I've seen a lot of threads about being "good" or "evil"; postponing the main quest line; doing just the main quest line.

Was talking to a friend the other day who also plays and he mentioned that he just likes to explore.

Has anyone leveled up just by going into the various locations and dungeon diving and not worrying about any quests be they main, guild or radiant? If so, just curious how it worked out.

And about Thieves Guild,College of Winterhold and Thieves guild quest?

Most quests are just "dungeon diving" anyway so whether you do them or not, you level up the same.

I was mostly a hunter/gatherer and did a few crawling sessions. I managed to break the game that way by picking up random items. Be wary.

My first character did nothing but dungeon diving and exploring. I think we actually did one or two quest, but that's it. I spent over 60 hours with that character. Very fun.

It's hard not levelling in this game.

The unfortunate problem with doing this is that there's a chance you could pick up a quest item for a quest that you don't even have. And in some cases, acquiring the macguffin before receiving the quest to find it can actually break the quest or prevent it from activating.

Just started a brand new playthrough. Peaceful Khajiit hunter who wanders the wilds, has no interest in war or thievery or murder or mercenary work or Daedra......but will answer the call of Dovahkeen by the Graybeards when summoned.




Spoken like a true metagamer. You will level up evuentually, there's no hurry.....and in any case. If you didn't realize if you level up too fast without polishing your combat skills, your gonna get a nice booty whooping to welcome you.

PC Gamer just started an interesting article series, where the guy plays an ordinary character. http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/12/10/the-elder-strolls-part-1-fresh-off-the-boat/

I did this for a while, but ended up with "quest related" items that I couldn't drop. I finally got tired of sorting it all out in my inventory, and went around dropping all the quest items off at their owners to collect the rewards.

Even quest that have absolutely no sense in dungeon diving become dungeon diving.

Wanna join that Bards? Go slay a bunch of bandits.

I'm actually doing a no-dungeon playthrough...and avoiding civilization except small villages and khajiit caravans. I make my living as a hunter, selling hide and leather and meat that I hunt. I actually work for a living.

Yep. This is exactly how I play. Other than a few radiant quests I accidentally stumble upon from time to time, I don't bother with the main quest(haven't gone to white run yet). I just traverse across the game, and go into any cave I come across. It's totally cool to play this way cause I don't know what to expect. I still can't explain the intensity of the thrill I got when I ventured into my first dwemer ruin.

Questing and main questing is not the only way to level up.

I do semi dungeon diving and quest. When I have a lot to do in the game then I take a couple chill pills and relax and go diving/catching fish/hiking/and exploring.

Cheers

A little off topic but It actually is very disappointing that Beths answer to a majority quests is "go to this dungeon and kill or fetch this for me you tool". The Dark brotherhood quests prove that they can do better than that. Maybe next game.

I'll only do a quest if it is in the best interest of my character. Otherwise I'm just wandering around outdoors. Not even gonna get involved in the war, they can find someone else to be their tool.