What happens if you summon the dragon in Blackreach before the fight at Whiterun Watchtower?

[La Criatura Espada]

The dragon at Blackreach (where you shout at the glowing ball). If you cheat in the Unrelenting Force then activate the dragon before the fight at the Whiterun Watchtower, what would happen? Would dragons start spawning?

[Docsprock]

No, I do not believe that dragon can be 'summoned' before the watchtower quest.

You could go in-game and try it. At best, nothing will happen, at worse, wrecked game.

There are 2 dragons I am aware of that can be fought without the main quest being started; the bone dragon in Labrynthian, and Durneviir.

[Bomb Bloke]

What I would expect is that the bell-summoning script doesn't give a fig about whether you've been to the watchtower (instead assuming that since you can shout, you must've done), and likewise all the other dragons in the world won't pay the slightest bit of attention to the Blackreach dragon's death (because it makes more sense to code that trigger into the quest script related to what happens at the watchtower than it does to code that trigger into the rather more complex act of "beating a dragon").

[gnewna]

Originally posted by Bomb Bloke:

What I would expect is that the bell-summoning script doesn't give a fig about whether you've been to the watchtower (instead assuming that since you can shout, you must've done), and likewise all the other dragons in the world won't pay the slightest bit of attention to the Blackreach dragon's death (because it makes more sense to code that trigger into the quest script related to what happens at the watchtower than it does to code that trigger into the rather more complex act of "beating a dragon").

Mostly agree with this, although I think there is a script tied to 'absorbing first dragon soul' and probably *not* a script that says 'dragons pre-Mirmulnir don't get their souls absorbed'.

[La Criatura Espada]

This community is amazing. I don't know, it was late at night and I was like, "What if..."

[Trehek]

Originally posted by Docsprock:

There are 2 dragons I am aware of that can be fought without the main quest being started; the bone dragon in Labrynthian, and Durneviir.

Naaslaarum and Voslaarum as well, I think.

[Bomb Bloke]

Hmm. Makes me wonder if it's possible to scrimp up enough souls to beat Dragonborn without doing the main quest.

I hear tell it's possible to skip the whole "cultists invitation" thing by learning Bend Will, freeing the Skaal, then visiting their village.

[Trehek]

Originally posted by Bomb Bloke:

Hmm. Makes me wonder if it's possible to scrimp up enough souls to beat Dragonborn without doing the main quest.

I hear tell it's possible to skip the whole "cultists invitation" thing by learning Bend Will, freeing the Skaal, then visiting their village.

The Dragonborn questline only starts after you visit the Greybeards and begin the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller quest. Dawnguard is a bit different since it only has a level requirement.

[Docsprock]

Originally posted by Trehek:

Originally posted by Docsprock:

There are 2 dragons I am aware of that can be fought without the main quest being started; the bone dragon in Labrynthian, and Durneviir.

Naaslaarum and Voslaarum as well, I think.

No, they do not appear if you are not Dragonborn. Ive done several playthroughs like this, and the ones I mentioned are the only ones Ive found. (But Ive been wrong before) :D

[gnewna]

Originally posted by Bomb Bloke:

Hmm. Makes me wonder if it's possible to scrimp up enough souls to beat Dragonborn without doing the main quest.

I hear tell it's possible to skip the whole "cultists invitation" thing by learning Bend Will, freeing the Skaal, then visiting their village.

You'd need to at least progress to the end of Dragon Rising, if that even works. Not much point risking mucking up both main quests (base game/DB) just to skip the trip up the mountain, really.

[Docsprock]

Originally posted by Bomb Bloke:

Hmm. Makes me wonder if it's possible to scrimp up enough souls to beat Dragonborn without doing the main quest.

I hear tell it's possible to skip the whole "cultists invitation" thing by learning Bend Will, freeing the Skaal, then visiting their village.

Just go to Windhelm at an early level, hire the boat for 250 gold. You can get the first Bend Will without fighting a dragon. (In fact, without being Dragonborn, I travel to all the outside Word Walls and learn the words without those pesky Dovah butting in.)

Without using cheats, however, I dont think its possible to be able to shout.

[Bomb Bloke]

Originally posted by Trehek:

The Dragonborn questline only starts after you visit the Greybeards and begin the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller quest.

This is what I'm saying - I've heard there's a way to bypass that completely. If Dawnguard's dragons don't spawn early, though, then that puts a damper on the "skipping all main quests" thing, though.

Originally posted by Trehek:

Dawnguard is a bit different since it only has a level requirement.

No, it has a level "suggestion" - at level 10 a recruiter comes to find you. There's nothing stopping your from joining up at level 1, though. Ditto for Hearthfire's "quest".

Originally posted by gnewna:

Not much point risking mucking up both main quests (base game/DB) just to skip the trip up the mountain, really.

Sure there is - to see if it can be done! :)

I've likewise been considering a "no skill gains" run, again just to see how it works out.

Truth be told I've never actually fought Vulthuryol before. I'mma take my Dragonborn down there and see if I can get the gong rung without shouting at it. The UESP talk page even suggests having a thralled Ulfric do it for you, which seems a clever idea.

[gnewna]

Tcl, levitate up to it, and give it a Glasgow kiss.

[Bomb Bloke]

So I've exhausted my spell collection on the ball (which as far as I'm aware is complete), even tried the Bloodskal Blade. Nada. Arrows and other physical attacks don't work either.

Eventually I flew on top of it and summoned a Deathlord. Its shout did "work" in that the dragon was summoned, though I didn't get to fight it...

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=721336970

Getting a Deathlord down there under regular circumstances is easier said than done, however. Ulfric would likely be the best bet in terms of doing it "legit", but even he's not so easy to snag.

[Eternie]

Interesting concept, attempting it legitimately of course!
"And dying to find the answer well done bomb bloke!"

[La Criatura Espada]

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥! Knowledge is being spewed from many veterans, and even I (a veteran) am obtaining more knowledge.
It would be interesting to gain souls without starting the raid of the dragons. When you're tired, you think.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjfKSs7EiF8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfwfTc-yC1o