In Skyrim when you choose the race you want, are the races still going to have their "natural" skills and powers? Would Dunmers still be better mages than Imperials? Are Redguards still going to be good with weapons? and would Khajiits still have eye of night/fear? Or would we simply play whatever race we want to for aesthetic reasons?I'd see how with a game that has done away with attributes might affect the races or maybe Bethesda has found away around that. Anywho, does anyone info on this?

They will be different, I'm sure of it.

Btw, Dunmer don't make better mages than Imperials. Imperials are the best at everything, look it up. It's in the lore too.

I think racial bonuses still exist. I think Todd Howard mentioned in a recent IGN interview that races will have their own distinct powers again as well.

There is no hard information on it yet, and the broad statements concerning it appear to be directly contradictory.

On the one hand, it's been said that there will be more distinct differences between the races.
On the other hand, it's been said that one of the goals is to not limit character growth - to make it so that any character can become anything, just by using the necessary skills and picking the necessary perks.

The first implies racial bonuses and penalties - the latter implies their absence.

And that's pretty much that for now.....

I'm sure they'll keep their powers and they'll maybe get some minor bonuses on some starting skills.

They could keep the whole "start clean" thing by making the powers more neutral.

They said there'll still be starting skill differences. I'm guessing the powers will still be there too. They may have said they don't want to limit your character growth based on a choice at the beginning, but the only one that was really limiting in the past games was the magicka bonus, and that was only because of the upper limit on magicka that won't be there if you can increase it every level.

The Todd said he wanted each race to feel different. So yeah, I'm sure of it. trust in the power of The Todd, young one.

I thought that Imperials were "jack of all trades" good at everything but not great.

Nope, best at everything. :disguise:

Yes. Lore-wise, the only thing they're suppoed to be good at is having their way.

I imagine the races will still get their benefits and detriments - perhaps in the form of a perk. "Argonian Water-Breathing", "Argonian Disease Resistance", etc.

I like having racial abilities in the form of perks. No idea why, just feels right.

This. You are correct, sir.

That is great to hear.

My take...

There will be differences in starting skill levels and each race will still start with Greater Powers and special abilities (by way of spells or perks, probably) in a way very similar to the last games. And, much like the last games, these differences will only matter greatly at the start of the game, since skills can ultimately be maxed out anyway. The difference at the start is mostly derived from no longer choosing your class & no longer choosing your major and minor skills, which in turn each gave you direct and indirect bonuses. In short, these decisions gave you advantages immediately and influenced you towards becoming a certain type of character. (This is what Beth is trying to avoid.)

I do have some reservations that each race will ultimately feel the same, and I wish the race decision carried more weight that just appearance. At this point we're not sure how far-reaching that decision will be. The real challenge seems to be how to make each race feel unique without limiting your options as a player.