Navigating Skyrim’s Guilds: The Optimal Quest Order for Maximum Adventure

The world of Skyrim is brimming with opportunity, and the various guilds offer some of the most engaging and rewarding questlines in the game. But with so many choices, figuring out the best order to tackle these factions can be overwhelming. Here’s the straight dope: there’s no single “best” order for everyone, but a strategic approach can enhance your role-playing experience, optimize character progression, and minimize potential headaches.

The ideal order hinges on your character build, playstyle, and personal preferences. However, a solid general guideline is to prioritize guilds that provide early-game benefits and support your chosen skills. This might look something like this:

1. The Companions: A fantastic early-game choice, especially for warrior builds. The quests are straightforward, and the initial rewards (weapons and armor) are useful. More importantly, completing the early Companion quests provides valuable experience and can lead to becoming a werewolf, which is incredibly powerful in the early stages of the game. Just remember that becoming a werewolf is mandatory to progress, but remaining one is optional.

2. The College of Winterhold: Essential for mage characters, but beneficial for anyone who wants access to powerful spells, enchanting, and alchemy resources. Joining early grants access to trainers who can boost your magical skills, as well as unique items and quest rewards.

3. The Thieves’ Guild: Offers valuable skills and benefits, particularly for stealth-based characters. While the questline is more involved, the early rewards (like improved lockpicking skills and access to fences) can significantly improve your overall gameplay. The Thieves Guild is better done earlier, as the benefits from the quests in this line are not as relevant as the game progresses and money comes easier.

4. The Dark Brotherhood: Save this one for later in the game. While the quests are engaging, the nature of the guild and the potential impact on NPC relationships can complicate other questlines. Furthermore, certain NPCs involved in Dark Brotherhood quests might be crucial for minor miscellaneous tasks, and eliminating them early on can lock you out of those opportunities. Doing the Dark Brotherhood quests last helps avoid bugs.

5. Dawnguard/Volkihar Clan: These factions are best tackled after reaching a higher level (20+), as the quests and enemies become significantly more challenging. Also, story wise, it makes sense to tackle vampires later on in the game. The rewards are powerful and rewarding, making the wait worthwhile.

6. Imperial Legion/Stormcloaks: The Civil War questline can be undertaken at any point, but it’s often best to hold off until you’ve explored more of Skyrim and gained a deeper understanding of the political landscape. This allows you to make a more informed decision about which side to support. There is no wrong answer to picking a side, it simply depends on your own role-playing motives.

Ultimately, the beauty of Skyrim lies in its freedom. Experiment, explore, and discover the quest order that best suits your individual Dragonborn. Embrace the chaos, and remember that even “mistakes” can lead to unexpected adventures.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Should I focus on one guild questline at a time, or juggle multiple?

The article suggests doing the guild quests all at once, as it levels with you. While some players prefer to immerse themselves in a single guild’s story, juggling multiple questlines offers several advantages. By alternating between guilds, you can diversify your gameplay, avoid burnout, and ensure that your character is constantly progressing in various skills and areas of expertise.

2. Does my race affect my choice of guilds?

While your race doesn’t lock you out of any guild, certain racial skills and abilities might make you more naturally suited to certain factions. For example, a Khajiit’s natural stealth skills might make them a strong candidate for the Thieves’ Guild or the Dark Brotherhood, while a Nord’s combat prowess might make them a good fit for the Companions or the Imperial Legion/Stormcloaks. Ultimately, you can play whichever race and guild you want, but a little bit of roleplay is always encouraged!

3. Can I join multiple guilds?

Yes! Skyrim allows you to join every guild in the game simultaneously. This is one of the things that sets Skyrim apart from many other open-world RPGs. Feel free to become the Arch-Mage of the College of Winterhold, the Listener of the Dark Brotherhood, the Harbinger of the Companions, and the Guild Master of the Thieves’ Guild, all at the same time.

4. Are there any guilds I should avoid?

No guild should be outright “avoided,” as each offers a unique and engaging experience. However, some quests within certain guilds may have less desirable rewards or moral implications that might not align with your character’s values. Weigh the pros and cons before embarking on any particular quest.

5. What level should I be before starting the Dawnguard or Volkihar Clan questlines?

These questlines are designed for higher-level characters. It’s generally recommended to be at least level 20, but even higher (30+) might be more comfortable, especially on higher difficulty settings. There really isn’t a lower limit, but you might be getting your butt kicked if you try to start it too early.

6. Is it possible to fail a guild quest?

Yes, some guild quests can be failed if you make certain choices or fail to meet specific objectives. However, failing a quest doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be kicked out of the guild. Often, you’ll simply have to face the consequences of your actions and find another way to complete the quest or make amends.

7. What are the benefits of becoming a werewolf or a vampire?

Becoming a werewolf grants powerful melee abilities, immunity to diseases, and the ability to transform into a fearsome beast. Becoming a vampire grants resistance to diseases and poisons, enhanced stealth abilities, and access to powerful vampire-specific spells and abilities. However, both transformations come with drawbacks, such as vulnerability to fire (for vampires) and the inability to gain rested bonuses (for werewolves).

8. Can I cure myself of vampirism or lycanthropy (werewolfism)?

Yes, both vampirism and lycanthropy can be cured, although the process can be challenging. Curing vampirism typically involves completing a specific quest, while curing lycanthropy requires completing the Companions questline and then performing a ritual.

9. Does the Civil War questline affect other guild questlines?

The Civil War questline has minimal impact on other guild questlines. While some locations might change hands depending on which side you support, the core guild quests remain largely unaffected.

10. Are there any missable guild quests?

Some minor guild quests can be missed if you don’t meet specific requirements or complete certain actions before advancing in the main questline. However, the major guild questlines are generally designed to be accessible regardless of your progress in other areas of the game. To prevent missing quests, explore frequently and talk to everyone!

11. What is the hardest guild questline?

The difficulty of each questline varies depending on your character build and playstyle. However, the Dawnguard/Volkihar Clan questlines are generally considered to be among the most challenging, due to the powerful enemies and demanding objectives.

12. What are the best rewards from each guild?

• The Companions: Powerful weapons, armor, and the ability to become a werewolf.

• The College of Winterhold: Access to powerful spells, enchanting and alchemy resources, and unique robes.

• The Thieves’ Guild: Improved lockpicking skills, access to fences, and powerful armor with stealth enchantments.

• The Dark Brotherhood: Unique weapons, armor, and the ability to summon assassins.

• Dawnguard/Volkihar Clan: Powerful weapons, armor, and unique vampire/werewolf abilities.

13. Should I do the Dragonborn DLC before or after the main quest?

The Dragonborn DLC is generally best tackled after completing the main quest, as it features a significantly more challenging storyline and enemies. However, it can be done at any point after speaking to the Greybeards.

14. Who is the best follower for guild quests?

The best follower depends on your character build and the specific quest. However, some generally useful followers include:

• Serana: A powerful vampire follower from the Dawnguard DLC, useful because she cannot die.
• J’zargo: A powerful mage follower from the College of Winterhold.
• Aela the Huntress: A skilled archer and warrior from the Companions.

15. Where can I learn more about game design and learning through games?

You can explore more resources and research on the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. The Games Learning Society is dedicated to advancing the field of learning through games. This site offers a wealth of information on the intersection of game design and education.