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About this mod
Iron Path is an overhaul to Skyrim's combat related perk skills and mechanic.
- Requirements
- Permissions and credits
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Translations
- Russian
- Changelogs
I have played through many fantastic perk overhaul in the past, SPERG, Ordinator, Adamant, Vokrii. All are great fun and inspiring. And recently I played more games like Cyberpunk 2077, Elden Ring, Enderal, etc., I started to have lots of thoughts and ideas about combat, progression and ability in action RPG games.
So this is my attempt to overhaul Skyrim into a more action-focus RPG.
Iron Path is the first installment of my overhaul project which mainly focus on melee combat aspect.
Design Goal
Fundamental Changes
Difficulty setting changes:
Racial Ability
Many of the one/day power are changed to lesser power which can be used multiple time, but are restricted by magicka cost.
Argonian
Passive unchanged.
(Active power) Histskin (20 magicka): Invoke the power of the Hist to regenerate health faster for 20 seconds when out of combat.
Breton
Passive unchanged.
(Active power) Dragonskin (20 magicka): Absorb 100% of the magicka from hostile spells for 2 seconds.
Dark Elf
Passive unchanged.
(Active power) Ancestor's Wrath (50 magicka): For 30 seconds, opponents around you take <5> points per second of fire damage. Damage increase by 50% every 10 levels. (Capped at level 100.)
High Elf
High Elves are born with 30 extra magicka.
(Active power) Highborn (20 magicka): Highborn blood let you regenerate magicka faster for 20 seconds when out of combat.
Imperial
Passive unchanged.
(Active power) Voice of the Emperor (50 magicka): Calms nearby people for 5 seconds.
Khajiit
Khajiit claws do 15 points of damage.
Khajiit feets make 50% less noise when moving.
(Active power) Night Eye (0 magicka): Improved night vision for 120 seconds. Recast to deactivate.
Nord
Passive unchanged.
(Active power) Battle Cry (50 magicka): Targets flee for 1 seconds and deal 15% more damage for 15 seconds.
Orc
(Active power) Berserker Rage (50 magicka): You take 25% less damage and deal 25% more damage for 25 seconds. (Reduce both physical and spell incoming damage. )
Redguard
Passive unchanged.
(Active power) Adrenaline Rush (50 magicka): Stamina regenerate faster for 30 seconds and can regenerate stamina during attacks and other actions.
Wood Elf
Wood Elf moves 15% faster.
(Active power) Command Animal (50 magicka): Make an animal an ally for 20 seconds.
Perks and Skills
One-handed
(15/30) Armsman: One-handed attacks deal 25/50% more damage and one-handed weapons added 3 points of bonus damage.
(20) Fighting Stance: One-handed power attacks cost 25% less stamina.
(40) Valorous Charge: Can do a one-handed sprinting power attack which deal 20% more damage to targets at full health.
(60) Warrior's Stance: One-handed attacks do 0.2% more damage per point of stamina. Unlocks decapitations.
(30/70) Dual Flurry: Dual wielding attacks are 15/30% faster.
(50/90) Dual Savagery: Dual wielding attacks deal 15/30% more damage.
(30/70) Skirmisher: One-handed attacks are 15/30% faster when left hand has no shield, weapon or staff equipped.
(50/90) Overrun: One-handed attacks cost 20/40% less stamina when left hand has no shield, weapon or staff equipped.
(30/50/70) Path: Bleed Damage: {YOU CAN ONLY CHOOSE ONE PATH} One-handed attacks deal additional 4/6/8 bleed damage over 4 second, plus extra attack damage equal to 2/4/6% of stamina.
(50/70/90) Hack and Slash: One-handed attacks deal 20/40/60% more damage to bleeding targets.
(80) Onslaught: One-handed normal attacks are 15% faster.
(100) Grievous Wounds: One-handed power attacks deal additional 4 bleed damage over 8 second, plus extra damage equal to 10% of stamina.
(30/50/70) Path: Critical Strike: {YOU CAN ONLY CHOOSE ONE PATH} One-handed attacks have a 30/50/70% chance to critical hit and deal 1% more critical damage per point of stamina.
(50/70/90) Precision Strike: One-handed attacks deal 100/150/200% more critical damage.
(80) Ruthless Strike: One-handed attacks deal additional 100% more critical damage to targets below half health.
