I've noticed now that I have all the DLCs that I tend to start a new character and for at least the first 10 levels play them all a certain way in order to get some of the early quests done without the "game" messin' in up so to speak.

For example, if you don't do the Briar Mead quest for Siddgeir before level 9 it almost never is available afterward.

My typical order of doing things in a certain order generally starts at level 8 and proceeds through level 10. I do have a couple spots later at level 20 & level 30 where I "force" the game to trigger an event/quest by fast traveling.

Here's what I usually do:

Level 8 I make my way to Falkreath and speak to Siddgeir to get the Briar Mead quest and I complete it as I keep one bottle on my character from the initial escape from Helgen.

Level 9 I fast travel to Falkreath (if I'm there I leave town and fast travel back to it) to force the Courier to spawn and deliver the letter from Siddgeir.

Level 9 I read the letter from Siddgeir and then speak to him to start the Hearthfire quest to go kill a bunch of bandits.

I have found if one doesn't read the letter right away and get the Hearthfire quest at level 10 the Afflicted Refugee more often than not will NOT spawn.

Level 10 I make sure when I level up to 10 I'm not near any guards and I fast travel to Honningbrew Meadery to trigger spawn of the Afflicted Refugee. I travel via walking toward Riverward and speak to the refugee to get the Peryite quest. I continue to Riverwood and if there are guards there I avoid them so I can speak to Durak and initiate the Dawnguard quest. I never like it when that quest initiates from a guard; for some reason doesn't seem right to get the quest just because they're scared of the fanged night people.

Level 20 I will fast travel to a town to make the Courier spawn again and give me the Museum pamphlet, but recently I found that this is unnecessary as the dialog is also available from Innkeepers.

Level 30 I will fast travel to either the Western Watchtower if it's been discovered or some other area in order to spawn the Boethiah Cultist (I take his book and put it on a shelf without reading it until I'm ready). If I don't do this it seems that he never spawns especially if I pass level 30.

I am curious if anyone else has other game play they do in a specific order to keep the game from messing up quests and/or events and what one should look out for when adventuring.

Cheers!

Bram