Skyrim the "How Do I?" Mini Walkthrough

Sometimes the apparently simple things are the hardest, and seeing as it took me over 7 hrs to find a wood axe to chop wood with, the following I hope will be of some use to you.

How Do I Join the Dark Brotherhood?

The Dark Brotherhood are the most secretive of all the factions in Skyrim and  not the nicest company you could keep, but if your a cold blooded killer of innocents, you'll feel right at home in their company. Being so secretive means they can be a little tricky to find.

1. Leads and Rumours

• Try talking to bartenders in Windhelm.
• Idesa Sadri in Candalhearth Hall in Windhelm. Ask them about cursed children.
• Maul in Riften (near City Entrance) will share information on the Dark Brotherhood and the Thieves Guild for a price.
• The children at the Honorhall Orphanage will also tell you about Aventus Aretino.
• With a rare bit of luck a Windhelm town guard may mention that the Arentino boy is trying to summon the Dark Brotherhood, which will trigger a miscellaneous memo on your to do list.

So if you haven't guessed by now Aventus Aretino, located in the Aretino Residence in Windhelm, is the key to joining the Dark Brotherhood.

2. Speak to Aventus Aretino and take the quest “Innocence Lost.” Nothing happens. Yet.
3. A wee while after completing "Innnocence Lost", a courier will deliver note to you.
4. A good nights sleep and you’ll be contacted by the Dark Brotherhood.
6.Talk to the stranger at your bedside, and you’re in.

NOTE: You may wish to consider at this stage whether you would like to rid Skyrim of this organistion of Psychopaths.  Attacking the Dark Brotherhood representative, Astrid, will trigger the quest "Destroy the Dark Brotherhood" This is the one and only chance you will get to destroy them, after you join the Brotherhood Members cannot be killed.

Alf the Helper: Alternatively you could just wander around chopping random npcs to death, with merciless and bloodthirsty abandon. :)
Elderly: ? Alf, please, take you medication, then go and lie down, I can handle this.
Alf the Helper: But.. I haven't mentioned the hacking and the dismemb....
Elderly: ALF! Bed now!!
Alf the Helper: :(  (sniff) I was only trying to help

How do I buy a house in Skryim?
Gold:  Location:  Buy from:
5000   Whiterun:   Proventus Avenicci, the Jarl’s Steward. Must complete  “Bleak Falls Barrow.”
8000   Riften:        The Steward of Riften.
8000   Markarth:   The Steward of Markarth
12000 Windhelm: The Steward of Windhelm after completing quests for the Stormcloak Faction
25000 Solitude:     The Steward of Solitude, only after completing a quest for the Jarl of Solitude

How do i get married in Skyrim?
Why would you?.... okay ..if you must...here we go...
1. Head to the Temple of Mara in Riften
2. Talk to the priest named Maramal, whose either in the temple or on walkabout around town.
3. Talk to Maramal about Mara and weddings, and he'll ask you if you know how marriage works. After an explanation, you'll get the chance to buy an Amulet of Mara for 200 Gold.
4. Wearing this amulet is how you let the whole world know you'd like to settle down.   There are loads of potential spouses in Skyrim, as in real life, some of them require you jump through hoops before they'll marry you.
5. Once Married, you can talk to your spouse and decide where you'd like to  live. Pick a house you own, or to tick off your inlaws live in your spouse's home. Don't worry the decision isn't permanent and you can move homes later if you choose.

How do I get to High Hrothgar?
There are two legs to your Journey, Whiterun to Ivarstead and Invarstead to High Hrothgar

Whiterun to Ivarstead: After defeating the first dragon, you must get from Whiterun to Ivarstead. A long eventful journey, lined with wolves and bandits and ... well you'll see.  In Whiterun, turn east and head down the path following the signs all the way to Ivarstead.

Ivarstead to High Hrothgar: The route starts along a path on the eastern side of Ivarstead. Follow the snow covered steps up the mountain from Ivarstead and continue all the way to High Hrothgar. Along the way a few ice wolfs and a rather nasty Frost Troll has other plans for you.  Meet and dispatch said troll ( easier with Lydia by your side) and the path is now clear to High Hrothgar.

