Anvil... (some spoilers)
Right when you enter the gate, the
Mage and
Fighters guild are right there! This is reason enough to put it on my favorite list. Convenience while you're going through these questlines.
The businesses are all in one little strip along the docks...very convenient. (with the exception of the weaponsmith and the Counts Arms Inn)
In addition, it's got one of the cheapest, easiest to get to, (and nicest) houses in the game, and the secret passage is damn cool. You can even own the two boats in the harbor! (and get a nice sword starting out to boot).
Anvil served as my HQ for quite some time (until I got Rosethorn Hall). The lighthouse is cool, as is the dock area (and the general shop), and it's a great place to train with mudcrabs. Not to mention, I'll credit my early success to a helm (Fingleam) found just offshore on a skeleton in the depths...
The area under the castle is neat too...plenty of areas in Anvil to hide out from the daylight for us Vamps...
It also serves as one of the easiest places to first get some guard chainmail (i.e. off of the two undercover guards of the Sirens quest)
First time you get to see the Gray Fox unmasked...
Where you get your final slap on Mr. Lex, hehe...
Maiq the Liar!
Dunbarrow Cave...become a Pirate!
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Things I like about other cities:
Skingrad: Well, it's home, and my house is right inside the gate. Perfect place for a vampire to live.
Leyawiin: The only thing nice about it is the freebie house just outside the city (Grayland).
Bravil: The funnest place to practice your acrobatics (jumping from roof to roof).
Bruma: Neat Nordic architecture, again fun to roof jump, and one of the easiest city layouts to learn. Plus, my favorite reliable fence lives there.
Cheydinhal: If it weren't for DB business, I'd never go there...all those little bridges makes getting around confusing, and you do a lot of walking. Can buy black horses here though.
Chorrol: Besides quests, have no reason to ever go there.
IC: Love the waterfront district...most of the Thieves Guild quests, crappy, but effective hideout (good when you're a Vampire and have a bounty on you), and can't beat the services. Other than quests and the occassional shopping trip, I stay out of the rest of the city...guess I still resent the whole Prisoner thing....