First post!

Have played all of the mer and human races through Morrowind, Oblivion and Skyrim except for Altmer and Breton. Not into cats or lizards, no offence.
In Skyrim I've played a Nord two hander and a bosmer thief/archer/miscreant.
Thinking of playing an imperial double agent, any excuse to execute some Thalmor!
Can't decide between a Breton or Altmer. Would like to go mainly magic based with a bit of one handed back up.
Any thoughts on build, perks etc appreciated.

Go Altmer. They no longer have any weaknesses, and their +50 magicka really helps a magician, as does their Highborn power.

Besides, they are the master race after all...

Welcome to the forums.

Altmers are good but IMHO, Bretons are better because of their racials: 25% resist magic and 50% absorb power. The power (dragonskin) is amazing since it stacks with the Atronach stone to give you 100% absorption. You can face Dragons very early and they can't touch you; they just restore your magicka while you blast them.

Be Breton if you want to be Monty Python.
Be Altmer to be made of butter.

Bretons are more geared to defensive magic.
Altmer are more offensive.

I prefer Bretons myself, but if you rely heavily on summons, go with Altmer. Bretons' absorb magic effect can really screw with summoning.

Welcome to the forums. Here's your fishystick: http://images.uesp.net/c/c4/Fishystick.jpg

Bretons are pretty balanced, magic abilities and regular armed combat mixed together. Altmers are more mages area than combat with iron and steel. If you want a spellsword a breton is pretty good as it

Thanks for the fishystick!
Cheers for the replies so far.
I'm leaning towards Breton. Which perk trees should i hammer first?