Played as a level 43 Redguard and started the main quest relatively early... maybe at level 5 or 6. I've seen a few elder dragons, but never an Ancient One. i thought they were supposed to appear in the 30's. I finished the main quest at around level 40 and can handle most enemies fairly easily, so I was looking for my next challenge. Elder Dragons don't give me that much difficulty, but can still ice me if I'm wreckless, so I was looking for my next challenge. And frankly, I just want to see one for the hell of it.

When did they start appearing for you?

I saw an ancient dragon at 39 on one of my characters.

I've seen ancient dragons around lvl 40. Now that I'm lvl 56, more and more appear.

I'm around level 40-45 on my main (finished MQ) but they started appearing a while before that, fought plenty of them :S I don't know why they haven't appeared for you. I usually find an ancient dragon floating around the edge of dawnstar, not sure if that'll help you but there may be one there for you to see, hope you do!

level 69 here, they are pretty much the only ones I see now ;/

Oh ok, I should see one soon then. I'll just do a few more questlines and meander about until one flies towards me.

Thanks!

Level 37 and only get bloods, never seen anything stronger

http://i.imgur.com/i3Kfa.jpg

??

I fought my first ancient on my way to

I was about level 36 or so.

One hell of a hard fight actually..... but since then I'm stomping all over them.

Still mostly see Elder, but I do get attacked by ancients

I wonder if difficulty level has anything to do with it, but I've been playing on Expert

I have never encountered one either, fortunately. However, most dragons that I have stumbled across are elder dragons - with the exception of those I found earlier in the game and never fought. But now it seems every time I'm in Solitude a elder dragon attacks. Quite frankly, I hope I don't encounter an ancient dragon for the fact that an elder dragon can deal some hefty damage, even with legendary Daedric armour.

Just keep playing; they appear almost 80% of the time by level 60 for me. I'm level 80 now and I have only fought the odd Elder and Frost, whereas I have come across a dead black dragon killed by bandits by the fort West of Whiterun

I am lvl 62 and there always ancient of frost... blood is a dragon I haven't seen in forever!