(100) Savage Strike: One-handed power attacks deal additional 1% more critical damage per point of stamina.
(30/50/70) Path: Power Attack: {YOU CAN ONLY CHOOSE ONE PATH} One-handed power attacks deal 0.4/0.5/0.6% more damage per point of stamina.
(50/70/90) Bone Breaker: One-handed power attacks deal 20/40/60% more damage. Additional 10/20/30% more to staggered targets.
(80) Disciplined Fighter: One-handed power attacks cost 25% less stamina.
(100): Armor Breaker: One-handed power attacks ignore 100% of armor and deal extra damage equal to 20% of your stamina.
Note:
Perks are applied to all one-handed weapon types. But you can only choose one damage type as your designated path.
Your damage is largely scaled with your stamina. So you need to invest in stamina to hit harder, trading survivability of investing health.
Bleed damage does not apply to dwarven construct and ghosts, but apply to undead.
Enable different fighting style: dual wielding, duelist (empty offhand), spellblade (spells in offhand), sword and shield (associated with Block skill)
Power attack and bleeding extra damage perks are nerfed for sneak attack so they don't do unnaturally high damage.
Two-handed
(15/30) Champion: Two-Handed attacks deal 15/30% more damage.
(20) Champion's Stance: Two-handed power attacks cost 20% less stamina.
(40) Vicious Charge: Can do a two-handed sprinting power attack which deal 20% more damage to targets at full health.
(60) Warmaster's Stance: Two-handed attacks deal 0.2% more damage per point of stamina. Unlocks decapitations.
(30/70) Barbarian: Two-handed attacks deal 15% more damage when you are below 70% health. (70) plus 15% more damage when below 50% health.
(50/90) Berserker: Two-handed attacks are 15% faster when you are below 70% health, (90) 30% faster when you are below 50% health.
(30/60/90) Path: Bleed Strike: {YOU CAN ONLY CHOOSE ONE PATH} Two-handed attacks deal additional 3/5/7 bleed damage over 4 second, plus extra attack damage equal to 1/3/5% of stamina.
(50/70/90) Limbsplitter: Two-handed attacks deal 15/30/45% more damage to bleeding targets.
(80) Rampage: Two-handed normal attacks are 15% faster.
(100) Mortal Wounds: Two-handed power attacks deal additional 3 bleed damage over 8 second, plus extra damage equal to 5% of stamina.
(30/60/90) Path: Critical Blow: {YOU CAN ONLY CHOOSE ONE PATH} Two-handed attacks have a 30/50/70% chance to critical hit and deal 0.5% more critical damage per point of stamina.
(50/70/90) Deep Wounds: Two-handed attacks deal 50/100/150% more critical damage.
(80) Killing Blow: Two-handed attacks deal additional 50% more critical damage to targets below half health.
(100) Devastating Blow: Two-handed power attacks deal additional 0.5% more critical damage per point of stamina.
(30/60/90) Path: Power Assault: {YOU CAN ONLY CHOOSE ONE PATH} Two-handed power attacks deal 0.2/0.3/0.4% more damage per point of stamina.
(50/70/90) Skullcrusher: Two-handed power attacks deal 15/30/45% more damage. Additional 8/15/22% more to staggered targets.
(80) Brutal Fighter: Two-handed power attacks cost 20% less stamina.
(100) Armor Crusher: Two-handed power attacks ignore 100% of armor and deal extra damage equal to 10% of your stamina.
Note:
Perks are applied to all two-handed weapon types. But you can only choose one damage type as your designated path.
Your damage is largely scaled with your stamina. So you need to invest in stamina to hit harder, trading survivability of investing health.
Bleed damage does not apply to dwarven construct and ghosts, but apply to undead.
Get rid of the "sweep" perk in favor of Precision' default function.
Enable barbarian/berserker fighting style where you hit harder as your health drops.
Power attack and bleeding extra damage perks are nerfed for sneak attack so they don't do unnaturally high damage.
Block
(15) Block and Bash: Blocking is 25% more effective. Able to do a power bash and deal more bash damage.
(30) Deflect Arrows: Arrows that hit the shield do almost no damage.
(50) Spell Protection: Blocking with a shield reduces incoming spell damage by 50%.
(80) Shield Wall: Cannot be staggered while blocking with a shield.
(100) Impenetrable: Blocking with a shield take no damage from melee attacks as long as you have more than half stamina.
