Free DLC?

[Sines]

Okay, so I'm playing Skyrim for the first time in ages, and I'm noticing some content that I didn't think would be here... I see a fight with a Vampire in the first major town. Then on my way to the Greybeards, I get told about joining the Dawnguard. Also, the loading screen mentions Dragonbone weapons.

To my knowledge, this stuff is all from the DLC, which I'm pretty sure I don't have. At first, I thought that a friend had gifted me the season pass when he first bought me the game way back when, but I can't see the DLC downloaded anywhere...

Do I actually have these DLC? Or is this stuff added to the main game as a sort of advertisement for the DLC? Is there any way to know for certain?

[Falro the Great]

Well, the DLC are DRM-free, so even if your account doesn't own them, if they are installed, you can play them. You can check if you own them in the Downloadable Content section of Skyrim's Library page.

[Sines]

I got the game through Steam, I believe. And the DLC window is only displaying that free texture thing (which I have only just begun downloading).

[Nijn]

If I remember correctly an update accidently added the needed Dawnguard files to play it, and after they noticed their mistake they decided to let users keep it. It's on your own risk though, if you don't buy the DLC and your Dawnguard files get deleted, your save games will be corrupted.

[Bomb Bloke]

It sounds pretty likely Dawnguard is installed, even though I don't see it registered against your profile. Another user of your system may've downloaded it using their Steam account (all Skyrim files are shared on the one system, no matter who installs them), you may've gained access to it via Family Sharing, or if Skyrim was installed a long time back, you may've indeed gained access via that bugged update.

If you open the Skyrim Launcher and click Data Files, odds are you'll see the plugin sitting there.

[Theblaze]

Check the "Data" Folder in the root Folder of Skyrim and see if there are two Files called

Dawnguard.bsa
Dawnguard.esm

This is the Dawnguard DLC, if you have those Files then they are very likely installed and currently in use.

You can find the Skyrim root folder here:

\Steam\steamapps\common/Skyrim

[Sines]

Should have thought to do that sooner. But yep, they're there.

So, they'll remain there as long as I leave them on the computer? I presume that, if I delete the game a re-install won't bring it back, and I'll need to purchase the DLC properly to continue a save file with it?

[Theblaze]

Take a look at the DLC tab in your Steam Library, if you have a license for the DLC it should be listed there.

But yes if a DLC or Mod is missing that was used in your Savegame, the Savegame might be corrupted and unplayable.

[Bomb Bloke]

Originally posted by Sines:

I presume that, if I delete the game a re-install won't bring it back, and I'll need to purchase the DLC properly to continue a save file with it?

The re-install would not bring it back before paying, but you'd still technically be able to load the save file. Most of the mod's effects (added items, etc) would be automatically stripped out.

However, some scripts may remain, potentially causing problems that may or may not be readily apparent. The general rule of thumb is that if you want to remove a given plugin file from your load order, you should revert to a save from before the time that file was first added.