Once you get the misc topic, investigate DG, if you dont initiate it, will the random attacks happen anyway?

yes.

I've even had the attacks occur based on level, not based on picking up the misc quest.

But even if that was just a bug, just the fact that you picked up the quest will immediately allow attacks to occur

What level? Will attacks start right after escaping Helgen?

Usually around lvl 8 but on one of my playthroughs it happened at lvl 6! But 8 - 10 is the norm.

as elf lord said 8-10 is normal. I've heard it happening to people at lvl 7.

It typically happens some time after hearing a guard mention the dawnguard.

Random attacks on towns might never happen unless you start the questline, depends on what your character has done, you can continue to ignore it and just continue what you are doing, but once you have heard of the attacks you should make some preparations to protect NPC's just in case, and keep an eye out for unwanted visitors.

Attacks are never going to happen straight after escaping from Helgen, not unless you go join the Dawnguard before you get the hints, or you discover some very rare glitch.

Vampires/Dawnguard Attack towns


I don't know about Dawnguard only played it once as DG

I've heard that attacks can happen straight away?

If it happens it'd be a glitch I'm sure. To experience an attack in a town right after helgen is just ridiculous.

Now while wandering in the wild it's quite possible, as vampires are already scripted to be out in the wild.

Thanks for being so helpful with all the questions I've asked

no problem

Apparently it's not supposed to trigger unless the player-character has reached Level 10.
(Which actually doesn't take very long at all, heheh...)

Well that would actually be the same point.

The guards won't mention the rumor until you hit lvl 10, and it'll be almost immediate that the next guard you see will mention it making you kind of screwed if you wanted to evade it for a few more levels.