i prefer Argonians

Bretons make better everything.

Bretons are skilled at magic. thats about it

Khajiits are better theifs.

argonians are the scum of tamriel. Yes

Khajiit, I could never really get into playing a argonian but the guide says khajiit are a defensive thief race and that argonians are an offensive thief race so it's really just looks.

Khajiit all the way! Most of their bonuses are stealth-oriented, they have an unlimited-use Nighteye ability, and they look really cool. What's not to like?

Both are fine, just depends on what looks better to you.

ahh easy wood elves best line ever give me your money or the bear will eat u

Argonians with the Hitskin power. very useful

they're always on skooma <.<

Always go Argonian

Fixed.

I'd go with Argonian because Lockpick is one of the harder stealth skills to level(read: It can't be abusively powertrained).

The choice should be between BOSMER and Khajiit rather than Argonian. Bosmer makes the best ranged thief, and Khajiit makes the best melee thief.

Argonian's skills make it sorta odd, no bonus to any form of attacks, alteration and restoration being primarily defensive and utility spells (where Dunmer can make an excellent "Nightblade" type thief, a stealthy offensive mage)

Obviously skill bonuses only really matter at the beginning of the game but that's where the whole "best" race comes in anyway. None of the racial powers really make or break a thief the way the high elf magicka regen power or breton dragonskin power might sway the decision on a mage race.

This reminds me of the khajit and breton in the mages guild in Morrowind on who makes a better thief, khajit or breton.

Skill wise it really doesn't make a difference, Khajiit get 10 points in sneak and Argonians get 10 lockpicking. After the first hour of play neither will really matter. It mostly comes down to if you want to be able to see in the dark, in a game that's rather brightly lit to begin with, or to be able to regenerate once a day which can save on a few hp potions. Personally I say you should go for whatever race you find the most pleasing.aesthetically.

Ahh man, anyone makes a good anything in this game. The racial skill bonuses aren't all that important, and there aren't any stats to worry about.

Seems to feed into man/mer's racial stereotypes, too, that only beastfolk will pick your pockets...

(edit) I'd like to point out that my Breton Huntress has 68 in lockpicking at lvl 35... just from picking locks. No Stealth skill bonuses or training. Just pick locks, and it'll come to you.

Khajiit is better everything... except mages... Khajiit is not so good with magic.(says lore)

Khajiits make better thiefs, Argonians are better lollygaggers.

Khajjit, tthey are better at sneak and can see in the dark, Argonians are just awkward lizards.

I rather prefer argonians than khajiit. Some reason I just dont feel comfortable with the khajiit something just dont feel right. Though I did love my argonian assassin.

This.

Any race can play anything. The initial bonuses are nice but at that low skill level, your skills raise fast.
So, say for a bosmer with +10 bow (Im playing one atm), thats 25 bow.
Compare that to someone with 15 bow.

When the bosmer have reached 30 in bow, another race without bow bonus will have reached almost 25. Atleast 22.

The most important are the skills that is harder to level. Lockpick you dont get to level easy, but its also not hard to open any locks.
Pickpocketing is extremly easy to level once you have around 30-40 to begin with, after that you get like 1 point per pickpocketing try almost:-)

I say racial bonus in Stealth and Light armor is important.

As for stone: Always pick the Lovers stone as a stealther. 15% on ALL skills far outweight 20% on warrior or thief skills.

Racial abilities ARE important.
Bosmers active is not good, but 50% poison resistance is very good. 50% disease resist too for those not doing companions.

Personally I could not play a Cat or a Frog man so I would not choose either of those.
For a melee thief I would pick redguard.
And for a stealth archer Bosmer.

For heavy tank dps melee, Orc is the way to go.
For a 2h light armor true nord. Well.......Nord obviously:-)
And for Mage, you really only have one choice in the high elfs.

People playing bretons for magic resists are the same people using enchanting, smithing and alchemy together to get an enjoyable experience of playing god, then moaning on the forums that the game is to easy.

Khajiits

Nah, main reason is because they're looking really cute ^^ Being small is also a good point for sneaking.

Some people complain about it but RATIONAL people will remember that making yourself super powerful is just as possible in any Elder Scrolls game, and it is a sign of character progression in a sandbox world. You're given a set of rules and constraints and if you find a way to exploit those constraints and get really powerful, good on you, it is a single player game, just have fun.