Alf the Helper: Hack em, chop chop.... :D
Elderly: Alf!!!
Alf the Helper: I'm going, I'm going.. jeees

See also Skyrim Vampire Cure

Skyrim Vampire Cure

Disease to some, to others a way of life, in the never ending story that is Skyrim.

People keep saying I look sick!
Thankfully Bethesda inform you when you've contracted Sanguinare Vampiris, however if you've missed it then off to the "Magic" menu with you (press b, then left on your controller), once there select the last option "Active Effects" and see what ails you. You may not have contracted vampirism just yet.

Oh no!! I'm a vampire!!!
Don't panic, you've got 72 hours (game time) to find a cure before you reach Stage 1

Stage!! whadda mean stage?
There are four stage of vampirism, each bringing with it a gradual change in your demeanour. 
Gradual aversion to sunlight, health, magicka and stamina are reduced and do not recover,
A gradual weakness to fire,
A increasing benefit from "feeding" on npcs
Increased ability to reanimate dead bodies to fight for you.

But I digress, full details on the stages and the benefits of being a vampire from the definitive Skyrim Wiki. 

So a cure already!!
Within the first 72 hours, you can get rid of the disease with any common disease-curing potion, or by visiting an altar in a  church or altar in front of a Statue of the Eight (ie. Talos in Whiterun).

Once you’re a Stage 1 vampire, normal disease cures won't work

Stage 1, Too late!, my mother's going to kill me!
Speak with any Inn Keeper or Bartender about rumors. You'll discover that a man called Falion in Morthal (east of Fort Snowhawk) is studying vampires!!

If you haven't got one, Falion will sell you a Black Soul gem, and a soul trap book (read to activate).

Before being cured, you’ll need to fill the Black Soul Gem

Fill a Black Soul Gem!? how the ...?
Cast a Soul Trap spell on a bandit, or npc, then ..erm...kill them!!

A soultrap Spell?..... don't got one!
How to use and where to get a Soul trap spell from the aforementioned wiki

I got it!!! :) back to Falion?
Yup, speak to Falion to complete the ritual and voila, cured!!!.

Talk to Falion? When he's attacking me?
If your at stage 3 or stage 4 there's a good chance Falion will attack you!! bug fix on the way I hope.  One work around from the forums is to feed on someone before you go.. if you feed, you'll drop back to Stage 1

To hell with this nothing works!
...and for some of you this is unfortunately true, there is an instant cure but that means turning into a werewolf...and that's a whole other story.

Deus Ex Human Revolution Walkthrough links

The prequel to one of the greatest games ever...wait let me think about that.  Anyway if your here you already know much of what there is to know about this critically acclaimed release.  But like myself, stealth and guile and ern ...honed gun skills are sometimes not enough.  So I've done the trawling for you and below me, are the bestest links to the ultimate guides...no sorry they are in fact ordinary links, but they are pointing at to THE ultimate guides, walkthroughs, cheats and faqs for this masterpiece. Now if you'll excuse me I have a google+ assault course to attend. Thank you!

Deus Ex walkthrough from Absolute Steve
Deus Ex Guide from  Gamespot
The Deus Ex HR Wiki
Deus Ex Human Revolution Wiki form IGN
Video walkthrough from Video Game Blogger
Deus Ex strategy guide from 1up
Boss video guide on g4tv
Location of Praxis Kits from g4tv
Deus Ex Achievements list from gamrreview
Adam Jensen Wallpaper from Justwalls
Adam Jensen Forum Avatars from yours truly

Alf the helper: Bye mr.elderly (whispers..) the leprechauns gone missing :(

Mass Effect 2 Walkthrough Guides

March 2012 and the release of Mass effect 3 is a long way away I admit.   But having spent some blissful hours replaying my favourite femshep through the reduced priced dlc on xbox live, a peek was in order to see what I might have missed had I pressed that paragon button a little more often.

Download Content
If your as baffled as me by the rating system for download content on xbox live, a brief review of the  metacritc scores for each downloadable episode.

