Ok, so I have done a bit of role playing and enjoy it however I struggle with thinking of a story for my character before the game started and thinking of what my character would and wouldn't do. Just wondering if anyone has any tips or things they do while creating characters. Any help appreciated, thanks.

Anyone?

Just make up whatever. There are some things in game that might get in the way of your concept, but not too many.

Bump

My suggestion: come up with a character concept, but only bother rping things that are interesting. Don't get mired in the "Oh, I have to sleep eight hours a day and eat three meals" mindset because honestly, cooking is boring and pointless and you don't have to eat, and you can just sleep one hour to get the Well Rested bonus. RPing "do I go with the Stormcloaks, Imperials, or neither" is interesting, on the other hand, and a good avenue for making an RP decision.

As for coming up with a character, you could always watch a movie and shamelessly rip off a character like Conan, Aragorn, Boromir, Legolas, or anything. Find some fantasy movie and just rip it off as the basis for your character. If you wanna play a Nord, read a bit of Norse mythology or folklore and steal a name, etc.

It's easier to RP if you know a little bit of the Lore and background of the ES series.

If you do, then try to develop a story that correlates with your race and your skill set (would say class, but you know how that goes!). Develop your background by determining your character's origin, history, mentality and their motivations based off what some of the Lore provides.

If you don't know much about the lore, go to check this site out for a bit: http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Main_Page

That would be my #1 suggestion for ya.

Also a good suggestion. I admit, though, that I've never really read any of the lore from the internet; everything I've picked up, it's been through reading books in-game for the most part.

Thanks a lot guys, much appreciated.

The reason for RPing is to give a shape you the way you play the game, since it is such an open sandbox. So it is for things like:
1. Determining your character's reaction to different factions
2. Deciding your character's morality
3. Limiting what skills and perks you take and what equipment you use
4. Choosing what quest lines you pursue

E.g. say you played a Nord version of Conan. You would tend to be pro-Stormcloaks, against magicians, maybe negative to the more magic-oriented races. You might be against nobles and the rich but try to help the poor, so you wouldn't steal from the poor or take quest rewards from them, but you might break into rich people's houses to rob them. Maybe you would always take revenge on people who wrong you regardless of the consequences. You might refuse to use any armor rather than fur, hide and leather, not use magic or enchanted weapons, but rely on eating food you make from hunting. You would do the Companions, the main quest, and look for quests against magicians and magical beings.

I have a character who's a mage, who never uses weapons, never steals anything, never kills anyone unless attacked, and only eats vegetarian food. I have an Orc who is fascinated by the Dwemer, hates bandits and anyone who causes chaos, and gets a big kick out of raising zombies and anything related to necromancy. Each character tends to play different quest lines and have a different playstyle, so I can switch around and not get bored.

Thanks Mujokan you have given me a few things to consider.

Read the diary in my sig (first 2 entries detail his background) and others' RP stories to get a general idea. Generally, you think up of a character concept, then weave a background story that fits and complements the character.

http://j-u-i-c-e.hubpages.com/_esforum/hub/roleplaying-skyrim

I don't mean to pick a fight, but I do think that for some people, "sleeping eight hours and eating certain times a day" IS part of their role playing. Role playing can be as deep and complicated as a person wants it to be. I love it when I get to be at "home" for a night or two and sleep in my own bed (and get a marital bonus for 8 hours afterwards). I don't like traveling at night as it "feels" more dangerous. So if I can, I find a place to camp out safely until morning. That's interesting TO ME.

Making up a back story just helps to relate to that character on the screen. Mine is the great-great grandaughter of the hero of Cyrodill. She was confused as to why the Imperials were preparing to behead her when she woke up in jail for reasons unknown. Her great-great grandmother was in love with Martin and they had an unknown affair before his demise (I won't share that in case those reading this haven't played Oblivion).

Role playing is whatever you want it to be, beit creating rules for yourself to play within and/or back story for your character. Have fun with it!

Every time I create a new character, the back story is always the same...because it's always been my dream. I am not from the world of Skyrim, but from Earth instead. A portal opened on Earth and through my own curiosity (and annoyance with the world around me) I decided to step through.

I then put myself into my character's shoes. I am not playing a game, I am in that world doing these things and make my choices. So basically I'm roleplaying myself entering a foreign world and listening to the people in it to make the decisions I feel are important to ME.