Since the quests in this game seem to be very limiting in terms of playing whatever kind of character you want, do you ever roleplay that what happened on screen isn't what actually happened in your character's story?

For example, in the opening cinematic you can pretend that it's actually a Stormcloak party that captured you instead of Imperials. Just little tweaks and revisions to give your character a more authentic feel in the world of Skyrim. Also your induction into the Dark Brotherhood could be a different tale (once you're actually in, what does it matter?) since murdering an old woman for some random boy isn't exactly something my Dark Elf would do or even care about. Once he's actually a part of the DB though, he takes his job seriously.

Sure, why not. There are alternate beginning mods and such though, so you can tailor the game to your RP.

When I roleplay regular characters, I try not to do quests if I ABSOLUTELY have to.

+1 The Alternate Start mod is great for this

I do this too. One of my characters is a child, and instead of getting married I pretend someone wanted to adopt her.
Something that isn't ok RP-wise that I do is if I don't like someone, but I'm playing a good character, I kill them and pretend they never existed.

Why pretend when there are countless characters you can create within the story and within the lore?

Good to hear, I play on console so I have to use my imagination a little more. No trouble though. A fun way to establish your character's timeline is to go to your quests, and scroll down 'til you hit the greyed out section with all of your completed quests. I'm going through now and deciding what I did do, didn't do and did differently.

For example, one of the points of my character I'm rping now is he's trying to hold onto his life anyway that he can - he's fled Morrowind after thriving in House Hlalu for years, moved through Cyrodiil (staying at Cheydinhal, Bravil and Leyawiin) and is now in Skyrim where he stumbled on Serana. He figures he can play his bid for immortality with her and her Father, he doesn't actually care for the vampires or anything. One of the issues though is that to get the quests rolling you have to go hang out with the Dawnguard at their castle for a bit...my character would never do this.

Of course! Someone on these forums put it very well: TES isn't about being an actor in someone else's film. It's about being the playwright of your own film.

TES roleplaying isn't about clicking one dialogue option over another - although in Skyrim there are some instances where it is - but rarely about developing a connection between yourself and your character. About listening to what they want to do, and acting upon that.

Not sure I'm understanding your question. I have created countless characters... I'm talking about pretending that quests didn't happen exactly as they do on screen for the purpose of character building etc.

Yes. Very well put. What i'm talking about is more of a mental process to get yourself further acquainted with the behavior of your character. If anything it's to deepen the mindset so you don't feel as if you're playing the same game in a different skin.

Another question, does anyone roleplay that their multiple characters are active in the world at the same time? I could see this being extremely difficult and would have to be planned ahead of time (my Dawnguard crusader wouldn't have much to do in a world where my other character slaughtered Isran and all his pals) but the idea has me intrigued. Maybe I'm just too bored.

The idea of a Dovakhiin, a DB assassin, a master thief with a heart of gold and a traveling merchant's stories all interconnect based on what you do in the game.

Pretending you're captured by stormcloaks at the start is waaaaay beyond my usual RP concessions. I like my RP to be somewhat believable.

It's just as plausible. It could've been a Stormcloak party on the border capturing anyone who came over for being a potential ally to the Imperials. Anyway, it's all a matter of preference I suppose.

Usually I pretend that in the opening screen I was traveling through helgan and just happened to be there in time for the execution when a dragon appeared and it hit the fan.

i think its wrong personaly but then again i didnt read the question. You could try roleplaying a female vampire like serena or a minion/catamite of molag bal

molag likes noobs

I* think it's wrong personally* but then again I* didn't* read the question. You could try roleplaying a female vampire like Serana* or a minion/catamite of Molag Bal*

Molag likes noobs.*

No, I rarely, if ever, do that.
The game should be able to predict what my character might be and give me choices which I will then choose from which fits my character best.
I shouldn't have to make believe that something is happening when it's not.
That is not good roleplaying design IMO.
If I only get 1 choice I make that choice, I won't deceive myself into thinking that the game offered me another direction when it didn't.

Well. 10 to 1 in favor of my idea. I'll take that as confirmation enough. Thanks guys!

Erm... Why don't you create a poll... In the Community forum.

I just wanted a few opinions, I don't care that much. As long as I'm not the only one who does it.

Hm.. I think I'm the only one in New Vegas that after each level reduce my health back to what it was at level 1 so I never get any health increase beyong my initial END.

That's interesting. I'm probably the only one who plays the game hanging upside-down from a traqeze.

It surely wouldn't work for me but if it works for you I don't see anything wrong with it.

Your head don't get aching from that?

I'm probably suffering from irreparable brain damage as we speak.

But the work on the abs....