So how do you guys do it?

I generally start with sorting out the class, then moving on to the backstory. You know, get the mechanics out the way asap so they don't interfere. Problem is I've been trying to sort out a character idea for over a week, and it's giving me real trouble. With this guy I've got his backstory, race, and birthsign all sorted out, since they're all tied together, but I've got no idea how to translate that into the game. Earlier today after posting in the thread about a DiD battlemage, I had a character class pop into my head, completely incompatible with the backstory, so I'm now trying to sort him out. Because if I don't it'll bug the hell out of me.

Which is what got me wondering how you guys come up with your characters. I'm partly hoping something'll get triggered to resolve my characters, but mostly I'm genuinely curious how you come up with your characters.

Feel like sharing?

I just jump right into the game, and while I'm creating the character I ask myself 'why is (s)he in prison?'. I then learn a bit more about them during the tutorial, and if I feel an attachment to them after escaping the sewers, I'll continue with them.

I agree with Solitudian, I would just jump into the game, the rest will make sense later. It sounds like you're maybe a little more anol than me and Sol, like you need stuff to make sense.

I dunno. Since you asked the question, my answer would be "just jump in".

How I start new characters? All's I need (usually) is a solid set of ideas. If I happen to think of a little backstory, that's good, too, but it doesn't need to be anything too involved. I like some mystery. I like getting to know my character (and his/her backstory) as the game progresses.

I think my problem with the character comes down to two things; my aversion to single specialization characters, and his backstory. An Argonian born under the Atronach, formerly a hunter, who spent 20 years enslaved to a Telvanni mage. Most likely set up for him would be a pure mage, especially since the Telvanni trained him to use magic, to serve as his "Spellguard", just depends how many of his hunter skills remain. My other character will sort himself out in a day or two in all likelihood, since the mechanics aspect is already taken care of, I just need a little backstory for him.

Ah. I see what you're saying now.

Some of my character ideas took weeks or months to formulate. Maybe all you need is to just let the ideas you have simmer for awhile. Eventually the right set of ideas will come to you over time.

that's how I'd do it. I'm getting the sense that you're not as slow as me, though.

I need to work the backstory first. Skills and class fall into place once I have a history. I can't do it the other way around.

For me, it depends on how I came up with the character idea. Sometimes, a name or image of a character pops into my head, and in those cases I simply create the character and use the tutorial/early levels to "get to know" them. It's in this time that their backstory and skillset normally come together.

Others, I have an idea for a character I'd like to play. For example, I created a Thief recently based purely on the fact I wanted to try a character with little to no combat skills. While at work, I mull the ideas over in my head, proposing different options to myself and refining each one til I have one I like.

Still doesn't stop restartitis...