» Tue Dec 11, 2012 3:54 pm
I second the Redguard choice, and also suggest the option of going with an Orc. Orcs start with a boost in One Handed and Smithing, plus you can get into any Orc stronghold without doing a quest first. Nords also have a boost in one-handed and smithing.
Then again, if you wanted to focus more on conjuration and alchemy, Bretons have boosts in those two areas. It depends on what your main focus is going to be.
But honestly, that racial boost doesn't do much once you get out of the early-game stages. You could take a Nord and make them pure mage, or take a high elf and make them pure warrior, it's only at the beginning that you'd feel the advantage/disadvantage, and I feel like the choice of a race has more to do with aesthetics and role-playing than strategy.
Redguards and Orcs have good race powers, also. Redguards have Adrenaline Rush (extra stamina regeneration for a short period) and Orcs have Berserker (take half damage and deal double damage for a short period). Between the two race powers, I'd pick the Orc, but racial powers are not that big of a deal either.
http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Races for you to look at all the stats yourself and decide what suits your needs.
Aw, heck, just go with a Nord. It is Skyrim, after all.