... but you have a million other 'build' ideas. That's what this game does. It's why it's so awesome, but unbelievably frustrating!

I'm ready to finally delve into Dragonborn, Dunmer Mage in tow, reacquaint myself with an old friend (ish) from Tel Naga back in the day, but I just have an itch for some Altmer-sized Legion Steel, and deep down I really feel like an irritable Orc archaeologist! And that's not even to mention that the Dawnguard have yet to avail of my skilled services.

What to do!?

Create more than one save.

Many people play more than one character at a time.

I always play at least two.

I always play one at a time. While I'm doing said playthrough though, I'm already planning my next. What race, skills, guilds, and all that good stuff.

I have 15-20 separate save files for my 12 different characters. I play 3 characters more then the rest but I have them on standby when bored...i have to fight the urge to create a new character as I have too many to play already

I know the feeling. I have so many character ideas, and considering I usually spend about four months on a character when I focus on ONE at a time (right, I have two, which of course means that they both get to "live" a bit longer since my playing time stays the same), it'll take me years to play them all...

Right now, my Breton Dragonborn is in thr middle of her career, but since my Imperial thief is only a few quests from retirement, I'm planning my next character. I've decided to go for the Breton bard who will do the Bard's College quests and Dawnguard. But there's an Orc trader/mage, a Bosmer assassin, a Dunmer who wants to go to Solstheim and few more trying to get my attention as well...

I managed to settle for 4 characters, though only two of them I play regularly.

One thief, one mage, one barbarian. All Altmer. The fourth is my token Nord Dovahkiin Stormcloak character. It was fun for a while but I find Nords so incredibly boring that I always return to my more versatile High Elves.

I never understood this. I only like playing one character at a time.

Do you have jack-of-all-trades characters or ones that operate withing a restricted build?

I don't have this issue... with Skyrim.

Playing different weapons isn't a problem in the game. If I start out an archer, I can easily switch to using blunt/sword/mage.

Instead, I take different paths in the game. For example, rather than going to Riverwood, I may high-tail it straight for Riften to start the TG quests. Other times, I may play as a miner and walk Skyrim mapping ore deposits.

I can only play one at a time. I need to have a sense of logical progression - the idea of playing one guy, then hopping to another in a totally different situation, then going back... it baffles me.

If I had as much free time I used to this wouldn't be an issue, but now that I work, and have a career etc., yes, yes, it's great, but I hardly get to play!

I play one serious character, and another with no real role just for testing mods and having a bit of fun.

ha thats my problem, I dont have much time to play and tend to forget whats going on with a character that I haven't played in awhile. I have 3 "main" guys and about 10 bench warmers that only get called in when the top 3 get too tired

I have two characters. One is my do all the major factions character, and another is just a simple traveler who clears bandit hideouts and chop wood. No main quest, no Civil War quests, no faction quests. Nothing. He's just a regular NPC mercenary, that's all.