Dawnguard vs Vampires?

[Kuromiya]

Played the hell out of Skyrim when it was first released; just got Dawnguard DLC. Currently debating whether to join the dawnguard or the Vampire faction, so what are the various strengths/perks for each side?

From what I understand, both sides will

- allow you to become a Vampire Lord
- get that hot vampire chick as a permanent follower
- give you 90% of the same questlines

Sticking with Dawnguard gives you:

- exclusive access to one of three artifacts
- exclusive access to an OP crossbow
- exclusive spells
- a half dozen followers

While the Vampires give you:

- a slightly earlier opportunity to become a Vampire Lord, and no exclusive content...?


Is this correct? I'm sort of leaning towards the Dawnguard, and frankly that horrifies me.


-Edit- from an RP perspective, my character is on the fence. Has been both a vampire and a werewolf before. CN/CG leaning: Stormcloak agent, Brotherhood assassin, comes from a long line of Sithis cultists, but is a True Son of Skyrim and generally happy to work with the people of Skyrim, rather than against them. Never had much need for Stendar and generally look down on all the Nine save for Kyne and Talos (and maybe Dibella), but Lord Harkon's attitude ticks me off, and I'm not about to bend my knee to no stinking Vampire lord. I HATE the Thalmor, and if either of these factions supports those skeever suckers, I will gladly ally against them.

[Chompman]

Do a save and then try both storylines but it is easier going for dawnguard as playing a vampire can be a lot more work.

[GrimCat]

Originally posted by KITANA:

Played the hell out of Skyrim when it was first released; just got Dawnguard DLC. Currently debating whether to join the dawnguard or the Vampire faction, so what are the various strengths/perks for each side?

From what I understand, both sides will

- allow you to become a Vampire Lord
- get that hot vampire chick as a permanent follower
- give you 90% of the same questlines

Sticking with Dawnguard gives you:

- exclusive access to one of three artifacts
- exclusive access to an OP crossbow
- exclusive spells
- a half dozen followers

While the Vampires give you:

- a slightly earlier opportunity to become a Vampire Lord, and no exclusive content...?


Is this correct? I'm sort of leaning towards the Dawnguard, and frankly that horrifies me.


-Edit- from an RP perspective, my character is on the fence. Has been both a vampire and a werewolf before. CN/CG leaning: Stormcloak agent, Brotherhood assassin, comes from a long line of Sithis cultists, but is a True Son of Skyrim and generally happy to work with the people of Skyrim, rather than against them. Never had much need for Stendar, but Lord Harkon's attitude ticks me off, and I'm not about to bend my knee to no stinking Vampire lord. I HATE the Thalmor, and if either of these factions supports those skeever suckers, I will gladly ally against them.

In my opinion Sithis would have a big problem with vampires. Mainly that Sithis wants everything to return to the void and vampirism with it's immortality, goes contrary to that. And you get Serana no matter what.

[Docsprock]

"Hot vampire chick?" HOT VAMPIRE CHICK?!! There are no hot vampire chicks in this game...Oh, you mean Serana, dont you. Have her join you and you will see how 'hot' she is. Unless you enjoy being constantly henpecked.

Overall, its a pretty good DLC, but both questlines share a lot of quests. Vampire lord is fun for a while, but there really isnt a lot to do with the vampire storyline.

The Dawnguard side has more quests, and it can have more of a lasting effect on the game. You can join the Dawnguard and still become a vampire lord temporarily.

There are a couple new areas to explore, which can very different to what you might expect.

The whole DLC is intended to be played at somewhat lower levels, say 7-20. ;)

[Kuromiya]

Well, this is my old character I'm picking up with, and I'm at Level 65, so I think I've gone a little past the recommended spread...

Jimanity - Sithis was fine with my ancestor, the Champion of Cyrodil, being a vampire, and Sithis likes Babette, so that's good enough for me!

[s.turner3030]

To be honest the vampire side of the quest is pretty meh, go on a epiq quest to bring eternal night to skyrim, so that vampires can hunt all the time with no daylight damage, well no you can't, the quest line even if you do go vampire will not let you.

The vanilla serena is a major wimp as a follower as well, or at least she seemed to be when I did it with the lv60ish toon, most of the enemies were chopping her to bits, which meant she spent most of her time on her knees doing nothing, though to be honest I do use a npc leveling mod, which makes most npc's level with me.

But the save just before then follow both paths is pretty much what I did, just never managed to get the dawnguard side of the quest finished, only the vampire side.

[qwefg2]

Dawnguard can let you become a vampire lord. Vampire gives rings to boost vampire lord powers... which most people rarely use when your own rings and amulets tend to be better. Dawn guard gives armored troll like hired dogs... and vampires give weaker than troll dogs.

Dawn guard has some interesting people to talk to... and the vampires are ready to slight each other's throats. Unless you get the Castle rebuilt mod the vampire side which adds a descent bit to the vampire side... you won't get much. Heck you can become a vampire lord as a dawnguard so the vampires don't even keep the vampire lord perk.

Unmodded I'd say dawnguard. Modded and you might like the vampire side a little bit more.

[MysticMalevolence]

Dawnguard is pretty much better in every way imo. Vampires don't really achieve anything by the end, but Dawnguard defeats the vampire menace. Though Volkihar castle is pretty cool, I don't think it justifies going with the "we-will-blot-out-the-sun" rout that you only somewhat achieve.


Doc, do you really have to rant about Serana in every thread that mentions her...?

[Docsprock]

Originally posted by Sir Dylan:

Dawnguard is pretty much better in every way imo. Vampires don't really achieve anything by the end, but Dawnguard defeats the vampire menace. Though Volkihar castle is pretty cool, I don't think it justifies going with the "we-will-blot-out-the-sun" rout that you only somewhat achieve.


Doc, do you really have to rant about Serana in every thread that mentions her...?

No, I guess I dont. Its almost a trademark now though. :D