(30) Sword and Shield: One-handed attacks deal 20% more damage when wielding a shield. Bashing with a shield deal [3% of stamina] times more damage.
(50) Block Runner: Able to move faster while blocking and one-handed attacks deal 20% more damage to staggered target when wielding a shield.
(70) Deadly Bash: Bashing with a shield deal 100% more damage to blocking or staggered targets.
(90) Shield Charge: Sprinting with a shield raised stagger most targets and deal 50 damage.
(30) Defensive Stance: Blocking with weapons is 25% more effective.
(60) Parrying Bash: Bashing with weapons during an enemy's power attack deal [5% of stamina] times more bash damage.
(90) Quick Reflexes: Time slows down if you are blocking with weapons during an enemy's power attack.
Note:
Blocking is by default stronger than vanilla without any perk (Shield: 0.45->0.7; Weapon: 0.3->0.5). So that it won't feel pointless at low level.
You can choose to advance using shield or weapon block, with shield user can advance in both defensive or offensive path.
Heavy Armor
(15/30) Sturdy Defender: Increases armor rating for heavy armor by 20/40%.
(30) Fists of Steel: Unarmed attacks with Heavy Armor gauntlets do their armor rating in extra damage.
(30) Well Fitted: Increases armor rating for heavy armor by 0.2% per point of health.
(60) Conditioning: Heavy armor weighs nothing and doesn't slow you down when worn.
(90) Perfect Fitted: Additional armor rating bonus for each heavy armor pieces equal to 10% of health.
(40) Juggernaut: Reduce incoming damage by 25% when wearing full heavy armor and having at least 10% stamina.
(60) Tower of Strength: 50% less stagger when wearing full heavy armor.
(80) Unstoppable: Reduce incoming damage by 50% while attacking when wearing full heavy armor.
(100) Unbreakable: Take almost no melee damage from opponents with less than half stamina when wearing full heavy armor.
Note:
Some perks can benefit even when wearing with light armor. So you can mix and match, or cosplay as the poster guy dragonborn.
Some perks require wearing full heavy armor (Helmet, Cuirass, Gauntlet, Boots)
Perks that reduce incoming damage include spell damage.
Light Armor
(15/30) Agile Defender: Increase armor rating for light armor by 20/40%.
(30) Unhindered: Light Armor weighs nothing and move 10% faster when worn.
(50) Acrobat: Take 90% less fall damage and stamina regenerates 50% faster if wearing light armor.
(70) Custom Fit: Increases armor rating for light armor by 0.3% per point of health.
(90) Wind Walker: Avoiding 90% of damage from attacks and spells when sprinting while wearing light armor.
(40) Endurance: You take 50% less damage when below half health and wearing only light armor.
(60) Second Wind: Stamina regenerates 50% faster when below half health and wearing only light armor.
(80) Adrenaline: You move 20% faster when below half health and wearing only light armor.
(100) All Out: When below 30% health and wearing only light armor, gain attack damage equal to 30% of armor rating but also lose 30% of armor.
Note:
Some perks can benefit even when wearing with heavy armor. So you can mix and match, or cosplay as the poster guy dragonborn.
Some perks require wearing no heavy armor pieces, but no need to wear full light armor pieces.
Perks to compliment the barbarian' s "high risk, high reward" fighting style.
Smithing
(15) Blacksmith: You are better at tempering and be able to improve enchanted weapons and armor.
(30) Basic Smithing: Can create Steel/Bonemold armor and weapons at forges.
(40) Dwarven Smithing: Can create Dwarven armor and weapons at forges.
(40) Rare Smithing: Can create Elven/Chitin armor and weapons at forges.
(60) Advanced Smithing: Can create Scaled/Plate/Nordic armor and weapons at forges.
(60) Orcish Smithing: Can create Orcish armor and weapons at forges.
(80) Mythic Smithing: Can create Ebony/Stalhrim armor and weapons at forges.
(80) Radiant Smithing: Can create Glass armor and weapons at forges.
(100) Daedric Smithing: Can create Daedric armor and weapons at forges.
(100) Dragon Smithing: Can create Dragon armor and Dragonbone weapons at forges.
Note:
Yout don't need prerequisite perk to pick a perk as long as you reach the required skill level.
"Smithing" perks only allow you to craft corresponding items but no benefit to tempering scaling.
