I have generally sided with the people who think the vamp attacks are over-the-top in their ability to kill quest-giver/service-provider npc's. I have had to reload a number of times to save Adrianne, since she is usually the first to go.

Now that I have finished the Dawnguard MQ, however, I am not seeing any Vamp attacks and I miss them. Not only do I miss the Vamp attacks, I actually miss the threat they pose to the citizenry. I want to be a hero that saves the day!

So I see both sides of the argument. Nevertheless, I think there is a middle ground that can satisfy both sides: let the player decide if an NPC is essential or not.

My suggestion would be that all service-provider/quest-related NPC's be marked as essential initially. The player would then have the option to mark them as non-essential through the selection of a dialogue option. The option might be something like "Are you worried those vampires might strike here next?" By selecting this option, the player would change the NPC's status from essential to non-essential. With this option, those that want their NPC's to stick around would be satisfied, while those that want the ambiance provided by the danger of vamp attacks could also have their game operate the way they want.

I say give the player the choice.

I still get them... ? Beat it on Dawnguard side.

NO i dont miss them one bit. I think does attack are the only things that can make me rage quit skyrim

I lost Belethor and Amren during a vampire attack by the front gates of Whiterun. I had left Jorrvasker (sp?) and was walking to Breezehome when I saw the ruckus. I used Ice Form to stop the Master Vampire in his tracks then hack him to death, but the thralls were too strong for the other 2. The guards that patrol that area were already dead and it was just those two fighting for the safety of the other townsfolk. It was a brave sacrifice.

What happened next was caused entirely by that attack. I looted the bodies, of course, and took the key to Belethor's store. The next day, I happened by the store and thought, "Sure, why the hell not, I've got a key." Belethor's assistant was outside chopping wood, so I unlocked the back door and helped myself to what I could find. Sometime later, I was attacked by some Hired Thugs in Whiterun. Guess who sent them? Uh huh, it was the assistant. So I went looking for him. I opened the door to The Bannered Mare and guess who was just on his way out? He even had the nerve to be all cheerful to me after just sending some goons to kill me. He never finished his sentence. The inn went ape[censored], of course, but I just stepped outside and surrendered to a guard. I told the guard who I was and it was dropped.

I hope Bethesda never patches out the vampire attacks. The randomness they add is awesome and something that Skyrim could use more of.

Huh weird, belethor is considered essential in my game he always goes down on one knee and is still attacked never dies though.

Since I have done a bunch of sidequests for the residents of each hold, they no longer become immortal. This is a big problem for me because the only people left in Whiterun, are the people in the palace, the npcs that never leave the bar, belethor, the graymanes, two of the battle borns, Ysolda, the diviner lady, the alchemist. That is it minus the children, I also could be missing a few though. It is to late though what are the going to have a update that brings everyone back to life, how will they explain that in the game.

lol An undead Belethor manning his store would be hilarious. He just moans as a greeting when you come in.