Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim Special Edition 2023

[Huntn]

Yeah, SE

While not a show stopper, its a bit of a annoyance. Still, I actually transitioned over to the PS5, and did the first major quest (golden claw and dragon stone) and I totally forgot the size, depth of skyrim's quests. Took me a while to get through that one dungeon, it was great.

Skyrim Mod story
@Queen6 I’ll tell you a mod story. I remember @maflynn said no mods. I am using a character makeover mod no issues. I’ve been wanting to use a Follower Horse mod so my follower does not have to run behind me, although she never complains. 🤔 I looked at a variety of mods for mounted followers. Some required 2 other support infrastructure mods like Skyrim UI which I’m not keen on until I found what I thought was the perfect mod, Convenient Horse.

A single file to install, it allows you to call your horse from anywhere, gives you mounted combat where you can lean off the side of your horse while galloping swinging your sword, you can collect plants while mounted, and your follower can buy a horse. It even had a quest so you could practise all of it’s features, and the horse in combat is nearly immune to damage in combat.

I was in love…until…mounted, I pulled out a weapon which was 2 handed, the game froze and I had to restart the game. Ok, no problem I just need to be careful about that. So I finished the get acclimated quest then jumped on my horse which promptly bucked me off. Hmm it refused to move. I read some more in detail, and discovered the horse can be encumbered. I had upped my carry weight substantially, and carrying a thousand pounds was a bit too much for this mod which specifically had added encumbrance as a feature. Of note the vanilla in-game horse does not give a damn about the players weight, it just has a limited amount of internal storage (I think).

Now for the icing on the cake. i uninstalled this mod, but when I returned to the game, my vanilla horse would no longer allow me to ride it. The ride button ”E” would click, but I was not getting on my horse. When launching this save, a warning pops up that Convenient Horses was not available, and that there were left over items. Apparantly one of those items set an encumbrance limit on your vanilla horse, so I could still not ride it.

And, I had to revert back to the save before I had completed the first Merida quest to clear it’s dungeon! To deal with that, I put myself on God mode, and waltzed though that dungeon, a second time, then turned it off.

Now if there is a way to change horse encumbrance, I might give it another chance, mounted combat and collecting and looting on horseback, and if I could get my follower on a horse, I’d be in heaven, as I imagine hearing @maflynn saying “NO to mods!”

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

Skyrim Mod story
@Queen6 I’ll tell you a mod story. I remember @maflynn said no mods. I am using a character makeover mod no issues. I’ve been wanting to use a Follower Horse mod so my follower does not have to run behind me, although she never complains. 🤔 I looked at a variety of mods for mounted followers. Some required 2 other support infrastructure mods like Skyrim UI which I’m not keen on until I found what I thought was the perfect mod, Convenient Horse.

A single file to install, it allows you to call your horse from anywhere, gives you mounted combat where you can lean off the side of your horse while galloping swinging your sword, you can collect plants while mounted, and your follower can buy a horse. It even had a quest so you could practise all of it’s features, and the horse in combat is nearly immune to damage in combat.

I was in love…until…mounted, I pulled out a weapon which was 2 handed, the game froze and I had to restart the game. Ok, no problem I just need to be careful about that. So I finished the get acclimated quest then jumped on my horse which promptly bucked me off. Hmm it refused to move. I read some more in detail, and discovered the horse can be encumbered. I had upped my carry weight substantially, and carrying a thousand pounds was a bit too much for this mod which specifically had added encumbrance as a feature. Of note the vanilla in-game horse does not give a damn about the players weight, it just has a limited amount of internal storage (I think).

Now for the icing on the cake. i uninstalled this mod, but when I returned to the game, my vanilla horse would no longer allow me to ride it. The ride button ”E” would click, but I was not getting on my horse. When launching this save, a warning pops up that Convenient Horses was not available, and that there were left over items. Apparantly one of those items set an encumbrance limit on your vanilla horse, so I could still not ride it.

And, I had to revert back to the save before I had completed the first Merida quest to clear it’s dungeon! To deal with that, I put myself on God mode, and waltzed though that dungeon, a second time, then turned it off.

Now if there is a way to change horse encumbrance, I might give it another chance, mounted combat and collecting and looting on horseback, and if I could get my follower on a horse, I’d be in heaven, as I imagine hearing @maflynn saying “NO to mods!”

