There are two things that make a difference between the Races. The most common one that people choose for, is appearance. The second most common is Traits: Resistance, Weakness, and Ability.
As for Skills and Attributes, they are only a factor early on. ...and even then, the Birthsign, Specialization, Skills, and Attributes you choose can off set any Racial Modifiers. Any Race can have 100 in all Skills and Attributes.
Down with stereotypes
Now from a pure Role-play stand point, you can say that a Bosmer is not as proficient as other races, and play it as such.
Spoiler:
Gameplay
The nimble Bosmer are strongly suited for a thief character, an alchemist, a woodsman, bandit or something to that effect. They are less talented at magic than about half of the races in Tamriel, but the magic they do know integrates well with what they do. They are great users of Alchemy and Alteration which helps them with the gameplay strategy of "carefully teasing their rewards" out of the world. They don't bother much with Destruction, Conjuration, or Restoration, all of which are essentially Battlemage type disciplines.
However, there is nothing stopping you from making a Bosmer with 100 in all Mage Skills, if you choose to play an orphaned Bosmer, who was raised in a Mage Guild Hall.
...so for me, I don't have a Favorite Race, or class for that matter. After playing for 4.5 years, add a few more years if you count Morrowind, I tend to take a totally off the wall combination, and find a way to make it work, or rather, be fun.
Playing on PC, with the help of the Construction Set, I made Demora a Playable Race.
Spoiler:
A new twist, I modded the playable races to include Dremora.
I put a large penatly on Personality, a little penalty on Willpower, and boosted Str, End, & Agility.
Blade, Block, & Heavy all started at 40. Other Major Skills: Destruction, Conjuration, Illusion, & Mysticism.
The jail/sewer/tutorial, was foreshadowing. The character actually starts before meeting the Emperor.
As a trusted Commander for Dagon, Luciferi (the fallen angel, who will fall a different direction this time), was sent to Tamriel (Cyrodill) to scout the countryside, and gather intelligence for the Opening of the Oblivion Gates, and the Invasion of Tamriel (Cyrodill).
- Traveling in disguise, using Illusion (charm to counter the personality of 10), decides to enter the Arena, to better judge the Fighting Skills of the Races.
- While scouting out the various cities, he is asked by the Count of Leyawiin to check into a certain Orc. Inadvetantly becoming a Knight Errant, then the Knight Commander of the Knights of the White Stallion (mod).
- Thinking that traveling under the Guise of a Knight, might give him better intel. He decieds to do join the Fighter Guild. Also to better judge their strenghts & weaknesses.
- He stubles across a False Vampire Hunter in Bruma. Then is asked to join the Order of the Virtuous Blood, an actual group of Vampire Hunters, ironicly run by a Vampire. He attempted to get the Vampires to join Lord Dagons Cause, but was refused.
- He is continually accousted by locals, to help in some situation or other. Oddly though, he almost starts to enjoy helping. Is it the Knight Commanders Armor....
- Daedra Shrines? Worshipers, playing at witchcraft. Maybe more Allies? Alas, to no avail, they are consumed with their own petty existance.
** Next on the plate, once the FG Quests are complete:
* There is a report of an attack on the Nine Divines. This bears looking into, as it could interfere with Lord Dagons Plans. (if the Knight Commanders Armor is changing him, think what the Knights Relics will do).
* Trouble in Sheogoraths Realm??? Will Luciferi go Mad, and at what cost???
* Get sent to prision, to "Escort" the Emperors "Escape" (ambush)... east enough... (or is it). What is the Emperor Talking about? Dreams? Destiny? Why could I not Kill the Emperor???
+++++ A Dremora Lord, as the Champion of Cyrodill
He has alot of Restritions as well:
- No houses, thus no storage, thus only what can be carried.
- No sleeping. Only rests (meditates) in Camps or sometimes rents a room at level time.
- No Alchemy, no potions or poisions, no bows, no blunt, no sneak (Illusion), no security (Alteration).
- No DB or TG. No Murders, keep assault to the minimum (so far still 0. )
Yep. It's purely the advantages and disadvantages of the races that matter, not their looks. I could be playing as a green and yellow spotted humanoid-shaped slug, and as long as I had advantages from doing so, it wouldn't matter!
I decided on Breton purely because of the +50 Magicka pool, 50% Resist Magic and zero Weaknesses to Magic. If Altmer didn't have any weaknesses, I would have gone with THAT race instead.
Of course, one side benefit was that Breton's are white and so am I. So the possibility existed to make him look as much as possible like like me in real-life. I'm 48 and, even with the help of a mirror and over an hour of face tweaking, the nearest I could get was a close resemblance of ME when I was in my 20's. Check out my avatar!
H8Ball (ex PC Engineer)
Oblivion Horse Rump Sticker: "No sharp objects. This horse is fitted with inflatable rubber safety adventurer"
Skyrim Arrowhead Sticker: "I used to be an arrow, but then I took an adventurer in the knee"
I'll forgive the off-topic because that's a great find, and it IS a race-related mod! Looks like a day-glo snot on legs, doesn't he? <barf>
H8Ball (ex PC Engineer)
Oblivion Horse Rump Sticker: "No sharp objects. This horse is fitted with inflatable rubber safety adventurer"
Skyrim Arrowhead Sticker: "I used to be an arrow, but then I took an adventurer in the knee"
A Battlemage Altmer with the Atronach Birthsign is the Ultimate Character.
