So you’ve just finished leveling up, bought all the cool new stuff, and started your ultra-competent Adventurer. Then you go fast travel and bam skyrim crash on fast travel !
The game crashes. But before you scream “bug,” consider the following: What if this entry point is actually a blessing in disguise? I’m not saying that it will happen every time, but it could be an opportunity for a much more exciting experience.
While many players start their adventures by heading to Skyrim’s expansive world map, there are often different locations in the game that they simply can’t get to on foot. In most cases, using the fast travel system lets you bypass these catch-22s and get to new destinations quickly. However, it might also be a way for the game to present you with a more challenging situation.
Let’s look at a few examples.
Example A: Broken House Blocks Your Path
This one is pretty straightforward. You walk into an old abandoned house and see treasure on the table in front of you. You’re so excited that you try to fast travel out, only to find that the door won’t let you leave—there’s either an invisible wall or something in your way.
This is a good time to make the transition to your overworld map. You’ll have to figure out the best way to get around the house, and you might even find some enemies in your path (if you’re playing at a higher level). This can be especially true if there are no other houses nearby.
Example B: You Fall Off of a Cliff
In most cases, this is an opportunity to gain some experience at a low level. If you’re above level 20 or so (depending on your class), you should be able to make it out of whatever situation you get into easily.
Your fast travel options are limited to the map—it’s possible that you can’t reach them via fast travel. But what if the fast travel option is actually not available? Isn’t it better to have an adventure while at a low level?
Example C: You Can’t Get Out of a Dungeon Cell
There are many dungeons in the game, and all of them have one feature in common: They’re huge. Theoretically, they’re meant to be explored, but many of them are so big that it’s difficult to carry enough food and drink to complete the adventure.
It can be especially frustrating to finish a quest in one of these dungeons and then find that you can’t get out because your fast travel options are limited or inaccessible. However, this can work in your favor.
If you start a dungeon journey at lower level (say, under level 15), you have the opportunity to build up an arsenal of weapons and armor before heading out on your next adventure. The lower-level dungeons are places where players can get the experience they need to face other challenges in the game.
Example D: You’re Trapped by an Unbeatable Enemy
This is actually a pretty rare occurrence, because the enemies in Skyrim are set at levels with which you should be able to match up fairly easily. However, it is possible that you’ll run into an enemy who leaves you no choice but to teleport away (assuming that’s possible).
If so, what’s the big deal? The gamer community has already come up with several strategies for taking down foes who are easily unbeatable at lower levels—for example, The Elder Scrolls Wiki recommends using an enemy’s weakness against them (e.g. using fire spells or arrows on a frost-based enemy). If you’re still not able to beat it, remember that you can always play against an artificially-intelligent computer.
Example E: You Can’t Get Through a Gate That Won’t Open
I’m pretty sure everyone has experienced this—you’re in the middle of a dungeon, and the only way out is through some gate. However, if you attempt to open the gate, there’s something (or someone) in your path.
This can be especially true if there is nothing to block your path out of the dungeon. However, if you approach the gate in this case, don’t be surprised to see a new icon appear—the “hold position” option.
I’d say that the most important thing here is for players to keep a level head. If you turn on your fast travel and then immediately find yourself trapped in some way, it’s no longer an option. Don’t panic; just take some time to explore the dungeon and complete whatever quests it has to offer before moving on to the next place.
