Haven't had much time in the last week to play past level 7 but loving the game so far. I've experimented a bit so now I want to start a fresh game now I know what kind of character I want to play.

I want my character to be a stealthy assassin type with a bit of magic thrown in (illusion and destruction mainly but I will be using alchemy to make poisons for my arrows). He will also be handy with a one-handed blade if needed for any combat.

I've gone Dark Elf for this kind before but Khajit, Argonian and Wood Elf are also candidates. Which one would you choose for this kind of character? Or would any other races suit?

Khajit is the best for what you want, they get night eye ( a GREAT racial ) and are amazing assassins, might need to work a bit on magic but you will not be dissapointed!

You know, at the end races doesn't matter, they have a few attribute points that can help at the start but after a few levels I'd say it doesn't matter anymore. I started the game as a nord warrior, did the main quest and decided to start over with a stealthy character. I tried to make a female elf but it just didn't felt right to me. So I ended up with another Nord because I like them, and he can be as sneaky as a Khajit. So make whatever you like more.

I don't think they're different enough for me to make a choice based on stats.

I always choose them according to the appearance I want my character to have or its background in the lore.

I am biased toward Dunmer, so they get my vote. Nords and Dunmer have always been my favorite.

Racial Powers have never been game-changing enough for me to choose a race I don't like.

I choose race based on the questlines I wish to follow.

So for instance, if I wanted to fight for the imperial questline, I would roll an imperial.
If I wanted to do the mainquest or Stormcloak questline, I would play as a Nord.
For the mages college, I would play as either Dunmer, Altmer, or Breton.

Race really doesnt matter that much in the end. Pick the race who you relate to the most and feel is coolest

:D

Would be a good choice but given the lighting levels in the dungeons in Skyrim, it's kinda wasted.

To the OP, Dunmer/Altmer may have more useful end game racials.

Sounds like my 2nd and current character with whom I plan to do most of the game with, and he is a Dunmer. Go with them, they are by far the most badass out of all the races.

Regarding the discussions about Night Eye, don't bother. I have never once been in a situation where I said to myself, 'It's too dark, I need some light"

This game has ridiculously bright dungeons.

Khajiit.

fashionable and functional. they are excellent thieves and they can easily exercise that with their massive sneak stat and their excellent archery skills but they can also do close up with 1 handed weapons while being able to be the most attractive race in the game. :3 I wuv their cute tails.

Breton - 25% passive magic resist + active 50% magic absorb. Crazy powerful vs mages.
Orc - Active: Deal double damage and take half damage. Crazy powerful for melee.

These 2 are both very much game changing.

Basically just pick the race based on looks mainly.

The only real game changers are a few of the passives Bretons have 25% magic resist Dunmers have 50% fire resist and Nords 50% Frost resist (Helps against mages and dragons of the right element type).

Actives: Orcs have a great oh **** power 200% damage and 50% damage taken in melee for 60 secs.
So do Nords with their battlecry all flee for 30 secs.
And Imperial: 60 secs calm power.

Note its once per day though.

The best race for any character is the one you like the best. If you really want stats then I would go Khajiit.

I've been playing Khajiit and IMO Night Eye is pretty much worthless racial power. The nights are bright enough to see with out it and dungeons are filled with lights too.
I would go for either Argonian or Wood Elf.

I understand the points made about night eye being useless, BUT in dungeons with removable light sources like Emberstone mine (something like that, off the main road from helgen to riverwood) with removable light sources it is VERY fun!!!! Take out all of the lights and watch enemys blindly try to find you as you see them perfectly. Might not be terribly useful, but when rping a assassin, its priceless imho

Races don't matter so much. Except that for warriors an orc racial is ridiculously better than the others, lol.

Khajit, Argonian or Wood Elf imo...