Just started a fresh new game. Right now, I have absolutely no desire to do any quests, side quests, or anything. I am just having fun hunting elk, and foxes, and bunnies to raise my "bunnies slaughtered" count.


(Try not to make fun of me)


Which quests does everyone strongly recommend doing as soon as possible, as these quests are known to bug out simply by time passing?


Please mention the quests, and the reasons why (specifically).

I like bunnies.

Blood on the Ice.

There are unessential NPC's required for the quest that can die before the quest begins. Additionally, the starting scene can just disappear if not interacted with, rendering the quest impossible to finish.

The wiki has a great list of quest order suggestions as well: http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Quest_Timing%C2%A0

Blook on the Ice... why? The list of glitches and bugs is mile long. Look it up on the UESP wiki...


If I have any intention of getting the house in Windhelm or doing th CW, or just til keep it from bugging out, I do it early. .. not so much now on PC as when I was playing on 360

That's a tricky one. Some of the quests get bugged "later on" depending on what you do. Timing is the key, I guess?

Dragons or Vampires can attack and screw some up (non-essential NPCs die), so putting off the Main Quest and Dawnguard may help keep those minimal. There is one quest where you have to get something from Heimskr's house in Whiterun (Thieves Guild?), so if you do the Civil War quest with the Stormcloaks, Heimskr's house may be rubble and un-enterable without a console command.

Though I'm no expert, it is tough to say what to avoid and which order to do quests is "most safe."

[EDIT]

The tough part is many of the "need to do" quests are not available right away.

Thank you!!! Great list!!!

So, in theory, if I am starting a brand new game, what would be the step-by-step process to getting to the location of the quest, Blood on the Ice, then initiating it? My main goal would be to not enter any cells other than the ones I would absolutely have to, and DEFINITELY not trigger any other quests. Could anybody give me a step by step process straight out of Helgen Keep at level 1? This way I can get the quest out of the way so I don't have to worry about it being bugged my whole game?

Blood on the Ice step 1) READ>>>> http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Blood_on_the_Ice carefully...and more than once.

Step 2) make enough money to take a carriage to Windhelm and then follow the step's that the Wiki outlines.

Save...save often during a major quest-line, before and after. I keep at least the before and after saves after I am done with each quest. You never know how far back you may have to go to "fix" a bug... Really svck's when you hit a major "bug" at level 36 and the only save you have is after leaving Helgen at lvl 1.

I know you might not want to see the wiki, but in cases like BoTI it IS your best friend.

I use the wiki all the time.


However, I am asking someone with experience to help me by giving me a step by step method to do this without entering any cells unless the ones I absolutely have to, and without triggering any other quests/walking into cells that have scripted sequences like the companions fighting the giant, etc.

and that actually is... the "easiest" way to Windhelm is by carriage.. you could run down the road at lvl 1, follow the road signs. You can't Fast Travel there because, you haven't been there yet.. so carriage it is, but that will trigger the Companion's fighting the Giant... entering Windhelm will trigger two NPC's talking ( aka harassing) a third.

The problem is you can't do "A" without going into town X and triggering "B". The game is set up like an Fair or Theme Park, one thing leading to another.

Mine isn't the right kind of experience... I do the "buggiest" quest's that might effect my Role Play and completely ignore that which I don't plan on doing.

I don't think I have ever had an issue with Blood on the Ice when I follow the laid out clue path....done it many many times. The only hiccup is if you don't get Calixto to buy the darned amulet early enough. He won't buy it off you later. Sell it when Jorlief advises. Otherwise it is gonna be stuck in your inventory as an immovable quest item....for evva. Btw....if you are good at pickpocket....that amulet can be resold over and over to the rather thick Calixto....who never cottons on that its his amulet he is re-buying at 500 a time heehee!


So basically...don't try to be clever by short circuiting the intended 'path'.....do what they want in the order they want it and it should just play out properly

Forbidden Legend has a whole bunch of bugs, if you want to do it make a load of saves while just getting it out of the way. Though it could be said the reward is only worth it when you are too low a level not to struggle at big bad bosses time.

What is the " laid-out clue path " and just to confirm, the easiest way would be to the carriage just outside of Whiterun to Windhelm, then I have to follow a clue path once I get there, or does this laid out clue path occur anywhere outside of Windhelm?






Ok, my same original question, then for Forbidden Legend. Sorry, guys, if I'm asking too much, here.

No troubles! I just wish I could help you more

Blood on the Ice... I'm not sure how "fast" that triggers, to be honest. I don't think you can "wagon it" to Windhelm right off of the bat and then run to the graveyard. I could be wrong, though.

To trigger Blood on the Ice enter the Windhelm cell four times, then enter the city at night, after 7pm. You can walk between the stables and the adjacent farm to cross into and out of the cell repeatedly.

