Starting a new game and I am thinking of a spellsword type character.
Just wondered if I could get some opinions on which of the above. Pro's & Con's on both races.

Are you planing to be more Spell or more Sword?

If your main spells are going to be Destruction and Alteration well Redguards start with 25 for one handed and 20 for both those spell classes.

I've never used an Altmer but on paper Altmer have very good skill in all magic but are poor in the one hand department. With that said the have a Racial power that could be more use full as you can really burn through magicka at times and I've used the Redguards power once since the game came out and it was just for kicks. It was awesome when I used it but I don't find myself running out of stamina ever.

I'm bias and would pick redguard because I'm more interested in the sword part of a spellsword but in the long run it really wont matter in terms of skills.

Depends on how much focus on the Spell or Sword part you wanna get.

High Elves get a boost to conjuration. So big that once you hit 3 and have a bound Sword or Axe, you have a weapon that's dealing as much damage as a Daedric weapon of it's type. And that's WITHOUT levelling it. Downside is that they're not as melee oriented as Redguards, and lack the stamina regeneration power that they get.

Redguards do get the initial bonus to weapons, but many hold magic in distrust, especially the illusion and conjuration schools. They also lack the High Elf's magical regeneration power and magicka boost.

Oops, I actually meant Dunmer. d'oh.
Although your advice so far is pretty good. I would be more oriented to sword than spells.
Adrenaline rush would put me off as it doesn't really seem worth it.

Never played a Spellsword but definitely Altmer. The slight advantage Redguards have in the weapons department quickly becomes trivial early on in the game (the same applies for all skill-related racial bonuses) while the Altmer's Highborn power will go a long way throughout the game. That being said both races are unusual for this class.

EDIT: Lol, you meant Dunmer, well I'd still recommend Dunmer as they have a racial ability that's very good in close combat (IIRC they resist poison and disease too). Dunmer are also the "classical" Spellsword race.

Well that changes things just a little.

I'll assume your going One handed with Destruction magic. Well Dunmer have a poor one handed skill at first, again easily fixed and the best destruction starting skill. Also a very useful resistance so that kind makes up for the one handed skill. I can see use of there power at the start but once you get the flame cloak spell you may never use it again.

At this point I would say the two are about even and would yo other aspects of what you hope to do in this play through to help you pick one. Example, are you going to make your own gear, is there anyone you plan to marry, how would you like the NPCs of the world to treat you. It's time to start writing a story and like the actions you are going to do tell you what Race fits the role more in your eyes.