since loot levels and ive already beaten the game once and then found out all my "war" spoils were completly uselss to me by time that file hit level 20-25 i stopped playing oblivion for a good year or so

but skyrim made me want to start playing again (would of been playing fall out 3 but the boards are dead most of the time)

any way should i finnally start doing some quest like dark brotherhood or should i get another 10 levels to make sure that leveled items will always be at max ???

I think most of them max out around 20, but I'm not sure. Been a while since I've played. Either way, 20 should be a good level for quest rewards. Even if they're not as high as they can go, they'll still be good enough.

The leveled loot max at level 30...custom made weapons and armor are much better than any leveled loot though,so I would just do the quests and make your way to the Arcane University and close some Oblivion Gates after level 17.

You can do all the Daedric Shrine quests with no worries. The rewards there are fixed level; your character simply has to be a certain levels to begin the quests.

For other quests you are considering, you can check them in UESP and see if they have a leveled loot reward and if so, what level it tops out at.

There are exceptions, but I think you'll find that most non-SI leveled rewards top at 25, while most in the SI top at 30.

There are certainly a ton of quests you can do at 20 where you either get the top item or are the quest does not yield a leveled reward.

I agree with Acadian. I've always been disappointed with quest rewards, even dating back to Morrowind. IMO they are always less impressive than what I can make myself, so I never really liked them anyway.

There are a few enchantments on loot that you can't do for yourself. Reflect spell or Reflect damage especially.

So the Escutcheon of Chorrol at level 25 is worth the extra five levels if you want that 35% reflect damage. You can already get the Amulet of Axes, Necklace of Swords, or Ring of the Iron Fist at level 20.

Ring of Sunfire also maxes at 25, and there are SI items that max at 30 for the reflect spell.

However, you'll find that you don't have the slots to use them all at once, especially as Reflect enchantments are often on Shields, of which you get to use only one (until Skyrim?)

Weapons yes, but I usually find better enchantments on apparel that I can't match at the enchanting alter.

There is one good necklace reward during the MG quest line that maxes out at 30.Plus several Shivering Isles rewards that max out at level 30.

Or, if you're on PC, just install the Quest Award Leveler mod, and don't worry about it any more. Then you can have the benefit of the Escutcheon of Chorrol at level 5 or whatever, and it's still just as good when you reach 25.

I have to ask you guys who wait until high level to do everything... What do you do in this game when you're at level 3, or level 7, or level 12? Do you just grind in dungeons and buy training, working to level up? I would find that so boring.

Before I started modding my game, I used to just play, without regard for when I started (or finished) quests. I'd get the low-level version of an item, and I was fine with it, because it was perfectly suitable to use "right now." Why should I go 20 levels without a decent Reflect shield, when I could have it now? Am I going to need it any more in 20 levels than I do now?

My character does very few quests actually. The only guild she belongs to is the Mages Guild and she has attained the mighty rank of Journeyman there. Lol. Most of her time is spent visiting NPCs, exploring and clearing random dungeons. Basically, she just lives her life in Tamriel and it simply never gets old. We spice things up rarely with one of the in game quests.

Seperate question about leveled loot. There are exactly 0 leveled loot items my character would be interested in so it is a self-solved problem for us. Any leveled quest rewards she gets, she simply sells or if they are particularly interesting, she donates them to the Mystic Archives. The only enchanted items she needs are her self-enchanted bow, Azura's Star and a pair of massive range detect life rings. None of her outfits for example are enchanted. She carries a ring of resist frost for RP purposes for visiting snowy areas like Bruma.

So. . . I'm a little mystified like you are regarding the fascination for top leveled items. I mean the game is easy enough that they certainly are not required. Or if you do want some, how many do you need? My character doesn't even bother to pick up Mundane Rings because they make things too easy. Perhaps, some characters simply enjoy collecting impressive equipment as a hobby and that could make sense.

If it's a collection, and you don't actually use the enchantment, does it even matter? Yeah, okay, it probably does.

My characters do in-character quests until they have achieved whatever they needed to do, then they just "live." Mages usually have to go through the recommendations, and I've got a guy going now who will try to follow through on his Emperor's dying request. (I have a feeling he's going to bungle it badly.)