Tempering strength is scaled with your smithing skill level.
With the "Blacksmith" perk, you can temper items to legendary quality at Smithing level 100, compared to flawless quality without the perk.
The fortify smithing enchantment and potion power creep problem will be handled in the coming mage and rogue overhaul.
Requirement
Comprehensive Attack Speed Patch - SKSE - for the attack speed perks to stack properly.
Scrambled Bugs - fixed a lot of stuff.
Experience, Skyrim Skill Uncapper and Static Skill Leveling Rewritten - Optional but highly recommended. Remember to download the Uncapper Preset in optional files. This changes the level up stats from 10 to 5 for Stamina and Magicka, Health remains 10, which is a more balanced approach.
Recommendation
Weapon Armor Attribute Tweaks - Iron Path's damage scaling perks are balanced around this mod. (Especially the critical damage changes. ) However it is not necessarily required since the damage difference is not that big.
True Directional Movement, Precision - Ersh's mods are must-have. These mods are essential for enjoyable combat. Iron Path get rid of the "sweep" perk in favor of Precision' default function.
Attack - MCO - Iron Path is designed with MCO in mind. In the installer, choose the normal version which allows perks to affect attack speed. Currently I use Nordic Animation movesets for my Skyrim playthrough.
One Click Power Attack - the best power attack trigger mod IMO.
Dodge mod - Iron Path is designed with dodge mod in mind. Both TK Dodge RE or DMCO are viable. Currently I use this dodge animation for my Skyrim playthrough.
Recoil Redefined - the best recoil mod IMO.
Eivor Animations - super cool animations. the mco sprint attacks especially fill the gap of MCO movesets.
VioLens - to disable the kill cam.
No Disarm (Unequip Instead)
zxlice's ultimate potion animation and Smart Optimal Salves
Skyrim Character Sheet
No more Radial Blur, 3rd Person Camera Stagger Remover, Giant Footstep Camera Shake Remover
Stagger Direction Fix, Combat Pathing Revolution, SCAR - Skyrim Combos AI Revolution, Simple Block Sparks
No Saving in Combat
Attacks Interrupt Bows
Compatibility
Not compatible with other perk mod, race mods.
Combat mods (Blade and Blunt, Wildcat, etc. ) may technically be compatible but it may cause imbalance or weird interaction since Iron Path is designed as a standalone overhaul.
Compatible and seamlessly support with mods that add different weapon types, such as Animated Armory, Spear of Skyrim, etc.
You may use with other action combat mod like Valhalla Combat, Elden Parry, Elden Counter, Shield Of Stamina, zxlice BackStab and Parry. But keep in mid that you may become way OP with all those abilities. Honestly those abilities should be unlocked by perks IMO.
Iron Path doesn't touch combat style. I found that vanilla combat style is actually quite good and challenging in this setup. But you can always use something like use Modern Combat AI or Realistic Combat AI.
I actually planned on making an Iron Path preset for Fenix Stamina Overhaul because it is such an awesome mod with smooth implementation.
Next
Future Plans
FAQ
Q: Why do you group all the features (perk, combat, race) into one mod instead of making them standalone?
A: Because those things are interrelated in my mod. Playing without one just doesn't feel right.
Q: Why do mace/warhammer inflict bleed damage? And why can bleed damage apply to undead?
A: Well internal bleeding is a thing. And undead is not unbleeded.
Q: Any more question?
A: Not yet.
Credits
SimonRim - I took a lot of reference, inspiration and learning from SimonRim. Their ideas and implementation is really good. Also i stole a lot of the perk names.
EnaiRim - I took a lot of reference, inspiration and learning from EnaiRim. Also i stole a lot of the perk names.
So this is my attempt to overhaul Skyrim into a more action-focus RPG.
Iron Path is the first installment of my overhaul project which mainly focus on melee combat aspect.
Design Goal
- Make Skyrim into a more action-focus RPG.
- Designed with action mods like MCO and dodge mod in mind.
- Enable different fighting style.
Fundamental Changes
- Humanoid NPC including player cannot regenerate health in combat, You can only use potion or healing spell to restore health in combat.
- Player cannot regenerate magicka in combat, you can only use potion to restore magicka in combat. Also magicka regenerate slower when out of combat.
