many of the questlines in the game (ie dark brotherhood, winterhold, the companions) can all be started pretty much as soon as you escape Helgen. I was wondering when do you guys usually start to take on these quest lines and do you see them through to completion or advance then as the main storyline intersects.

I ask because I'm struggling to decide how I should work on the other questlines without feeling like I'm letting down Skyrim to save them from dragons.

I just completed these as I felt motivated to do so.

I feel a sense of loyalty to the Companions, to Skyrim and to the Nord people and for that reason I steadily advance the Companions, The Main Quest and support Ulfric Stormcloak (True High King of Skyrim) in his endeavours to free us from the shackles of Imperial Empire and their Thalmor overlords.

That doesn't stop me from other stuff but I couldn't just forget about any of these.

Az

That's the great thing about TES games - you're not on the clock.

Do whatever you want when you feel like it, it doesn't matter.

Good luck.

I kind of like to develop my character for awhile by doing little side quests or exploring before I start major questlines. Some of the rewards are leveled, so I like to wait for that. Around level 20, I pick a guild or something and then I finish it before I move on to another. I think this helps with the save file size/performance issue too. I save the main quest for last, then retire my character.