IMO Race bonuses do not really matter when I am creating a new character. Sure they are good in the first few levels, but in the long term they bear no relevance. I think that they only provide a pointer into what that race is good at. For example Khajiits have +10 sneak which indicates that they would make good assassins or thieves.

Any thoughts? Do you think that anything could be implemented in future titles that would give race bonuses more significance? Something like Bretons along with +10 Conjuration could have a bonus which made their summoned creatures more effective, in essence giving them a head start as it were in the conjuration perk tree. This is only off the top of my head, anyone else have any ideas?

they do matter for the first few hours.

I'm sure about one thing, you can get the same results, with any race, the way you playing doesn't matter.

The only racial Bonus that gives me benefit throughout the game is the Breton's Magica Resistance, though it's not that high anymore. Yes, I can wear an enchanted item that gives me that protection, I just prefer to use another enchantment.

No but they should. Something to give that extra flavor for choosing a specific race. I'm not saying one race should be the up-most best at a certain thing. But there should be something worthwhile for choosing a said race.

The skill bonus, like the attribute bonus in the past, has little effect past the first levels of the game. The real difference of the races, gameplay wise, lies with the racial abilities, passive and active, and the appearance. Personally I would like to see the abilities expanded upon, but that is a different matter entirely.

I don't think the skill bonuses matter very much, but the passive/active abilities are extremely useful. Five free levels of magicka as a high elf is useful no matter what, the berserker rage ability orcs get never stops helping you out in a pinch, and passive resistances like nords/dark elves get are handy too.

I said yes, because given my love for Conjuration, it's hard to play a non-Breton and miss out on the starting Conjuration spell.

Agreed. But I have just created an Altmer Necromancer

I think it does, mainly for Altmer mages. Highborn and that +50 magicka still come in handy, even at level 47.

Orcs have a very gameplay-effecting power. If I were to choose a race just for its power, then it'd be the Orc.

Just as you should be able to.

And by playing an Altmer Necromancer, you'll have a different experience from my Breton Necromancer.

So I'd say races do indeed matter. Even if the differences are small.

But then again, I don't think there should be huge differences between the races anyways. I think the differences are right where they should be.

I also agree that the bonus' dont matter except for the first few levels or so. As said before if a race specializes in a particular skill, they should make that skill a little more stronger for that race to give them and edge in the skill.

Only for the early game.

No.

And as far as NPCs are conerned, you're always a nord in disguise. They just play along with comments like "what do you want, "cat"? "

I think that there should be some more defining differences. Yes you should be able to play as whatever you want but there should be something that makes it so that you want to play as a Breton necromancer because they have this defining bonus that sets them out from the rest, or something along those linse

Gotta agree with the notion that there ought to be defining racial differences that still matter even when you're maxed out. Otherwise, race selection is really just a matter of RP and aesthetics, which is why I voted no in the poll.

Orcs do have the one really useful racial characteristic (to me, anyway), though I've never wanted to play an Orc; just don't relate to TES Orcs by much, and don't respect their culture enough to want to be one. Berserk must be loads of fun to use, though; battle cry is alright, but I don't remember if it only affects hostiles or not.

I would say hour rather than hours.

They are just there for a bit of flavour I guess. It's a shame that racial differences become little more than a weak passive, a once a day active and of course the look of your character. It would be nice them to play a little differently from each other.

You mean bonuses to skills? They're useless.

Racial abilities are more important, but I only care about passives, especially resistances. Waterbreathing used to be handy but now there's almost nothing to be found underwater. Berserker's Rage is useful, I guess.