Hey guys! I need some help here about something. WATCH OUT FOR SPOILERS! You know, I had some kind of bug/error/problem/thing that just deleted my save file, which was really perfect and almost fully completed, so I'm starting all over again. But the main thing is I have some doubts about something.
First, I would like to know if it's possible to, after completing the Companions Quests, use the Totems of Hircine for a while and then cure lycanthropy, or if I have to choose right away to either keep or cure my wolf blood, and only then be able to use the Totems if I choose to keep the wolf blood.
Second, in my other playthrough, I got Sneak to level 100, but I never got the Shadow Warrior perk. But now, as I discovered it's freaking awesome (best perk ever), I'm trying to get it as soon as possible. But then, I heard about a bug that if I get Shadow Warrior before completing "Darkness Returns" (last quest) from the Thieves Guild, I wouldn't be able to get Shadowcloak of Nocturnal. Is this true? Should I finish the Thieves Guild first?

1: Stay a Werewolf. Really makes no sense to cure it.. All you lose is sleeping bonuses which is useless.

2: Keep the Skeleton Key. I never finished that last quest except once for an achievement.

Neither of which answer's the OP questions.

You can go back and cure lycanthropy "later," there's no need to cure it at the same time as when you cure Kodlak.

For the TG questline, I have not heard of this. However, I've always finished the TG questline and picked up the Power before getting Sneak to 100 on stealth characters, so I can't confirm, but for some reaosn I doubt it.

So can I use the Totems for, say, a week, and then still be able to cure myself?

Yeah, you can do that, though I think you shouldn't cure yourself is being a Werewolf is best way to make sure not to become an annoying vampire. I hate bloodsvckers.

And ignore what he said about keeping the skeleton key: It doesn't open ANY lock (only pickable ones) and it still means fiddling with the lockpicking mini-game, instead of just "open sesame" as it did in Oblivion. The Skyrim version is just an unbreakable lockpick, and you can have that with one of the Perks anyway.

I rather not waste 6 perks when I can just keep the Skeleton Key.

Personally, the Nightingale's powers are worthless to me so completing that last quest has no use to me. So... To me..It is either A: Waste 6 perks and get a worthless Power -OR- B: Keep the Skeleton Key and Save 6 Perks.

As to the whole unlocking any door thing, my follower can already do that. I have no need for that ability, I just want the unbreakable picklock. I am also so use to picking Master locks that it only takes like 10 seconds to do now. Not very hard when you get use to it.

It's not really "unbreakable" - just that if it's your "last" lockpick, it simply replaces itself. Which is FAR better than running out of "normal" lockpicks in a major dungeon....

It's unbreakable. I can hold down the anolog stick while TRYING to break it and it will never break.

Hmm. Must be a console thing then? It breaks on pc (mine....) just like "normal" lockpicks do, but I'm never down to "my last lockpick" and having to reload just because the last one breaks.

It might be a glitch on the PC? If I ever get Skyrim for the PC, I'll check into it and see why it is doing it.

Could be. Doesn't matter to me, but might to others.

Does anyone really need an unbreakable lockpick in this game? I have around 150 on me....you find em everywhere....they are sold in numerous places. This style of lockpick mini-game is SOOO much better than Oblivion (IMHO).

It's unbreakable on 360, since it's technically a powerful artifact of unique design.

One shouldn't; with improvements by level or enchants, or getting better at the minigame, I don't see the need. It practically rains lockpicks in Skyrim, even when you're not trying to find any.
And minigames = player skill, and doesn't properly represent the skill of an accomplished master thief. I prefer a die-rolling method.