I think this is a good question because each race should have different view, thought, feeling and value on things, so based on your character race, what being a Dovahkiin means to you and your race? Sure it also depends on individual, doesn't mind if it is individual or not.

My official Dovahkiin is a Breton. For me, it is honorable title for my people, being a Dovahkiin it give my people honor in Skyrim that is the land of the Nords, I also protect High Rock interests by being a Dovahkiin in Skyrim. For Nords, Dovahkiin is something sentimental as it's tradition is back to Talos/Tiber Septim. It also mean something to the Imperial, because for a long time Imperial emperors are Dovahkiin, but now a Breton is one. In either way, as a Dovahkiin, both Imperial and Nords respected me (even though the game never show that, oh Bethesda....)

In Season Unending, sit at the table at the end table side with Imperial, Stormcloak, Greybeards, Thalmor and Blades is something you know, as a Breton. All respected me and asking my opinion on things and what i say give weight as a Dovahkiin. I can shape Skyrim landscape from that meeting. You know...a Breton...decide things on Skyrim and my decision count. Even the Thalmor can't say anything.

So what it means to be a Dovahkiin to your character race?

All my Dovahkiin are Nords. Can't have it any other way. All the other races just don't feel right as Dragonborn.

Other than the Nords, the Imperials come next.

That's a rather pointless question because being Dragonborn doesn't have a whole lot of different meanings. You play the role of a hero, that sums it up.

A Nord character may appreciate it more since it's part of his/her culture and an amoral character might just see it as a tool to obtain power and riches.

Not much more to go on.

All my non-nordic dovahkiin have to have a nord father to have instilled in them an excitement for the idea.

I don't see how this is a pointless question; she's asking for individual personal opinions.

Altmer come third IMO. I think their very strong connection with Akatosh makes them viable for Dragonbornhood, and I think it also makes for a more interesting story that the savior of Skyrim comes from a flock that is most widely hated there. I also like to think that Akatosh would want to insult the Thalmor by making one of their own as the guy who eventually foils their plans, or at least sets in motion the foiling of their plans.

Imperials though are probably the only one besides Nords that have actual lore evidence to back their claim for dragon blood.

For personal opinion, only three races I can play as Dragonborn are indeed Nord, Imperial and Altmer. That said I have never played any other race in Skyrim except a short non-Dragonborn endeavor as a Redguard in the early days. Not counting Stalks-Many-Children, my mod test Argonian.

I can't see a Khajiit, Orc, Dunmer, or any other than the three mentioned becoming Dragonborn. It just doesn't feel right, and even Altmer is pushing it which is a shame since I love playing them.

If the Dovahkiin is a Dark Elf, it means that the Gods decided to stop kicking the Dark Elves when they're down.

If the Dovahkiin is a HigH Elf, it means that the Gods have a weird and ironic sense of humor (that an entity so heavily padomaic would come from such an anuic race).

Pretty much this. I've played other races but they don't do much with the MQ.

I kept with a nord to hold fast to the true nordic deity, Shor, and fight in his name and honor, for a snake can be a dragon, if presented right. No love for the enemy god the mer just love.

And then I made an Saxhleel, and justified it that the Hist are clever enough to steal away a dragon soul and hand it off to their own when they really need to.

Holy [censored]. Qis is that poster from a few months ago that said some of the strangest things like how all character are hybrid characters

It all makes sense now.

Lol, that was my reaction too. The avatar pic reminded me.

Why was I quoted before that revelation? XD

Imperials fit the picture perfectly for me.

It's off topic now, but "she" along with the avatar, made me remember.

This is part the reason I like the idea of a high elf Dragonborn. It just feels so ironic. My main character considers dragon blood a curse rather than a blessing and I made the idea a part of my overall play style. Couldn't care less about slaying dragons, just wants to go home

I kinda went the opposite way with my high elf: http://imageshack.us/a/img191/2295/aa99.jpg was a black sheep back in the Isles (and didn't end up being "re-educated" only because her father was from old nobility and was secretly anti-Thalmor anyway) and finds herself more at home in Skyrim. Her Dragonborn nature exhibited itself before she was even aware, and when she did finally become aware of it, it suddenly all made sense...

It means little to any of my characters, all of them prefer to use skills they've trained for their entire life than some suddenly discovered new ability. But all of them are rather fascinated by dragons and really respect the Greybeards. I guess it's part of my own personality that I don't really fancy the all mighty hero that's the savior of everyone type of thing. So for all my characters, despite of race (Altmer, Nord, Dunmer), none of them feel anything special about being dragonborn. They do deeds because they need to be done, not for honor and glory. They seek perfection in their own skills and protect the ones they love, that's all.

Irrelevant.

Dragonborn is a Dragon. I don't care what my mortal appearance looks like. I talk like one, I feel like one, and the other Dragons refer to me as one.(some spitefully, but I eat them anyway)

I don't see the point in this, not all dragonborns have been nords. Honestly I pick Dunmer because of the sweet irony of an ancient enemy of the nords having this great power that the nords revere the most.

I'm the same way...i dont like playing the hero of the universe. Thats why i hate games like SWTOR where the whole plot is you versus the entire galaxy full of bad guys.

To me Dovahkiin means that i just learned that i can permanently kill dragons and that i can shout in dragon speak. If i had said to Jarl Balgruuf "screw you guys, kill that dragon yourself" and just ran off to do my own thing i'm still a dragonborn, i just dont know it. Being dragonborn doesnt automatically make me an ambassador to , doesnt make me an intellect, a scholar, an administrator and it doesnt make me an expert on politics and warfare (dragon warfare maybe). I'm still a person and all those things need training, experience or schooling to do effectively. Also...I dont want people to respect me cause i can shout a man to pieces cause that seems like respect based off of fear, and i dont want that.

Only Dragonborns I've heard of were either Nord or Imperial.

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Katariah

She reigned for 50 years. So she definitely had Dragon blood to light the Dragonfire.

Thats why I think the dragonfires grants people the dragonblood if they are to be the ruler, rather than those people being born with it.

Doesn't that Kirkbridge guy answer role-related questions every now and then? Couldn't we just ask him if there were any non-Nord, non-Imperial Dragonborns in history. Basically just ask him if it makes sense to play, say, Khajiit Dragonborn. Headcanon is good and all but I feel more "clean" when I can justify my character through lore.

also see the delphine appreciation thread she/He is the star of that thread

All said by him/her

Knowing Mk's craziness. He easily could.

Remember, Akatosh(who bestows the gift) is not sane. He's literally multiple personality disorder + 100. He's an Elven King(Auri-El). He's also a Dragon(Bormahu). But in truth, it's all heresy, as he is really the Dragon of men(Akatosh). But you see, he's actually just a very large cat that just thinks he's a Dragon(Alkosh). In other news, a cat mantled him in Akavir!(Tosh Raka).