Questions for the Skyrim veterans...

1 - The Misc quests add gameplay to the game and increase the replay/continuation value of the game. Doing them is your choice but they don't affect the Main/Side quests other than the rewards for completion.

2 - All weapons and most clothing can be improved through the Smithing skill/perk tree.

3 - The Main Quest line and the Dawnguard DLC are unrelated. Completing the DLC before you go through and complete the main quest will make it easier but may water it down.

4 - Short answer, yes. Unless you want to upgrade them via smithing (to help along level progression).

5 - Other than the base value of them the only use they have is making armor (and weapons with the DLC).

6 - Other than combat use they are only useful for extra loot storage until you can get to your home unless they are quest related. That's my opinion.

7 - If you join the Imperials you can't join the Stormcloaks and vice versa. That's one of the main side quests, it's the Skyrim Civil War quest line.

8 - Their are vast pros and cons to each side. Wiki can give a list of both but which ever you choose, in the end they will be the dominate government. Much like the American Civil War, just not the same reason for the start of it.

9 - No, just make sure you know what skills you want to max (RPG related) and which ones you are only leveling to increase your overall level. Max overall level cap is 81 and the skill level cap is 100 (level 100 on all skills = level 81).

Dawn-guard definitely worth downloading at anytime, IT has the ability to make your own arrows, its very hard to find an affordable place early on so I just marry that wench in Whiterun the one who's always watching the merchants? an carrying on about Kajit, anyway her little house is fine, she throws you some coin every time you see her, getting with the thieves guild early is also good 1. you can bribe guards to look the other way on a small petty crime that you got caught doing, score a speech skill in the process, then pick-pocket the money right back, you score a pickpocketing skill, just make sure you do a save before you pick his or her pocket as you might get caught, I just go with the two handed weapon & Bow as my main weapons of choice..  ohh I choose thieves stone at the guardian stones SO my pick-pocketing IS considerablly higher skill even though I did both my speech & pick-pocketing all at the same encounter every guard that I met who recognized me as a wanted criminal..

At the end of the day they all come out to personal preference. If you want to reach the max level and experience everything you payed $60 for you'll need to reach the level cap, complete the main quest, and chose a side in the civil war (main side quest). After that it's all exploration, small side quests, radiant quests, and dungeon crawling.

[quote user="Grovesy1988"]

Well, thanks for looking at my thread first and foremost...I am about 40 hours in and in true RPG style I've exhausted every possibility in the game that has come my way so far. I am a level 19, nearly 20 Nord with level 65 Two handed combat. Really loving this game to say the least but there is a few things, as with most RPG's, that I am still unsure of despite the time I've spent on it already. If anyone would be so kind as to address my questions I would really appreciate it...

1 - I have completed 72 Misc quests, is there any need for me to complete the rest of the Misc quests I've encountered so far before I progress with main and side quests?

 No need to do misc quests.  You only get exp from using weapons, taking damage, using a skill, etc.  Though, the game is yours to do what you wish with.

2 - I'm currently using a weapon with 52 damage. I've just found the dawnbreaker and notice the damage is incredibly low. Should I disregard low damage weapons or can they be levelled up?

 If you have the appropriate smithing you can improve weapons making them better.  Also, some enchantments on weapons can offset their damage to a degree.

3 - Is it worth me waiting to complete the main quests before I download and start Dawnguard?

 Really not necessary, but again, the beauty of Skyrim is that you can really do most anything in any order you want.

4 - I seem to have accumulated an incredible amount of stock. I'm currently storing it in the only property I own in Whiterun. Is it worth keeping weapons or should I just disenchant and sell all of them apart from the ones I'm using?

 Money quickly becomes a non-issue.  It's best to sell anything you don't think you will need or use.  Hoarding isn't necessarily a good thing, as it will just clutter up your menu screens when you are looking for something.  Though, saving the special weapons and armor is a good idea.

5 - I have at least ten of each dragon scale and dragon bone. I've been storing them as I don't particularly need the gold from selling them due to the high value. What else can I use these for?

 At level 100 smithing you will be able to make Dragon armor, weapons and arrows.  The armor isn't great, but the weapons and arrows are actually very good.

6 - Followers **** me off. I've sent pretty much every one of them packing. Lydia is useful at times. Nobody has died on me yet and I've no interest in glitching with the likes of the dog for example. Is there any specific need for followers and do they in effect 'steal' exp to go towards levelling by killing enemies.

 Followers are terrible.  Though, I actually like the follower in Dawnguard, she is pretty awesome, and a very well done character.

7 - I have multiple Misc quest lines to join imperials etc etc. and I have also noticed one or two crop up in main and side quests in the menu. If I join one group does that eliminate the possibility of joining another for the sake of completing the quests?

 You can only join one side or the other.  All the quests are for the other side will disappear when you join up.

8 - If answer to the above is YES then what are the advantages and disadvantages of joining each one? Perhaps a lot to ask but I don't want to miss something epic for the sake of becoming a thieving ***!

 They are essentially the same.  No advantages or disadvantages.

9 - I've not really gone down the magic route. I've put a small focus on destruction but my primary focus is two handed weaponry and archery. Should I wish to go the magic route, will any problems pose as a result of investing perk points into two handed and archery?

 You have a finite number of skill points, so, if you wish to become a "jack of all trades" you will indeed be a master of none.  That said, it doesn't hurt to level everything you can.

If you have answered these for me, I thank you very much. Loving the game and I'm sure if nobody answers I'll crack on with it as I would anyway however a little discussion could possibly go a long way for my character! Have a good weekend!

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Hope that helped.

Superb answers, thank you all. Its been real difficult to find some of this information on the skyrim forums and here. There is one last thing I forgot to ask though; Once I complete the main quest, can I continue with the game to finish any side quests etc? I've done as I said, 72 Misc quests and only 4 main quests and about 2 side quests at the moment. I'm quite keen to progress with the story after all thos misc quests but would like to go back to all of them! Thanks ever so much by the way, full kudos!

Yes, you can free roam after finishing the main quest.  The game never officially ends.  There is always something you can do.

That's the beauty of skyrim-progress on whatever you want whenever you want no barriers or restrictions needed. Freedom.

As they said, you can continue to play after the main quest ends. Without spoiling anything PAY ATTENTION TO EVERYTHING!...if you miss a few things toward the end you are blocked from getting them unless they make some places returnable via fast-travel or future DLC later on.