Same here...

I'm level 43, I dont patrol any towns or holds really, I just go on about my game like I usually do.

Now if they can get Heimskr as well, even better.

I haven't had too much of an issue with this, but if vampires are killing merchants, blacksmiths, and quest givers then yes there's a problem. What I think should happen is the npcs that aren't guards don't attack, and instead should run. The vampires should be made to focus on you and the guards, but not the npcs, since there is no way to get them back, and losing too many could break your gameplay.

This, people don't want to look from someone else's perspective. All we can do is let them learn the hard way.

I plan on fast travelling Whiterun a lot, and luring vamps to Heimskr and Nazeem.

Learn the "hard way"? After playing Dawnguard for over three weeks now and pushing close to 150 hours in it?

I still don't have those issues.

So, when's the "hard way" going to kick in?

Sooner or later it will happen to you. It's a part of the DLC no way around it. Eventually only essentials and guards will exist.

I'm not going to say your lying, but its obvious that it is happening to enough people for it to be a major issue. Congrats if it hasn't happened to you, but sitting here saying no one should care or that it isn't a big deal isn't helping anyone not even you. What's it accomplishing by saying that you're the lucky one? While other people have ghost towns.

Even if a few die, people die it happens deal with it. It's not really game breaking as if they are in a quest they are essential

Some of us like fighting Vamp raid parties and removing it would lessen our enjoyment

It's part of the randomization. I've mentioned this many, many times.

What else would you like me to say?

I'm not asking to remove it. Maybe just tweak it? Or make it where it's like random quest where you get a notice saying that a vampire raid is planned on so and so at whiterun so you can prepare.?

Yea not game breaking as long as you have no use for merchants and blacksmiths..

Then it wuldnt be random and that would lessen the enjoyment

This. I dont see how anyone can argue against this, but I'm sure they'll find a way

I wouldn't be against it if they made all merchants and blacksmith and people like that run from the attacks, but I like the attacks and I don't like having everyone be essential

Actually this is a pretty good idea and I would like it if the did this, but I don't think that it is as bad as everyone is making it out to be.

I'm not against random vamp attacks like Ive said. I just wish they wouldnt kill blacksmiths and merchants. I want to make a new character but won't start dawnguard now till I have lvl 100 smithing.

About 30 seconds after starting Dawngaurd, or at least, that's when it started for me.

Someone said in an earlier post about training the npcs to protect themselves. I think that would be a good idea. In FallOut 3 (spoilers if you haven't played that game)

there is a mission where you save Big Town and help train the npcs living there to stave off the super mutants. It was a pretty cool quest. You teach them how to fight and give them weapons etc.

I would enjoy doing something along that line if it could be implemented.

I like this idea. Like maybe become captain of the guards and train them with crossbows and vampire killing spells.

I already reverse pickpokceted Crossbows, bolts, and DG weapons on to all the guards in riften...took a couple of reloads but i did it...no vamps since though

Do you have to keep replenishing their bolts??

Nope.

Like any other Guard, they have infinite ammo.

I do not know if this fits in here or not, but I will say that I will NEVER stop playing Dawnguard. People said, Bethesda, we want it to be less "hands-on." Betherds made it less hands-on in some places and people freaked out. People said Bethesda, we would like more random attacks. Now everyone is going nuts.

I am on my 7th time through. First time was at level 43 and played the dawnguard side. I never played the vampire side, sorry vampire lovers, and I do not intend to. Again with another character at level 20, again with another at level 32, etc. Each time was different because of my level. The higher level I was, the harder it was even at apprentice. The world encounters, vampire attacks, were also different. The lower the level, the less harder they were and they were fewer in number. When starting a new character, the "attakcs" did not even start until level 10 because that is the level that triggers the dlc.

Everybody plays different. There are no 2 styles the same. The world encounters were different, even if I died and had to continue from an eairler save. Everybodies experience is different. Each one of my own characters experience was different.

Until you actually play Dawnguard, you do not know what is going to happen in your given situation or playstyle.

But I will tell you this. I simply loved almost everything about it. I did not like the bug/glitches/quirks that all of us testers experienced. Some more than others. But Dawnguard to me is a great addition to Skyrim and worth every penny. As they say. Do not judge a book by it cover. In this case, play it for yourself, not for your friend, neighbor, etc. But yourself. See for yourself. Then judge. It is kind of hard to judge something you only read about and never experienced.