(If you read the topic title as I did, you get bonus points)

So, I have finished my LONG trek through Morrowind. It was an epic adventure, indeed. However, I crave more! Since the budget is tight, I was going to play a game I already owned, that being Skyrim (New Vegas WILL be mine one day!).

All that being said, this post is essentially a two-parter: Character and Mods

Notes:

This time I am taking a different approach to the game. Every other play-through with Skyrim, I've taken the default path: from the tutorial straight to Riverwood > Bleak Falls > Whiterun > etc. This time, I've decided to turn left...NOT go to Riverwood with Hadvar (I've got a save game right at the Guardian Stones for new starts), and head West.

Why? Ultimately, this time I'm doing the Imperial side of the Civil War. I've not done it before, and while I know it's essentially the same, that's fine with me. I planned on leveling a bit, so I was going to go through Falkreath, quest there, then do Markarth, etc, and up to Solitude to start the CW questline.

I am treating it much like I've done all of my most recent play-throughs with Fallout 3. All of the sidequests lead up to the main quest. I think I've got my path figured out for this run. On to the good stuff...

Character

I've got several in mind. Some I've sort of played before bug got bored with doing the same thing (quests and stuff) over and over.

1)

Race: Khajiit
Name: Dak'kon Cha'd'neige (get it?)
Class: Not sure what to call it, really
Specialized Skills:
- One Handed (+ dual wield, unarmed [with mod] actually)
- Destruction (ice magic)
- Restoration (to combat undead and enemy mages...I really want to try to get some use out of wards)
- Heavy armor (for Fists of Steel mostly)
- Stealth (perks to make up for Heavy armor, really)

Backstory:

A native of Elsweyr, Dak'kon was constantly mocked for his nearly all-white fur. He as abandoned by his parents at an early age and was taken in by a local mage. Even in the warm climate of the province, there was a chill in the air wherever he walked. He was found by the mage to have a strong talent for frost magic, the reason for which is uncertain. When he matured, Dak'kon felt the cold climates of Skyrim to the north calling and headed off to find his calling.

When crossing the boarder he was captured in a scuffle between the Stormcloaks and Imperial Legion. [Skyrim's opening sequence] Hadvar, having saved Dak'kon's life, suggested the young khajiit join the imperial army. Dak'kon felt a debt to Hadvar, and agreed to seek out the Legion in Solitude.

2)

Race: Orc
Name:Gromnir Il-Khan
Class: Shield Brawler
Specialized Skills:
- One handed (unarmed)
- Block (with custom shield)
- Heavy Armor
- Smithing (mainly up until Orcish to get orcish gauntlets/fists)
- ? (not sure what else to do here. Maybe Speechcraft for Intimidate?)

Backstory:

Gromnir was born and raised in Cyrodiil, as the result of an orc raid into an small imperial town. His mother died during childbirth and was brought under the tutelage of an Imperial officer. Once he came of fighting age, Gromner had showed a disdain for weapons, preferring unarmed combat in tandem with a sturdy tower shield and heavy armor. He showed remarkable skill in this area, able to best warriors outfitted with the Legions best equipment using brute strength, knowledge of Legion combat tactics, and sheer force of will.

Gromnir was assigned to an outpost in Skyrim the Legion forces battling the rebel Stormcloaks, and while traveling there alone, got caught in a skirmish between the two. Unable to prove his allegiance either way, he was carted off to Helgen. After the events at Helgen, Gromnir made it a point to head directly for Solitude. Unfamiliar wit the land, he knew not how long his journey would take...

3)

Race: Dunmer
Name: Arkan
Class: Fighter/Mage (I've used this character since the days of Baldur's Gate, hehe)
Specialized Skills:
- One handed (sword, and enchanted Orcish [looks best for what I'm going for] longsword named Flametongue)
- Block
- Destruction (fire spells)
- Illusion (for fear effects + Aspect of Terror)
- Enchanting (to improve Flametongue as he becomes more powerful)
- Conjuration (for Fire Atronachs and Flaming Familiars)

Backstory:

Said to have been born either when Red Mountain erupted or inside the depths of Red Mountain when it Erupted. Accounts are conflicting. Either way, Arkan has an innate grasp of the destructive power of fire, and an uncanny immunity to the element, even for a Dunmer. Most of Arkan's history is shrouded in mystery. With most of Morrowind already burned to a desolate waste, he decided to take his talents elswhere. Skyrim, a land of bitter harsh cold, seemed like it could used some warming up.

In his brief time in Skyrim, Arkan had experienced the prejudice of the Nords. Though he was accused of illegally crossing the border, he was simply traveling along it when he stumbled across Nords and Imperials in a "disagreement". How odd that when it was his turn at the chopping block, a fire-breathing dragon inadvertently saved Arkan's life. He thought nothing of it, other than the abusiveness he had received at the hands of the Nords in in short time in Skyrim.

4)

Race: Imperial or Breton
Name: ???
Class: Adventurer!
Specialized Skills:
- All of them. Whatever it takes to get the job done. Jack of all trades, if you will.

Backstory:

Nothing Specific. I was thinking about this character to get as varied gameplay as possible, and to legitimately do all three guilds. He's just supposed to be someone trying to find his way in the world and gets svcked into Adventure ™, at every turn. Suggestions Welcome.


Mods

I'm really looking for suggestions here. I'm probably going to go with Deadlier Dragons for when I do activate the dragons. Also: Slower leveling and realism enhancement mods, such as primary needs. For mods, I'm mainly looking for suggestions in these areas. Maybe some weapon variety mods as well?


Questions:

1. Does the main quest trigger automatically if you get far enough in the Civil War questline?

2. Dawnguard. Is it best to do it after the main quest or before finishing it? This give me time to get the funds to purchase the game while playing it.

3. Any other suggestions welcome. I'll add questions if I think of them.

1. no - at most you run into a word wall in a dungeon

2. i don't have dawnguard, but i don't think it matters if you have completed the MQ or not in doing its questline; DLCs generally add content for keeping the game fun and new after you've done everything


you should use that shield-brawling orc. i like every aspect of that character. hand to hand, shield bashing, he's an orc. sounds like the bomb