GameBanshee Forums

I seek opinions as to which is the best way to proceed. I left the main quest many hours ago and am finding many side quests to keep me occupied. I am at present running backwards and forwards finding books for the librarian in the Mages College. It has been so long since I worked on the main quest that I am beginning to wonder, what are the advantages of finishing the main quest or going off and doing all the side quests???

I don't think it makes any difference whatsoever. All of the quests will wait for you, and the game won't end when you complete the main questline.

SWC

im not sure since i have yet to finish, but i read somewhere that some towns mybe gone upon finishing. again i do not know for sure though

Thank you swcater, I shall go on my merry way happy. With your comments in mind I have indeed found that, even though I may have cleared a certain place, it does not interfere with a subsequent quest, as in the case of my librarian quests. He keeps sending me back to places that I know that I have visited before and the trunks that I have opened, I still find the saught after item. The only indication in some instances is that where I have found a "Word Wall" previously you don't get a second go at it. I don't think that I have even scratched the surface with quests yet, I am at level 40 and every time I talk to someone they give me a new quest and so I have a list as long as your arm to get through. Happy questing

I'll mention a couple of caveats to SWCarter's explanation, and this depends on how far you've gone in the main quest line, whether you use mods, and what skills you use. While certainly the game doesn't care if or when you do the main quests, there are some differences for your character at certain points. I'll try to do this without spoilers since you haven't mentioned where you are.

There are a number of walls and shouts which are only available through the main quest, and some you get for free (you don't expend a soul). Several quests also unlock unique armour and weapons which you cannot get elsewhere (unless you use a crafting mod).

Finally, due to the game's difficulty level, it is recommended to start the last portion of the main quest by level 35, otherwise the final battle may be easy enough that the story is anti-climatic. This is true even on Master difficulty, but mods may affect this.

Thanks Lemmus, as you can see I'm at Lvl 40, and no I have not made any mods. (I'm not that clever), and have this minute returned to the main quest. Mainly because I am bored with running backwards and forward finding books. Yes I realise about the "Shouts", as earlier I had tried to get more power in them and found out the hard way. Happy gaming

Btw, just in case you didn't know, the librarian will keep sending you out to find books, over and over, and it won't lead to anything... except more books.

SWC

Thanks SWC, I appreciate the advice. I had begun to believe that was the case, when he repeated several books but sent me to different places and I thought, just how long can this go on. Anyway I have gone back to the main quest and recovered the Elder Scroll in the "Elder Knowledge". (I don't think it let's any secrets out of the bag)? This is specificly for you. Am I alone in considering the drop down dialogue is often difficult to read, particularly with light backgrounds such as snow certainly when it is a dialogue you constantly use such as when you want to trade items??