when is it a good time to start the main quest?

[Rob]

like at a certian level or maybe after youve did something specific, idk can anyone help me out, also maybe a good time or level to start the dlcs?

[EolSunder]

if its your first time, just enjoy the game, there are tons and tons of quests, lots of areas to explore, lots of stuff to do. There isn't any time limit to start the main quest, heck im a vet player and i usually don't even start quests until after level 15 or so, just doing some training, building up money.

Don't worry about the quests or dlc's, you'll run into them when you do, there isn't really any set time you need to do them, just explore, learn how to do stuff, and have fun.

My only suggestion for new players is to learn about the leveling system in the game some, because its a tad backwards from logically how it is suppose to work. Not the skill system, you use skills, they go up, thats easy to understand. The leveling/stat system is a bit backwards and tricky. Do your homework.

Again, as for quests, don't worry about them just explore, pick up any quests in the areas you are in, the main starting city has tons of places, tons of quests, just the starting city will keep you busy for a while, and if you are bored and want adventuring, just head out into the wilderness and pick a direction and see what's out there.

Don't forget you can fast travel between places you have visited so visit a lot of places.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

I usually start Kvatch mission around level 10. You can wait longer if you want for more of a challenge, but the longer you wait the harder it is to beat it without the NPC helpers dying because they become too weak to compete with the daedra.

I like to go to the Shivering Isles right away. There are several useful spells and a few other useful items. But I don't start the main quest for the Isles until later, because one of the earlier quests has a leveled reward that is best saved until later, unless you use a mod to auto update it.

There are a few areas in the Shivering Isles that have coffins that randomly have durable versions of the vanilla weapons that do one less damage, but are much more durable. It is nice to find a durable silver weapon to use early on.

KOTN you can start at anytime. There is a mannequin type thing that can update any of the Crusader relics, so it doesn't matter when you do the quests. The biggest benefit is getting the Crusader boots early on so you can avoid getting attacked by animals on the road.

It is a good idea to start KOTN early so you can at least join the faction. That way you can enter the temples to raid their food stores for alchemy.

[ҥӵриӧѕ]

I usually start with completing the Arena first, then tell that yellow hair'd nonce to p off. Next Fighter's Guild, then maybe Kvatch. Darkbrother Hood, then Mage's Guild and then Main. All through-out I'm doing side quests. Next it's either KOTN or SI.

As a rule though, I will complete Arena first before I do anything, then Fighter's Guild. After that I can please myself.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

I usually join the Arena first too. I join so I can get the arena armor which is very durable, especially the light armor version and both versions only cost 1 gold to repair.

Fighting in the arena is a great way to earn money early on. I fight several matches to raise my sword skill and maybe help work towards a level up in the process.

Then I do the mages guild recommendation quests, so I can gain access to the arcane university. That way I can make custom spells to make leveling up easier. While in the process of completing those quests, I collect all the alchemy apparatus from all the mages guilds so I can sell them.

You can usually get around 8K from selling them, which is a nice amount for a character starting out. I use the gold to buy the Gauntlets of Gluttony from Bruma so I can carry more and do more damage.

[Daddy Kermit]

The first mission that's not a tutorial (The Kvatch Oblivion gate) would be best to do if you've gained a couple levels.

I personally did the Arena first so I could afford some better equipment, but the Arena Raiments did well for a while. Once you complete a couple matches you should be wealthy enough to get some better gear and have enough experience to take on the critters in Oblivion.

P.S. Be careful around the plants, one type of plant has blades on it and can kill NPC followers rather quickly.

[masternoxx1]

I start going in Oblivion gates at lv17 since that is when the strong sigil stones appear, otherwise with the main quest I would get to like lv5 with your endurance as high as possible also gain some skill in your chosen weapon and acqire good weapons and armor. Myself I do the kvatch at lower lvl (to open the oblivion gates) and then I just go out and do guild quests until I am lv25, takes a long time, and then at lv25 I never sleep so as not to level past that. I don't level past that because humans will level with you and I am a big fan of the frenzy spell, and that wont work after lv25. Also leveling past 25 will make many enemies do more damage and gain more hp to the point where ogres and goblins will be very dangerous. If you do the main quests only at low lvl just to beat the game you are really missing out on the whole point of this game and almost all of it's content

[Unexpected]

Id say just ignore the main quest until you level up more and get good armor and weapons, then just wipe out those gates