Simple question, I'm sure the answer is no but just thought I would check.
I know it will affect gameplay but just wondered if it affects any storyline.
For example, in Windhelm, Dark Elves are not thought of much, does that mean they could not side with the Stormcloaks?

I would say Elder Scrolls games never penalize you, in regard to content, for any racial choice.

No. The content, quests, story etc. are exactly the same regardless of your race.

Thought so, thank you.

Dude no you can pick any race and it really has no impact, At most some npc's may look and act differently towards you but storywise its no prob.

There was that one Shivering Isles quest in Oblivion that you couldn't do for the orc if you were a Khajiit, but I think that's it.

I think if you're an Orc you don't get one quest from the Orcs, but no effect on MQ or CW.

Which one? Is it from an orc stronghold, or an orc living in a city? I know for certain that all quests in strongholds are available to all races - you just need to become Blood-Kin before they let you in.

Thanks for all the help. Starting a new game as a Dark Elf. Never been one before.

It's for the strongholds. If you're an Orc, you won't get the quest for becoming Blood-Kin, since you don't need it. You can just walk into any of them freely.

For some reason I read "if you're NOT an orc"...

It's "The Forgemaster's Fingers", right? It's tricky anyway, even if you're not orc - none of my characters got it because they all became Blood-Kin after a different quest.

Actually this is the first TES game where it doesn't affect gameplay either. Which, completely bites if you ask me. But yeah, your orc can now be just as powerful a Mage as anyone else. No attributes to adjust for race and the racial bonus' are de minimus.

The orc quest already mentioned is the only real difference I can think of. Heck even an Argonian can lead the Stormcloaks to victory. So ... yeah ... whatever.

It didn't effect gameplay in Oblivion. An Orc could be just as powerful as a mage as an Altmer given that most of your magicka would come from sigil stone equipment OR infinite spell chains which rendered magicka moot. Attributes were meaningless in the end and only served to cripple gameplay as you had to carefully level up your skills to you could up your attributes efficently.

Now realistically speaking only human races should be allowed to join the stormcloaks, but then those players would be here *&)*&*)&*)Q$% about it. But then again Argonians and Khajitt could join house Telvanni back in Morrowind which I think is even more ridiculous so its not exactly new.

Another real difference is an An Altmer wearing hooded thalmor robes can use it as a disguise during part of the quest diplomatic immunity.

No

I remember that one of my Nerevarines was an Argonian. The irony was wonderful.

There is one quest in the main story where race can matter a tiny bit.

Yeah, there's 'another' quest that gives you Blood-Kin status.

There are multiple sidequests which can make you blood-kin. There just has to be an Orc involved in it. I remember helping out a mine, and one of its workers just happened to be an Orc and made me Blood-kin. After that, I accidentally found the Forgemaster's Fingers, and became Blood-kin again. Kinda funny actually, does that mean I'm now double Blood-kin?

Race doesn't matter, which i found to be a huge blow back, personally i wanted to see me get attacked in windhelm by some ass if i was argonian, i wanted to get into a argument with guards to get into the city gates if i was a khajiit but no beth probably believe it would either be to controversial for a game like skyrim to have actual racism or that the fan base would erupt in anger.

Besides the doing of the actual quest, what's the advantage of being bloodkin to the Orcs? I can still mine their veins for Orichalcum and pay the dowry for that one female Orc so that she'll be a lifelong follower (and a really strong follower at that). Is the only difference that they don't get annoyed and call you "Outlander" when you're taking their ore?

I think it is possible to buy and sell within the strongholds.

I would like to have significant differences among the races. Of the racial traits, I've only found the Breton and High Elf traits useful beyond the early levels. As a Wood Elf, I would like to have something in archery (for example) that no other race could attain. The starting skill level is neutralized at level 100. Then there is nothing "special" about the Bosmer archer.

Also, I would like to have seen at least some small difference between male and female. As it is, it seems like any character can do anything. I thought it was weird having a Bosmer character go to Sovengard (or join the Stormcloaks).

Well there are times when I forget I'm playing a Redguard and not a Nord and I charge up to a Frost Dragon ... only to see my health suddenly drop like a rock.

I used to really enjoy playing the odd-ball character. The Orc Bard, or Altmer Warrior, even a Khajiit Mage once. They all had large written backgrounds needed to fit into the role I was playing them in. I do hate that Skyrim was dummied down in that department so badly.

I thought it was just Forgemaster's Fingers or .

No. It can be simple stuff like finding a Daedra Heart for an Orc in Markarth or finding a book for the Orc librarian in Winterhold.

Absolutely. If you play an altmer all the dudes want to marry you and all the chicks want to go shopping with you.