See this is exactly why I miss Steam Workshop support for Skyrim. Never had these issues when I had Workshop mods, but since Special Edition got rid of it we gotta go through trial and error installing stuff.

 

[Queen6]

Skyrim Mod story
@Queen6 I’ll tell you a mod story. I remember @maflynn said no mods. I am using a character makeover mod no issues. I’ve been wanting to use a Follower Horse mod so my follower does not have to run behind me, although she never complains. 🤔 I looked at a variety of mods for mounted followers. Some required 2 other support infrastructure mods like Skyrim UI which I’m not keen on until I found what I thought was the perfect mod, Convenient Horse.

A single file to install, it allows you to call your horse from anywhere, gives you mounted combat where you can lean off the side of your horse while galloping swinging your sword, you can collect plants while mounted, and your follower can buy a horse. It even had a quest so you could practise all of it’s features, and the horse in combat is nearly immune to damage in combat.

I was in love…until…mounted, I pulled out a weapon which was 2 handed, the game froze and I had to restart the game. Ok, no problem I just need to be careful about that. So I finished the get acclimated quest then jumped on my horse which promptly bucked me off. Hmm it refused to move. I read some more in detail, and discovered the horse can be encumbered. I had upped my carry weight substantially, and carrying a thousand pounds was a bit too much for this mod which specifically had added encumbrance as a feature. Of note the vanilla in-game horse does not give a damn about the players weight, it just has a limited amount of internal storage (I think).

Now for the icing on the cake. i uninstalled this mod, but when I returned to the game, my vanilla horse would no longer allow me to ride it. The ride button ”E” would click, but I was not getting on my horse. When launching this save, a warning pops up that Convenient Horses was not available, and that there were left over items. Apparantly one of those items set an encumbrance limit on your vanilla horse, so I could still not ride it.

And, I had to revert back to the save before I had completed the first Merida quest to clear it’s dungeon! To deal with that, I put myself on God mode, and waltzed though that dungeon, a second time, then turned it off.

Now if there is a way to change horse encumbrance, I might give it another chance, mounted combat and collecting and looting on horseback, and if I could get my follower on a horse, I’d be in heaven, as I imagine hearing @maflynn saying “NO to mods!”

All part of the fun LOL...

Q-6

 

[Huntn]

See this is exactly why I miss Steam Workshop support for Skyrim. Never had these issues when I had Workshop mods, but since Special Edition got rid of it we gotta go through trial and error installing stuff.

Mod Story Continued…
@Queen6 @maflynn Ok, I’m a glutton for punishment. After posting above, I was looking around online for issues with Convienent Horses Mod although I swear to you I saw no configuration instructions on the mods page, I stumble across a nexus forum discussion which said that the option to talk to your horse (Yes, talk to your horse) at the bottom of the list of options I had not scrolled down to, is a choice to change behavior/settings.
The option provides a list of behaviors from looting, to horse behavior, to most importantly for my situation, HORSE ENCUMBRANCE. I love the “I Can Haul a Mountain” setting. 😁

So I’m back to looting while riding, mounted combat on occasion, and most importantly got my follower on a horse.

I rode through the garden of the Stable Master’s wife and auto collected lettuce and may have gotten into trouble. Not sure what happened when I practiced a dragon shout vs power shout (same key), I then heard a commotion, and my folllower was in a sword fight with a guard who was patrolling nearby. They would not stop, so I killed the guard and probably now have a fine to pay the next time I walk into Solitude. Regarding the mod, you just have to remember:

• Not to equip a two handed weapon while riding, game freezes
• Unfortunately, I can’t seem to conjure my bound sword nor magic while in the saddle, but I can pull a regular sword. For that, I’m using Dawnstar, the sword I got for completing the Merida Quest. 😑
• Demount before fast travel or your follower won’t be wearing the gear you give them. It’s still in their inventory , but they won’t wear it until you do another zone load.
• The Nord horn is a “power” to summon/spawn your horse. If in sight, the horse whistle can be used.
• You tell your follower to buy a horse, giving them 1000 gold, the latter happens automatically. You will have a choice of 3 horses that can be obtained via a list, so you don’t to be at a stable.
• The follower will summon their horse when you get on your horse, and demount when you demount.
• These horses are very tough.
• Mounted combat is possible. You can create a setting to allow your horse to run over people, versus knocking them, but I’ve not had a chance to test it.

