You are forced to not only join the Mage College, but almost complete the whole quest line for it. And I thought being forced to join certain factions for certain items or shouts was bad enough, but this takes the cake.

I thought I got the ninth and final mask without joining the college. I just put all the masks on the altar, slapped on the Wooden Mask, and boom.

EDIT: Eh, no one has corrected either of us yet so I don't know if I'm right or wrong on this.

Edit: Ignore this post, my bad :s

No, it doesn't. No Stone Unturned takes the cake. It requires questing for THREE factions.



One of the masks cannot be obtained without almost completing the CoW questline.

Don't forget having to beat the main quest as well. Though I think Konahriik is well worth it. As well as that Silver Dragon Priest staff.

Ahh. I figured I was wrong after seeing the other posts. Both the mask hunting and mages college were done a looong time ago. I'll blame it on that.

I loved collecting the dragon masks on my first playthrough, then I decided, none of them were good enough to be worth my time. I wish they didn't have those terrible hoods attached. If they were just the masks themselves, I think they would look a lot better. The attached neck-robes really ruin them for me.

Not everyone is a mage nor should they be forced to join a faction of mages, in order to get a item. Hopefully Bethesda doesen't do this for the next game.


Well they were mages/preists so the robes do make sense.

You don't really need to collect all the masks. It's optional - just another set of quests you can choose to do, or not do.

I actually don't find any of the masks useful. For me, the quests are not about getting something neat at the end, but the adventure itself.

Honestly.... this is one of those scenarios where I think having some of the stuff locked away behind a faction is okay (depending on how the faction is handled).

How were you able to get Morokei's Mask? Because in order to fight him you need access to the labyrinthian, which is only obtained through the college quest line.

True, but I admire them for giving something (IMO) worthwhile for trying to do it all. So many developers do nothing for devoted 100 percenters. Also, Dragon Priests are mages. I think it's fine having them tied into Mages Questline and Main quest. Just kind of a bummer. What I don't like, is how you can't get Keening until after you beat the Mages Guild questline.

It'd make sense if those items were more specific to the faction - which they aren't.

More specific how? In the case of Morokei, it's enchantment is only useful for mage characters. Its locale, Labyrinthian was alledgedly built by one of the (arguably) greatest mages to ever walk Tamriel (Shalidor).

Edit: In this specific case, it also makes sense that one would be tied to the main quest as well.

Karate Chop

I think more along the lines artifacts of that faction like Ysgamor's axe and shield.

The site Labyrinthian was built on was an extremely important settlement for the dragon cult as well.

I see what you're saying. Having it tied in with Mages guild is kinda silly. But understandable since Labrynthian and Bromjunaar are major locales in Dragon worship. I'm split.

That may be true, but its not a major location for mages. I wish we could go in and find both items, but have no idea how important the staff is.

Bromjunaar is not, but Labrynthian is. What they could have done was have Shalidor's Maze be an the location of it (after a revamping of it to make it more endgame-ish) and have Bromjunaar rewritten for a more Dragon Cultist theme.

i found 8 of the masks and sold a few and am having a hard time finding which vendor i sold them to and then i dont think i got the 9th mask i need wich was in alduins lair and cannot go back to get it so im screwed there anyways

I know I read months ago about someone here who managed to get Morokei by going into the dungeon from the exit door. I never tried it so I can't confirm it, though. I have been thinking of going after the masks at least once, but so far I haven't made a character who has both joined the College and completed the MQ.

No, I actually believe you.




I checked into this and yes there is way to get in there through the exit. I'll post screenshots of the jump sequence. I'd post a video but I don't really know how to go about making one.

Well, it is called "No Stone Unturned"...

Alrighty for those of you who want to get the mask out of Labyrinthian but do not want to start the College of Winterhold Questline, here's some screenshots/explaination on how to reach the exit which leads directly to the room where the Dragon Priest is contained.

http://zassyen.net/images/ScreenShot300.png

-When entering the area via Fast Travel the first place you want to go to is the exit of the area on the northern left side. You can't miss it because it'll have some stairs and an arch.
When you get to that, head for the ledge as seen in the screen shot and jump on it.

http://zassyen.net/images/ScreenShot301.png

From there jump to the next rock to your left.

http://zassyen.net/images/ScreenShot302.png

And from there jump to the rock in front of you.

http://zassyen.net/images/ScreenShot303.png

Now you want to jump up to the ledge on the same rock you are.

http://zassyen.net/images/ScreenShot304.png

Jump off that ledge and land on the rock below. You'll have to change your trajectory a bit to get to it. You're almost there.

http://zassyen.net/images/ScreenShot305.png

Next you're to jump to this platform.

http://zassyen.net/images/ScreenShot306.png

From that platform, you're to make a long jump to the platform to your left, you'll have to make adjustments to your trajectory on the way. And presto, all done.

Note: I do not know if the door to the exit is locked, like the entrance. I completed the CoW questline long time ago.