If I don't start out in Prison... what on Nirn would I do!?

I think my roleplaying experience would be damaged if I had an intro/background story made for me. I would prefer to just stick to tradition and start in prison and make my own background. I can totally understand why people would agree to the idea though, if the intro's weren't too long then I don't see why you couldn't have the option to start at one of these locations as one of the citizens of Skyrim, or select to start as a prisoner who is an unknown foreigner to the country

If the first quest led onto the main quest, like JDC said, it would would be very static from then on because it would end up you doing the same thing anyway. Mixed opinions on this one. <_<

It is a cool idea but would it work?

OMG Noooooooo, you have to start in an ambiguous nowhere, because if you start in a place that can be named or defined, then you're cramming a background down the player's throat and restricting roleplaying!!!one!!!11!!

:facepalm:

Just when I think I've heard it all...

I do NOOOOTTT like this idea one bit. Theif friends? What If I am a Khajiit mage!? In a mine? What if I am a Dunmer noble? Pub brawl? Dovahkiin does not drink! <-(just kidding.)

It could still be a neutral beginning from an RP stand point. It wouldn’t have to necessarily imply a deferent background story. You could just start out in one town’s prison as opposed to another.

The thing is that getting out of prison, in one way or another, is usually the tutorial and the “epic” intro to the game. It would take a whole lot of magic and disc space to be able to do that well 10 deferent ways.

Again, I'm all for it in principle, but it's ultimately a whole lot of effort that realistically wouldn't amount to much.

So let's say I'm playing an Imperial who lives in the middle of nowhere, why am I in some tavern?

I don't want to be restricted...

Definitely not.

By the way, this is a classic MMORPG thing since the days of Everquest... Not WoW...

Why in the world would where you were born in the entire empire determine where you currently are in a specific province? Why would a Dark Elf be at the bottom of a mine? Would would an Imperial be in a pub brawl? Why would any Khajiit that's not a thief be surrounded by dead thief friends?

Nothing about this suggestion makes any sense.

http://cdn1.knowyourmeme.com/i/000/042/151/original/jnjyxa31o8_thats_racist_animated1.gif?1267719873

He obviously meant you start surrounded by your wealthy, upstanding, hard-working, benefit to society Khajiit friends at a social party.

As long as it's fitting as it's free for interpretation, I don't see why not. People seem to forget being a convicted criminal in jail is a background as any.

Edit: Seems I already posted somehow while I was still busy typing. :facepalm:

Not sure about this, but I do think it would be cool if there was a set of quests that was only available to your chosen race.

I have read most of the posts here, and after considering all of the points brought up, I am left with my conclusion and simple opinion.
I think it would be cool to be able to have an individualized intro and background to your starting character. In Oblivion; while having the imprisoned Dunmer verbally lacerate you was humorous the first couple of times you heard it, after a while I found myself able to quote it verbatim regardless of which character race I picked, in short it bored me after 8 - 10 times. An individualized background and intro would cure this, but then I come to all of the posts about it needing to affect the game for the entire length of the main quest.

That wouldn't be so bad except for the fact that it would take a massive amount of work to incorporate that into the entire game. While I am positive I would love Skyrim regardless of how many discs this would take, I am not sure how Bethesda would integrate it without delaying the release date.

I think that they will stick to the tried and true method of the generic prison cell, and witty quips from your jailer/prison mate. There will be an emissary of the Gods at some point who will briefly and barely inform you that you play an important role, then you will be left on your own. This will be easiest for them to integrate you into the story of Skyrim, IMO.

Why?

Honestly, I don't see the point of it.

This is not Dragonage: Origins. This is The Elder Scrolls. So, no. Not just no, but hell no.

That reminds me of Sacred 2 where the different races started off in different locations. I'm going to say no as I like starting in jail makes it easy to change my character at the end of the sewer like in Oblivion.

http://imagerz.com/QEIXDUtvAwMEVwhOFQVR

i think a little variation would be nice, or even just a different reason for being in jail (example)

...Why would a dunmer be coming out of a mine? It'd be far more logical for them to be crossing the border from Morrowind

Also, starting the Khajiit surrounded by thief friends presumes that the character will be a thief themselves or are heavily affiliated with thieves and hinders roleplaying to a huge degree.

To people saying that specific entrances for specific races limits roleplaying: How would that limit it any more than the same one for all races? As long as the entrance doesn't really say much about the character in particular it wouldn't limit it. Sure, being in prison is SLIGHTLY less hindersom,e but it presumes you were some form of criminal or at least had to have some conspiracy related to you.

Bottom line: If incorporated correctly this wouldn't hurt the experience. On the other hand, it wouldn't enhance it enough to be worth the effort. Sure, it'd add a slight bit of replayability but hardly enough to warrant coding it all.

I like it... Maybe they could do it so each race starts off in a city from their race's province. You would have the option to decide why you are being sent off; draft, deportation, self-decision, (can't think of the word, but when someone gets sent away from a city/country and is not allowed to return) ect. Different back stories could come with different positive and negative consequences, such as if you were deported to Skyrim for a crime you couldn't leave Skyrim to go back to your home city until you had completed your probation and sentence. However, having the criminal back ground it would be much easier to get into criminal minded factions. On the other hand, if you were drafted, the people/soldiers of Skyrim could treat you like a [censored] for not coming without force, but you would be able to travel back to your home city and purchase goods at a fair price because people from your city are empathetic.

Better idea if the player can choose a "neutral" spot to start their game at but all path lead to the main quest, with no given background, regardless of race. In "neutral", I mean like waking up in an Inn, just got off the boat, just got off the boatwreak, waking up by a camp fire, traveling with a caravan, etc.

...essentially a separate Mournhold for each race? Yea, that's totally going to happen /sarcasm

Well, IMHO one of the initial char gen choices could be Background, and that can decide where we start.

Race is a bit too much for this action.

Disagree, TES is not Mass Effect. People will want companions next.