So I was looking at the Skyrim wiki, and I found a way to modify your start location to avoid the main quest completely.
I found it to be kinda limited, but fun, so I was wondering if anyone else had a similar Idea for a new start idea.
It could be something as simple as the one on the wiki (http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Console bottom of the page) or as complex as a mod that will require the CK. I'm just curious as to what everyone's ideas were.

I'd have you start in a port city, coming off a boat, then if you were caught by a guard for a crime in the proper hold you'd end up starting the Main Quest. I'd have to modify the lines a bit....

This sounds like a nice idea, I always found it strange to automatically be imprisoned right off the bat for no real reason. Like it's been for the last three games at least.

I think Solitude would be a pretty cool place to start the game.

Solitude is truly a nice place, maybe have your character start off as someone of importance rather than some nameless prisoner turned hero.

I like that idea, I've yet to reach solitude however.
I'll head that way soon. (No fast travel + Short Attention Span + Mod Making = Not Well Traveled Mage.)

There was mod by http://planetelderscrolls.gamespy.com/View.php?view=User.Profile&id=55217 for Oblivion quite funny, you arrive in Anvil, by boat, and there's no emperor's death at all, until you get caught for a crime in the Imperial City, youre then thrown inside that cell that was suposed to be off limits... really waiting for something like that for skyrim, lets just say, you start in a port city just like steepledhat said, then after venturing a bit on your way back to Cyrodiil, you found yourself in some sort of imperial ambush near Riften, with a Stormcloak caravan wandering the area just like any other, but in that caravan are Ralof, Ulfric and all... this would be awesome.

Sounds great. I for one have always disliked how the main quest is forced down your throat at the start, It's s'posed to be optional entirely. Having the ability to play with side quests and such before the dragons even start attacking would add a lot to the game IMO.

Good idea. But perhaps it would be interesting if you can choose which alternate beginnings you use. One to start the main quest with more background and maybe two other starts which sets you free to play the main quest or not , maybe one start just to avoid the main quest completely...

Well it's the only major port in the game (It has one or small boats and one massive boat). The books say Dawnstar is pretty big but it's just one fishing boat. Windhelm I guess is okay sized, but has no big boats, and is also probably not the best way to introduce Skyrim, as it's usually snowy, the docks only connect to the city (so you have to go swimming or go through the city to get to the landscape) and the pine forest region bordering on marshes is probably a more scenic way to introduce it, with the huge arch.

I like this idea, something like a core mod that will enable a player to download one or more modules to install into it. Then you can build your own selection of alternate starts, and modders can focus on the building of their story rather than have to redo the scripting to enable it over and over.

Just for completion's sake, that was put there by http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1311644-alternative-game-start/, and is expanded upon with http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1313347-rel-skyrim-alternate-start-manager/.

But yes, there is a lot of potential for properly implemented alternate starts in this game. I'm running around as a Thalmor justiciar with my own squire, but there's not enough oppurtunity to slay Talos worshippers for my tastes...

Thanks for the links, I had a feeling that had to come from somewhere.

Those are indeed nice additions. I am hoping, however, that the CK will make it possible to elaborate on those and add some story and possibly new areas. For the most part I was curious to see how many were interested in alternative starts, and maybe come up with ideas. I'm not much of a modder but hopefully the CK will be easy enough to use that I can actually do something. ^.^