Seeing how people on the forum is having criminal fun role-playing in Skyrim, I have it figured out that it seems like I'm not playing Skyrim to its fullest extent. In fact, I've even exploited the blacksmith/enchanting trick and things like that. To the point that I got bored playing my dark elf necromancer and khajiit warrior whose only missions is to accept quest, finish quest, hunt for daedra and all that sorts.

I know I can make good use of my imagination, seemingly how often I write lyrics for my band and such, making full use of them fantasies swirling in my mind. But with Skyrim I felt lost, probably because I know nuts about the lore, pretty much why I desire the help from you RP-ers. (:

So yes, the only draft I have now in my mind is a Wood-Elf Archer, close resembling the personalities that of Legolas or Haldir from Lord of the Rings. I guess I'm far behind from starting an RP eh?

First thing I suggest is you learn the lore. Here's a good source of info http://www.uesp.net/

Take the time to read how the world of Nirn and the continent of Tamriel were created. How the different races were formed and the relations between them . Knowing the lore increases the fun of RPing tenfold.

You can start by reading the page about bosmers (wood elves) and learn about their culture as you're planning to play one.

Then when you start your character think of a backstory answering these questions:

1 - How old is he?
2 - What he used to do for a living?
3 - Why is he going to Skyrim?
4 - What are his goals in life?

Then make your decisions based on what he would do.

Just play it and get lost in the amazing world of Skyrim, limit yourself to fast travel if you do not want to miss a lot of areas...which total close to 400 at the moment

AND

Read Read Read!!!...the books get you into the lore of Skyrim in such depth they should not be by-passed

Create a backsotry- Where your character is from, age, family, friends, religion, and so on.

Do things specific to that character-For example if your a follower of the Nine you wouldn't help the Deadra or the Aldmeri Dominion.

The nice thing about Role Playing is you don't have to adhere to the Lore, unless you want to. In fact, most peoples roles have less to do with the lore and more to do with how the character will do things. Of course the back story helps, but, just define your character before hand in what they will or won't do and stick to that.

For example, at a simple level, have a character that won't steal, ever. One that will only use long distance attacks, and hires followers only to soften up defenses and absorb punishment. The key to playing a role is to stick to the limitations that you have proscribed for your character. A good role will have weaknesses and strengths, not all strengths.

You can get very complicated, or keep it real simple. For some, it can be just that they won't use a weapon, only magic.

I have a character that I like. An Antisocial Twit that won't use money or do business with anyone. Only goes to town if he has to. The only people he will talk to are quest givers, and even then, that's a stretch. If he gets paid, he throws the money away. He will only use things he finds or makes. In prior games, if he could not repair something, he waited until he found something he could use. He ahs no use for the accolades of the unwashed. His reward is to be left alone. It was more of challenge in games where repair was a factor, so I am not sure of the challenge in this game. I might have to keep him away from the Forge and Anvil.

Well you cant roleplay if you dont understand it or dont like it, do what you like. For example, what do you do everyday in life? imagine doing those things in reality, dont let others tell you what to do.

Here one of my topic i made awhile back, you may or may not like the ideas, but give you an ideas what roleplaying can be like... (unfort it was deleted when they redid the forum)
Sorry you gonna have to figured it out.

It seems to me that a High Elf would look more like Legolas than a wood elf and you could still play as an archer... And to follow Legolas's skills you would need all of the archery perks maxed and light armor would be your main focus... Might want to exploit the blacksmith/enchanting abilities since he never wore anything but leather that I can recall and leather would be relatively weak in the later game unless it's highly upgraded... And as far as the Role Playing aspect, it's just that, Role Playing... You pick what you want to do how you want to act what quests you want to do... TES games are one of the last of the true RPG's since you can truly do what you want instead of being able to go off side questing but being required to follow a story... If you want you can avoid the main quest all together and say your character simply refuses to accept his role as the Dragonborn or you can follow it as you wish... That's why I love TES and have since Arena back in '94...

This is kind of reverse engineering the role-playing to make the most fun character. So, IMO, you want to spend the most time in the wilderness as possible, you want to use as little overpowered stuff as possible, and you want to have a strong opinion about different in-game factions. So maybe, a Nord hunter who hates magic and loves the Stormcloaks, or something.

First of... it is never too late to start RPing

Second, I have little quirks, like, when my character goes to explore something, I make sure my horse is somewhere safe. I just can't leave Shadowmere out in the open (even so he can take care of himself lol).

When I'm in a dark ruin, I sneak around, anticipating danger around every corner, like I'm really there and something will jump out at me. Really get into the moment, use the atmosphere around you. Don't just look at it as a quest, as psh, I run in, kill stuff and get out. No, really BE there, listen to the sounds around you. Especially dwemer ruins, I love all the steam, the machine noises, the huffing and puffing and the sneaky Falmer. My heart pounds and I'm focusing on just that moment in time.

