Introduction

You're all alone. Dropped into the inhospitable world of Morrowind, you quickly realize that the odds are stacked against you. No one trusts you; you are an outlander. Untrained in the arts of combat, even the weakest of rabid beasties can prove fatal. You've no friends, no home. You're up against the worst Vvardenfell has to offer. And what's more?

...You're given no direction.

Given the vast amount?of options at hand, you can't be blamed for feeling a bit intimidated by the game. That's where this guide comes in. With this guide in hand, you should have no problem solving your immediate identity crisis. Enemy encounters will quickly be shifted in your favor, and you'll learn how to earn the raw cash-flow necessary for building the reputation of a dominator.

Be warned, though! Some of the tips and strategies in this guide may seem a bit, mmm... dirty. It's my goal to make your path through the game as easy as possible, whatever path that might be. And if that means bending the rules, then by God we're going to bend some rules! Now get ready - the journey is long, and there is much to be said...

Identity Crisis: Defining yourself

Right off the bat, you're faced with choosing WHO you are. And unless you know just what kind of decisions you're making, you're probably just poking around in the dark. I'll attempt to guide you through the process, and ensure you become the warrior / magician / thief you want to be.

Before we get into specifics, you should know the three main classifications for everything that determines who you are... There are Combat, Magic, and Stealth - choosing your race and attributes, you determine your skills as a fighter, as a magician, and as a thief. And while it's a good idea to definitely have a focus (and not spread your skills too thin), it's also important to be versatile. A fighter with strength in conjuration (magic) will be able to summon stronger weapons and armor. And any magician could benefit from a strong athletics (combat) skill. And wouldn't a thief like some illusion (magic) skills - I mean, blinding, paralyzing, invisibility; they can be helpful.

Fighter, Magician, or Thief: Deciding how you want to play

Now before you make any decisions about race and attributes, you'll first need to determine how it is you want to play through the game. There are benefits to playing the game with any style, and different quests will be available for you to complete depending on what skills you've focused on. Honestly, a lot of the decisions you make early can be inconsequential later in the game (for reasons which I'll explain later in this guide), but at least for the first quarter, to first half, they'll be the only things on your mind.

It's hard to make any real recommendations as to which style is "best" - it's really up to you. In the beginning, the abilities of a Fighter will be helpful in traveling and general combat (since as a beginning Magician, your spells are limited, and as a Thief... well, you can't pick pocket something to death). But so long as you stick to accepting missions for which you're designed, you should be able to get along just fine. So without further ado...

Guide by:Mark Ryan Sallee

On to Races...

Morrowind coverage on IGN PC