Avoid main quest line? : V

» Mon May 14, 2012 6:30 am

I want to know how easy it will be to avoid the main (Dragonborn) quest line altogether. If I want to play a thief character, I will probably be no good at slaying dragons.

In Oblivion you could skip the main quest line, but I kind of felt bad denying the emperor's dying request.

So, has anyone read or heard anything about this? Thanks.

» Mon May 14, 2012 5:49 am

I doubt they will force you to do the main quest, they didn't in Oblivion which had positive reaction, no sense in forcing it down people's throats. My belief though, is that regardless of whether you do the main quest line or not, dragons will always be present in the game, so you will have to kill them or run away (if that's possible?)

» Sun May 13, 2012 9:25 pm

MW - don't find the agent in Balmora.
OB - Don't deliver the amulet (or visit Kvatch).

Skyrim - ???

I do hope there is a way. I would love to just play for a long time in Skyrim without worrying about it. I mean I played MW for over 2 years before looking for the puzzle box.

» Mon May 14, 2012 6:30 am

I doubt they will force you to do the main quest, they didn't in Oblivion which had positive reaction, no sense in forcing it down people's throats. My belief though, is that regardless of whether you do the main quest line or not, dragons will always be present in the game, so you will have to kill them or run away (if that's possible?)

I thought you had to get past a certain point in the MQ for dragons to start flying around freely? Or that's at least what I heard.

» Mon May 14, 2012 8:04 am

It's not in the way of thinking of Bethesda to force anything on the player. You can always ignore whatever quests you come across, even the main quest. They like to let us free of our choices and that's one of the greatest thing about this series.

I thought you had to get past a certain point in the MQ for dragons to start flying around freely? Or that's at least what I heard.

Kind of like the Oblivion Gates? That would be more likely.

» Sun May 13, 2012 8:43 pm

I thought you had to get past a certain point in the MQ for dragons to start flying around freely? Or that's at least what I heard.

I couldn't tell you specifically, but I'm fairly sure that they are in the game beginning to end (and even after you beat the MQ.) I hope so anyways, I don't want to have to do some of the MQ just to have the encounters with dragons, it would be annoying RP-wise starting your destiny as Dovahkiin and then partway through the quest just stopping and going to chop wood and train destruction.

» Mon May 14, 2012 3:38 am

With the previous Elder Scrolls games you had a choice whether to do the main quest or not first. I'm fairly confident it will be the same story with Skyrim.

» Mon May 14, 2012 1:37 am

I thought you had to get past a certain point in the MQ for dragons to start flying around freely? Or that's at least what I heard.

I heard that too.
Just wait and see, I guess?
You COULD run away, you know, if a Dragon did show up.
Or, just shoot the Dragon down to your level, and stab it alot with your daggers?!

» Sun May 13, 2012 9:36 pm

Yes, the only thing your forced to do is go with Hadvar or Hadof. Then you do the tutorial dungeon....then you can completely ignore it and do what you want.

» Mon May 14, 2012 2:58 am

Thanks for the replies, guys. Hopefully it won't feel totally contrived if you avoid the dragon quest line.

» Mon May 14, 2012 2:16 am

Would be quite silly though. I don't really care anyways.

» Sun May 13, 2012 8:39 pm

This is just a guess, but I'd say that the way to avoid spawning dragons (if it can be done) is to...

Spoiler

...avoid going to the Jarl of Whiterun, who officially gives you your first assignment to help kill a dragon, and stay out of the area south of Whiterun.

» Sun May 13, 2012 8:56 pm

I have always done the main quest last...I enjoy doing everything possible in the game first.

» Mon May 14, 2012 1:41 am

why would it be impossible to avoid the main quest?

» Mon May 14, 2012 3:51 am

Yes, which also means no dragons. So I will be doing that.

» Mon May 14, 2012 5:51 am

You're forced to do the start of it, although you really miss out if you skip it.

» Sun May 13, 2012 8:15 pm

I prefered Morrowind 's way where you slowly moved into even if you did start it. With Oblivion it felt irresponsible not to do it in a rush. I'd rather delay until I'm ready or skip it altogether with some characters. This feels like I can do that .

» Sun May 13, 2012 11:17 pm

I remember doing everything else in OB and reached 40 but then I watched everyone get their butt kicked in the MQ because of the crappy level scaling :facepalm:

» Mon May 14, 2012 10:04 am

I thought you had to get past a certain point in the MQ for dragons to start flying around freely? Or that's at least what I heard.

I read from OXM's hands on review that one of their writers fought a dragon, he hadn't done any of the main quest, so I'm pretty sure they'll be present from the beginning

» Mon May 14, 2012 2:53 am

I want to know how easy it will be to avoid the main (Dragonborn) quest line altogether. If I want to play a thief character, I will probably be no good at slaying dragons.

In Oblivion you could skip the main quest line, but I kind of felt bad denying the emperor's dying request.

So, has anyone read or heard anything about this? Thanks.

you could always change the game to easy went battling a dragon.

» Mon May 14, 2012 7:26 am

you could always change the game to easy went battling a dragon.

Okay...so the dragon would die alot faster, right? I bet lowering the diff makes leveling up a pain, though! :nope:

» Mon May 14, 2012 10:41 am

Okay...so the dragon would die alot faster, right? I bet lowering the diff makes leveling up a pain, though! :nope:

switch it back to normal after the battle.

» Mon May 14, 2012 10:31 am

From what I've seen once you're out of Helgen you're pretty much on your own. You're probably given a task or something by the stormcloak guy but you don't HAVE to do it.

» Mon May 14, 2012 12:47 am

Okay...so the dragon would die alot faster, right? I bet lowering the diff makes leveling up a pain, though! :nope:

switch it back to normal after the battle.

» Mon May 14, 2012 4:00 am

MW - don't find the agent in Balmora.
OB - Don't deliver the amulet (or visit Kvatch).

Skyrim - ???

I do hope there is a way. I would love to just play for a long time in Skyrim without worrying about it. I mean I played MW for over 2 years before looking for the puzzle box.

You mean it took you 2 years to find it?