- Stamina regenerate faster equally in combat or out of combat. Stamina consumption tweaked and other restriction added. (e.g. stamina stop regenerate when attacking, blocking, casting. )
- Player leveling up grant 6 points of attribute (Health/Magicka/Stamina) instead of 10 in vanilla to make your choice more meaningful, especially with all the stat scaling perks in Iron Path. Highly recommended to use the Uncapper Setting in optional files and its related mods which provide a much more balanced progression experience.
- Movement speed of various action tweaked for more fluid combat and movement.
- Max. armor rating capped at 70% instead of vanilla 80%.
- Enemy gain 15 point of health per level instead of 5.
Difficulty setting changes:
- Novice: 1.5x damage dealt / 0.5x damage received
- Apprentice: 1.0x damage dealt / 1.0x damage received
- Adept: 1.0x damage dealt / 1.5x damage received
- Expert: 1.0x damage dealt / 2.0x damage received
- Master: 1.0x damage dealt / 2.5x damage received
- Legendary: 1.0x damage dealt / 3.0x damage received
Racial Ability
Many of the one/day power are changed to lesser power which can be used multiple time, but are restricted by magicka cost.
Argonian
Passive unchanged.
(Active power) Histskin (20 magicka): Invoke the power of the Hist to regenerate health faster for 20 seconds when out of combat.
Breton
Passive unchanged.
(Active power) Dragonskin (20 magicka): Absorb 100% of the magicka from hostile spells for 2 seconds.
Dark Elf
Passive unchanged.
(Active power) Ancestor's Wrath (50 magicka): For 30 seconds, opponents around you take <5> points per second of fire damage. Damage increase by 50% every 10 levels. (Capped at level 100.)
High Elf
High Elves are born with 30 extra magicka.
(Active power) Highborn (20 magicka): Highborn blood let you regenerate magicka faster for 20 seconds when out of combat.
Imperial
Passive unchanged.
(Active power) Voice of the Emperor (50 magicka): Calms nearby people for 5 seconds.
Khajiit
Khajiit claws do 15 points of damage.
Khajiit feets make 50% less noise when moving.
(Active power) Night Eye (0 magicka): Improved night vision for 120 seconds. Recast to deactivate.
Nord
Passive unchanged.
(Active power) Battle Cry (50 magicka): Targets flee for 1 seconds and deal 15% more damage for 15 seconds.
Orc
(Active power) Berserker Rage (50 magicka): You take 25% less damage and deal 25% more damage for 25 seconds. (Reduce both physical and spell incoming damage. )
Redguard
Passive unchanged.
(Active power) Adrenaline Rush (50 magicka): Stamina regenerate faster for 30 seconds and can regenerate stamina during attacks and other actions.
Wood Elf
Wood Elf moves 15% faster.
(Active power) Command Animal (50 magicka): Make an animal an ally for 20 seconds.
Perks and Skills
One-handed
(15/30) Armsman: One-handed attacks deal 25/50% more damage and one-handed weapons added 3 points of bonus damage.
(20) Fighting Stance: One-handed power attacks cost 25% less stamina.
(40) Valorous Charge: Can do a one-handed sprinting power attack which deal 20% more damage to targets at full health.
(60) Warrior's Stance: One-handed attacks do 0.2% more damage per point of stamina. Unlocks decapitations.
(30/70) Dual Flurry: Dual wielding attacks are 15/30% faster.
(50/90) Dual Savagery: Dual wielding attacks deal 15/30% more damage.
(30/70) Skirmisher: One-handed attacks are 15/30% faster when left hand has no shield, weapon or staff equipped.
(50/90) Overrun: One-handed attacks cost 20/40% less stamina when left hand has no shield, weapon or staff equipped.
(30/50/70) Path: Bleed Damage: {YOU CAN ONLY CHOOSE ONE PATH} One-handed attacks deal additional 4/6/8 bleed damage over 4 second, plus extra attack damage equal to 2/4/6% of stamina.
(50/70/90) Hack and Slash: One-handed attacks deal 20/40/60% more damage to bleeding targets.
(80) Onslaught: One-handed normal attacks are 15% faster.
(100) Grievous Wounds: One-handed power attacks deal additional 4 bleed damage over 8 second, plus extra damage equal to 10% of stamina.
(30/50/70) Path: Critical Strike: {YOU CAN ONLY CHOOSE ONE PATH} One-handed attacks have a 30/50/70% chance to critical hit and deal 1% more critical damage per point of stamina.
