I really enjoy playing as a Dunmer, both for the bonuses- my play style is generally that of a nightblade- and for the roleplay value.

However, what I like more is a diversity of characters- trying every race and seeing where it takes me.

Argonians, for me.

While their inherent abilities are not that powerful (save for Histskin, which is insanely good for a melee character), they cover areas that are seldom provided for through other means. Granted I don't often need Waterbreathing or Poison Resistance, but in those situations where I do it's nice to know they'll always be active.

They also feel the most 'right' as a Dragonborn to me, even though the dragons themselves aren't actually reptilian, as they at least look the part, especially if wearing Dragonscale armor. That, and it always feels 'off' to me to use shouts on a non-beast character.

I didn't know this! Thanks for the information. I never really got far enough to test my theory, just got to the point where I could crunch the numbers. Thanks!

Still though, fighting a mage or dragon with 85% resistance is nothing to disregard in a battle, especially if you're a mage or a dragon. The fight is basically over before it begins.

That made me laugh. The funny thing is I AM German! xD Is there a connection between this? Oh god, now I'm paranoid!

Based on Skyrim's powers? Orcs.

On lore? Dunmer, no question.

I would say, if its Skyrim, I prefer a Nord, but if its Oblivion, I loved being a Wood Elf. I'm on my third profile on Skyrim, I've been a Nord, an Imperial, and a Wood Elf.

Nord; I was impressed with her two handed skill.
Imperial; didn't like her much, so I deleted her and created my Wood Elf.
Wood Elf; I don't much care for Skyrim's graphic of the elves, but some of the Wood Elves skills are pretty awesome. Combining the Thief Stone skill perk with a Wood Elf, and you got yourself a pretty awesome thief/assassin. Not to mention the Steed Stone ability added as well.

In Oblivion, I would pick nothing else but the Wood Elves. They came with my favorite skills. Acrobatics, Athletics, and Sneak. Marksman was just a bonus. I hardly ever used a bow, mostly cause I had my ultimate favorite sword in hand. Umbra.

On the off hand, I still wish they'd bring back Umbra.

Imperials of course.This whole game is just a battle between Imperials and Thalmor. Every other race are pawns, especially the Nords.

All war is, is the rich and powerful sending the willing to die.

Welcome aboard to the Elder Scrolls Forums! Yes I was fond of the thieves in Oblivion. I found the Wood Elves animal alliance power to be pretty useful.

I'm pretty sure the Imperials are in line with the Thalmor Embassy, and the Stormcloaks, AKA the Nords are rebelling against them? Correct me if I'm wrong.

I play a Dunmer thief with some use of onehanded swords, but mainly focus on Thief skills. I was lucky that the race I love matches the way I play as well. I also love mages and have now created 2 variations of mages and 2 variations of thieves (all dunmer)...

I think you're talking about 'Imperials' and a military group and not the race. The military group run by the Emperor is with the Thalmor because they have a "treaty" and have to. But the Imperial race lives in the Imperial City (where oblivion took place) and practically own Tamriel (which is falling apart). Hence the name for the Imperial army, which all races fight for.

The Imperial race are the natives of Cyrodiil. The Imperial City is the capital of Cyrodiil, and takes up most of the island in the centre of Cyrodiil

Hmmm.. Indeed... Indeed. *smokes pipe* Indeed.

Terms of actual supeirority on the field Bretons win hands down. That magic resistance is very strong. That said, I think Orcs and Argonians both have exceptional abilities. But, my favorite race will always be... guess.

There is no Imperial race, at least not in lore. In fact the Imperials did not even exist as a race until Morrowind. To further that there are two groups in Cyrodiil. Nibeneans and Colovians. Imperials are just a name for both of those races.

Argonian and orc both have crazy good abilities, useful against all enemies.

Imperials all the way. I like their cosmopolitan ideals.

Breton for me. My first character was a High Elf. The beginning boost in magic was a plus, but my second, the Breton survived more easily against mage - whom I detest most in the game! I coupled my Breton with the Lord Stone, and some enchanted resist armor. Most mages can't touch me.

For basic fighter, none can beat the Orc. The ability to double damage/half damage in berserker mode to me is a tremendous advantage. The health regen of the argonian is good, but just no enough in my opinion. And water-breathing, OK for very limited purposes, but still not enough.

For mage, if depends. Altmer are great as pure offensive or sneaky casting. They can dish the damage and regenerate magicka quickly to continue the battle. The Breton with magic resistence can stand in the middle of the plains going spell to spell with another mage and outlast them by shrugging off some of the magic damage. Dunmer to me are the weakest in a mage to mage fight unless the are fighting a fire mage. However. the ancestors wrath is useful against a melee opponent. Frankly in the case of a mage, it depends on the style you are going for.

In the vanilla game, the Khajit power is probably the most useless power. I played on the 360 and never once had to light a torch or cast a light spell to see anything. The vanilla game's dark area are just not dark enough (without playing with brightness controls, and that would darken the night eye as well). On the PC and using lighting mods, night eye becomes a supremely useful power. I use URWL mod, and am currently playing a Khajit, and the night eye has actually saved my characters life several times by allowing me to see danger at a distance at night.

The one problem I have with racial abilities is the 1/day limitation, and that I forget about them in the middle of battle. On the PC, I found a mod that would auto cast the racial abilities. This mod reduce the "cool down" of the abilites to 3 hours, and made the khajit night eye a toggle. It also applies the racial abilities to the enemies, so when fighting an Altmer, they may start regenerating magicka in the middle of battle, a dunmer will sudden flame on, etc. It does change some of the racial powers on the npcs, such as the nord shout (turns into a frost cloak instead of a fear shout), and I am not sure how it handles the Orc berserker mode.

Argonian hands down, racials, looks, odd one out.

It also seems to blur a bit towards the end of the cycle, but yeah I could tolerate the sound if I knew it wasn't going to come around in 60 seconds when it automatically switches off.

I can't live without Night Eye tho, a torch or mage light would draw attention if sneaking around in a dark area with enemies.