But here's the thing. Sooner or later, if you go to Corrol, you hear about the Jemane brothers. Reynald is likely to stop you on the street and throw up on your shoes. How can you turn these nice guys down when they ask for help? You know you're going to end up doing the whole quest line. Bingo. You can't keep the sword, because you just can't. It's an Honorblade, for goodness sake! You have to turn it in. So you've got the shield. Maybe you hang it on the wall. (One of my characters set it on top of a dresser, leaning against the wall, and it fell down inside the wall, never to be seen again. )

Oh, never mind. I think I just answered my own question. It's because it's fun to do it however you like to do it.

I think it is easier to deny quests if you can never be mistaken for a hero type. I'm sure it helps to be under five feet tall and only about 95 pounds. Who thinks it's a good idea to ask a tiny elf with no melee weapon to go save the world or fetch something from the den of ogres? This snip from Episode 8 of Buffy's Journal shows how 'quest requests' often go for Buffy:

* * *

"The Emperor sent me," I said simply, "I have the Amulet of Kings."

"Who are you?" Jauffre barked, visibly shaken. "What do you know of the Emperor's Death?" Then he sternly continued, "The Amulet of Kings? I don't believe you. You'd better start explaining right now, young lady!"

Instantly, I disliked this man. I pulled the large red amulet from my pack and dropped it on his desk.

"By the Nine!" exclaimed Jauffre. "This is the Amulet of Kings!" His wide open eyes shifted from the amulet to me and narrowed sharply, "How did you get this?"

Resenting his interrogation, I wondered if he meant that a simple she-elf from Bravil was not worthy of touching the Amulet of Kings, or perhaps he thought I stole it? Defiantly, I lifted my chin and stated, "The Emperor gave it to me." I then curtly described Uriel Septim's last hours and words.

Jauffre told me the story of Martin, the Emperor's illegitimate son. He said Martin had last been seen living as a priest in Kvatch. Then it came: "You must find Martin!"

I snapped back angrily, "No I mustn't! The only reason I am here is because the Emperor and Baurus asked me to deliver this amulet. Both those men were kind and courteous to me. You are neither of those things. You're the boss of the Blades, so send one of them." I planted my hands on my hips and added, "You're not the boss of me!" With that, I walked straight out the door, mounted Superian and continued to Chorrol.

* * *

Of course, she does sometimes accept quests as she shows in this snip from Episode 116:

* * *

"I was going to try and hire the Fighters Guild," she said, "but Aleron took every septim we had. I have no money at all now, Milady. And no one else to turn to." Her eyes swept the floor as the tears started again. "I-I don't know what to -"

"I will help you, Ursanne," I interrupted.

She looked at me with reddened eyes and tear streaked cheeks. "Mara bless you, Milady."

* * *

Edit: EpicFail: Despite my rambling far afield from topic here, I think you have been given some excellent answers and advice in some of the posts above.

Basically, yes. Boring? Of course. They don't call it level grinding for nothing. I've played the game several times through, so I just use the console to "simulate"/ fast forward my character leveling up to max anymore. Having the best of an item I guess is a status symbol or something.

Yeah, I get it. Not my way, but that's all right. It's fun to do it however you like to do it.

I don't really care about levelled items. Sure, they'll probably be useless when my character gets to level 20 or whatever, but by then I'll have the skills to make things myself anyway, and I'll have good memories of the quest rewards because they would be helpful to me back then.

Instant gratification, dude. No point in bashing your way to level 30 to get the best items, because you won't have been enjoying yourself for those 30 levels. There's no point to the game (in my opinion) if you're going to do that.

That is why you use Sigil Stones after level 17.

I always cap at 25 or 30, character dependent, before I start doing things. But you could always do quests that dont give you an item reward, or a reward that you want for your character.

im slowly making a "name" for my self currently 7 fame no main quest done and only 2 -3 thieves guild quest done cuz i know they didnt give me any kind of items

I advise waiting till level 30, especially if you are trying to max your character with efficient levelling; it is still fairly easy to level up by accident at level 20, whereas at 30, most of your major skills are sufficiently high that you probably won't level without trying. (Or at least that you wont level 10 times without trying). Also, there is some notable gear that maxes out above level 20; the spelldrinker amulet in particular, if you are going for 100% absorption, and the Eschuteon of Chorrol. Also, you only get a Mundane Ring drop off Mankar Cameron at level 22). So basically, i'd advise going for level 30 first.

Even then, I still find some better enchantments in random loot, at the higher levels.