It sure is nice to have your follower, following you on a horse.

 

[Huntn]

Mod Story Continued…
@Queen6 @maflynn Ok, I’m a glutton for punishment. After posting above, I was looking around online for issues with Convienent Horses Mod although I swear to you I saw no configuration instructions on the mods page, I stumble across a nexus forum discussion which said that the option to talk to your horse (Yes, talk to your horse) at the bottom of the list of options I had not scrolled down to, is a choice to change behavior/settings.
The option provides a list of behaviors from looting, to horse behavior, to most importantly for my situation, HORSE ENCUMBRANCE. I love the “I Can Haul a Mountain” setting. 😁

So I’m back to looting while riding, mounted combat on occasion, and most importantly got my follower on a horse.

I rode through the garden of the Stable Master’s wife and auto collected lettuce and may have gotten into trouble. Not sure what happened when I practiced a dragon shout vs power shout (same key), I then heard a commotion, and my folllower was in a sword fight with a guard who was patrolling nearby. They would not stop, so I killed the guard and probably now have a fine to pay the next time I walk into Solitude. Regarding the mod, you just have to remember:

• Not to equip a two handed weapon while riding, game freezes
• Unfortunately, I can’t seem to conjure my bound sword nor magic while in the saddle, but I can pull a regular sword. For that, I’m using Dawnstar, the sword I got for completing the Merida Quest. 😑
• Demount before fast travel or your follower won’t be wearing the gear you give them. It’s still in their inventory , but they won’t wear it until you do another zone load.
• The Nord horn is a “power” to summon/spawn your horse. If in sight, the horse whistle can be used.
• You tell your follower to buy a horse, giving them 1000 gold, the latter happens automatically. You will have a choice of 3 horses that can be obtained via a list, so you don’t to be at a stable.
• The follower will summon their horse when you get on your horse, and demount when you demount.
• These horses are very tough.
• Mounted combat is possible. You can create a setting to allow your horse to run over people, versus knocking them, but I’ve not had a chance to test it.

It sure is nice to have your follower, following you on a horse.

After more game play with this Mod, I’m seeing that it’s not always happy with fast travel and sometimes the mod needs to be reset when leaving your horse outside a dungeon, go into the dungeon and later re-emerge. Resetting is an easy consol command: StopQuest CH; ResetQuest CH. CH references the mod name. So far I’m able to work with this. My only concern is if at some point I decide to abandon the Mod, and having a horse that won’t let me get on it. So for anyone who says “I don’t like mods”, I understand where you are coming from.

Regarding Skyrim
The quests can be viewed as simplistic, proceed to a location, and sneak, fight your way though to a destination to acquire or eliminate the desired target or object, but this is basically the formula for most games of these types. So I understand the critique, it’s repetitive. But there is enough variety, quality in the story to keep me engaged and the story along with some quests present moral delimmas which peak my interest.

Moral dilemma Example/Spoiler
For example early in the game at Whiterun, you observe some Redguard men trying to enter the town saying they are looking for a woman, a traitor, but they're turned away by the town guards. If you engage them, you are told she is a traitor to the town they're from. If you volunteer to find her, the quest starts. When you find her, she pulls you aside and tells a very different story, that she spoke out about an issue (I won’t describe, but has to do with the Skyrim Civil War and the Thalmor* who, if you don’t know are evil and allied with the Imperials) and she was forced to flee and remain undercover for fear of her life.

*Regarding the Thalmore, they tried to kill me at the beginning of the story and although I have joined the Imperials, I show them (Thalmor) no mercy when I come across a little procession of them out in the world usually escorting a prisoner to his demise. They start out haute, don’t interfere, but are surprised when I dispatch them. Somehow the Imperials know all, so after when I approach an Imperial stronghold I am arrested, but agree to pay a 40 gold fine and am released immediately, which I can afford.

So back to this quest, there is no way for you to verify either story. The woman offers to pay you to eliminate the man in charge who is after her. You find him at a bandit hideout (?), so although this does not prove or disprove anything, it is another consideration, because you are then offered a chance to talk to the leader and set up the woman to be captured. And if you agree, even then the situation is not set in stone. I love this kind of a plot.

