Yes, I do it like that but my characters still mostly have preferences, skills they used before the story began and/or skills they really svck at. I use alternative life mod and one of my favourite starts is left for dead, and if my character used to be a good archer he ain't gonna track down a bow the moment the game starts. He'll just wander the wilderness, or look for a cave or a town or any other place to sleep at, and if warhammer is the only weapon he finds in the mean time it's going to be his main weapon for the time being. However as soon as he finds a weapon that suits him better he'll switch it out despite having the initial used weapon's skill being higher (for example, an archer who likes light weapons will use two handed as a last option where it'll get switched out for one handed with sword being the best option, and of course, the bow that he'll use almost exclusively the moment he finds one even if that skill is still at 15 and two handed is already at like 30).

I did have several characters who weren't any kinds of warriors before the story began, and those either stuck with a 1st weapon they became good with or a weapon that they felt like it suits them the best (without me having a pre-determined favourite).

Remember Sinistar? "I Live!"

This incarnation of Olaf took a strange turn because of habit.

He started with Ralof and liked using a war axe and I was going to stay with it. When assigning perks however I picked Swordsman out of habit and immediately did a face palm.

It has worked out well though since I had him targeted for the Companions, he's taken to the Skyforge swords as though born to them.

He is not a good archer though I have to admit and it makes sense since I did not target him to be an archer. He will sneak a bit to scout a dangerous area and make a shot or two but prefers hand to hand combat, he's quite the opposite of my Bosmer.

I play SKYRIM in a similar manner only having a vague idea what my character will be then building on the fly from there. So if its a barbarian melee type character I will see if he gravitates towards one handed or two handed weapons etc just by seeing what he or she feels like doing then stick to that after a certain time of experimentation. That's one of the things I like about having the so called classless system in SKYRIM you make your own and follow your own rules. The character still ends up weak in other skills they don't use much if at all so its not like they become godlike.

Maybe for the first game, but after that i like to start a new and ramp up the difficulty for a challenge. This kind of requires making the most of your strengths (perks) and usually quickens the leveling process.

I usually set certain standards, i.e. warrior, mage, stealth fighter etc.

But generally I let the characters take a life of their own.

I knew I wanted a bow. I knew I wanted an Imperial.

Turned out to be a female.

Turns out she likes to use a sword and board instead.

No magic. No alchemy, only smithing.

She researches smithing techniques all over, when on leave.

She likes the look of heavy over light armor.

She joined the army.

She's a prefect now and commands the respect of her men.

I'm just along for the ride.

Just depends for me. I've both planned a character and just went freestyle with quite a few.

I am gonna get all the perks, my head canon is that the dovahkiin would have had all of the attributes that having every perk unlocked would give you.

Since we don't have to define Majors and Minors anymore, then there is no reason to plan skill advances, unless you are trying to maximize a build. However, that is moot exercise as just about any skill/Perk combo can work in this game. And, you don't need to max out the capabilities of a character to be successful at anything in this game.

This breaks immersion for me. I don't like the idea I can spam magic, lockpick, pickpocket, be an excellent orator to get bargains at a store, weapon smith who can make the best weapons in the game (eat it, Eorlund Gray-Mane), and finally be able to profit with a little sprinkle of magic on everything I make.

Pre-planning allows me to take what the game can give me and limit my options as a real person would do.

One of my favorite games had my character playing as a merchant.

I do. One of the most important thing is that my characters has the past but not the future. This allows them to learn, advance and grow in skills, thoughts, feelings, faith, opinions, politics, morality etc. everything connected to their lives. Being able to think their thoughts is good start but when you are able to really feel their feelings then you have found the hearth of roleplaying. With everything I do in this game I use my intuition and being able to fit in the role of your character is what makes it interesting.