I have never had any problem picking a race with the elder scrolls games, as i always make my main the race that has the best fit for the setting.
For Morrowind i went with a Dunmer, for oblivion i went with an imperial, and for Skyrim i will go with a Nord character.

I have been playing Argonian since Morrowind, so its always been an easy choice for me, i also wrote a backstory leading right up to the start of Skyrim, have you played previous TES titles?

Yeah, me! Have no idea what playstyle either.....thinking about redguard, they look so cool in Skyrim, like mystics! But then there's dunmer, been a huge fan since Morrowind, orcs are looking real good too....more like the Morrowind orcs, not like the big, green babies of Oblivion...
Everything about Skyrim feels much more like Morrowind than Oblivion, anyone else got that feeling?

When you fire up Skyrim for the first time and start working on the character, just go with what "clicks" and roleplay that out.

I was able to come to a conclusion about the race I would pick by first deciding what I wanted to do. I thought a high offense, dual wielding ranger type would be fun. I then researched some of the lore, as well as racial bonuses and abilities. This directed me straight to Redguard. Best warriors in all the lands? Yes please. Quick of foot? Yes please. 10x stamina for 60 seconds racial? Yes please.

With Oblivion, I always worried about not making the best character possible, so race always seemed like a big deal.

Well, times have changed. I'm going to be a Dark Elf. Not because I like their special abilities or anything. They just look cool.

I am surprised so many of you haven't already made your mind up a long time ago, pretty sure the majority of you have been playing since Arena and Morrowind, definitely Oblivion....

But if it is tough still for you to decide, check out Elder scrolls Wiki and go through each race, including the lore if you wish, run through what stats you like the look of most..

I'm still teetering between Altmer and Breton. Leaning more towards Breton at the moment. It'll come down to looks in the end. I'll know once I fire up the character generator.

At first for me it was going to be Bosmer. Now I'm on the fence about Argonians, Khajiit, and Nords too.

Bosmer seems naturally suited to the lone-wolf assassin I'd like to play.

I'm going reptilian or night elf.

Khajiit every time.

I'm torn... I like Argonians cause the are fricken raptor people that breaqthe under water! But Nords are super badass tough.. But considering I'm going theif/assassin, I'll probably roll Arg with a strong magic/stealth build. Nords just don't look right creeping around.

I was thinking about going Nord but it seems like that is the most common and boring choice now...

http://skyrimguild.com/picking-your-race-in-skyrim/

Same. Nord all the way!!

I have, but admittedly never of my own character. Back in the day, my (now ex) had Oblivion, and would only ever let me play his character, a Dunmer thief-class (I think) with advanced Vampirism. I didn't like it. I've never really been a fan of the Dunmer culture all that much; s'very dark.

I'm thinking Argonian, but I'm still not sure.

I'm still stuck between playing a Breton and playing a Bosmer. I like the way both races look and I plan on playing a stealth-mage, so it is a difficult choice...

When I first got into TES I was Dunmer, but the more characters I rolled the more and more I kept rolling Nord. I think Bloodmoon helped sway me a lot on that one, and then in Oblivion I was almost always a Nord but with Skyrim as someone has said already, the setting is deterring me from rolling one. I'm stuck between Nord, Dunmer and Argonian. I've also been reading up a lot more on the lore (and like the OP didn't realise I still have so so much to learn, thinking I was a lore buff previously) and the beast races are the older races of Tamriel. The fact that Vvardenfell has been created and Morrowind mostly taken over, is making me really indecisive over Dunmer/Argonian. I'll likely play both, and see which I prefer after a few hours.

I'd imagine once I've completed the game and done most of the stuff I want, further playthroughs will revert me back to Nord, mainly so I can create a likeness of myself.

I could still completely disregard everything I've just said when I finally play it though, it really depends on my mood when it comes to deciding and a LOT of playing around with the character customisation.

Edit: I'm also clueless as to wether I want to go for a pure mage or a light armored battlemage so this really isn't helping whatsoever.

I've been pretty set on a Bosmer sorceress, since I really wanted to play something a little less conventional. But something in my brain keeps scratching saying 'but the Bretons look AMAZING!'

there is none better then the Breton to start off. They are the only one that have the best stat from the start........50% resistance of magic. You CANT beat that.

Breton. First character will be a mage and this seems to fit best. (Though Altmer might be a godd choice as well ...)

Im confused as well. I normally go Breton. But the Argonians look so sick. And the high elves actually look good and no longer have that weakness. So i'm torn between Breton, argonian, high elf, and Nord just for the setting. I'll prolly go Breton first in all honesty. But I will be playing a high elf also and a nord.

Spin a wheel or blind fold and throw darts.