Lair of the Shadow Broker 87%
Overlord 86%
Kasumi 71%
Arrival 65%
Pinnacle Station 48%

So without further ado, for all two of you reading this
Mass Effect Walkthrough the best
DLC and main game guides, from Gamefaq
Photo guide, loyalty quest and assignments 1up 
Character import guide, Insanity tips gamebomb
Wiki for character bios, weapon stats, and everything else

Alf the helper: I've been through these and not one of them tells me what's with the toilet flushing?
Elderly: Wait you spent the last 2 hours looking for information on the toilet flusing
Alf the helper: erm... yep!
Elderly: Alf Alf Alf... :(
Alf the helper: Well it's important, people need to know, I mean why build a separate room...and then  there's the trash compactor I mean they must ..... mr.Elderly...?....mr Elderly? wher'd he go?

Best Walkthroughs El Shaddai Ascension of the Metatron

Dodged all the popups, ducked all the malware, to bring the following delectable selection of Guides and Walkthrough Videos for all 11 chapters plus prologue, .... just in case your stuck

Complete the game on Easy or Normal to unlock the following:
Hard Mode
Extra Mode
Gallery Mode
Gauge Display
Costume Select

Costumes
Dark Enoch:  Achieve an 'A' or higher on Chapter 08.
Old Armor A:  Complete the game on Easy or Normal.
Old Armor B:  Complete the game on Easy or Normal.
Rider:   Achieve an 'A' or higher on Chapter 06.
Special:  Collect the six Ishtar Bone Fragments.(no damage but also negates the score you get for fighting and collecting items through a stage).

Get all Ishtar bone fragments from Rastal66
El Shaddai Achievements_trophy list
IGN Walkthrough
Strategy and Walthrough from mycheats at 1up
Video guides from gameanyone.com

El Shaddai Ascension of the Metatron Wallpaper
El Shaddai Forum Avatars

Alf the Helper: So we're getting it then :)
Elderly: We'll see...

Catherine Walkthrough Xbox 360 Ps3

Still no official release date for Europe,  although the hut have it tagged for 9th December? even steadfast Eurogamer were forced to review an import copy.

Infuriating, vexing! shakes walking frame at Atlus execs...

But my enthusiasm for this weird, whacky and wonderful departure from the norm, albeit terrifying in it's difficulty (I'm reliably informed...) has not been diminshed.  So bemoaning my place of birth, I ventured into the realm of spoilers, tips, walkthroughs and cheats and discovered realms of building blocks, enigma coins, a hidden Rapunzel mode, the Stray Sheep bar, all too much to take.

Fortunately I saved the highlights of my ill advised ramblings to bring you the cream of the crop.  Hopefully by the time the game arrives, I'll have forgotten what I've read.

mycheats at 1up:  text and video walkthrough
Gamespot: Super Easy Mode and the Rapunzel unlock
Videogamesblogger: Video Walkthroughs
Gamefront Vid and text guide
Rapunzel Stages Guide
Catherine Reviews Summary

Walkthrough Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction

An Exclusive for Ps3, proving a tad more difficult than expected as the series returns to it's crazy platforming roots. The following guides and Faq's culled from the dross, including all Golden Bolts and Holo-plans locations.

Walkthrough from Gamefaq (incl SkillPoints/Weapon Faq)

IGN Walkthrough from Ice T. Gressa and Panterror Flames

1up Superguide Golden Boots and Holo-plans

Unlockables:

RYNO 4Ever
Play in challenge mode, upgrade RYNO IV fully, and purchase RNYO 4Ever from any weapons merchant for 50000000 bolts.
RYNO IV
Obtain each of the holo-plans
Challenge Mode
Beat The Game

Of Interest
HDD Glitch
Official Website
Screenshots
Reviews Summary (89%) Metacritic

Clickable inkies ps3 Walkthrough Ratchet Clank Tools of Destruction Walk through walkthru cheats hints tips secrets

Genji Days of the Blade Walkthrough (ps3)

Stunning graphics, awkward camera angles, relatively straightforward gameplay until you get to the really really frustrating bits.. in which case.... the following guides stand out.

Walkthrough from Misfit119 on Gamefaq
Mycheats.com mini guide
G4tv podcast..
Genji 2 Official Website
Genji Reviews

Clickable inkies Ps3 Genji days of the blade walkthrough walk through cheats hints tips faq website