Tips for Beginning Daggerfall?

[HTBandicoot]

I am intrigued by Daggerfall because of how massive it is to explore. However, I am not familiar with these types of games. What tips would you recommend for beginners? I'm also having a hard time figuring out basic controls. It may be easier if I figure out how to map it out for a controller.

 

[LiberoVulpesLiberoVulpes's icon]

Daggerfall Unity lets you map your controller in the launcher, i play it with a joystick. You can also add some quality of life stuff in the launcher.

Combat is dice rolls and takes a bit getting used to, cause you won't be seeing instant feedback while your combat skills are low. You can cheese the AI once you know when their dice rolls happen.

Save a lot, and have multiple save files, there are a lot of moments in which you can screw yourself.

Do the main quest up until you meet the spy at a tavern, afterwards, you are free to do whatever.

Dungeons are massive, never go in unprepared, yes they can take in-game weeks, even months. They are also mazes in which you can get lost easily, with tons of secrets. Even if you turn on the smaller dungeons option, Story dungeons remain as massive as they were originally.

Get a horse and a carriage to carry your loot, many times you might need to go back to the entrance just to stash your stuff.

You don't have to fight everything, some enemies are too strong, and/or require specific equipment for you to hurt them, running away is always an option.

 

[Jediuser]

I am intrigued by Daggerfall because of how massive it is to explore. However, I am not familiar with these types of games. What tips would you recommend for beginners? I'm also having a hard time figuring out basic controls. It may be easier if I figure out how to map it out for a controller.

Don't ask me, I still haven't figured out how to get past the first dungeon.

 

[Zachery2112]

The game is intentionally designed to make you forget about the main quest. Basically, after you survive the ship crash in the opening, your supposed to do small side quest, explore, get your barrings, do whatever you want. Only after weeks in game does the main quest actually pick up when you find a letter that a thief sneaked into your pocket. So if you're like me, don't get worried that you're not following the main quest, that was intentional. Very few RPGs have anything close to the experience of Daggerfall's opening days.

 

[RageBurner]

My main suggestion would be to drink plenty of passion fruit juice. Your nerves might fray otherwise.

 

[Skeetos]

Definitely play through Daggerfall Unity and grab a couple of the "essential" mods. They help make the game easier to get into. Don't worry too much about the Main Quest either. It's all about the experience of getting gangbanged by random monsters in the dungeons lol.

 

[xuvetyn96]

I'd read the manual that's what I do for these old RPGs because they're usually kind of complicated and the game expects you to have read it before going in.

Though I also recommend playing Daggerfall Unity. It just make the sluggish controls of the original smoother and makes it a little easier on the eyes. If you want to experience the original though, by all means go for it. What problems are you having with the controls?

 

[HTBandicoot]

Daggerfall Unity lets you map your controller in the launcher, i play it with a joystick. You can also add some quality of life stuff in the launcher.

Combat is dice rolls and takes a bit getting used to, cause you won't be seeing instant feedback while your combat skills are low. You can cheese the AI once you know when their dice rolls happen.

Save a lot, and have multiple save files, there are a lot of moments in which you can screw yourself.

Do the main quest up until you meet the spy at a tavern, afterwards, you are free to do whatever.

Dungeons are massive, never go in unprepared, yes they can take in-game weeks, even months. They are also mazes in which you can get lost easily, with tons of secrets. Even if you turn on the smaller dungeons option, Story dungeons remain as massive as they were originally.

Get a horse and a carriage to carry your loot, many times you might need to go back to the entrance just to stash your stuff.

You don't have to fight everything, some enemies are too strong, and/or require specific equipment for you to hurt them, running away is always an option.

Thanks for all of the great advice!

Post automatically merged: Apr 19, 2025

The game is intentionally designed to make you forget about the main quest. Basically, after you survive the ship crash in the opening, your supposed to do small side quest, explore, get your barrings, do whatever you want. Only after weeks in game does the main quest actually pick up when you find a letter that a thief sneaked into your pocket. So if you're like me, don't get worried that you're not following the main quest, that was intentional. Very few RPGs have anything close to the experience of Daggerfall's opening days.

That's good to hear! I actually chose the option to start outside of the dungeon, so I don't know what that changes.

Post automatically merged: Apr 19, 2025

I'd read the manual that's what I do for these old RPGs because they're usually kind of complicated and the game expects you to have read it before going in.

Though I also recommend playing Daggerfall Unity. It just make the sluggish controls of the original smoother and makes it a little easier on the eyes. If you want to experience the original though, by all means go for it. What problems are you having with the controls?

Thanks, I'll check it out. Yeah..Daggerfall Unity is what I'm using.

Just simple things like how to punch or use a weapon. I look in the controls and it says mouse1 but that doesn't seem to work.

 

[xuvetyn96]

Just simple things like how to punch or use a weapon. I look in the controls and it says mouse1 but that doesn't seem to work.

Strange, maybe try rebinding the mouse buttons. And have you already readied your weapon (with Z)?

 

[HTBandicoot]

Strange, maybe try rebinding the mouse buttons. And have you already readied your weapon (with Z)?

I might try that. I’m not sure. It showed a fist on the screen.

 

[RIK-C-137]

My advice is me laughing at you. I know that's not advice, but having been there a few years back, and my best bro taking a stab at it a few months ago, laughter is all I have. I mean uhh... you're gonna die? Also, lost. So lost! Uesp for life? Melee success is strength-based. It might not be your cup of tea, but I totally endorse cheating, and have since 94 holler at your Genie

 

[LiberoVulpesLiberoVulpes's icon]

Just simple things like how to punch or use a weapon. I look in the controls and it says mouse1 but that doesn't seem to work.

Daggerfall is weird, you have to hold mouse 1 then drag your mouse, depending on the direction, a different attack happens.

 

[xuvetyn96]

Daggerfall is weird, you have to hold mouse 1 then drag your mouse, depending on the direction, a different attack happens.

I'll add on that you can change this in Daggerfall Unity to more traditional mouse controls by changing the weapon swing mode in the settings.

 

[_oBSOLEte_]

Magic is OP and the spells you can create can break the game.

 

[HTBandicoot]

I'll add on that you can change this in Daggerfall Unity to more traditional mouse controls by changing the weapon swing mode in the settings.

Do you know the difference of starting the game outside of a dungeon?

 

[_oBSOLEte_]

Do you know the difference of starting the game outside of a dungeon?

It's a thing from the Unity port to allow you to directly explore I think. In the OG game you always start in the same non-procgen dungeon, which I guess can be tedious for replays.

 

[oyster_engine]

You can kick open doors, but switch to your fist otherwise you'll (eventually) wear out the weapon you are using and you'll have to get it repaired.

Also try asking the random citizens where any of (a temple of X, guild halls) may be. I preferred looking for one where the name was very easy to remember, like "Longgate" so then I could use the search option in the map and return to finish a quest.

If you can, get the recall spell as soon as you are able. It lets you place an anchor point at the start of the dungeon, and then when you are finished, you can then simply return to that spot.

 

[HTBandicoot]

You can kick open doors, but switch to your fist otherwise you'll (eventually) wear out the weapon you are using and you'll have to get it repaired.

Also try asking the random citizens where any of (a temple of X, guild halls) may be. I preferred looking for one where the name was very easy to remember, like "Longgate" so then I could use the search option in the map and return to finish a quest.

If you can, get the recall spell as soon as you are able. It lets you place an anchor point at the start of the dungeon, and then when you are finished, you can then simply return to that spot.

Thanks for the tips!