Skyrim

[Stuntman]

Thanks mojo!

How does shouts work anyway? Is it something you unlock as you level up or can you use it with your spells from the very beginning?

[iamweejonny]

Thanks mojo!

How does shouts work anyway? Is it something you unlock as you level up or can you use it with your spells from the very beginning?

You will find the "Shout Altars" can't remember the proper names for them situated around skyrim, some are mission based led,.. some you'll have to find by chance, killing a dragon thus absorbing its soul allows you to unlock each shout........one shout per Dragon soul.
Yes shouts don't use any magic essence so can work easily in conjunction with other spells,.........though I rarely use spells because I'm a get in amongst them with my blade sort of guy

[Claus]

Also, (this I got wrong at the start) they are free once unlocked; No mana or anything, only cooldown.

[mojo]

lots of info here: http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Dragon_shouts  including the location of each, so you may consider them spoilers, although just having the name of the location is not the same as having a unlock code.