. I've been building up archery and sneak perks exclusively, and I'm over lvl 50 for each one. Plus, I randomly stumbled accross a crazy powerful bow in a random dungeon up north which is at least 10+ hit points stronger than the Imperial bow which is the best I had seen so far. So basically, I can enter any dungeon, sneak around and get one to three hit kills on every enemy without ever getting seen. It's pretty awesome.

Good trick for those still in the lower levels, whenever you encounter a bear or sabertooth tiger or a natural animal that's hard to kill, use your animal command skill. They stop attacking immediately and if you go into sneak mode, you can kill them easily.

But damn, what an awesome, fully realized world this is. So much bigger than I thought and so much environmental variety. The world also feels much more carefully designed. The natural features of the environment feel realistic and well thought out. Like an artist personally created every inch of this map - rather than the generic forests of Oblivion.

I started off as a nord fighter and got to level 10 but then realized I was using my bow and sniping more. So I started a new wood elf stealth archer. I enchanted a bow with frost damage but I'd really like to find some poison weapons so I can enchant that perk instead. Loving the game so far. I to do not like the 3d map. It's to hard to move around in.

So if I want to go full blown mage, do I go with Dark elf to get the +10 destruction..or High Elf to get the +50 magicka bonus?

You learn magic from books. Have you done any of the main story yet? You'll meet a mage in the Whiterun main hall who sells a bunch of different spells.

But yeah, there are plenty of spells for sale at the college too.

High Elf would be a better mage then the Dark Elf. Don't count out using the Breton as a mage. I have a Breton full mage on Oblivion and he owned.

Buy/find spell tomes (books). The trader in the first town has some the Wizard in Whiterun has a lot more.

Thanks. I think I might redo it.

As a stealthy archer wood elf who just hit level 22, let me tell you, it only gets more ridiculously awesome.

Anybody found the skeleton with the unlimited gold thing yet?

Dammit I went and picked this up at the midnight launch and haven't had a chance to play yet! (I did see the openeing sequence and my buddy played to he got to Skyrim but thats it) I will create my character tonight!!! As someone who has never really played a RPG everyones comments are getting me excited to play tonight.

I must admit I am a bit intimidated at how complicated it all sounds but I'm just gonna run with it at my own pace and see where it takes me.

Looks like he's near Azura's Shrine: http://kotaku.com/5859156/get-unlimi...easy/gallery/1

Found a great way to power level illusion, sneak, and conjuration.

For illusion, buy the spell called "Muffle." Cast it continuously when in towns. Your illusion will go up tremendously.

For sneak and conjuration, during the mission where you have to infiltrate the Thalmor Embassy, there's an area where there is a single lone guard trekking back and forth in a dungeon that has an upstairs and downstairs area. Stay upstairs crouched in an area where the guard can't see you. The guard walking back and forth will automatically give you sneak experience. Additionally, buy the spell "Bound Sword," assign it to both hands. While crouched, cast the bound swords simultaneously, then hit X to sheathe them. Rinse and repeat and your conjuration skill will go way up. Mine is over 80 now.

I find this the least complicated E.S game in the series. You won't have to worry about assigning major and minor skills which makes the game much more easier to get into.

Does your spells hurt your allies? Like the flame spell?

Yes, I believe so.

Oh yeah. During the first Companion quest (for the shard) during the final battle when I was swarmed by dozens of those crypt creatures, I was spraying flames like a napalm hose and hit my "partner" several times. He cursed at me but unlike Oblivion he never turned on me or died. I'm not sure if that was just a function of that particular quest though.

Yes, they can. I've accidentally killed my allies and my horse when they've gottne in the way of my spells and sword swings.

Damn. Gotta be careful with my fire then.

Thanks guys

Man..The game really wants you to side with Stormcloaks don't it? Imperial's about to chop your head off..then going through the keep there are dead prisoners/torturer chambers.

Meh. I went with the Imperials. They have cool armor.

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Not sure if this has been answerd, but she can be found in the castle in white run when she disapears because of companion mission.

Also if you buy a house she will automatically go there, and supposedly you can marry her too!

Hmmm... I wonder if she becomes a guy if you are playing a female.

Every character is bi in the game