I hear that many posters like to play Nords because it 'feels right' in Skyrim, but how do you roleplay someone that is a complete stranger in his own homeland, and doesn't even know its basic geography? I can't say that he grew up in Whiterun or Windhelm because no one knows him. So short of some RP kung fu to explain that, you can simply say that he hails from some other place, like Bruma. But then, how is that any different from roleplaying the other races?

They are complete wimps. Their so prone to getting diseases, especially rockjoint I stoped playing them. The furthest I got with a nord chracater was around level 40ish with daedric armour and all.

He was born in Helgen, moved to Cyrodiil or another province and then eventually moved back, his home town was burned to the ground so nobody would logically know him.

Skyrim is a pretty cool nord. He roleplays based on first glances at game trailers and doesn't afraid of anything.

Could say he's from somewhere else. The reason it's different from other races is that a lot of Nords are racists, and you looking the same would make them like you more. Where you com efrom isnt that important really I think, just what race you are.

Eg, if Southern USA was still racist.. If you were a black guy from there people would still treat you badly, wheras if you were a white person from freeking Africa but moved there, people wouldn't be so bad at first glance..

He or she was kidnapped as a child, while picking wildflowers with their mother. The mother was slain and the child was raised to be a slave and then trained to fight in the pits. They won their freedom and now have set out to find their roots.

Man... that sounds a lot like Conan... So much for originality...

You could always make him a former military general for the legions in Hammerfell. During the war with the Thalmor he became incredibly important and made a name for himself, the Kings son who feared him tried to have him executed, but the former-general escaped, the prince then killed his father and became King. The general still in hiding ended up in slavery and became a gladiator.

Proving himself and eventually becoming popular enough to fight the King himself for his freedom (after of course making himself known). The King lost and he was set free...

As for being a newcomer in the country, I "roleplayed" myself wandering around out of helgen, getting a feel for the land. He originally came to Skyrim for multiple reasons. To settle down and apply his trade (smithing), and to set aside his mother's ashes in her homeland. He was looking for a Talos shrine to do that. Before he was arrested though, he hid some of his supplie and her ashes near the border. So he ran back to find them. In that, you explore a lot. Running from Riverwood and Helgen to the south.

Secondly, my character happened to stumble upon some slaughtered Nords once he found a Talos shrine. It started getting him more into thinking what the hell was going on in this place, in addition to already meeting Hadvar and those Stormcloaks.

As for some backstory, his dad was also a smith who served in the Legion, but my character never quite cared to join the army.. He was kind of the son who wanted to find his own way. His dad died in battle, so it was mostly up to him to take care of his mom afterwards. Both of his parents were natives of Skyrim, and always spoke of it. He felt that after his mom died, he should visit and deliver her ashes there (which brings me back to the exploring I mentioned above). He sold all he had and left..

Hope that wasn't too long. Just some basic stuff, really.

I have a harder time wondering why my Breton is in Skyrim. I also have a decent backstory for a criminal Nord. And a redguard, who've I've based off of Riddike (in my avatar), who's a straight up killing machine. He'll be the only guy who joins the Stormcloaks, I think.

If you're going to roleplay a character then who says this Nord had to be a Skyrim native. We don't know HOW they ended up on that cart rolling into Helgen. Who's to say they didn't grow up on the other side of the Jerall mountains, in Bruma, and this is their first trip back into their homeland?

It's perfectly plausible.

Hmmm...Why does that have a strange familiarity to it as well?

Seriously. Look at other TES games.. Nords are everywhere.

I have no idea, it was totally original and I just came up with it, didn't base it on any movie out there at all.

They really are. But If you wanted a mor 'Nord-friendly' RP experience then Bruma is the Nordic Town in Cyrodiil...

Very true. The backstory is the real kicker for creating a RPing char, for me.

Yes I mentioned that in the OP. But then that's just like roleplaying any other race that doesn't hail from Skyrim. That is why I don't understand why so many say that nords 'feel right' in Skyrim.

Becoming the Dragonborn is, in some respects, like the first step down a path towards becoming another Talos/Tiber Septim. That character being a Nord, trying to liberate Skyrim for their own people, is a logical thing.

Not knowing where anyehwere is on the map is a little unusual you could argue, but right from the start of the game you know where the main cities are. Eben if you haven't visited them.

Bruma works, I guess. I've never thought of the town my character is from exactly. He's kind of a worldly Nord and already has some experience with the empire, by virtue of his dad. I'd say they moved around a little bit. His combat skills come from being a blacksmith. You can't make good weapons if you don't how to use them. He's never really been put to the test though.

My back stories vary, most don't really have a set point of origin. Yet others tend to be more of a short story. Just something to give me a direction to take the char in.

Well, Skyrim is full of Nordic history and heritage. Even a Nord from one of the other provinces might appreciate the lore more than, say, a Breton. He might feel as though coming to Skyrim is a sort of homecoming to the land of his ancestors. That's why people say it "feels right" to play a Nord in Skyrim, I would guess.