 

[maflynn]

While I firmly believe playing on a PC is superior, given the precision of the mouse/keyboard, the ability to easily assign macros or actions to various keys. I am enjoying Skyrim on my PS5. One big advantage is that I don't have access to the console, no temptation to go to the console and enable God mode for a particularly hard enemy.

I started the The Blessings of Nature quest right after I arrived at WhiteRun. I was like level 3 or 4 and my bow and arrow was doing no damage to the Hagraven. If I was on the PC I would be sourly tempted to just enter God mode to get the past her and finish the quest. Instead, I had to wait until I leveled up.

This is forcing me to play the way I should and not take shortcuts

 

[Huntn]

While I firmly believe playing on a PC is superior, given the precision of the mouse/keyboard, the ability to easily assign macros or actions to various keys. I am enjoying Skyrim on my PS5. One big advantage is that I don't have access to the console, no temptation to go to the console and enable God mode for a particularly hard enemy.

I started the The Blessings of Nature quest right after I arrived at WhiteRun. I was like level 3 or 4 and my bow and arrow was doing no damage to the Hagraven. If I was on the PC I would be sourly tempted to just enter God mode to get the past her and finish the quest. Instead, I had to wait until I leveled up.

This is forcing me to play the way I should and not take shortcuts

Wait, you use God mode??? ⚡️⚡️😇 Even with the consol, I don’t do that*, instead for particularly hard fights, I scan my inventory of potions, and give myself a couple of good ones. If I have not collected what I need, I conjure them via the consol. I should work on my alchemy. But that is a decision regarding how to spend your time in a game. The best basic combat potions are fortify magic, fortify health, buff strength, resist fire, resist cold, resist magic, fortify magic.

*One exception, after I had completed a dungeon, had a mod issue, and had to repeat that dungeon, I used God mode to just zip though it and get back to where I was in my progress.

i usually do not pass up any dungeon/occupied structure and last night I was at Fort Snowhawk headed to Morthal. It was full of low level mages, my goal was to clear it. but there was a lock pickable door set to expert, and my skills are not there yet. So I was considering go run around the world and come back when my lock pick skill was at expert or just give myself a lock pick potion? This wasn’t that significant of a location to come back to just for this purpose, so via consol, I gave myself a lock pick potion, got though the door to face a high level mage. Fortunately I had some resist cold and resist magic spells on me, and this guy was shooting ice shards which are highly damaging. Those potions made a big difference.

 

[maflynn]

Wait, you use God mode??? ⚡️⚡️😇 Even with the consol

AFAIK, its no available on the console, which was my point. It can be a temptation on the PC. I had a few playthroughs of fallout 4 where I just wanted to speed run through the very early portion of the game, and get some combat armor. There's a full set in Somerville (I think that's the location). Anyways as a low level its nearly impossible to kill the ghouls there - too high a level. God mode can be a huge temptation. I've been pretty good on subsequent play throughs where I resisted taking the easy road.

i usually do not pass up any dungeon/occupied structure

Same, I'm high enough level that the Dawnguard DLC is now available and as I was making way there I got a dungeon that had the Pale lady side quest. It was a fun diversion and I don't mind doing these, as I'm in no rush to finish the game. Its more about the experience.

 

[maflynn]

I just finished the thieves guild set of quests. Well almost finished I didn't enter the Twilight Sepulcher. I like keeping the skeleton key as I can open any lock with that. Definitely a nice quality of life addition.

I may do the dark brotherhood quest line next - If memory serves me, that was is less enjoyable for me. Its ok and you get some nice stuff if I remember correctly.

 

[Huntn]

I just finished the thieves guild set of quests. Well almost finished I didn't enter the Twilight Sepulcher. I like keeping the skeleton key as I can open any lock with that. Definitely a nice quality of life addition.

I may do the dark brotherhood quest line next - If memory serves me, that was is less enjoyable for me. Its ok and you get some nice stuff if I remember correctly.

I won’t do Thieves, but I might do Dark Brotherhood far enough to get the horse, but that depends on what I’m asked to do.

It’s interesting that many (most?) dungeons include a skill book and a power wall.

I’m currently running around Mzinchaleft, a Dwarvin ruin SW of Dawnstar, which feels very Steampunk in theme.. The dwarvin scrap metal is heavy. The only reason I can manage carrying it is because I upped my carry weight and the only reason I can make this work is Fast Travel, another reason why Survival Mode is out. The big thing to get here are the mechanical critters carry high level soul stones, that is if you're into enchanting.

