So I'm about L16 now, with lots of side quests in-progress and progressed in main quest line up to slaying the first dragon raised from the ground.

I'm also at point in the Winterhold college after just discovering that strange large ball of immense power and that side story line seems to be turning very interesting indeed.

So my question is, should I prioritise all side quest stuff leaving the main quests missions to last? or is the side stuff just as, if not more exciting to play?.

Any preferences over order of quests?, certain cities first etc etc.

no hablo englaisais

I'm at roughly the same point you are. Honestly, I haven't even touched the main quest. (I'm still at Bleak Falls Barrow.) I have, however, progressed into the College, Thieves' Guild, and a crapload of dungeons. I'm actually trying to avoid dragons until I get around to leveling archery or destruction, because I'm currently almost a pure warrior/rogue.

No one can decide how you should play your own game. Do whatever you want. I have a ranger type character that doesn't have any quests done yet. Just runs around and gets alchemy supplies and hunts hides for smithing. Other characters I have ended up racing through maybe the main quest or their guild quest. It all depends what you find enjoyable.

Depends on what you want to do.

You can break things up - I reccomend just playing to explore, BUT at the same time prioritize side-quests with the city you are currently at. If you try to explore too much without focusing on any questing, Bethesda's poorly implemented questing system will force a ton of quests on you. Every city has somewhere like 2-3 manditory spawning quests when you enter them for the first time. If you just keep visiting city after city then you'll end up with way "too much" on your plate to do at once, and it turns the game into a quest grind.

Main quest is fine to do in one stretch or broken up. I personally used it as a means to explore different areas of the world - i.e. I didn't even bother going to Solitude until a quest took me in a general direction. The Mainquest will generally have you going to each hold in the game so it's good as a way to "pace yourself". Once I'd discover a new area I'd hang around there for a little and do some tasks or do some quests depending on what I was in the mood to do.

It helps to also establish your character though - don't just make one "to quest" or "to beat the game". You'll only have fun with that if you enjoy juggling hundreds of quests and being a completionist. Play to your character's will - i.e. if you want to be a warrior, a good thing to focus on other than the MQ would be the compainions questline, which'll have you spending plenty of quality time with Whiterun and that area of questing. If you want to just be an explorer in search for artifacts then focus on Daedric quests while avoiding cities and exploring. This gives your quests "focus" and makes sure you don't overwhelm yourself.

I would personlly split it up between misc and side quests the college of winterhold questions is really short Although I really didn't notice this because I was doing misc quests and exploring I would split it up oblivion turned me into a quest kinda guy because most dungeons were repetitive skyrim however I plan to go through every dungeon I can it seems like half of the dungeons are as long as some side quests themselves

Dark Brotherhood was really good too

I find personally I have to do the MQ first or Ill never get around to it, so I make a character (usually warrior) do the MQ('s) then start a new game so Im not all ancy about finishing the MQ and can enjoy myself more, then I go thief (they did a good job on bows this time) or mage (I hear conjuration and illusion is better than destro as far as balance right now) and do as my rp'ing pleases me

The main quest gives you some good shouts that make things easier. Plus you get a base of operations with Breezehome and lots of merchants.

What i do is Bleak Falls before reaching Whiterun. As soon as i reach Whiterun i quest around the area until i have no more nearby quests. Don't quest in the southern areas, especially around Falkreath, at lower levels. There are a lot of spriggans that will get you killed easily and you aren't strong enough for them yet. At the same time i do the main quest till you are sent to recover the Horn. After i visit most of the cities i resume MQ. You might want to finish the Greybeards questline very early in game because the upgraded shout you get in the end is just awesome.

Just a tip: don't go for the Stormcloaks or the Imperials before visiting all the cities. Do a facts research, feel the vibe of all the cities as well as the pulse of its people. Deliver quests like the bounties and alike before picking a side.

Do it as you discover it, or just do it in the order you want. I feel that's a good way to play. Explore and see where your feet take you...

Thanks for the advice. I guess I was just worried that I'd clear all the most exciting quests first and just be left with the hunting down bounty thiefs in dingy dark caves. Would love to bring the game to an eventual climix!.

Man this game kicks soo much ass. I'm used to NPC's just spawning out of thin air and having meaningless scripted motions (ala GTA, Assassins Creed), but in Elder Scrolls I really feel like each person in the cities is a true individual living their daily lives.

I can see myself investing more time in this game than all the other games I've played in the past 5 years put together!.
This is my very first Elder Scrolls game too

I think it's just best to do the factions and quests in the order you visit the cities.

So when MQ sends you to Whiterun, do Companions and quests there. When you're in Solitude, Jarl and quests there. Then Riften, Winterhold, etc.

I usually wait to do the main quest at a high lvl (50+) if I ever do it.

First character I like exploring and getting to know the game. After that I will do other things my first character was not meant to do. And Ill do that untill Ive played all the types of characters I want to play.

Then I will mod a lot untill all I do is mod the game and play very little...then its time to stop/take a break and thats after a year or so lol