I have always played a nord, both on my warrior guy and my assassin for the dark brotherhood, but im wondering if I can make a Mage and let him be a Breton. I get really OCD with roleplay and I can't figure out a backstory for a Breton coming to skyrim to join the imperials, become archmage, and be the dragonborn. Ughhhhhhhhh I hate how OCD I can be sometimes because I'll constantly delete a char if it isnt played right, I feel like if I leave right in the middle of the mq after escaping Helgen, that that would be wrong in the roleplay somehow. Should he be nord or Breton? Since he's gonna be archmage should he look old and bearded or something? If he is Breton I plan to name him Matthias Etienne, a name I used back in oblivion, but is a Breton right for this game or just nord?

I have looked into lore and realize that a lot of emperors for the empire were Breton, but I feel like I would be playing wrong if I played anything but nord for the mq. The main problem is is that I can't think of a back story for a Breton full on Mage who is gonna be a good guy, be dragonborn, do the divine church missions and some daedric missions, and join the imperials.

I have an Imperial mage who came to Skyrim to study at the College. He will be archmage, but not at once - I intend for him study more than a year (by waiting and RPing that he studies) first (it's still a very short time, but better than going from newbie to archmage in a week or two).
When he got mixed up with the rebels at Helgen, he realized that the civil war was worse than he thought, and since he believes in a united Empire and that Ulfric is nothing but a powerhungry warlord, he will join the Legion.
He also has discovered he has the ability to absorb dragonsouls. The Nords go on about this Dragonborn thing, and he's even been summoned by some obscure cult called the "Greybeards". He's very reluctant about it, but in the end he will walk down that path, too, and accept it as he learns more about it.

My Breton Dragonborn came to Skyrim when she fled false murder accusations back in Cyrodiil, where she grew up (her father was in fact Imperial). Being poor and with no other future, she embraced the new life offered to her when she survived Helgen, and has no problem being Dragonborn.

My Dunmer Dragonborn is a mystic, who will do anything her visions tells her to do (ok, it's not that simple, not really). She's very interested in dragons, and the Way of the Voice is very appealing to her.

Thank you so much!!! That was a big help, you have no idea. When I escape from Helgen should I go immedietly to winter hold after telling balgruff that riverwood needs aid or should I keep going with the main quest and level up my char and complete the Mq and THEN do the wintertime quests, because i feel like there isn't a real point in the main quest where a person can just go off and do whatever he or she wants.

Winterhold*

Bump

Umm... why can't he be a Breton? Or are you under the allusion that only Nords can be Dragonborn? I have an Altmer Dragonborn and no qualms about it but to each their own

He could be resulting from a Elf/ Nord relationship if that is your concern then. Otherwise, just create a good story and the rest will follow suit. And a mage along with the Dragonborn is a good story already, since the Thu'um is considered magic. So become the Arch- mage and start to study the power of the shouts

The only promblem I have is making the Dragon born anything other then a type of human; but give we have that book about Talos which implies he might have been a breton, I do not see a problem.
Also think of it this way, the way of the voice a ancient type of nord magic. Any mage might want those powers.

Also I find playing a good guy mage is easy, you just have to drop the nord version of good and bad. As they hate magic and deadra and undead and anyone who is not a nord lol.

I am playing a Dark Elf currently, first time dark elf, and I am not doing the main quest because I do not think a Dark Elf would be the Dragonborn.

Actually imo, there are 3 logical break points in the MQ, and here's why:

Bleak Falls Barrow: Just because the court mage thinks there's something important there doesn't mean your character has to agree

Way of the Voice: Just because the Jarl thinks there's no refusing the summons of the Greybeards doesn't mean your character has to agree - this is especially true for non-Nords who have no reason to revere them

Diplomatic Immunity: Delphine herself provides the reason - it'll take some time for her to pull a plan together