(50/70/90) Precision Strike: One-handed attacks deal 100/150/200% more critical damage.
(80) Ruthless Strike: One-handed attacks deal additional 100% more critical damage to targets below half health.
(100) Savage Strike: One-handed power attacks deal additional 1% more critical damage per point of stamina.
(30/50/70) Path: Power Attack: {YOU CAN ONLY CHOOSE ONE PATH} One-handed power attacks deal 0.4/0.5/0.6% more damage per point of stamina.
(50/70/90) Bone Breaker: One-handed power attacks deal 20/40/60% more damage. Additional 10/20/30% more to staggered targets.
(80) Disciplined Fighter: One-handed power attacks cost 25% less stamina.
(100): Armor Breaker: One-handed power attacks ignore 100% of armor and deal extra damage equal to 20% of your stamina.
Note:
Perks are applied to all one-handed weapon types. But you can only choose one damage type as your designated path.
Your damage is largely scaled with your stamina. So you need to invest in stamina to hit harder, trading survivability of investing health.
Bleed damage does not apply to dwarven construct and ghosts, but apply to undead.
Enable different fighting style: dual wielding, duelist (empty offhand), spellblade (spells in offhand), sword and shield (associated with Block skill)
Power attack and bleeding extra damage perks are nerfed for sneak attack so they don't do unnaturally high damage.
Two-handed
(15/30) Champion: Two-Handed attacks deal 15/30% more damage.
(20) Champion's Stance: Two-handed power attacks cost 20% less stamina.
(40) Vicious Charge: Can do a two-handed sprinting power attack which deal 20% more damage to targets at full health.
(60) Warmaster's Stance: Two-handed attacks deal 0.2% more damage per point of stamina. Unlocks decapitations.
(30/70) Barbarian: Two-handed attacks deal 15% more damage when you are below 70% health. (70) plus 15% more damage when below 50% health.
(50/90) Berserker: Two-handed attacks are 15% faster when you are below 70% health, (90) 30% faster when you are below 50% health.
(30/60/90) Path: Bleed Strike: {YOU CAN ONLY CHOOSE ONE PATH} Two-handed attacks deal additional 3/5/7 bleed damage over 4 second, plus extra attack damage equal to 1/3/5% of stamina.
(50/70/90) Limbsplitter: Two-handed attacks deal 15/30/45% more damage to bleeding targets.
(80) Rampage: Two-handed normal attacks are 15% faster.
(100) Mortal Wounds: Two-handed power attacks deal additional 3 bleed damage over 8 second, plus extra damage equal to 5% of stamina.
(30/60/90) Path: Critical Blow: {YOU CAN ONLY CHOOSE ONE PATH} Two-handed attacks have a 30/50/70% chance to critical hit and deal 0.5% more critical damage per point of stamina.
(50/70/90) Deep Wounds: Two-handed attacks deal 50/100/150% more critical damage.
(80) Killing Blow: Two-handed attacks deal additional 50% more critical damage to targets below half health.
(100) Devastating Blow: Two-handed power attacks deal additional 0.5% more critical damage per point of stamina.
(30/60/90) Path: Power Assault: {YOU CAN ONLY CHOOSE ONE PATH} Two-handed power attacks deal 0.2/0.3/0.4% more damage per point of stamina.
(50/70/90) Skullcrusher: Two-handed power attacks deal 15/30/45% more damage. Additional 8/15/22% more to staggered targets.
(80) Brutal Fighter: Two-handed power attacks cost 20% less stamina.
(100) Armor Crusher: Two-handed power attacks ignore 100% of armor and deal extra damage equal to 10% of your stamina.
Note:
Perks are applied to all two-handed weapon types. But you can only choose one damage type as your designated path.
Your damage is largely scaled with your stamina. So you need to invest in stamina to hit harder, trading survivability of investing health.
Bleed damage does not apply to dwarven construct and ghosts, but apply to undead.
Get rid of the "sweep" perk in favor of Precision' default function.
Enable barbarian/berserker fighting style where you hit harder as your health drops.
Power attack and bleeding extra damage perks are nerfed for sneak attack so they don't do unnaturally high damage.
Block
(15) Block and Bash: Blocking is 25% more effective. Able to do a power bash and deal more bash damage.
(30) Deflect Arrows: Arrows that hit the shield do almost no damage.