I would never have guessed that Skyrim has so many Dwarven ruins: https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Dwarven_Ruins

 

[maflynn]

but I might do Dark Brotherhood far enough to get the horse

I like the Dark Brotherhood quest line for the most part, but I hate the ending. I'll stop before things go south with the dark brotherhood

 

[Huntn]

I like the Dark Brotherhood quest line for the most part, but I hate the ending. I'll stop before things go south with the dark brotherhood

Generall speaking I don’t like killing people for advantage. What happens at the end?

 

[Huntn]

Spoilers

I’ve been playing Starfield all week, but went back to SkyRim last night and am impressed with how much I am vested in this story. Starfield so far is good and has my approval, but it’s not Skyrim…so far. My guess is that it will bloom as there is some acclamation still happening for me. Yet the Skyrim atmosphere, is different and superior in a Lord of The Rings sort of way.

I had made sure I traveled early in game to Dawnguard, the Vampire hunters, and joined their faction to find my way to Serana, a talented follower who just happens to be a vampire. She, this DLC was not around the last time I played SkyRim. So far in Skyrim, wrapped in armor, vampires biting you has not yet been an issue, but they can be nasty mages. And I would probably not object to being bit by her as long as it was not fatal or transformative.

Likely a modded Serana. Hard to locate a vanilla image. I’ll eventually post my own, even though I too am using a people appearance mod. Bethesda originally made some ugly vanilla people in this game…​

Last night I entered Dimhollow Crypt, infested with vampire mages represents a chance for the player to determine a destiny without being committed to hanging out with a vampire, when you just chose to fight them, some irony there. In her defense she has been locked away for centuries (eons?), and her history is a mystery because she refuses to talk about it, yet, and on the surface does not seem evil.

I like Lydia. She has been with me as a follower since the beginning, 60 hrs ago, but she does not talk, and she is a hack and slash warrior with a bow. Even though I am following a magic tank path with destruction spells and bound weapons that function as bladed weapons, just magic and glory, I’ve been looking for a mage to accompany me for the tough fights against high level mages and Serana talks.

I juggling a lot of balls here. I’ve chosen the Empire (again) in the Stormcloak rebellion, I’m working on my Dragonborn skills, and I’m progressing on my career as a mage at the Winterhold College. And around every corner is a big and beautiful dungeon to explore.

A lot-O-Spoilers:

Skyrim Serana and where to find her

Skyrim’s Serana is one of the game's most beloved companions that you can eventually marry, so if you want to make a spouse of Lord Harkon's daughter, read on.

www.pockettactics.com

 

[maflynn]

had made sure I traveled early in game to Dawnguard,

You know its funny, but I usually like siding with the vampires, but this play through I'm sort of regretting it. I'm not sure why. I think the vampire faction is better a result in the DLC but overall its a bit of a pain to making sure I don't venture out in the daylight.

 

[Huntn]

You know its funny, but I usually like siding with the vampires, but this play through I'm sort of regretting it. I'm not sure why. I think the vampire faction is better a result in the DLC but overall its a bit of a pain to making sure I don't venture out in the daylight.

🤔 Serana has said nothing about heading outside in the day and I’ve fought vampires during the day. Would I become a vampire if given the option? I’d have to think about it. And my understanding is there is a path to cure her of vampirism, but I’d have to think about that too. 🤔

I know about the werewolf path, and although I may do that to get a title, I’ll immediately go find the cure. That is too much of a hardship…

 

[maflynn]

Serana has said nothing about heading outside in the day

My health and stamina are halved, and I struggle against dragons if they come by during the day.

 

[Huntn]

My health and stamina are halved, and I struggle against dragons if they come by during the day.

After you became a vampire? If so I won’t choose that, for the same reason I don’t like Werewolf settings, althiugh I might become one temporarily. I don‘t like people saying they smell a wet dog, nor the limitations when in werewolf form. Yeah you’re strong but you can’t loot, nor talk, just bark, how embarrassing… .

