So I always assumed that when you don't actually level yourself up through skills menu the game still considers you the level that you are. However on my character he is level 33, and I was going to level him up he'd be level 38. But there are elder dragons in my game which should not appear until level 37. Does that mean even though I don't want to level up anymore that game is basically still considering me to be higher? If so that's really stupid. I didn't want to level past 33 because there's no need and also I'd be making a lot of followers end up being useless with their level 30 level caps.

Are you using mods?

Why wouldnt you want to level up further? you cant get stronger otherwise. as for the elder dragons, use Bend Will shout to tame them or summon odahviing. Or next time u make a character dont become dragonborn, those flying lizards wont ever stop.

To person above I'm using PS3, and to you, can you actually read the post. I don't mind fighting Elder Dragons I was just asking if the game counts leveling up when I have the option to level up. I simply do not want to make the countless followers in the game useless. Can anyone answer this please? It seems silly for the game to force the world to level around you even though you didn't want to level up, but why would I have elder dragons in my game when I'm level 33?

I have 360, and yes if your level 33 or 37 thats the level you are even though your not distributing your skill points, your still whatever level your character is regardless of what you do with the skill points. Once a skill becomes legendary you have the option to get back all the points you used for that skill, doing so will not knock your level back down, it just means you have points sitting around collecting dust.

If you don't level up the game treats you as the level displayed. Perks have nothing yo do with it.

You could leave yourself on Level one and even after a hundred hours of play, you still only have to face the same critters as you did when you first started. However, as soon as you enter the skills menu it will lock you in until all the pending level ups have been carried out.

Note that some dungeons are designed for higher level players and won't be any easier on level one.

Staying around level thirty will mean you only face level thirty appropriate npcs, but they won't all be exactly level thirty themselves some maybe a bit higher some a bit lower. The thing is, they won't change and you won't find areas with say wolves that now have been upgraded to sabrecats.

As for followers becoming usless im not sure what info i could give. i dont know if they level up like some npcs do or there level locks at the first time you meet them i dont know, some say Odahviing levels up aqs you do, some say his level locks after u first meet him, not sureb if that applies to all followers too or not. i dont normally concern myself with followers, 5 sharp claws on each hand are all the followers i need.

Followers do indeed level with the player and any follower you take on will automatically be levelled to you......upto their own personal level cap. Lydia for example will level with you until she hits 50. That is her cap.

Okay so I guess its just misinformation with Elder dragons only supposed to be appearing at level 37? Thanks, that's a relief .

even though followers arent my style, i must admit ive always had a soft spot for Lydia, shes a good follower and shes wicked tough.

Things appear 'around' particular levels. Vampires with the Dawnguard DLC 'should' start appearing when the activation level is reached. Thats level 10 and passing guards mention it. However, you will commonly get a vamp attack at level 8, occasionally at level 7 and rarely at level 6. It's not impossible to get one at level 5 ( ask neildarkstar).

Elder dragons may be commonly triggered at 37, but in that case it might well be possible to see one in the low thirties, or you might be well above 37 before finding your first one. The same applies to all npcs. I have seen a marauder at level 10, pretty scary then! Insta kill.