Building classes not necessarily suited to race...

[Wolfen McGunz]

Eventually I'd like to play as a certain race that may not necessarily be geared for a certain playstyle. I know that depending on the race you choose you are automatically at 15, 20, or 25 in a certain skill.

Hypothetically, if you were to start as a nord/mage or something strange like that... could he eventually be as good as one of the elf mages; as long as you train him in thoroughly on whatever it is you're trying level up?

Could you basically, if a player is good enough, level any race to play as any style? Considering all skills can be raised to 100. I am aware it would be a little more of a rough start.

 

[kyleekay]

Yes. I believe it was designed that way so you wouldn't feel limited in your options when you play. You are right though, it would be a comparatively rough start, but there's no reason you can't make a powerful build using an unorthodox race. The only downside would be losing racial powers; for instance, a Breton mage has a slight advantage over say, an Orc mage, since Breton's have a natural magic resistance.

From an RP standpoint, I think creating an unorthodox build using a normally "unsuited" race could be quite fulfilling.

 

[123]

It's possible.

I played a High Elf Warrior for a long time.

 

[Hildolfr]

I'm sure there are some racial abilities that make a race better for whatever reason, but I think in general you're absolutely right. I've heard of Orc stealth assassins who use the 2x damage to basically silently slaughter even the toughest of enemies. It sounds weird, but it certainly works.

I've had a stealthy Ranger Nord and while this may not be perfect for Nords, it definitely worked out really well and was fun to play. Plus barbarian Altmer must be fun to play, I don't see how it couldn't.

 

[Skulli]

I wanted my Nord to be all sword-n-board, but even in heavy armor, he's evolved into a lethal sneak archer from all the times I wanted to fly through dungeons with thick pack of mobs.

Call him a multi-tasker, lol!

 

[Crooksin]

Eventually I'd like to play as a certain race that may not necessarily be geared for a certain playstyle. I know that depending on the race you choose you are automatically at 15, 20, or 25 in a certain skill.

Hypothetically, if you were to start as a nord/mage or something strange like that... could he eventually be as good as one of the elf mages; as long as you train him in thoroughly on whatever it is you're trying level up?

Could you basically, if a player is good enough, level any race to play as any style? Considering all skills can be raised to 100. I am aware it would be a little more of a rough start.

Its going to be the exact same in the end. The only thing a, lets say, High Elf mage would have over a Nord mage is their Highborn power. Skyrim not being a player vs player environment, it doesn't really matter as long as you like the War Cry power of the Nords. Of course, under the impression that either build has the exact same perks.

That's literally the only difference between characters, looks and racial powers/passives.

 

[Haru17]

HIgh elf mages at low levels are just... epic. Their Highborn ability gives you REDUNKULUNKULUS magicka regen for a minute. The 50+ magicka stat is very nice too, and effectively gives you 50 more points to throw around. I never pick races for their starting values as they are easy to catch up and really won't matter in mid or endgame. I chose based on resistances, strengths, and powers.

 

[DrunkenMage]

I have a Nord pure mage. Was slightly rough start but went well in the end.

I do like to sometimes create something that you just don't see from their race. Altmer warrior does seem pretty cool, because they just tower over everyone.

 

[Thorn]

I started with a Dunmer mage, but after I used a Nord for it, I have become a Nord fan. Feeling as if you are a pariah among your own race is very fulfilling for me

 

[Psiberzerker]

The main difference in the long run is how many levels it takes to reach the same point in a given skill. A Nordic Wizard, for instance, has to gain about 5 levels to have the same skills an Altmer starts with. However, at that point, the Nord actually has the edge, because while he could have spent all 5 stat points on Magicka, he also has 5 Perk points to spend, possibly to cast all his Novice rank spells at half cost. (or whatever.)

If you take your character up to 81, you have to level all the skills to 100, including the ones you don't use, and virtual duplicates like !/2handed (Which you can't use at the same time, anyway.) If you just use skills, and take the levels as they come, you should cap out around 30-50, depending on the number of skills, and how high they where when you started. And there are of course the Racial Dailies and Resistances which stay with you all game. (Khajiit are the odd ones out, because they get an Unarmed bonus, and a power that can be used over, and over indefinitely.)

The main Advantage to playing a racially inappropriate build in the long run is that you have to reach a higher level to have the same capability (Unlock certain Perks high on the skill trees.) This means you will have more perks points, and higher stats as well, but it takes a little longer, and can be tougher to start. Also, if you plan to Pickpocket, you might want to pick a race with a bonus in it, because XP is based on success. Unlike Lockpicking, where you can just break picks on a Master lock until you run out, this is the one skill where you basically can't advance from 15 without succeeding, and can't succeed, because your skill level is so low. The only solution to this Catch 22 is to pay a trainer.

 

[brycepunk]

I started as a female Breton but she ended up being a dual mace-weilding unstoppable juggernaut. I didn't do much of anything with magic until she was level 50, and that due to being bored with being unstoppable. I imagine an Orc or Nord would have made more sense for such a role.

 

[Adam Belmont]

I have a Nord Assassin. I never used his racial ability "Battle Cry", but it's cool for RP. His retired now and my my actual nord is an classical warrior. But any character with well planed perks will eventualy be strong.

 

[Ritterkreuz]

I have a preference for Argonian Warriors myself. The only downside is the relatively few helmets that look good on them (Iron, Daedric, and Imperial).

 

[Psiberzerker]

I started as a female Breton but she ended up being a dual mace-weilding unstoppable juggernaut. I didn't do much of anything with magic until she was level 50, and that due to being bored with being unstoppable. I imagine an Orc or Nord would have made more sense for such a role.

The only problem there is Breton girls are shrimpy, and therefore as slow as humanly possible. Just fine as long as you don't have to run for your life, but if you do, they don't make it very far...

 

[Zyphur]

My character is an orc in heavy daedric armor and it's still really easy to stealth. (with perks)

 

[KaitoGhost]

My main character is a Bosmer 2 handed warrior.

On the previous games, it made a difference, but not in Skyrim.

 

[Psiberzerker]

One of my first Wood Elves was a Ranged/2H hybrid, because the Battleaxe (Woodsman's Friend to start) made up for a lot of her Shortcomings in combat. Besides, she looked so cute with Volendrung. Yeah, she was primarily a light Archer, but when it got down to a melee, she could hold her own, and the arrows really softened them up first...