So, I recently purchased the game and already I just planned six characters. Feel free to provide personal input on the various builds. One note: all of them use the base perks for Smithing (Heavy Armor line for armor or weapons), Enchanting, and Alchemy. I do make some recommendations for those interested in these as I tested them via console for my own amusemant. I avoided the “exploit” like the plague. Robs the fun out of the game, personally. Also, I play only on Master difficulty mainly for a challenge.

This is assuming you go for the Lord Stone and the Agent of Mara enhancements early on. Enchantment choices for armor are a weapon type (I just use one), elemental resists, and magic resist. Weapons enchanted with Absorb Health, Absorb Stamina, and Soul Trap are wonderful and I see little reason for others.

Assassin

o http://www.ign.com/builds/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim?d=00000000000000000011111111111110000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000005000111001000101111000000000000000000000000005000000300511112311510001000511101511111111

o http://www.ign.com/builds/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim?d=0000000000000000001111111101111121111000001111000000000000000000000000000000000000500011100100010111100000000000000000000000000000000000051110231151000100051110151111111

I admit that Wood Elf or Khajit are perhaps the best suited for the role with their starting skills, especially Wood Elf for the bonus to Archery, though Khajit makes things fun with their high Sneak and Unarmed. I personally went with Dunmer, though, purely for looks. Not much to say: level Archery and Sneak and get their perks first for survivability and offense. Then start getting Light Armor, your choice of crafting skill (I’d go with Alchemy for utility), and One-Handed for the Assassin’s Blade perk or forget about One-Handed and go with Conjuration. If you go with the Conjuration build, Breton is a fine choice. Then again, Breton kind of goes with everything with their Magic Resistance so yeah. If you go the One-Handed Build, I’d go with the Magicka/Health/Stamina spread of 20/60/20. If you go Conjuration, 30/50/20 is solid. Armor enchantments go to either a choice of weapon damage (do NOT pick both Bows and One-Handed unless you want to play the game on easy mode) and either elemental resists or Conjuration cost reduction. If you want One-Handed and Conjuration, sacrifice two crafting skills or Light Armor. Personally, I don't recommend either.

Mage

o http://www.ign.com/builds/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim?d=00000000000000000011111111111111111110000011111210000111101111100111121110101011005000111001000001111511111100000000000000000000000000000000000000510001

o http://www.ign.com/builds/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim?d=00000000000000000010000000001111111110000011111210000111101111100000000110101011005000111001000001111511111100000000000000000000000000000511112311510001

I do personally recommend the Improved Destruction Magic mod for this build, but it is fine as it is. The thing is, it is not a “pure” mage build: I advise either Light Armor for the end-game or Heavy Armor for more immediate benefits throughout the main game. Breton or High Elf are fine. Can’t recommend one over the other, though Breton does provide more long term benefits with the Magic Resistance. Pick the two schools you’ll be focusing on early on in the game. Focus on Destruction and Conjuration early on and focus either on Restoration or Heavy Armor as a third skill. If you choose Heavy Armor, start leveling Alchemy sooner rather than later. Forget Stamina, focus on Health/ Magicka. Recommend either 60/40 spread or 70/30 spread since you are going to want 100% reduced casting cost for whatever school you want. Armor enchantments go towards either elemental resistances, magic resistance, or casting cost reduction. Your choice. You’re not going to be a damage dealer, but you’ll cause a lot of mayhem and that, forum goers, is fun. (If you must use exploits, the exploit for mages with archery using Magic Weakness poisons is the only one I can recommend. Do keep in mind to get the perks, I had to gut Restoration and Illusion.)

Weapon Master

? http://www.ign.com/builds/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim?d=0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001110000002010000000000500011100100010111100000000000000000000000000501111032151111231151000100051111151111111

Dual-wielding weapon master. Light Armor over Heavy for the Stamina Regeneration and mobility since you’ll be using Stamina a lot. Restoration is handy. Leftover perks went into Sneak just in case you want that 6x damage multiplier. One-Handed and Light Armor primarily, though Smithing early on will help you out immensely. Not much more to say other than make sure you don’t go “Leeroy Jenkins” into a field of archers believing you’re some sort of demigod. Use a bow. Skip Magicka. Focus on Health/Stamina either equally or in a 60/40 ratio. Smithing is the way to go. Highly recommend Redguard, Imperial, or Orc. Orc gets my highest recommendation with Redguard a somewhat distant second. Armor enchantments go towards one-handed weapons and your choice of elemental resists, and magic resists, if you haven’t reached the cap yet.

Two-Handed Warrior

? http://www.ign.com/builds/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim?d=000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000111011000211000000000050001110010000011115111111151111111150111113000000000000000000005100010000000000000000000000000000000000000511111111

Nothing scares the daylights out of people like a bloocrazed Orc wielding a massive warhammer or a taciturn Nord wielding a powerful greatsword. Bretons also work, though not as fitting. Level Two-Handed and Heavy Armor early on as major skills and Block and Smithing as minors. Recommend getting the Steel Smithing perk on the second level and Dwarven around eight to ten. Health/Stamina by the ratio of 70/30 because it isn’t as Stamina reliant as the Weapon Master. Two-Handed enchantments, elemental and magic resists are your friend.

Battle Mage

? http://www.ign.com/builds/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim?d=00000000000000000000000000000001000000010000000000000000000011101111121010101111135000111001000001111511111115111111110000000005011110300000000000510001

Primarily a defensive Battle Mage character. Absorbs damage like a pro and can heal himself/herself of what little he/she takes. Only has much of the Restoration perks because I didn’t have many leftover perks. Just get the Mystic Binding perk early on and focus on One-Handed, Block, and Heavy Armor. You want Smithing for damage reduction and dealing damage, though some levels in Enchanting help. Bretons or Orcs are wonderful here. Then again, any melee build suits Orcs wonderfully. You’re going to want defensive enchantments, so elemental and magic resistance are wonderful. If you pick a Breton, you can fit more for One-Handed.

for fun wise . pick only one,otherwise ur gonna bore urself