Its come to my attention how everyone here plans out their characters history, their classes and triumphs. If its going to be a mage,assassin,thief or a warrior. but now when i realize there are no classes im just going to do what i want and when I want, if I want to use a fire spell im going to use it, if i wanna get someone who's far im gonna use a bow, if im up for damage im gonna go for a battle axe. I dont choose what I am, I just play the game! and i have fun while im doing it. I play with no restrictions and i feel more like a free person while im doing it, making a history for your character doesnt make him any different from all the other characters other people are playing, we're all dovakhiin and we're all going to try to stop alduin whether we like it or not. And at the end when i have an awesome all rounder character, I have more stuff I can do then a warrior who doesnt know any magic skills but has mastered one handed. so what about you guys? you with me or do you think its necessary for you to make your characters history in order to properly roll-play.

P.S im not talking derp about guys who do all these things, its just that I, imo, dont think its necessary.

I tried planning my character and I just couldn't, I have no idea how people get their ideas.. And sure it's fun being "free" or whatever but I have to disagree about all if our characters ending up the same, some people arent touching the MQ... Plus it just gives more replay value...

It's the age old question of how you like to play. Some people like creating a background and a name and then completley engrossing themselves in the game. Others just pick a name and go for it, still others just play the game. There is no right or wrong way to play the game and there are no hard and fast rules for the depth you want to give your character. It's all about what YOU want out of the game. Personally, I'm one of these types who never fast travels and only picks up things relating to my character. I sometimes eat and drink but thats just if I'm in the mood. It's your game play it however you want.

See, I'm the complete opposite. The idea of playing a game, ANY game and just...doing stuff to do it sounds horribly boring to me. Kinda like doodling random shapes on a piece of paper. May be entertaining for some, but to me it's an idiotic waste of time.

Honestly, I spend hours planning out my build. But then when I actually get into the game, I just do whatever feels right at the time and act pretty much solely on impulse.

I was seriously wondering the same thing! I admit I kind of plan my guy out, in that I have an idea that I wanna be a stealth/magic kinda guy, but that's it. It seems like everyone here plans an entire backstory to their character, gets a little too into their "personality", and you should see some of the ways people talk about finding their wife/husband. It's a little creepy, tbh.

That's why I don't like MMOs. In a single player game I can roleplay as much as I want without someone coming by and yelling something stupid at me, jumping ramdomly around, dancing or whatever that breaks the immersion.

I never plan anything. I just use whatever skills I like and eventually try to max everything out. And I'll join all the factions I can complete all of their quest lines with a single character.
There are certain skills and ideals I favor that I guess do shape my character in some way, but I never put thought into role playing.

I'm the same. I have no idea what my character is going to be like, I'll just do what feels right at the time.

Exactly this, 100%.

I often like to have a goal for my character. Something that drives them. Be it the desire to be the head of a guild, to save Tamriel, or just pure revenge (Dark Brotherhood character), each and every one of them defines their own role.

Now, if Skyrim has as many stuff Todd Howard says it does, I just might make a Dovahkiin that lives like a regular adventurer who does nothing except exploring every nook and cranny of Skyrim.

I'm sure many here are like me, this is the 3rd tes game I've played and pretty much my character is formed. I know what I like/hate. I've always been the shield blocking type and the 1 handed sword in heavy armor. Judging by the dragons...... I'm gonna need that shield badly when that fire hydrant type of fire breath comes at me. Lastly I'll be an imperial since I've liked the previous racials best and I'm not a cat/lizard type of player anyway. I like my char to look knightly... not a cat in tin cans...


Edit: oh ya ever since sayda neen *can hardly remember the name* I'm the same char with my actual name, I just go with the storyline as a man that comes every time a major thing happens in life and I'm there to correct/help. I wake from my sleep *now 200 years hehe* and once again i regain my strength. Apparently now to slain the new baddy. Always an imperial, always as a follower of the nine.

Previously I've been similar to you, but this time I'm going to give the back story thing a go. Mainly because I want to do more bad stuff with out being an outright "evil" character. If I don't think of certain circumstances and motives which would allow me to do this, I'll probably just be killing randoms for little reason. But that's really just playing a psychopath.

As for skills and combat, I'll pretty much use the right tool for the job and end up quite well rounded (or boring if you look at it that way).

The only thing that is "necessary" is pressing the proper buttons at the proper time.

I know that I am going to spend a lot of time with this game, across several characters. I like to write, and I have an overactive imagination. So, For Me, creating a backstory is just a way to add a little more dimension to the fictional, digital life that I will take control of. And that adds a little more intensity and gravity to whatever may be happening in the game, and the decisions I make and reactions I have.

