I have a question: if I were to download Shivering Isles (I really want to, but I'm broke, so there is definitely a question as to my ability to get it )
Would it be something I should run into head first with a new character, or should I bring my "perfect" character (level 51 altmer with crazy spells, done every quest available to me atm, etc etc etc)
If you want it to be more of a challenge start a new character. If you want it to be a total walkover use your old one.
I think it boils down to what you enjoy most really
I did it with a Lvl 10ish character who had the fight of his life against the final boss......and a level 30 who cut down the ultimate bad guy as easy as a goblin in the starter dungeon.
I did once read an in depth review where the author considered the content targetted for a charcter in his/her "high teens". To be honest I think I agree.
Yeah, most high Level Characters will stomp through, destroying all opposition with little effort. Or that could be because
I am a warrior. But I had a magnificent fight with the Big Bad Guy, nearing death several times, but managed to beat him in the end, most pleasing. I had the Difficulty cranked up though.
The thing about playing Shivering Isles with a new character is that there are no trainers there and no houses to store things. If you wanted to utilize those two things, you would have to jump back between SI and Cyrodiil a lot.