Skrim was pretty good, had memorable playthrough with my first character, Altmer mage. Blundered about until level 20 in Falkreath hold instead of heading to Winterrun, then triggered Sanguine quest and ended up in Markarth. Ultimately I was level 50 or so when I started main quest.
When I made it to Winterhold and started mage questline I had already mastered all mage schools much to the dismay of that furry mage apprentice whom I later sacrificed to Boethiah.