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Thursday, February 2, 2012

TES V | Skyrim & Kleptomaniacs - Weapons & Apparel List, Stats, Tracker & More


So multi-tasking is a talent we all have but to differing degrees. Seems that it is a "requirement" for most jobs these days though I sometimes think the end result is that more things get done badly rather than fewer things getting done well. Anyway I like to think I am pretty strong when it comes to multi-tasking BUT that does not mean it is what I choose to do.

Case in point - 11/11/11 - man is that three months ago now - saw the launch of TESV - Skyrim - the much publicized fifth chapter of the Elder Scrolls Franchise. Did it live up to all of the hype? I am sure there are many opinions but for me the answer is a resounding yes. The proof - well since 11/11/11 what have I done? I have played Skyrim! Now sure I have eaten, slept and gone to work and so on but it was winter and so there was no yard work and the website, this blog, the Strange, Weird, Wonderful and Cool Buildings blog - well no updates there - I have been playing Skyrim.

That of course has to change, I have to multi-task, an hour on the website, an hour on Skyrim, soon it will be spring and yard work time again [love having a yard but hate the work - oh well what can you do?]. I will work on that. In the meantime one thing we all have to do is recognize what we are - when it comes to single player RPG's I am, among other things, a total kleptomaniac. Many players will immediately abandon the trusty Orcish Sword of Embers that has served them so well when they finally find a Daedric Sword or quickly don their new Elven Helmet and toss aside the old Steel one without a second thought - not I. I collect, sure I wear the best gear possible but the old gear, I store it [my wife would say "what's new?" you do that in real life but that's a thought for another day] and I record it and I look for the things I don't own - kind of like a virtual stamp collector - the purpose of having the items is to have the collection - to get more - to get complete sets - owning is happiness.

Now you might think that is simply insane; you may be right but then perhaps sanity is a vastly over rated quality anyway. Or you might actually have a similar passion to mine! "There can only be one" the Highlander once said - I cannot believe there can only be one like me - not because I am special, just the opposite, because I am so ordinary [turning to the wife once more - she would probably say absolutely there is only one of you and thank goodness for that]. So if you happen to be one of the few others like me and you are also a rabid collector of all manner of weapons and apparel in Skyrim then this might be the tool for you.

The Skyrim Apparel & Weapon Tracker is basically a database [in Excel] of Weapons and Apparel - it currently lists 4725 items from the vanilla game and features the following:
Record for each item contains:
  • Name, Source, Class, Category, Type, Rating, "Owned" Flag, "Favorite" Flag, Storage Location, Enchantment, Notes [Image]
  • All records are editable and there is a find function that allows them to be quickly located for reference or editing [Image]
  • New items can be easily added [Image]
  • Several pre set sort options [Image]
  • Several pre set filter options, some detailed filter settings and fully customizable filtering using the Excel auto filter functionality [Image]
  • Simple one click clear function for setting up for a new game or profile [Image]
If you like it and find it of use that's great - if not that's cool too - we are all different and while it matches the game experience I want you might just think "what a heap of garbage". It was built for me and if no one ever uses it that is fine, it still served its purpose but I figured I may as well put it out there just in case it was of use to anyone else.

If you do happen to be at all interested watch for more - there will be additions for Locations, Quests, Ingredients & Recipes, Shouts and more - if it can be tracked I will be adding it. You can download from my site here or you can find it on the Skyrim Nexus [the home of Skyrim modding and resources].

Have a good one and check back soon for more additions and updates here and on "Buildings" - going to try to spread the wealth a little more, a little gaming, a little blogging, a little TV, some work and so on instead of the single minded "I play Skyrim" approach to life - might be hard but I am going to try.

Who Stole Downtown Dallas

Saw a really cool and somewhat eerie effect with the weather, downtown Dallas and some low clouds while I was driving into work yesterday morning. It looked like someone had simply spirited downtown Dallas away. The shots are from Eastbound I-30 heading towards Dallas and from the feeder from Eastbound I-30 to Northbound I-35E.

When I first noticed the low cloud I could still see the top of Bank of America Plaza peeking out of the clouds [right in the center of the picture]:

Downtown Dallas From I-30 020112

Just a little further along the road even that was no longer visible and there was simply no downtown Dallas. Take a look at the image taken from Google Maps Street View to see what the skyline normally looks like from there:

Downtown Dallas From I-30 020112

Downtown Dallas From I-30 020112 G/Maps

Driving on a little further and heading round to I-35E you could just make out Reunion Tower but the rest of the downtown skyline was still hidden and at that point downtown is pretty darn close. Again there is a grab from Google Maps for comparison:

Downtown Dallas From I-30 020112

Downtown Dallas From I-30 020112 G/Maps