Proventus Avenecci: "I see no signs of our friend here being this... what? 'Dragonborn'?"

Kind of sad that this even matters. There was a time when I picked up Morrowind at random, made a "cool lizardman" and went on a thieving/killing spree, without a care in the world. Suddenly, I'm compelled to "fit" in this world, as the developers intended. Or did they really intend me to be a Nord? Because, funnily, they are one of the most atrocious looking races in video gaming history. Video game history. You'd think they would put more time into developing a flagship race, but no. And before you point out how cool your male Nord looks, he doesn't. You're blind. Or half blind, like Olaf One-Eye.

Anyways, sorry. The point. I just wanted to know what people have done for their Altmer backstories? Just to help me to brainstorm. Especially those who aren't trying to roleplay Thalmor. I mean, not all Altmer are Thalmor.

edit: bah, messed up "Altmer" in the title. Now I look stupid.

My Altmer is currently in Skyrim to pursue the great mer called Calcelmo. Why? Because my altmer is a dwemer researcher and he would also like to settle in Markarth due to its...buildings and dwemer stuff. And to get away from the Thalmor as he's not as ignorant towards the other races

Well, I see it like this: The Gods chose the heroes(or at least the Dovahkiin) and they most likely have a sense of humor.
Imagne the irony: An Altmer becomes the Hero of Skyrim whose people dislike elves and a Nord becomes the Nerevarine in the land of their ancient enemies. Peopel would scratch their heads.

Daddy's a noble. A big bad Thalmor noble, and this little princess doesn't like daddy, or his cronies, or the way he treats people. So she is going to be different, and teaches herself alchemy and healing instead of learning to summon Daedra like a good little Altmer girl. She hangs out with the peasants, makes a disgrace of herself, escapes to Cyrodiil, gets in more trouble, escapes to Skyrim, narrowly avoids the axe, grows up a little, and realises exactly why she is special, why she always loved this world and the people in it despite her upbringing, and why she didn't like the 'proper Thalmor authorities' when she was a child.

I was about to give a legitimate reply, then I took an incredibly annoying post to the knee.

My post is annoying, or the one like yours that doesn't ask or say anything?

I agree though. My post is annoying, just for the mispelled title. I've had my coffee now though. I'm ready to make quality posts.

Why did I suddenly feel like I was reading the narrative in the story of Big Daddy and Fight Girl in the Kick Ass movie

Both were pretty bad I guess. Anyway, since the Thalmor overthrew the true Kings and Queens of the Summerset Isles, you could be a refugee from a royal family or something.

My altmer hates the Thalmor for their persecution of friends and family. She was sent to live with relatives in Cyrodiil when it became apparant that the child of dissidents would be unsafe in Summerset. Like J'zargo she traveled to Skyrim to study magic in a less politicized environment. One her skills are equal to the task, the Thalmor will taste her wrath.

When playing Morrowind I perferred playing a Dunmer to do the Main Quest. I also played a Nord to do Bloodmoon.

When playing Oblivion I preferred playing an Imperial to do the Main Quest.

When playing Skyrim I prefer playing a Nord. Yes it does 'fit' a lot better IF you are doing the Main Quest. Note I have retired 7 characters already and only two did the MQ. My Khajiit only did the Thieves Guild and random quests. My Dunmer only did the Dark Brotherhood, Daedric and random quests. My Breton only did the Mages Guild and Bards College and random quests.

I guess the point is Skyrim can let you fit into the game several different ways. If you really want to do the MQ, then a Nord fits great.

Now if I was to play an Altmer (which I never have) I would have him (or her) retire after doing the Mages Guild, maybe become Thane of my favorite city, get a house, maybe a spouse, maybe focus on some Daedric quests on a search for great artifacts, etc. Something that may interest a Mage-like character.

I've only played female Nords but they are by far the best looking of the presets IMO.

It sounds like you're just psyching yourself out and making it too difficult. Why wouldn't the dragonborn be a non-Nord? The gods are tricky sometimes. Maybe they're trolling the Nords. I played an anti-Thalmor Altmer character who saw her ability as a trust the gods had given her to right the Thalmor wrongs against other races- sort of like Runil in Falkreath. I've started a Dunmer character now and I think it will affect him quite a bit to think that Akatosh gave this gift to the Dunmer, when as Hadvar says at the beginning, to all appearances the gods have abandoned them.

