What would you do?

I'm currently at level 41, and I've just about completed the main questline. However, I've been considering the next character that I'd like to play through with. The character that I currently have - I like him but he's spread out pretty thin. I tried to dabble a little bit into everything and didn't end up with any real strong points. 100 archery and 100 sneak is cheating, in my opinion. So, ok. Those two things are strong points, but I've got so much to do still.

I considered starting another character now that I know the game. Perhaps I should start over and 'finish' the game with a new character instead of the one that I currently have. I won't throw away my current play through. I would save the last 5 or so saves just in case I decide to finish with him another time, or something goes wrong.

I have 379 hours in and I'm sorta attached to my character because I've done a lot of work in the game. Should I enjoy the end of the game another time with a different character that I can now make better, or just keep going with what I have? I realize that only I can answer that, but I'd like to hear some opinions.

I've had dozens of characters in Skyrim and each one was a little bit different. I prefer to experience the game from different points of view through roleplaying a variety of characters. But I love starting new characters, since the early game when the character is weak and just starting out is the most fun part for me.

It's all in what you find fun. Most of my characters stories are done around lvl 40... Sometimes without even seeing the whole map. I had a "Thane of Falkreath" that only ever traveled to Whiterun Hold and The Rift. But he explored every inch of Falkreath Hold, went in and out of every dungeon ( many times). I had a 360 character that went through Dawnguard... took 367 hrs to do that...plus little side things and enough of the Main quest to get dragons. She was a blast.

But... that is the way I play... I have a character right now ( kinda on hold for the DiD competition) who is a Bard/ mage... she will do no questline, I have a story I wish to tell that is all her own. Because I am on pc now, she does have dragons, but is not the "dragonborn" ( a mod keeps her from absorbing souls or even getting the word walls) . She plays in every Tavern ( another mod) for the Jarls and other people. Depending on how her story goes, she may start the CoW, just to get access to higher lvl spells... but I have a mod that lengthen's the time between when you join and the trip to Sarthaal, among other things. Chyrria would never join the Companions or Thieves Guild, it's not a part of her personality.

But...again, that is the way I play. If you want a character that does every possible thing in the game and that is fun for you...then I say go for it. Their is nothing wrong with that... many people play that way.

Just as an aside... 5000+ hrs, most on the 360 and I have not seen the inside of every cave, fort or dungeon... I have never been in Sightless pit for instance, I know it's their, but have had no reason to go into it. I could probably name off 20 or so place that I know of, that none of my characters have been in... but they had no reason to.

Not got as many hours, but it's over 1500 by now, and I'm still stumbling on locations and unmarked 'vignettes' I've never even heard of (a cave full of trolls near Valtheim Towers, the Woodsman's Friend - I actually found that for the first time about a fortnight before seeing it mentioned in the DiD points list!) and I've still never felt any inclination to go into a place called "Snapleg Cave" that I went past and thought "oh, sounds interesting, must go in on the way back" on my very first character's walk to Ivarstead (back when I hadn't found a quicker route).

As for the OP, I looked at the last save on my first character a few days ago. She was standing in Breezehome in full Dark Brotherhood armour, with her wife Lydia simpering away (remembered why I abandoned her - married Lydia and was SO disappointed that she started being all breathy and fawning over my character), having come back from one of the locations about halfway through the College questline to unload a bunch of dwemer metal scrap. She was about a third of the way through the main quest. I had another character (sadly can't find her saves) who got right to the last quest before the final part of the main quest, completed it, went to the place for the last bit, then decided she wasn't ready, so reloaded to before that bit and went to 'git gud' at some things, then ended up getting bored with her and a bit creeped out when she did some of the nastier Daedric tasks, and never quite went back. That's as close as I've gotten to the main quest, but I've enjoyed the heck out of Skyrim. If you're starting to get itchy and wanting to try something new, I'd go for it. Back up a few saves (I'd go with ones a few hours apart, not the last five - depending on your platform you probably won't be able to see the play time count on your saves without going into the game, but you can usually get a rough idea from the location listed, e.g. keep the last two or three saves, then one from the last big dungeon you were in (I'd go with the first save there unless it was a really tough fight, in which case probably the last and hope it was after the fight) and one from the last time you were in either a safe city interior or your player home) and start a new game. Maybe put off the main quest for a bit, or maybe dive straight in. Try a few things you didn't even consider doing on the first game.

It's a game. If you'll have more fun playing a new character and starting something new, then do it

I'm not a whole lot into my first playthrough and I've already got ideas for two more that I'd like to try 'sometime'.