» Wed Mar 30, 2011 5:18 am
I normally use the alternate start mod http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=23757, it provides a non-prison start to the MQ through doing Kvatch and also provides a bit of character customization before you start playing. You can change your level to around 20 I think, though you will be leveled like the NPCs are through major and minor skills depending on class. Also, you can choose a horse to start out with, which houses you already own, what guilds you're a member of (start as an associate only though), and what start location you want, and what your status is (determines clothing and starting gold). You can also go through the normal prison MQ trigger by being thrown in the Imperial Prison instead of normal prison-time. Only downside is you might not get all the skills you would've leveled (unless you have a leveling mod which allows you to respec like http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=35333 and you won't get the equipment for your level right away after creation.
I normally start my characters around level 5 now for a bit of a head start, and if I'm playing a morally good character and don't want to go through the prison ordeal, I'll just do Kvatch whenever I want and Jauffre contacts you about the MQ. I use Oblivion XP and its entirely compatible, with its respec after character creation, I can reassign whatever points the leveling system gave me to what I want!
Hope this helps!