Not sure if this has been asked already. Do you think we'll have to have the main quest of Skyrim completed before being able to start Dawnguard? I know that you must be level 10 to start it, but nothing has been said as far as I know about having to have the MQ completed. Only asking because I have 2 characters that I switch between and only one of them is the Dragonborn.

I doubt it. We were able to do Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine right away

I remember them saying that it would take L10 and finding the right character. There would be no pop-up and immediat quest. IMO this is better then having all DLC pop-up immediatly. Now it is nicely integrated like the expansions of Morrowind.

I certaintly don't hope it requires the main quest. That would be a TES first. Even Tribunal (that exdended Morrowind's MQ) could be played without the actual MQ. Same with Shivering Isles, KotN and Bloodmoon. TES is about freeroaming in an compleetly open environment, forcing you to play the MQ would show a dramatic change in what TES stands for.

All it requires is to be level 10

I thought the level 10 thing was only a recommendation and not a requirement

Someone mentioned that you have to learn shouts before doing the dawnguard questline, so finishing the quest dragon rising.

I think I heard that somewhere too. I surely hope that's not the case. As soon as you finish Dragon Rising then dragons start spawning in Skyrim. I'd like to continue to keep them out of one of my characters games.

Do you have to be a vampire in-game to do Dawnguard?

No. You do not have to do the MQ. I can't remember which E3 interview it was in, but one of the devs answered that question. They recommend a lv. 10 character, but I don't think it's required.

as others have said, you dont HAVE to be lvl 10 but im assuming things will difficult if you arent lvl 10

Bethesda recommend you be at least lvl 10 to start the DLC. I believe to start Dawnguard, talk to the barkeep for rumors if you want to be vampiric. If you're on the opposite side, the guards should steer you towards the Dawnguard when you talk to them.

I thought you had to be level 10 to start the quests, but it was recommended to be a higher level than that? Who knows? We will know late tonight.

^Pretty much this, all Todd said is that we are RECOMMENDED to be level 10 before doing it. Recommended. I don't think he said that we HAVE to be.

According to Todd Howard in his E3 interveiw. No. You can start a brand new character and march off to the Dawngaurd questline, allowing you to play the whole rest of your game as a Vampire Lord if you so desire.