Basically we know that the rise in 'random dragon' spawns is triggered by reaching certain parts of the main quest. Todd told us already that those who didnt pursue this wouldnt 'get spammed by random dragons' weeks ago.

Random dragons matter because another piece of info we know is that they can wreck havoc on settlements and kill NPCs. This means its probably ideal to tackle the "key" point of the main quest where they become a thing only once you're ready to handle it... ideally, anyhow.

Thing is, nobody leaked yet what this point is exactly, and thats the purpose of this thread. Can we do the whole "Thane/Lydia" part without triggering the dragon spawns? If so, can we also do the whole "Elders atop the 7000 steps" part safely? Does the point of no return come after that?

Its worth knowing, because I'll definitely want to pause for awhile and do other stuff at the critical juncture. Thanks for sharing anything you know about this!

Think critically asking yourself what person would deliberately tell you such a detail of the MQ for a game not released yet?

I'm also worried, that the Dragons will kill lots of quest related persons.

Wouldn't the Radiant Story choose another character to be the quest givers after the original ones demise?

If they are need for quest they don't die when seriously harm they just go unconscious. Its what happen in oblivion also. The more you go into the MQ the more they show up they start to randomly show up after you help kill the dragon for the jarl. the farther you go them more then randomly show up. After you kill the first dragon they show up once in a great while. The farther in the MQ when you start learning more shouts and need more dragon souls they start to come out more also to stop you from the quest.

Oooh, I totally forgot about that.
Gotta love Radiant AI

I think the part when you kill the dragon outside of Whiterun.

This whole subforum is about people deliberately telling others details they shouldnt know about for a game not yet released.

I've shared information and have no qualms about asking for information. To hell with street dates. But if you don't have anything to contribute, that's fine. Have a nice day.


Thank you! That's what I wanted to know... and feared, to be honest! I want to have Lydia ASAP but I'm not too fond of random dragons that early. But if it is so, then it shall be so!

Appreciate the input.

I hope dragons are still around after MQ....will be [censored]e if they disappear

We've been told a small amount of dragons will remain afterwards, but much less than before.

No you kinda missed my point, if you've watched any Vids at least before today their are no vids of people reaching the point of Random Dragon attacks, to know -EXACTLY- what point Dragon attacks, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE GAME, RIGHT NOW. hence my statement prior.

Have a nice day.

Wrong. I saw two days ago someone reaching that point. SO I say again WRONG! And stop being a [censored] about it.

W/ all the leaks out... I'd say this statement is obsolete.

Err, no offense, but some people have finished the MQ. Your information is.. outdated.

Admittedly, even someone who finished the MQ may not have a strong glimpse of when dragons came in and left though. A bit like gates in Oblivion, unless you really went around and counted, it could be hard to name off-hand the triggers for when they open and close en masse.

Dragons will start appearing after you complete a certain quest for the Jarl of Whiterun.
It's very, very early on.

I am pretty sure it is after you kill the first dragon

Right, barely an hour in if you rush.

That was what I feared really. I was hoping you could get Thane/Lydia before the random dragons, but Ill cope.

My backup plan is to join the Companions before reporting in to Jarl, and advance the warrior quests a bit. That way Ill be stronger to cope with the dragon infestation, and even if I dont have Lydia, I'll be able to bring a Companion along in the meantime to explore.

gonna drop it, just

I think this guys right, in all the streams I have seen, no one seems to see a dragon till after they have killed this one outside Whiterun, that being said, most of the streams I have watched have all gone straight from Riverwood to Whiterun, so its possible that could be wrong, I mean not everyone will go to Whiterun right away, so they cant have it work like that. Maybe they are just random from the start, or only become random after you have reached level 5 or something, that way the game knows you have gotten a little experience and a few perks under your belt

Devs told us that we wouldnt get random dragons if we dont pursue the main quest, so.... I think the dragon kill is the earliest point where we can meet more.

ye this

and i was thinking last night that maybe when u have words from word walls building up, u are more likely to see 1

coz if its completely random then u may not be able to use the words for a long time

not sure but we shall see!

Ah well there you go, then yes I would definitely its after you fight the one outside Whiterun

i have seen a random dragon appear, right after the training @ the greybeards
so i think that's the Trigger for random spawns

isnt there like, only 5random dragon spawn points after that quest, and more and more every quest?

Nah, have seen dragons spawn before that. Like people have said, the dragon outside Whiterun seems to be the case