(50) Spell Protection: Blocking with a shield reduces incoming spell damage by 50%.
(80) Shield Wall: Cannot be staggered while blocking with a shield.
(100) Impenetrable: Blocking with a shield take no damage from melee attacks as long as you have more than half stamina.
(30) Sword and Shield: One-handed attacks deal 20% more damage when wielding a shield. Bashing with a shield deal [3% of stamina] times more damage.
(50) Block Runner: Able to move faster while blocking and one-handed attacks deal 20% more damage to staggered target when wielding a shield.
(70) Deadly Bash: Bashing with a shield deal 100% more damage to blocking or staggered targets.
(90) Shield Charge: Sprinting with a shield raised stagger most targets and deal 50 damage.
(30) Defensive Stance: Blocking with weapons is 25% more effective.
(60) Parrying Bash: Bashing with weapons during an enemy's power attack deal [5% of stamina] times more bash damage.
(90) Quick Reflexes: Time slows down if you are blocking with weapons during an enemy's power attack.
Note:
Blocking is by default stronger than vanilla without any perk (Shield: 0.45->0.7; Weapon: 0.3->0.5). So that it won't feel pointless at low level.
You can choose to advance using shield or weapon block, with shield user can advance in both defensive or offensive path.
Heavy Armor
(15/30) Sturdy Defender: Increases armor rating for heavy armor by 20/40%.
(30) Fists of Steel: Unarmed attacks with Heavy Armor gauntlets do their armor rating in extra damage.
(30) Well Fitted: Increases armor rating for heavy armor by 0.2% per point of health.
(60) Conditioning: Heavy armor weighs nothing and doesn't slow you down when worn.
(90) Perfect Fitted: Additional armor rating bonus for each heavy armor pieces equal to 10% of health.
(40) Juggernaut: Reduce incoming damage by 25% when wearing full heavy armor and having at least 10% stamina.
(60) Tower of Strength: 50% less stagger when wearing full heavy armor.
(80) Unstoppable: Reduce incoming damage by 50% while attacking when wearing full heavy armor.
(100) Unbreakable: Take almost no melee damage from opponents with less than half stamina when wearing full heavy armor.
Note:
Some perks can benefit even when wearing with light armor. So you can mix and match, or cosplay as the poster guy dragonborn.
Some perks require wearing full heavy armor (Helmet, Cuirass, Gauntlet, Boots)
Perks that reduce incoming damage include spell damage.
Light Armor
(15/30) Agile Defender: Increase armor rating for light armor by 20/40%.
(30) Unhindered: Light Armor weighs nothing and move 10% faster when worn.
(50) Acrobat: Take 90% less fall damage and stamina regenerates 50% faster if wearing light armor.
(70) Custom Fit: Increases armor rating for light armor by 0.3% per point of health.
(90) Wind Walker: Avoiding 90% of damage from attacks and spells when sprinting while wearing light armor.
(40) Endurance: You take 50% less damage when below half health and wearing only light armor.
(60) Second Wind: Stamina regenerates 50% faster when below half health and wearing only light armor.
(80) Adrenaline: You move 20% faster when below half health and wearing only light armor.
(100) All Out: When below 30% health and wearing only light armor, gain attack damage equal to 30% of armor rating but also lose 30% of armor.
Note:
Some perks can benefit even when wearing with heavy armor. So you can mix and match, or cosplay as the poster guy dragonborn.
Some perks require wearing no heavy armor pieces, but no need to wear full light armor pieces.
Perks to compliment the barbarian' s "high risk, high reward" fighting style.
Smithing
(15) Blacksmith: You are better at tempering and be able to improve enchanted weapons and armor.
(30) Basic Smithing: Can create Steel/Bonemold armor and weapons at forges.
(40) Dwarven Smithing: Can create Dwarven armor and weapons at forges.
(40) Rare Smithing: Can create Elven/Chitin armor and weapons at forges.
(60) Advanced Smithing: Can create Scaled/Plate/Nordic armor and weapons at forges.
(60) Orcish Smithing: Can create Orcish armor and weapons at forges.
(80) Mythic Smithing: Can create Ebony/Stalhrim armor and weapons at forges.
(80) Radiant Smithing: Can create Glass armor and weapons at forges.
(100) Daedric Smithing: Can create Daedric armor and weapons at forges.
(100) Dragon Smithing: Can create Dragon armor and Dragonbone weapons at forges.