Check the clock, is it getting dark? Should you go home? I make it a point to go home to be with my husband, although he never has much to say LOL I sit down to a good meal, drink an ale, read a book and then go to bed.

In the morning, I check my "To Do" list and head out, telling my husband a fond farewell and reassure him that I'll be safe and home for supper! LOL

Yes, yes, yes, I do have a very active imagination *rolls eyes* LOL

My character is a true Nord woman, fighting for her people and her land!

You did it right. Play the game first, then Roleplay. This way, you don't feel bad if you don't take a certain quest, or do a certain path because you know what happens in it.

The best way to start is to try and sleep in a tavern/Town every night. This way, you'll spend more time relaxing, exploring, hunting. Things like this. Then build upon in, and build upon it. Soon you'll be running to every town without Roleplay, ignoring most of the quests, and spending a lot of time with Sam, the best drinking buddy in the world!

Don't worry, he gets his own adventures in while you're spelunking and having tea with dragons. You really think that meal you get every day is home cooked? Pfft.. it's from the market. That's why it's always the same damn pie.

You've already gotten so many great suggestions. One tip I'll give you that has worked for me is this: I find if I TRULY role play my character (create a personality, back story, and a morality and stay true to the character), I find that power leveling (including power smithing) is not a problem and I don't break the game.

Also decide what your character is good at and what they're not. For instance my thief Breton can't do magic (much to the horror of her esteemed magical family). Therefore no healing spells, no flames no nothing. Ever. She's learned to smith decently out of necessity but is not an expert (no smithing perks allowed). She creates leather goods from the things she hunts for the money (I just got to 99 smithing this morning 126 hours in, but I'm nearly done with the playthrough).

She's a beast at archery and very agile so heavy perks in archery and sneak. However she does not know how to fight with swords or war axes so if cornered, has to go to dual daggers. Since her armor (Theives Guild and Assasins) is enchanted, she can NOT smith them (remember no perks in smithing) so while she is fairly proficient with daggers, a full frontal assault is risky and fighting two guards with shields at the same time could spell death.

I also don't use something simply to TRY to level it up. For instance, my character is stealthy and a beast with a bow. So why would she use her daggers unless it makes sense (like a stealth kill from behind or when she has to because an enemy has moved in too close). Her one handed is only 68 nearly 130 hours into the game. Would I like it to be higher so she can go all "ninja" with her daggers? Hell yeah but I would have had to break character and do things simply to level the skill. I found out with my first (now scrapped) char that this breaks the game, at least for me.

I also don't have her take quests or explore a dungeon if there's no good reason to do it.

Build a character, maybe get help with D&D alignments and STAY TRUE TO THE CHARACTER.

I have different characters for different quests.

My arrogant Altmer mage has as a primary quest line the mage's guild. He uses no weapons, armor, or sneak. He will not accept quests from commoners as they are beneath him. He seeks to increase his power and rise to the top of the guild (regrettably easy in Skyrim).

My brutish Imperial will side with the legion. He has a mean streak a mile wide and a disdain for the local Nords. His quest line is the civil war quests siding with the imperials. He will not accept local quests - no time or interest. Do what it takes to deal with this damned rebellion and get back to sunny Cyrodil. This character will use only Imperial equipment. He is a tank, wearing heavy armor and shield and using a Gladius.

My Nord fighter is the mirror opposite of the legionaire. Generally affable and very much at home, he helps the Nord citizenry wherever possible. He has a distrust of all those who are not Nord and will not generally seek to help them. He is committed to the rebellion and legionaires are dispatched on sight. For him the Stormcloak and Companions quest lines. My Nord prefers axes - two handed being his favorite. This character doesn;t exist yet so I'm not sure whether he will go heavy or light armor. He does not use magic and rarely sneaks.

Then there is my primary. Of mixed race but generally Breton, he is the product of a stunted upbringing. Orphaned, he is raised by a wealthy noble as a cold and willing assassin. With the sudden demise of the noble he finds himself cast out and on his own. His nature is in some conflict with his nurture. He is generally care free and probably a bit naive and immature. He is a risk taker in the extreme. The end result is a person with no ability to feel guilt or remorse but also not evil. He will start with the DB quests and concurrently do the TG quests. He will take any and all side quests for any and all people, not for moral reasons but rather because ... hey, why not? The war? No interest, but his nature makes the orderly empire an unacceptable choice, so he will probably side with the Stormcloaks by default. The MQ? Save the world? Sure, sounds like fun. Thalmor? Buzz kill - off them.

