After finishing the Walking Dead-Episode 2: Starving For Help, which is an excellent continuation of the Walking Dead episodic title that offers some really choices and finally brings emotion into a zombie game (I cannot recommend this title enough), I decided to purchase the Dawnguard DLC for Skyrim on my Xbox 360. I have played around an hour or two of the vampire quest line and, frankly, find vampires to be wholly dissappointing. Their benefits are far out-weighed by their weakness in sunlight and perpetual darkness, which I have yet to achieve but know happens at the end of this faction's line of quests, does not seem realistic nor matching of any of my character's motives - regardless of whether they are evil or not. So, as is the way of someone like me who suffers with "restartitis", I am looking to start again and this time play as a Dawnguard member (their benefits seem much greater). Consequently, I've thought about building a proper "vampire hunter" character build. I'm looking for some suggestions as to what my primary and secondary perk trees should be, plus my race, order of quests, and also my back story for role-playing purposes.

EDIT: Also, is it possible to begin and complete the Dawnguard quests at a low level starting immediately from escaping from Helgen?

Watch the movie; Bram stoker Dracula and make a character based of Abraham Van Helsing, a true vampire hunter, he actually existed.
anyway, since its dawnguard it has to be
* archery
* one handed also works as a secondary weapon
* perhaps restoration? the good magic...
* armour choice is a little up to you, i'd go for light armour
* perhaps alchemy, real vampire hunters were known for being doctors
yes, but you might have a hard time based on your prefered difficulty level

RE: MarkusLiberty

Naturally, I was thinking of archery for the crossbows. Although, how common are the bolts exactly as I haven't spotted any in the shops? I was then thinking of two-handed weaponry instead along with some restoration and heavy armour. But, I am unsure to be honest. Also, what race do you recommend?

I'd recommend an Imperial or a Nord, but you'll find any non-beast race in Fort Dawnguard.

Since you'll be a low level character you'll want to hone in on some select skills. Archery is good as the crossbows are killing machines, and one-handed will allow you to use some of the special shields, a torch, or one of the new restoration spells in your free hand. Either heavy or light armor will work as the Dawnguard provides sets for both, though I do like the closed heavy helm.

Really, anything else will do, just note that the Dawnguard benefits warriors more than it does mages. I'd stay away from conjuration especially as that's more of a vampire trademark.

Lastly, you can start Dawnguard whenever, but npcs won't mention it until you're at least level 10.

I'd go for any of the human races, that just fits better

RE: Zexiz0710

Well, from a role-playing perspective, I want to be a foreigner coming to Skyrim to join the Dawnguard and I always support the Empire instead of the Stormcloaks so being an Imperial seems to make sense. The crossbows do seem extremely powerful, but how common are the bolts? They seem to be rarer than usual arrows, and I don't really want to use a bow as I want to stick to the vampire hunter theme as strictly as possible. Heavy armour on Dawnguard enemies I've encountered as a vampire look awesome, so I'll definitely invest in that. What are the new restoration spells anyway?

you can actually craft them, well, there you have another skill

RE: MarkusLiberty

I'm opting for an Imperial who specialises in archery, but uses crossbows only as I feel this perfectly compliments the Dawnguard faction, and switches out for one-handed weaponry complimented by some restoration (the most pure magic skill tree) spells when getting up close. I'll also use heavy armour, as I have seen heavy Dawnguard armour on my enemies as a vampire and think it looks awesome. Now, I just need to work out a loose backstory and a rough order of quests to do.

The bolts can be either crafted or bought, and if you're just starting out, a number of bolts can be found lying around the fort. Though less common than arrows, I found that I only had to be slightly conservative with my ammunition for the first few quests or so. If you want to make your own, maybe invest in steel and Dwarven smithing.

The new spells inflict sun-damage upon the undead. They work like destruction spells and while they aren't particularly powerful, they're very nice for role-playing purposes should you want to dabble in magic.

RE: MarkusLiberty

What does it take to craft them and what skill is that?

A dark elf would work because they hate necromancy and most vampires are necromancers. A servant of Beothiah because they hate Molag Bal. There are sao many reasons you could make almost anything work. Do a story you like the best. It doesn'ty have to be the most trodden path you go downs. Sometimes you take the one least traveled.

In terms of quests, it couldn't hurt to work on the crossbow sidequests early as you'll be wanting the extra firepower. I would hold off on the Aetherium Wars for a bit, unless you feel like taking on Falmer and Centurions at a low level.

RE: Zexis0710

Playing the game without the use of any restoration, even if simply for healing, sounds pretty difficult to me. Plus, restoration is almost synonymous to life and, in my opinion, that is the very symbol of the Dawnguard faction.

There are crossbow side-quests? Are these located at the Dawnguard Fort? As for Aetherium Wars, what are those?

Apologies for possible double-post. Bolts and arrows are crafted with one firewood and either a steel or Dwarven ingot. You'll earn 24 projectiles a pop.

RE: Zexis0710

Firewood can be obtained by merely purchasing a woodcutter's axe and cutting it in one of the cities, so unless I am mistaken it is in unlimited supply? As for the ingots, what are the easiest ways to obtain those? Also, I assume creating bolts uses the smithing skill?

Yeah there is a person who you recruit who studies dwemer artifacts who gives the side quests. Which ones are the Aetherium wars?

The lumber mill in Riverwood should suit you nicely for firewood. Just grab an axe and start chopping. For the ingots...eh, you could search for mines, but the fastest method would be buying them from Gunmar in the fort, albeit it won't be cheap for a low level.

@Nova, it's the side quest started by reading the book of the same name in the fort. It focuses on the Dwemer and takes place in Dwarven city ruins, ending with one of the three Aetherium equipment.

Okay, so simply buying iron ingots from traders and then chopping firewood I can make bolts using smithing? Cool. So, what quests should I be doing to fit into the role-play?

I was thinking of completing the main quest until I escape from Helgen, before straight out walking to the Dawnguard fort and completing the DLC quests there. But, what happens after the DLC and Dawnguard quests are completed? How can I keep my role-play relevant?

Non-Dawnguard quests? Well, the Companions come to mind. And the whole werewolf thing is great for tearing apart vampires, should you so desire.

Edit: I think one of the Dawnguard members also talks of having come from the Companions, so it would work for role-playing nicely.

What are the Dawnguard's views on werewolves? Is it mentioned? From a role-play standpoint, being a werewolf would offer resistance to becoming a vampire which is just perfect for vampire-hunting.

I collescted 100+ dwarven bolts from one trip to a rarther large dwarven ruin as part of the final thieves guild quest, so i think they are as common as arrows, you may want to check out the fletcher in solitude, he may have some.

I find the characters to be really awful on the vampire side. It's too clear cut that they're evil. Yet, other quests such as the civil war quests had both sides having flaws. Vampires in this DLC all seem pure evil. It'd be nice to have seen some of them portrayed as victims who purely had to eat for life, not enjoyment.

Would the Dawnguard not hate werewolves to as they're not human?

They don't specifically hate them, but will attack them on sight as most other npcs do. Still, the vampires DO specifically detest werewolves, considering them "prey". A bit of irony there...

Well, unless I become a werewolf, I'll be prone to becoming a vampire quite easy, no?