[Fusa]

Ok I must say one thing related to first paragraph, yes I was there much to long (mind you lvl 8-11) is the recommended level for the Breach Closing, so I had to level somewhere and I will complete every zone so I stayed there (fun or not).

onto the question at hand, which I truly can not answer because I never played Skyrim. I do understand what you are asking me though. I have been to a level 16 zone ( just to get a rare plant for a quest ) and things absolutely shit on you. like 1 shot. When I was young (level 2-4) there are area's in "The Hinterlands" that is 8-12 mobs, when I went close to this rift the larger mob one shot me not to mention spell casters rape. So no, things do not scale down or up to your level just because you are close to the zone, you have to be mindful and then tell yourself I shouldn't be here.

Lastly about the combat, this game forces you to "pause" to often if you want to be (perfect) which means a combat fight would take probably 5 mins longer than it should (just to be clean). What I do is find a happy median, there are area's on the map (while in an instance) that refill your supplies (pots) so I do not fear using some of them. The AI of your team members are sometimes fucking stupid as in if a boss retreats or you are doing a rift, you must actively separate your members so they do not get AoE'd to death which is very easy fighting higher level mobs.

I do actively fight things that are 3 levels higher then me ( which proves a challenge if you fuck up you know what you fucked up and the second time through you find you don't even use pots with good position) but then I go to area's that are my level or a little lower, and I curb stomp them, no challenge.

I think the way I am doing the game on the first time through is seriously wrong, I will soon find a zone on the War Table that needs to be done (Ill be level 20 and the zone will be level 9)

edit** I currently have 20 hours played and still have not cleared the hinterlands =P I am level 10