Really there's no need to limit your rp imagination. Almost any background can be justified.

Oh, and Avenicci says the same thing about a Nord.

1. I think Nords are one of the best-looking races (all races look boss in Skyrim though).
2. If you're an Altmer, you don't need to justify. You can do whatever you want cause you're better and it's high time everyone admitted it. Just tried it and it's a ton of fun BTW (I have the stature of an Altmer anyway).

What don't you like about the Nord's appearance?

Yeah, there's a side to me that knows you're right. I am psyching myself out. The compulsion to play a Nord is subtle, but always shows itself. Even outside the game. Like if you watch the making of Skyrim, Todd Howard goes on about being able to do what you want, and then comes to main quest, where you can feel like a "Nord hero". It's the way he phrases things where you can tell Nord is exactly what he had in mind. I'd just like to move on and silence it.

Some good ideas to think about here though. Thanks.

Judging the whole race of altmer because of the thalmor is EXACTLY the same as judging every German person durring WW2 because of the nazi soldiers.

I'm not just judging them for the Thalmor.

It's other little things. They didn't put much effort into people who want to play these other types. For example, there's like only one Altmer marriage choice - and she's old and wrinkly. It's just so lackluster and random.

And it's not that I care about marriage. It's more of a bigger issue that they didn't flesh things out, period.

Another is Khajiits. No marriage options at all. And again, it's not about marriage specifically. Just that they don't have a real place carved into the world.

Cross eyes, noses twice as big as my own (and I thought I had a big nose).. and the way you can't "angular-ize" or stretch their jawline. It's more like they work best with a more block-ish headshape. For humans, they're pretty limited.

What I really dislike about this game is not being able to choose Thalmor or the Blades.

What if I created a Pro Thalmor altmer character?


I'm pretty sure the Thalmor would be just as concerned with the end of the world as the Blades would...

The canon drgonborn is really an Altmer. The pointy ears are hidden away by the Iron Helmet.

Akatosh or Al-Euri is a mer god, and he has had enough of the Nede kind after Martin Spetim broke the Amulet of Kings, and sent an Altmer as the draon-born, who are really created in the image of Akatosh anyway.

If you look at the powers of Amulet of Akatosh, you'll find that it is exactly same as the race trait bonus of the High Elf.

Do I really need to say anymore?

One of my characters will be a High Elf, I usually avoid them. But, somehow an Atmer Dragonborne is just too much to pass up.

lol i love it.

i always thought the akatosh amulet was useless on my nord.

this goes without mentioning the psjics taking an instant liking to me.

I play as an Altmer just because they are so much faster than everybody else.

My reasoning behind opposing the Thalmor simple..they did not include me in their plans..Me first among equals and they have the temerity to not ask my advice or assistance for that they will pay ..pay dearly.

In relation to the issue of 'nord' in game, I first played through with an imperial character, and got the usual suspicion and half-veiled distrust. Second and current character is a nord, and a big ugly boozy looking thug of a nord as well....and the other nords are almost bending over backwards to help him or be friendly. The conversations and interaction are almost another game in some ways.

It really made me understand just how the parochialism of the province has a bearing on the game. It's not that being a nord is the focus, it's more that things are perhaps more socially realistic than a simple overview of the place would lead you to think. It's easier to achieve some personal objectives as well, things just fall in place, rather than having to go to some effort to become acceptable to others, and the local Jarl.

I loved my play-through as a deep agent for the Thalmor, helping expel the Imperials is the best way to subjugate Skyrim.
[img]http://www.gamesas.com/images/smilie/snapback.png[/img]SinerAthin, on 16 February 2012 - 04:21 PM, said:

I'm pretty sure the Thalmor would be just as concerned with the end of the world as the Blades would...

Its not cannon but much of the literature says that the thalmor want to end the world

I had no idea.. That's cool, just from a gameplay standpoint. Since I planned for a light armored, 2hander (with some alteration). Sprinting is fun with a 2hander.