Dragons are a big threat to the quest because an NPC who is intended to be a quest victim strolls outside into dragon country as part of her regular routine. The NPC is not marked essential and can be killed. This, along with the quest's relationship to a house, is just one reason it is wise to do this quest early. For me, if I think I might want the house or the amulet, I do the quest right away. If not, I generally don't bother.

It's not supposed to start the 1st time you enter the "cell", though I have had it start then... 3 or 4 times and entering and leaving a building count or they always have for me on 360. Most of the bug's were fixed by the Unofficial patches ( maybe all of them ).

The only "game breaking" glitch I have had is the "getting stuck in the Time Wound" and I have never read anything that worked other than reverting to a previous save. ( or console commands on PC ). I've also never done the research to find out what causes it, but my 1st character got it and she was lvl 47 and I reverted to saves all the way back to some lvl in the mid 20's... it stopped being fun doing the quest's over and over again... so I deleted her save file and started a new character.

You are indeed asking for too much here. This stuff belongs in the Spoiler section.

Glargg's correct, if you want truly detailed information...typed out step by step, then you need to ask the moderators to move this to the spoilers section. One of the reason's why I just gave a link to the wiki... the other is.. the wiki has step by step instructions.... not just general information.

Indeed.

It's one thing ask which quests are bugged/need special attention, but quite another to ask for detailed step-by-steps which may actually detract from your enjoyment of the game. The spoiler section and the wikis are for those who don't mind spoilers, this forum still has the occasional new member and with games like this finding things out for yourself is a big part of the appeal.

It is 'laid out' as a series of clues one leading to the next....often a clue is simply being told what to do next by an npc. Its not like markers on the ground or anything!


When you see the body....speak to the guard.....follow his instructions.....he sends you to other people.....who may ask you to speak to yet more people. Im not going to tell you exactly who to see and what they say.....I mean....surely you are just going to go and do it arn't you? In which case you will soon know exactly who to see and what they say. Its really not a brain stretcher....just do what they say and it unfolds for you.


If you want a super detailed walkthrough for all quests plus easter eggs and piles of info on npc stats and all dungeons etc I thoroughly recommend the official "Prima Strategy Guide to Skyrim Legendary edition" its over 1000 pages detailing everything in the official game content and dlcs. Well worth the 30 bucks if you want the entire low down on everything.....google it !

Actually, you're looking at about $60.00 USD for a USED paperback version of the Legendary Edition Prima guide, and a minimum of $90.00 USD for the hardcover version. There are brand new, factory sealed guides on eBay, but the prices are even higher.


If my topic needs to be moved elsewhere, ok. All I am asking is a recommendation for getting to wherever the Blood on The Ice quest is located, straight from the beginning of the game the simplest possible way, avoiding entering any unnecessary cells/triggering any unnecessary quests.

Try to do radiant quests for the companions and companion storyline. Just avoid Vilkas. Sometimes he gives out a bugged quest. But doing Aela and Farkas, there is no trouble at all. Also...if you're looking to level up. Start on the main quest until you reach the Greybeards. Their is the sneak exploit that Bethesda never treated, you can stab the greybeards in sneak mode or on Legendary and you should hit level 80 in no time. But also, you want to go to the companions and use the companion glitch where you ask them to come with you and than pay to raise your sword, heavy armor, and shield skills and than go into their inventory and take your money back and than go level up some more by sneaking the Greybeards.

This will also give quite a bit of health to work on the Restoration skill. Once at 50, become a vampire, go to the Mages College and get circle of protection and caste it mutlitple times until Restoration is max.

Also go kill some bandits and than cast soul cap on their dead bodies to max out conjuration.

Go to a river and spam water breathing and max out Alteration once you have it at 50 or more, not sure.

Illusion, just spam courage or calm on a guard.

Destruction, no easy way on this one except if you have money and using the Greybeards exploit.

Than you pretty much play as a spellsword.

Lol. Even though your comment had nothing in common with my question, I really appreciate it! You gave some awesome tips here!!! Thanks! Just one question... What do you mean by radiant companion quests? I thought all companion quests were linear, one after another, in order, until the questline was completed?! Also, what is the bugged quest by Vilkas that you're referring to?

I am unsure about Vilkas's bugged quest, but I found that The Companions are radiant. You don't have to grab that first quest from "Ice Brains" (Farkas), but can actually chat up any Companion quest giver to get quests.

These can be done linearly, but you don't have to

PS: Considering you only need to do 3 or 4 quests before "things get interesting", it does seem rather linear

So suppose I wanted to complete Blood on the Ice straight out of Helgen Keep in a new game. My first plan would be to go straight to the carriage driver right outside Whiterun Stables, then take the carriage to Windhelm. Would anybody be able to give me the most safe, step-by-step guide to total completion without bugs? I don't want to complete the quest by just following the civil war line to buying Hjerim. This guarantees the completion of Blood on the Ice, but I want to do this legitimately.