 

[Huntn]

There is just no way I could play this game without fast travel, too inconvenient, I’ve got a home in White run, where I like doing blacksmithing, My enchanting I like doing at Winterhold because of the college and my position there. And I‘ve upped my carry weight so I can carry bunches of stuff, and want to store it either in Whiterun or Winterhold. Btw, upping your carrybwait takes care of any money issues you might have. i just pretend I found a teleport spell and jump around when it comes to dropping off stuff. I love exploring for exploration sake, but for back and forth trips I fast travel.

 

[maflynn]

There is just no way I could play this game without fast travel, too inconvenient

I was thinking that very thought. The world is so massive that fast travel is a must. Its bad enough that the quests can bring you way out there. The quest to the throat of the world for instance. You're generally a low level and now you need to travel 1/2 across the world

 

[dmr727]

I find the carriages/ferries to be a reasonable alternative to fast travel if I'm attempting to be hard core - there's still a lot of running around nonetheless - but there's usually a city/town that gets me at least somewhat close.

 

[Queen6]

I was thinking that very thought. The world is so massive that fast travel is a must. Its bad enough that the quests can bring you way out there. The quest to the throat of the world for instance. You're generally a low level and now you need to travel 1/2 across the world

Should try Daggerfall map is beiger than some countries LOL...

Q-6

 

[Huntn]

I find the carriages/ferries to be a reasonable alternative to fast travel if I'm attempting to be hard core - there's still a lot of running around nonetheless - but there's usually a city/town that gets me at least somewhat close.

I’ve never tried a carriage, I thought you just sit there as it thumps along the bumpy roads. Ok, that would be stupid, lol, duh. So they are the equivalent of fast travel? So basically I’ve created my own impromptu carriage rides? Hmm, the thing is that there are not that many carriage stops around, Whiterun, Windhelm, Solitude, but there is not one in Winterhold that I remember or Dawnstar, maybe Monarch? That leaves some pretty big gaps. 🤔

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

I’ve never tried a carriage, I thought you just sit there as it thumps along the bumpy roads. Ok, that would be stupid, lol, duh. So they are the equivalent of fast travel? So basically I’ve created my own impromptu carriage rides? Hmm, the thing is that there are not that many carriage stops around, Whiterun, Windhelm, Solitude, but there is not one in Winterhold that I remember or Dawnstar, maybe Monarch? That leaves some pretty big gaps. 🤔

You never used the carriage in all these years?

 

[dmr727]

I’ve never tried a carriage, I thought you just sit there as it thumps along the bumpy roads. Ok, that would be stupid, lol, duh. So they are the equivalent of fast travel? So basically I’ve created my own impromptu carriage rides? Hmm, the thing is that there are not that many carriage stops around, Whiterun, Windhelm, Solitude, but there is not one in Winterhold that I remember or Dawnstar, maybe Monarch? That leaves some pretty big gaps. 🤔

One nice thing about carriages is that they'll take you to cities you've never been to before, so early in the game they're pretty convenient. If you have Hearthfire, your homestead can have a driver that'll take you to lots of places not originally supported (including Winterhold). If you have the Dawnguard DLC (if you don't, get it!), you'll also get ferry travel between Solitude, Dawnstar, and Windhelm. Obviously none of this beats fast travel, but if you're making a runthrough more focused on role-playing, I find that it's generally good enough.

 

[Huntn]

One nice thing about carriages is that they'll take you to cities you've never been to before, so early in the game they're pretty convenient. If you have Hearthfire, your homestead can have a driver that'll take you to lots of places not originally supported (including Winterhold). If you have the Dawnguard DLC (if you don't, get it!), you'll also get ferry travel between Solitude, Dawnstar, and Windhelm. Obviously none of this beats fast travel, but if you're making a runthrough more focused on role-playing, I find that it's generally good enough.

The problem is I hate grind and dislike inconvenience, and I can rationalize up a storm, and can still stay immersed. It started a while back. In Fallout 4, I never wanted to break off a fight to go buy or scrounge for ammo, so some console magic was called for, especially for my 50 cal sniper rifle. I never gave myself gear except for my modded rifle and pistol, and… a bunch of health, preferred was pure water. Ok, I’m bad, but I don’t feel bad about it.

Another example is ARK Survival Evolved, I was not going to spend hours upon hours chopping down trees or breaking rock… so usually I got admin authority and problem solved.

Believe it or not, in Skyrim I have resisted giving myself stuff, but in one fight, after my 5th attempt to beat a deadly mage, I did give myself some health potions and finally prevailed.