This character is my most diverse character. He uses sword, dagger, and light armor (TG). Never a shield, but I will mod in a blocking dagger. At the moment he fights with a sword and empty off hand. He would DW if blocking were possible. He will become expert in sneak, one handed, light armor, and block. Lockpick and pickpocket will be skilled up put using perks there is still TBD. He will be my alchemist,specializing in poisons, and also my archer. Magic is limited to restoration and illusion.

Just plat-trophied the game, and am now looking forward to get a new character done and start role-playing for real. Someone mentioned how High Elves are much better suited for a Legolas-like character, good call although I'm gonna start someone who resembles Haldir more, that Elf who died at Battle of Helms Deep in Aragorn's hands.

So here how it's gonna be like.

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Born an Altmer from the land of Summerset Isle, where the most intelligent of Mer exists, the land of powerful wizards. With each and every Altmer stereotyped as the species who wields magic, no one ever knew about the warriors, the ones who wield not magic, but trained in bows and swords similar to the wild Bosmer of Valenwood.

Legaldir, son of Faradir, was one of Altmer's best captain. Leading campaigns after campaigns with the Psijic Order's guidance who believes he was more than an Altmer, someone who could bring change to the world; who could unite the warring races in all of Tamriel. His bow whispers Order, his sword implores Justice, and his eyes speaks of Peace just before his final foes were slain. He led his warriors through thick and thin, safeguarding their safety before mission throughout the unknowingly dangerous lands of Summerset Isle; Legaldir will and always be the first to engage a foe in combat despite his powers as a captain.

The Psijic Order summons him once more, speaking of a world-eater who escaped the grasp of time. In hopes of the Altmer survival, the races throughout Tamriel have to be united to fight this monster. And it could not be enough. The Order mentions what they call a Dragonborn, the only person who is able to send that monster in to the abyss.

Meanwhile, Legaldir learnt of the war that currently exists in Skyrim, home of the Nords. They have to be warned about this danger, to be united to have any hopes searching for the said Dragonborn. Setting out on an elven boat with his brother-in-law Irifmir for days into Skyrim waters, he approaches what look like a group of bandits fighting men in red-silver armors.

Skyrim's Imperials.

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Well then how does it do for an introduction?

Good back story. Now, flesh out the tactical details about how this character will approach (or avoid) battles, what types of weapons etc. What kind of armor will they wear? What clothing will they change into while in town, if they do that. How will they recover, Mana or Potions, if Potions, will they make them or buy them.

These rules are not to limit your character, although some use them for that, but to define how your character will interact with the game to fit their role. You can use broad strokes or get real detailed.

However, you have a great start and I think you will enjoy the game more.

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His brother-in-law was shot with an arrow by the Imperials who saw them approaching the shores, which Legaldir immediately jumped into the water after instructing him to return home with news of what happened, knowing Irifmir will be fine with the healing spells he learned when he was young. He swam up the shore only to have swords pointed to his neck, asking for his surrender, the land was bloodied with bodies of men, Nords especially.

"It's clear he's not with the Thalmor, nevertheless it's too good a coincidence for this elf to be here when we got them all Stormcloaks kneeling. Bring him before General Tullius."

He felt a thud, before darkness swirls into his vision.
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A little summarized background on this character, Legaldir. When one mention an elf, the first thought that would strike our minds will be an archer, a mage for High Elves. Yet for an Altmer, Legaldir despises the use of magic for harmful purposes, after the visit from a messenger of the Psijic Order when he was much younger. His natural gift for magic is only used to heal, either himself or to his brethren, soldiers in fact. Before enlisting as a warrior, he read through books of Valenwood's elves, how bows were just an extension of their arms, how their agility were the reason they survived the huge forests of their land.

Using parts of dwemer machines he found around Summerset Isle, he made his first bow, trained into surpassing even the best of Altmer's archers present in his land, maybe he could even best a Bosmer in their hunts. Legaldir too forged his own sword, sparring with fellow soldiers into mastering its' arts. Mastering weak points of an enemy is how these elves adapt to survival, not with a lowly shield which would even decrease one's agility.

After his unreasonable capture and what-look-like-a-dragon attack that helped his escape with a fellow courageous soldier named Ralof, he knows his bow/sword skills will be put into challenge, and there's vast knowledge waiting to be revealed in this land of Skyrim. Alongside finding this Dragonborn like the Psijic Order instructed, he's ready to seek help from the locals and learn what he needs to survive in this foreign land.

So yes, he can cook a few meals, he's good at maintaining relations so I guess he'll be trading often for foreign objects he may find. I'm developing his character in tune with what he will be discovering as he explores more of Skyrim. I find it orgismic to believe that he's finding a Dragonborn not knowing the spoilers ahead.

And yes a big thank you to all the tips fellow nice forummers!