Note:
Yout don't need prerequisite perk to pick a perk as long as you reach the required skill level.
"Smithing" perks only allow you to craft corresponding items but no benefit to tempering scaling.
Tempering strength is scaled with your smithing skill level.
With the "Blacksmith" perk, you can temper items to legendary quality at Smithing level 100, compared to flawless quality without the perk.
The fortify smithing enchantment and potion power creep problem will be handled in the coming mage and rogue overhaul.
Requirement
Comprehensive Attack Speed Patch - SKSE - for the attack speed perks to stack properly.
Scrambled Bugs - fixed a lot of stuff.
Experience, Skyrim Skill Uncapper and Static Skill Leveling Rewritten - Optional but highly recommended. Remember to download the Uncapper Preset in optional files. This changes the level up stats from 10 to 5 for Stamina and Magicka, Health remains 10, which is a more balanced approach.
Recommendation
Weapon Armor Attribute Tweaks - Iron Path's damage scaling perks are balanced around this mod. (Especially the critical damage changes. ) However it is not necessarily required since the damage difference is not that big.
True Directional Movement, Precision - Ersh's mods are must-have. These mods are essential for enjoyable combat. Iron Path get rid of the "sweep" perk in favor of Precision' default function.
Attack - MCO - Iron Path is designed with MCO in mind. In the installer, choose the normal version which allows perks to affect attack speed. Currently I use Nordic Animation movesets for my Skyrim playthrough.
One Click Power Attack - the best power attack trigger mod IMO.
Dodge mod - Iron Path is designed with dodge mod in mind. Both TK Dodge RE or DMCO are viable. Currently I use this dodge animation for my Skyrim playthrough.
Recoil Redefined - the best recoil mod IMO.
Eivor Animations - super cool animations. the mco sprint attacks especially fill the gap of MCO movesets.
VioLens - to disable the kill cam.
No Disarm (Unequip Instead)
zxlice's ultimate potion animation and Smart Optimal Salves
Skyrim Character Sheet
No more Radial Blur, 3rd Person Camera Stagger Remover, Giant Footstep Camera Shake Remover
Stagger Direction Fix, Combat Pathing Revolution, SCAR - Skyrim Combos AI Revolution, Simple Block Sparks
No Saving in Combat
Attacks Interrupt Bows
Compatibility
Not compatible with other perk mod, race mods.
Combat mods (Blade and Blunt, Wildcat, etc. ) may technically be compatible but it may cause imbalance or weird interaction since Iron Path is designed as a standalone overhaul.
Compatible and seamlessly support with mods that add different weapon types, such as Animated Armory, Spear of Skyrim, etc.
You may use with other action combat mod like Valhalla Combat, Elden Parry, Elden Counter, Shield Of Stamina, zxlice BackStab and Parry. But keep in mid that you may become way OP with all those abilities. Honestly those abilities should be unlocked by perks IMO.
Iron Path doesn't touch combat style. I found that vanilla combat style is actually quite good and challenging in this setup. But you can always use something like use Modern Combat AI or Realistic Combat AI.
I actually planned on making an Iron Path preset for Fenix Stamina Overhaul because it is such an awesome mod with smooth implementation.
Next
- Vanguard Path - Rogue Gameplay and Perk Overhaul (Released)
- Arcane Path - Mage Gameplay and Perk Overhaul
- Ancient Path - Standing Stone and Power Overhaul
- Dragon Path - Shout Overhaul
Future Plans
- Open World Stance - Weapon Skills Integration
Once more movesets are integrated into Open Animation Replacer, I want to make a mod to distribute the moveset skill books into the world as loot. So that you can activate the stance and use all the amazing movesets.
FAQ
Q: Why do you group all the features (perk, combat, race) into one mod instead of making them standalone?
A: Because those things are interrelated in my mod. Playing without one just doesn't feel right.
Q: Why do mace/warhammer inflict bleed damage? And why can bleed damage apply to undead?
A: Well internal bleeding is a thing. And undead is not unbleeded.
Q: Any more question?
A: Not yet.
Credits
SimonRim - I took a lot of reference, inspiration and learning from SimonRim. Their ideas and implementation is really good. Also i stole a lot of the perk names.
EnaiRim - I took a lot of reference, inspiration and learning from EnaiRim. Also i stole a lot of the perk names.