Now that I have Dawnguard working on my PC, I started the Dawnguard Quest at level 10. Now at level 17 and in search of the Elder Scrolls I find myself at the [beginning of] the College of Winterhold with the “Discerning the Transmundane Quest” activated. That said I am nowhere near into the Main Quest line to be searching for Septimus Signus?!? Therefore, I am wondering how doing the Dawnguard quests is going to affect the rest of the game as I play along--jumping from one to the other? Any thoughts?

There is no conflict. After you go meet Parthurnax, if you already have the scroll you just tell him so and you skip right to the reading of the scroll at the time wound.

I guess you're right. Although, I am wishing that I started the Dawnguard quest a lot later, say around level 20--before entering the College of Winterhold. As it is even at that level when it comes to the last fight with Ancano, I have never been able to defeat him without using the console and "killall."

Kind of a cheap trick imo including a trek through blackreach to make the dlc seem longer.

Odd. I've never had an issue with him. My mage ended the College quest line at level 15 or so if memory serves correctly. Other characters haven't had issues defeating him either.

did you actually use the staff of magnus?...you use it on the eye first...then you drain ancano to death with it....

Maybe it is just my game play?!? Then again, there are times when the Staff of Magnus loses its charge--sometimes trying to breakdown the barrier outside. Still, I have played the game some much prior to Dawnguard that I tend to use the console just to speed things up so to speak. I only wish I could "Tab" though the dialogue that I have heard so many times. But, I suppose that is due to my insane impatience.

My tactics usually just involved using the staff on the eye, chasing an unprotected Ancano and wailing on him (or frying him with spells). Rinse and repeat when the eye "closes" up again. Never had an issue.

Like I said, maybe it is just me. What usually happens with Ancano I open up the console and "killall." The old man wizard still survives and the other Dude's show up and take the eye: The end. Now harm to the game. And, I can move on!

I suppose there's more than one way to skin an Ancano

Hey, it works! Incidentally, I do the very same thing when I player DAO, because i have played it so much. One positive thing about Dawnguard is that I like how it was integrated to the game--unlike any other DLC.