Oblivion, for example..

Whatever level your character was when the DLC was installed was the level for all DLC items, difficulty, etc.

I am not a beginner to Skyrim by any means, but I have never installed any of the DLC before.

Thanks for any information.

Nope! The DLC levels just like everything else in the game levels and is completely independent from whatever level you are when you install them. Though I'm pretty sure they have level requirements, like Dawnguard starts at level 10 and Hearthfire at level 8 (or 9?).

One of that main reasons I ask is because I don't want a repeat of the annoying scenario where some of my favorite gear ends up being incredibly weak, like when I installed Shivering Isles at level 1 in Oblivion, and had that happen.

They invite you to the Dawnguard at level 10, but you can go before that. For Hearthfire, you have to be a thane in the minor holds. Dragonborn starts once you've been recognized as the Dragonborn.

I have not played in about 8 months, due to some personal problems. I am going to be playing again soon.

What about followers being "locked" to your level the moment you encounter them? Was this ever fixed, to where they level with you all the way up to their level cap?

The wiki says this was fixed in patch 1.6, but I haven't read anything about it in the notes.

Followers level up with you now.

I am a major OCD collector. If I pick up a leveled item of any kind, armor, ring, circlet, weapon and it is weaker than its MAXED version, I get bummed out. Everybody likes to have their own goals in Skyrim. For me, a personal goal is to obtain every leveled item at their maxed version. So, this ties into the question of installing DLC at low levels. I also wanted to know how to avoid missing out on max leveled items. Do I need to just avoid quests with leveled quest rewards until the right time? Is it that simple, or does entering certain cells/towns/places count also?

I don't think the DLC has any leveled items. To be safe, I would be level 46 or higher.

I meant the main game.


I actually hate leaving Helgen Keep (cave) at the beginning of the game being at a low level, because everywhere I go, I have no idea if I am going around locking leveled items to my weak level.

Many of the levels items you won't need to worry about since you get some pretty late in the various guild quests.

Still, to be safe. I would be level 46 or higher.

Thank you. Is the level cap still 81, or has that gone up? I read about these "legendary" skills which can level up infinitely, but I really don't know much about it.

That is a completely different thing that you should search on your own. There are literally billions of threads on that.

And yes, the cap has been removed. You can go higher than 81 by resetting your skills.

How does one "reset" their skills? I am on xbox 360.

Would that be irrelevant if I am starting a new character?

Short version:

Once a skill reaches 100, you can reset it. It gives you back all your perks and abilities from that tree. You do so by pressing Y in your case.it can be done an unlimited amount of times.

I felt reallt stupid after asking that question, since it is explained really clearly on the wiki. Thank you for answering my question anyway.