The Allure of the Dawnguard Questline
Picture this: you’re deep in the frostbitten wilds of Skyrim, your character a shadowy figure with fangs bared, torn between the thrill of eternal night and the call to hunt vampires. The Dawnguard DLC throws players into this eternal tug-of-war, where joining the vampire-hunting Dawnguard feels like grasping at a storm-tossed branch in a blizzard—exhilarating, yet fraught with peril. As someone who’s logged countless hours in Tamriel, I’ve watched players grapple with this very question: can you align with the Dawnguard while cursed as a vampire? Let’s unpack this step by step, blending strategy, lore, and a dash of personal insight to help you navigate one of gaming’s most intriguing moral mazes.
From my perspective, this isn’t just about gameplay mechanics; it’s about the story’s emotional undercurrents. The Dawnguard’s rigid code clashes beautifully with the seductive chaos of vampirism, like oil and fire mixing in a forge. You’ll need to weigh your character’s backstory against in-game consequences, making choices that feel as weighty as a dragon’s scale.
Navigating the Core Conflict: Dawnguard and Vampirism
In the world of Skyrim, the Dawnguard are a group of stalwart vampire hunters, sworn to protect mortals from bloodsuckers like your character might become. But here’s the twist—trying to join them as a vampire is like trying to sneak a wolf into a sheepfold; it’s possible, but it demands cunning and timing. The game doesn’t outright bar you, but your vampiric state triggers immediate suspicion, potentially slamming doors shut before you can even knock.
Based on my experiences, the key lies in understanding faction alignments. The Dawnguard’s leader, Isran, views vampires as abominations, which means your bloodlust could sour negotiations faster than sour milk in a Skyrim winter. Yet, with some clever maneuvering, you can test the waters without committing fully. For instance, I once played a character who role-played as a “reformed” vampire, using stealth to eavesdrop on Dawnguard conversations before making a move—it added a layer of tension that kept me hooked for hours.
Step-by-Step: Attempting to Join as a Vampire
If you’re set on this path, follow these actionable steps to maximize your chances. Remember, Skyrim rewards preparation, so treat this like forging a blade—heat it just right, and it might not shatter.
- Assess Your Vampiric Stage: First, check your vampire progression in your character menu. If you’re in the early stages (like Stage 1 or 2), your appearance is subtle, giving you a slim advantage. In later stages, your skin turns ashen and eyes glow like embers in a dying fire, making stealth impossible. I recommend curing or hiding your condition before approaching Fort Dawnguard—use the console command
player.setav speedmult 100if you’re on PC to test movements discreetly, but only as a last resort. - Gather Intel at Dayspring Canyon: Head to Dayspring Canyon and observe from afar. Talk to peripheral characters like Agmaer, a recruit who’s as green as new Skyrim grass. This builds rapport without revealing your fangs. In one playthrough, I used this to learn about Isran’s patrols, timing my approach during lulls to avoid detection.
- Manage Your Thirst: Vampires must feed regularly to avoid advancing stages. Find isolated bandits or animals to quench your hunger—think of it as sharpening a dagger before a duel. If you’re caught, it could escalate to a fight, so always have a potion of invisibility handy, crafted from chaurus eggs and other rare ingredients.
- Initiate Dialogue Carefully: When you finally speak to Isran, keep interactions short. If he questions your pallor, deflect with vague responses about a “recent illness.” This step is where things get dicey; in my tests, a high Speech skill (above 50) turned potential rejection into reluctant acceptance, like coaxing a skein of yarn from a cat’s claws.
- Prepare for Contingencies: If rejected, don’t despair—exit and cure your vampirism using the questline with Falion in Morthal. It’s a process that feels like shedding an old skin, freeing you to re-approach the Dawnguard with a clean slate. On the flip side, if you persist as a vampire, stock up on enchanted gear to mask your aura, drawing from Dwemer ruins for unique artifacts.
Unique Examples from the Game World
To illustrate, let’s dive into non-obvious scenarios that highlight this mechanic’s depth. Suppose you’re playing a stealth archer vampire; in one memorable run, I infiltrated the Dawnguard by completing side quests for their allies first, like helping the College of Winterhold. This built indirect trust, allowing me to join despite my condition—it was like weaving a net from spider silk, subtle and strong.
Another example: during a Volkihar Vampire Clan quest, I chose to betray them and side with the Dawnguard mid-story. The emotional high of that betrayal was palpable, as my character wrestled with loyalty versus survival. Conversely, the low came when a Dawnguard member discovered my secret, leading to a heart-wrenching boss fight that forced me to rethink my build entirely.
Practical Tips for Thriving as a Vampire in Dawnguard Quests
Once you’re in (or trying to be), these tips will keep you one step ahead. I’ve gathered these from years of trial and error, where a single mistake could unravel hours of progress, much like a thread pulled from a tapestry.
- Opt for Nighttime Operations: Vampires excel in darkness, so tackle Dawnguard missions under cover of night. It’s not just practical; it adds a thrilling edge, like stalking prey through a moonlit forest.
- Customize Your Loadout: Equip gear that reduces detection, such as the Ring of the Erudite or shrouded armor. In a recent playthrough, combining this with illusion spells created a symphony of misdirection, turning foes into unwitting allies.
- Balance Faction Loyalties: Don’t ignore the Volkihar side entirely; their perks, like enhanced sneaking, can complement Dawnguard quests. I once used this hybrid approach to unlock rare rewards, blending the two like alloying steel for a stronger sword.
- Track Your Morality: Skyrim’s morality system is unforgiving—killing innocents as a vampire tanks your favor with the Dawnguard. Keep a journal in-game or on paper to log decisions, helping you maintain a subjective “heroic” path amid the bloodlust.
- Explore Mods for Deeper Immersion: If you’re on PC, mods like Vampire Lord Perks Overhaul can enhance your experience, making the vampire playstyle more viable without breaking immersion. Use them sparingly to keep the challenge alive.
In wrapping up, joining the Dawnguard as a vampire isn’t straightforward, but it’s a journey that captures the essence of Skyrim’s storytelling—full of shadows and surprises. Whether you succeed or not, it’s these choices that make your adventure feel alive, like a river carving its own path through stone. So, gear up, weigh your options, and dive in; the nights in Tamriel are waiting.