This is my third replay now, and I'm deciding between trying out an Orc or a Redguard. Out of experience, which one would fit better to more close - range, combative fighting? In other words, just which one is generally better out of experience?

As far as I'm concerned, Redguards are the best warrior race in the game.

Technically Orcs are better in general because of their racial 25% Resist Magic, but if you take the Atronach birthsign and go for 100% spell Absorption, then Redguard is better. Ultimately however, both races are fine and I think it would be best to choose your race based on aesthetics. So if you thinks Orcs look cooler than Redguards pick an Orc and if you think Redguards are cooler than Orcs then pick a Redgaurd.

Breton Under the Atronach invincible

i love playing orc but the low agility means you're prone to stagger, if you get a disease or a drain which takes you down below 30 especially so, and that can be annoying.

I'll toss a vote in with Dragatus. Go for looks and image.

Redguard. That Adrenaline Rush is pretty powerful.

It's very much a personal preference.

The Redguards have great stats, and fantastic greater power (as mentioned above) with Adrenaline Rush.

Orc are great for roleplay, and the 25% magic resist is helpful.

I'd typically think of the Redguards are more agile swordsmen with one handed weapons and versatile (ie skilled with a bow, and sneak).

I'd typically think of the Orcs as a two handed blunt rush in and finish the job quickly type.

Redguard.

i'd go with astetics, if you like the look of the orc go with that, if you like the redguard better go with that instead.

I like orcs better, smashing stuff with a hammer is alot of fun, and the bounus to armorer is great. but redguards have way better stats, and are more versatile. I like playing redguards better as a light armored rouge


Also when did the background change? it looks so weird now. Damn skyrim guy squatting in the ob forum....

Orcs have a better starting Bonus in Skills especially if you want them to be a warrior.

I like Orc's better,mostly because bashing puny goblin skull's is fun.

I'm with you on reccommending aesthetics -- if you want to be one, go with it. If pushed, I would say Redguard...I dunno why. Orcs just seem a bit too clumsy - powerhouses, maybe, but a skillful Redguard Warrior is far better than a Axe-wielding Orc, simply because of variety.

And on the topic of the background - it's pretty cool I think.

+1 on aesthetics. You should play as whatever makes you happier in the role, but strictly stat and skillwise, I prefer the Redguard right out of the box for melee combat. They start out with no penalties to Agility or Speed, and personally I value both in a melee character. Especially Speed, since a melee character who can time attacks and dodge effectively is to my liking. I also prefer Adrenaline Rush for the Greater Power.

The redguards might have the best greater-power of all the races and have a major resistance too diasease and poison. The orcs have a gimped greater-power, but it is still usefull, and a minor resistance to magic. Both have good skill bonuses to be warriors, but the redguard will be more of a moving and dogding(due too the bonus to athletics) warrior, while the orc will be more of a slow, but hardy type. If that is not what decides which you will use I say go for he one you like the looks and lore most.
I would choose redguard, but I like the orc too.
Edit: Bottom-line is which one you prefer to play. If you like both about equally, then go with the one you think will work best.

As a Redguard you get +10 bonuses where it matters when fighting and adrenaline rush, but in contrariety to most I would opt for the Orc because of Berserk. Orcs are a powerful war machine if you play them right, though only as pure fighters or balanced dual-classes due to their intelligence and willpower handicaps...

And another vote for aesthetics.

Skill and ability bonuses are ultimately entirely meaningless. Those extra few points you get at the beginning don't matter at all in the long run. Not even a little bit. In the first few levels, any player character with even mediocre skills can kill anything s/he has to face, and after the first few levels, you'll have gained enough points in whatever you're specializing in that it won't make any difference.

I'm currently playing an Orc marksman/stealth fighter. Sure he started with less agility than, say, a Bosmer would, but he's gotten enough skill increases in marksman and sneak that his agility is just fine now - pretty much the same as it would be for any other race. The only real difference is that he's an Orc, and it entertains me to play an Orc marksman/stealth fighter. Again - aesthetics. Just go with whatever you think you'll enjoy the most.

An aesthetic can actually be class, but I think they are librarians...

I always go by aesthetics, however since I don't ever play orcs, and I have played one Redguard, I'd side with them. Plus their lore is awesome.

It comes down to personal preference, as I'm sure others have said. Personally I could never make an orc as I find them repulsive looking, but their lore is pretty interesting. Out of the two I lean toward redguards as their lore is arguably some of the coolest (has a very anime feel to it IMO, but not overdone). I mean, spirit swords destroying entire continents? Epic stuff, even if it's exaggerated or misinterpreted, the idea of a people making a great exodus is wrought with epicry.

"The Hoonding guides us. All others can make way." Redguard Proverb

They actually have a +5 to willpower.

go for looks, both very similer, the two physicly strongest classes.

Redguard, Mainly because I Hate Orcs Ugly Scum

And the males get +10 to willpower.
Attributes
Male/female
Redguard:
Sterngth 50/40
Intelligence 30/30
Willpower 30/40
Agility 40/40
Speed 40/40
Endurance 50/50
Personality 30/40
Luck 50/50

Orc:
Sterngth 45/40
Intelligence 30/40
Willpower 50/45
Agility 35/35
Speed 30/30
Endurance 50/50
Personality 30/25
Luck 50/50

This may help in chosing