Sorry if I'm posting this in the wrong place but this seemed the best spot for a (reasonably) quick answer.

So yes...having gotten the 1.4 update for Xbox 360 will I be able to do the BotI quest with my older characters or must I start a new one? I'd hate for my 160+ hour Dovahkiin to not achieve Thane of Skyrim...

Thanks in advance.

If that character already triggered the quest to start under the old activators, then no, it will not work. Reason, the information is in the save already. However, they did try to make it so that even if it was triggered, it could be moved forward, so try the quest and see what happens.

Thanks. I've gone to Windhelm with my level 46 character (who has definitely been Windhelm more than 4 times) and so far no luck. Is there anything specific I need to do to trigger it since the patch?

Are quest trigger based on each individual quest? Not an entire quest chain such as Thief Guild quest chain for example?

1.4 did not fix it for me. I still can't trigger it no matter what I do

It did not fix it for me, either. Every time I try to buy the house from Jorlief, he say it is not available yet. I hate Windhelm anyway, so it is no great loss. I have another character that is not on Xbox Live that has done the quest with no problems.

Ditto. Even tried entering Hjerim (sp?) and looting the books/amulet then talking to the players to see if I could jump ahead in the line. Still nothing.

Same here on both counts. I have entered Hjerim, tried to "investigate", took the amulet, the journals, and the flyers, spoken to Calixto, and Viola and nothing.

I think it may have to do with the fact that I stole and read the Butcher's journal that is in the chest on the second level of his house, because on my other character, I did the whole quest without a glitch on my first trip to Windhelm. This svcks, I want to be able to have every house and be Thane of Windhelm on my Main character, but I think i heard the quest shuts off after 240 hours playtime. I'm at 255 hours, so I might be boned

It never triggered for me on my play through where I sided with the Imperials even after 1.4. You'll probably just have to start a new game. I really REALLY wanted Hjerim with that toon, but no luck. Even now at lvl 78 it hasnt triggered. I was hoping that it would since the gal who is supposed to get murdured to start the quest (who is hot btw) is still hanging out in Windhelm.

i havent even looked @ my 1st character, I logged in by accident once and was like WTF AM I this isnt where I saved! then realized what happened.

This quest would never even start for me, maybe ill load it up, i didnt think that fixed..maybe karliah will be at the standing stone as well? if only...

no susannah never leaves the inn
calixto does go into the inn during the day and hangs out behind it at night
but susannah never leaves
so as you can see it never happened for me either

Okay, I need some help here.

From the look of things, the quest has triggered for me. I've found Susanna lying dead in the graveyard and all that, but there is no Stormcloak soldier there. I haven't even started the Civil War quest yet, but I can't seem to kick off this quest because I can't be informed of the murder that I'm staring at. I haven't been able to update the game to patch 1.4 yet. Will doing so allow this guy to appear?

Have you tried getting the quest to go into journal by speaking to random NPCs in the city? You would normally hear about the serial killings via rumor/chat with others before the guard.

Actually, I broke into the house and that started the quest. I was just training lockpicking, and boom: quest! Makes me wonder if you can do the quest without Susanna dying...

no susanna needs to die
but the issue is she never leaves the inn so calixto
cannot kill her until she does

I've never seen Susanna alive on either of my playthroughs, which is odd since I don't often fast travel.
Do you think getting her to step outside may trigger quest progression, lighthouse? If so, on PC, you could stand outside and do a moveto command, and if not on PC try getting her to speak to you as you exit through a door.

@REL_Dovahkin, try patching your game, and definitely try speaking with the Steward in the keep, Viola, or the owner of Candlehearth Hall, Elda. Also are the 3 witnesses at the crime scene?

maybe you should do the quest before picking sides...i did on xbox pre patch and finished the quest with no problems

I think this is what you have to do. Every one of my character has been able to trigger and complete the quest if you do it before you pick side in the Civil War, and before you start the Dark Brotherhood QL