In Oblivion, my main character did whatever he wanted, just like you. It was fun and I got to experience so many different aspects of the game. More focused Roleplay characters came out of that, so that I could explore different avenues in different situations.

And that's the beauty of Bethesda's open world games. We can all play the way we want to, and I for one have been spoiled by it. I still love other games and franchises, but nothing compares to the freedom and depth of what Bethesda does. I want to invest a little more of myself into the equation if I'm going to invest so much time in the game.

I say kudos to you for playing your way. It just comes down to different strokes for different folks.

The only thing that kinda spoils it for me is they never truly give you a true blank slate to start with. Like in Baldurs Gate, you were just some dude who saw his adopted father get murdered and that was your story. Where as Bethesda seem to want to set out these fantastical ideas like you were the only one who could close the oblivion gates or you have the soul of a dragon. I have always liked the idea of coming up from being a nobody to being a champion.( Not in anyways a complaint Mr. Bethesda, I still plan on buying your wonderful shiny game )

Nah I also just play the game with a couple of characters, but since it's an RPG I also have fun to create an actual character with it's own morals, skills and backstory to play the game as.

It's just because we're all playing the game in our heads already, wracked by anticipation.

Nothing wrong with approaching the game with RP intentions, especially if you are familiar with the ES world, but I am betting the experience itself will shove most of our plans out the window..

This is what im probably going to do too. If i dont like that character what i have planned then i just make a new one and play it the way its most fun.

It's alright, don't worry. What matters is that you have found a way to feel superior to everyone else.

I tried planning And restricting my characters in fallout but I always end up making the decisions I would make IRL... If I want to play an evil character he ends up having positive karma -.-

I just thought of my primary weapon, magic, and race, really... but I'll still be chill and not be too strict on my choosings of skills. Have fun.

Planning ahead gives life and meaning to a character, and this includes what his strengths / weaknesses are, how he handles specific situations (conforntational, subtle, aviidance, seduction...) and even what not to do (quest not to take, guilds to avoid, etc...). Not all of us want to do everything possible, because depending on the character, it deprives of some of his meaning - an example, I can never see a Paladin-like do sth for Mages , Thieves or Assassin's Guild, not even entering the Arena in Oblivion, because of a Paladin's code of honour and conduct. My High Arcanist sees no sense in wielding any weapons aside form his staff, helping thieves or fighting the Arena. On the other hand, me Shadow Assassin tries to infiltrate all guilds possible using =/= disguises, but I cannot see her investing in things that demand Strength, Endurance and the likes. Of course, with attributes blown to smithereens, this last part makes no sense, but that was just for example's sake.

But planning ahead does not mean to lock your character to new possibilities, otherwise you may kill some of the fun factor and miss some surprising experiences. It is more about general behavioural guide-lines, a 'soul compass' if you will.

Using build theory to plan my character is one of the reasons why I love RPGs


Finding that right combo of skills, perks, and i wished attributes is something that i like doing when Im not even at a console or computer.



Just thinking, hmm is 6 points on one handed enough or should i cut out lock pick and get 10 perks, which is better, is far more fun TO ME then having a mish mash of skills and perks all over the place by just leveling willy nilly

Of course i did level 5/5/5 every single time in morrowind and oblivion so, i guess any play style is a good one as long as you like it

Specialising 'cause being an all-rounder won't make you as efficient at anything specific: jack-of-all-trades, master of none. And imo it's more fun restricting yourself; it's no fun at all when you have a direct solution to a problem.

Having said that, I'm not into the whole background-story thing.

OK, slightly more serious reply.

I often like to think ahead about characters. That's mostly because of my D&D days, when planning ahead was vital. A little bit of roleplay-planning tended to happen along the way. Planning ahead in TES games tends to mean ending up with a character that needs to spend several hours on practising skills somewhere without actually doing anything. I still do that at times, but more often than not it makes me feel like I just had a 'lesser' experience and should reroll.

One resolution I've made for Skyrim is that I'm going to stay FAR away from the UESP.

Yes, on both posts. I play planed characters. I also play unplanned ones. They each are specialized and limited, in their own way. I started one character in Oblivion, with the intention of him being a certain type, with a personality profile and a backstory. These things help me decide where they go and what choices they would make, that is fitting for their character. During the creator, I had the usual problems in the sliders, as you move one and 6 more will move. In the end he turned out completely different from what I was trying to do. I changed his name and projected playstyle. I didn't really know what he was going to become. I just played, still specializing in certain things. He just seemed to be a character the uses Hammers and never touched a bow or magic.

So, planned or not. I still limit the skills of a character. And play each one according to what they would do.

One Female Nord warrior, had to stay pissed drunk all the time. She could only have weapons and armor that she looted, because it took everything she could scraqe up to support a 30 mead a day habit.