You start with 360 Magicka, and Max at 450.
Spell Absorption (constant: 50 pt. Self)
Pick up a few of these items: {Addendum by H8Ball: Points are for additional Spell Absorption, which isn't made clear}
1 Spelldrinker Amulet (gives up to 26 pts)
1 Sorcerer's Ring (gives 25 pts + 25 Fortify Magicka)
1 Greaves of Purity, Magebane Greaves or Mankar Camoran's Robe (either of the greaves gives 20 pts; the robe gives 20 pts + 10 Reflect Damage but takes up both the greaves and cuirass armor slots)
1 Helmet of the Mage (gives 14 pts + 20 Fortify Magicka)
1 other item (ring, cuirass, gauntlets or boots) enchanted by Transcendent level Spell Absorption Sigil Stone (gives 15 pts)
...and guess what, you restore Magicka, and elliminate the Altmer's Weakness to Fire, Frost, and Shock (constant: 25 pt. Self).
Fill the remaining available slots with Items enchanted with a Trans Sigil Stone, Fortify Magica 50 Points.
Make Custom Potions that Fortify Intelligence, Magicka, and Restore Magicka... Drink 4 each.
Now you have enough Magicka (if I remember correctly it's over 1000) so you can make a custom area spell that allow you to blast a Cavern/room and turn everyone to ash. ...or to make a touch spell that dissintergrates anything, and you can cast 5-6 times.
^ That's an awesome tactic. Unfortunately many of these items (the greaves', helms and the Sorcerer's Ring) are random drops as far as I know. And you won't get 'em until you're "strong enough".
Speaking about mages, does anyone know how to make a good Khajit who happens to be one? I know they're more inclined to the whole stealth/combat thing but I think it's possible to do it. But the real question is: How?
Bosmer all the way! I know they look like wimpy little dwarves, but they are great at sneaking, jumping, running, marksman, and all that. Which is awesome. And when I get looked down on by these towering Nords, I just pound them into oblivion (pun intended). And they are the only race that I can actually make decent looking in the character creation interface.
98% of forumers say fast travel ruins Oblivion. Put this in your signature if you're one of the 2% who realize it's optional.
I'm Argonian all the way. Argonians can breathe underwater and can't be poisoned, and they don't get sick nearly as much as Others. Breathing underwater means no magic or potions or armor wasted just to achieve that effect. It also means that water breathing potions can be a great source of cash, along with cure poison potions. ARGONIAN POWAH!!!
I actually like Redguard's a lot (and not just because I'm black in real life, lol). They can make pretty versatile characters. And more importantly, they also have some pretty interesting lore behind them. I really like the story behind the sword-singers, the sinking of Yokuda, and the trail of war that Redguards left when they settled in Hammerfell.
"What I thought I'd do was, I'd pretend I was one of those deaf mutes"
@Sir: There political system is pretty interesting to, and there views on the use of magic.
Personally, it's hard for me to choose between Dunmer and Bretons. I guess the Breton part would be the whole, based on the Brits(well we originated from Brittany supposedly) so I got an affinity to them, that and they are damn powerful spell-casters, without any weaknesses to boot. Mix there already high magicka with that of the apprentice and you have yourself a walking elemental storm.
The Dunmer is more to do with childhood love for Dark Elves, even back in my Neverwinter days I always favoured the Drow. But then, TES brings a whole new element to them. They are the most interesting race, in my opinion, with a deep and rich Lore and culture. They even have political parties which are crazily detailed for a fictional word. There dark and dangerous home province also kicks the butt of Cyrodill's candy land
I guess what makes them my favourite in "game" terms is the fact that they are fast, agile and are pretty damn good with ranged weapons and destruction magic's. Which is how I tend to play the game, swords are to boring for my liking.
I guess at the end of the day my vote has to go to the Dunmer, but Bretons are a close second they just lack the same depth about them.
Dunmer are THE best They look cool and can be made any pure or hybrid class which makes for a flexible character. And i really like their background and everything (:
Boss makes a dollar
I make a dime
That's why I'm forum posting
On company time
Well, the only races up for discussion as being the best are the Altmer, Redguard, Orc and Breton. Altmer/Atronach is by far the best mage, really it's the best overall (the health difference between it and say, a Redguard Warrior, is very small), it can have magic immunity, has 250 more magicka than a Redguard Warrior at any level. It is a hassle though. Redguards and Orcs are obviously the best for combat, the Redguard being the best for pure combat, but the Orc does have 25% magic resist which is good, although from memory AR>Berserk. Breton is the only choice if you don't want to use Atronach, unless you're a sadist and want to go Altmer Apprentice for some absurd reason.
ALTHOUGH, this is Oblivion, and at high levels with enchanting you will dominate at any difficulty with the right gear. I want to say Nord is my favourite, but it's impossible to make one look good in Oblivion or even Morrowind. Hopefully Skyrim rectifies this.
I play LBP! PSN: dkjestrup, play my Sonnet of the Gargoyle level!
I freaking LOVE the Dark Elves...I dunno what it is but i gravitate to them whenever i start up a new game. My favorite one was my frist which was class acrobat, sign shadow, and in the brotherhood and theives guild...i like evil
Seems like most people here choose their favorite race based on their bonus attributes and skills. Rather than lore, personality and appeal i don't get it :/
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i don't get it :/