I'm thinking about making an Orc that specializes in Sneak and Archery, and I'll probably make him/her skinnier and less intimidating than what's usually seen on the average Orc. Just wondering if it's alright to do this considering the lore where most Orcs are Tamriel's "big, brutish, axe-wielding barbarians."

Of course, one of Bethesda's main selling points is to let us make any kind of character we want, and there doesn't seem to be any rules lorewise that would prevent any oddball-type of character (I'm sure there'll be plenty of NPCs like that). Anyways, is anyone planning to RP a Dragonborn that goes against the norm? (ex: Nord that relies mostly on magic, Altmer that prefers two-handed swords and hammers, etc...)

They're not brutish thugs... :cryvaultboy:

"I'm thinking about making an Orc that specializes in Sneak and Archery"

I made that same build in Oblivion. ^_^ I usually do have a few characters in my rpg's that go against the typical guilds when the game allows me the freedom to do it.

I'll make an Altmer barbarian!

Wearing a lioncloth leather harness!

Absolutely. I've never been a fan of the whole "races as classes" mentality. It's boring to me- generally speaking, I want to play heroes that defy convention, not conform to it. For that matter, every ES game I've played has featured NPCs of the different races in roles outside of what they supposedly excel at- Redguard wizards, Altmer warriors, Orc assassins, and these are often the most memorable characters in the game.

I agree with this 100%.

However, I've always wandered lore-wise, what constitutes an Altmer barbarian? :shrug:

I will play an orsimer mage.
Being a mage suites his background the most.

I generally make a Redguard who excels at sneaking, lockpicking, illusion and altereation magic, and marksman. So I guess that's a bit different. This time however, I'm thinking of making a woodelf, that is, if I can make him resemble something similar to me.

I just love non stereotypical characters every once in a while, i play myself and trust me i do not look like Conan, my character will reflect just that...who's to say that every and all warriors are pumped up hulking caricatures!

Well, I'd think that individualism trumps lore- maybe this particular Altmer grew tired of the conservatism of his/her upbringing and took up studying the ways of more warrior oriented cultures via books, and then went from being an armchair warrior-enthusiast to actually testing the waters as an unhinged, primal force of rage? I kind of love that idea, actually. Sort of a barbarian dilettante, who eventually achieves true barbarianism?

Wood elf heavy armor warrior?

I'm planning a bosmer mage

I've always loved this race and class combo.

I made up an interesting RP character a couple years back and was thinking of rolling him for a Skyrim play through, but without H2H he's no longer a viable character apparently.

Although I guess my main Oblivion character broke stereotype a little in being a Khajiit archer.

Khajiit Spellblade. Heavy Armor, two-handed weapons, lots of magic ^_^

Waitaminit, if spell has to be equipped, that combination doesn't work anymore :pinch:

Yeah, a barbarous Altmer misanthrope who literally scares the bejeezus out of his Altmer (or anyone else for that matter) kin.

I like it. :thumbsup:

I think only a few of my characters conform to stereotype:

1 Nord battlemage --> not really a stereotype (warrior would be)
2 Argonian mage --> not really a stereotype (thief/ranger?)
3 Khajiit thief --> stereotype
4 Altmer warrior --> not stereotype (mage)
5 Bosmer ranger --> stereotype
6 Dunmer witchhunter --> maybe a stereotype
7 Orc ranger --> not a stereotype (warrior would be)
8 Redguard warrior --> stereotype
9 Breton mage --> stereotype
10 Imperial witchhunter --> not really a stereotype (not sure what would be - warrior/ranger?)

My character has an obsession with chickens if that counts :turned:

Well my two first characters will be a heavy armor, sword & Shield argonian and my second a female Orc thief/Assassin and alchemist.

Does those count?

A Nordic Bard, that wields a big 2handed axe/electric guitar, does that count?

I made a white Redguard once =) Most are dark skinned, like Africans I would imagine. So a white Redguard is not sterotypical but neither impossible.

That's my first oblivion character you are describing right there.

^Yeah, those definitely do count. And wow, the spelling error in my topic title was fixed. I couldn't figure out how to edit the title myself so whoever did that, thanks!

My first character will be a Nord who, while he is capable of either, will favor magic over melee combat.

Nope, probably not. I see no reason to.
I'll play a Nord Warrior, Bosmer Assassin, Altmer Mage, and a Dunmer Battlemage.