This is so frustrating. Since I started playing again, I've had a bunch (maybe 10 or 12 total) of different toons complete The Man Who Cried Wolf - and of those, TWO got The Wolf Queen Awakened "normally". The others I "prompted" using the manipulations posted on the http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/21429/?(after the author himself noted that the mod only worked once for him); it actually worked right for me for two other toons, and I just setstaged the rest of them through it.

Now, the latest couple of toons have done the first quest, gained the requisite level, have NOT done any "help the people of Haafingar" quests, have NOT become Thane; I have all three DLCs, and USLEEP - but The Wolf Queen Awakened is not starting.

Anyone have any ideas?

You have to leave Solitude, in order to get the courier to deliver the message to you. Not sure if you actually have to go somewhere else, but when I've done those quests, I've usually gotten the letter from Falk in another city or village. Dragon Bridge might work, I don't know.

Well, I fast traveled to Whiterun, to my house (Riverside Lodge Buildable Edition Redux), to Morthal, and to Windhelm Stables.... I never just stay in Solitude anyway - don't like it there.

Maybe do some walking to give the courier time to catch up with you? It seems I only get the message after I’ve forgotten that it’s coming. I hope he finds you soon!

I'll try that, good idea there Grits. I hope he finds me soon too, it's one of my favorite quest lines and yes - I can "make it work" I just hate to do that. I realize that programming game code isn't just a simple task anyone can do, but this seems even more excessively whacked than some bugs....

That one quest, Blood on the Ice is bad with starting correctly as well.

I've actually got that one down perfectly - now that I don't want the house any more! As with most of the quests in Windhelm, I truthfully never did the murder quest for enjoyment.... I did it back when I didn't have a house mod I really liked, and just got all the vanilla houses to dump septims. Now that I have a buildable house mod I just LOVE, I won't bother with any of the vanilla or HF houses. Think I'll probably have to find a mod to keep the money flow down though.... I think the only quest in Windhelm I don't mind doing is The White Phial.

I didn't buy any houses either and use Riverwood Lodge.

I am building up to starting the Wolf Queen awakened, and that's after I obtain all the volumes.

You know, I don't think I've ever found Vol 6.... EVER in any playthrough.

Regarding houses, I like to find alternate uses for the game’s houses and populate them with relocated NPCs. For example in Jerric’s world Vlindril Hall houses the Arcane University’s Center for Dwemer Studies, Windstad Manor is the home of the Blades’ Ghost Sea Station, Heljarchen Hall is the Chantry of Akatosh’s Hall of Hours, Honeyside is a Blades safehouse, and Lakeview Manor is the home of his extended family and some friends. He’s even built three mod houses (ghastley’s http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/69061/, http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/71553/, and http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/64038/) for NPC friends to live in so he can go visit. It’s also a great way to keep the gold from piling up.

I realize I have strayed off-topic. I suppose I should remark that changing locations on foot or horseback seems to help the courier find me?

If you think you'll NEVER find it:

Well, no wonder.... Thanks!

Doesn't seem to work for me. I spent three hours in game this morning wandering around on foot, and at walking pace on horse. I leveled up again, spent all the perk points.... still no courier. *shrug*

Are you above level 81? That's probably a stupid question but I have to ask.

Edit: Nevermind this bug was fixed.

If you're attempting this before level 10, it wont start. There is an internal minimum level the game checks for.

You can also try stealing the note from Falk Firebeard.

I thought in my latest playthrough that the Wolfskull Cave quest wasn't going to trigger, it was only when I completed Tending the Flames that it triggered. Normally on my first visit to Solitude I go the Jarl to start it (she usually tells me not to interrupt the court, bless her) then when she's free I either talk to her or to Falk Firebeard to start the quest. A couple of times Firebeard's prompt hasn't shown up in his dialogue options, if that does happen then I've heard that talking to the barman in The Winking Skeever might help. Then when that's completed usually after a few days the letter from Firebeard arrives.