I hated the movie Dragonheart. I just don't like the idea of my character being a special dragon caller with shouts ect... I saw that over 3 quarters of Skyrim players haven't done it yet (from the statistics thread) so I wanted to add why I didn't but also it's a good segway into some questions I have

In an effort to find an alternative 'theme' or way to play I wanted to try out being a vampire, and someone mentioned there are several shacks I could use as a home. Do these shacks act as a traditional house? That you can see on the map for instance, and which save when you exit? Or are these just places with a bed.

Also, what are some ideas for other things to do if you want to avoid the main quest, what do you do?

Discover the wilderness, hunting, search out caves and enjoy nature (if you are not the "always action" type of player). Make little side quests and kill Bandits as long as there a too few questmods out.

check out these houses
- http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Alchemist%27s_Shack
-http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Riverside_Shack

I thought being a Vampire would spice things up, it didn't..... not at all!
Really, it just pissed me off. "oh, you didn't feed today..... Everyone hates you now"

Bethesda did that for a reason, Its self-sacrifice, To not feed you have to sacrifice your identiy, You have to turn into a monsters so you wont hurt anyone,Its very sad really.

I've started steadily working on all the questlines (Main Quest included) after putting most of them off for the majority of my game playtime. So I just sort of jump around now between them all and end up getting more and more miscialneous quest and then I don't really know what to do next or what area of Skyrim to devote my attention to.

I feel that unless Iam a Human the main quest doesnt apply to my Dunmer Battlemage..anyone else feel this way? Also I have done the MQ on my Nord Char and it was a pleasant experience I suppose like I said my Dunmer doesn't like the idea of being a Dragonborn lol..

I dont see the connection here. Dragonheart was about a dieing prince whos life is saved by shareing the heart of a dragon and becomes corrupt shortly after. then his mentor vows to slay every dragon. other then the prince only dieing when the dragon dies. there were no special powers given to people, no one can "call dragons", no "chosen one" sort of thing.

anyways, if people dont want to do the main quest thats there loss.

and to the statement "3 quarters havent done it" i say "90% of percentages are made up on the spot".

but about the shack thing, im sure there are some great mods out there

Thanks everyone, I think I've settled on making a new character going for alchemy and pickpocketing, moving into a city and poisoning people

According to the "statistics" something like 8-10% of people never completed Unbound. I cant connect to Steam atm, so cant check the numbers. A lot of the other numbers also seem low. Obviously, a lot of people play in offline mode, which means achievements never register.

I swore to myself that this wouldnt be Oblivion, where I avoid the MQ. And for a while, that held true. But I keep getting distracted. Daedric Shrines right near where I did another quest. Quests leading back to discovered locations. Guilds. I just recently finally finished Diplomatic Immunity.