Your favourite race starting vs your favourite race now

SmukkeHeks

Oblivion, dunmer
Skyrim, altmer
ESO, bosmer

It’s a mer thing. But bosmer are my absolute favorite. They have touched my soul, as the truly little weirdos of Tamriel.

The nord lore are also very interesting, but the way the individuals are portrayed in eso rubs me the wrong way. It’s the standard generalization of the Viking culture and it’s pretty shallow. But that’s probably just me finding it somewhat offensive due to my origin. And especially in eso, I’m finding it very confusing with those big, muscular, nordmen having fine, almost delicate voices. As confusing as seeing an argonian riding a horse.

This took a wrong turn... I’m gonna work now....

SydneyGrey

Breton when I was a noob. Now it's Wood Elves.

What's funny is how picky I was about how the characters look when I was a noob. I thought the tails on Khajiits were too long and skinny and I hated them, and I thought the legs on High Elves were too long, and the foreheads on Dark Elves bothered me. Now I'm used to all of it and love all of it.

Paradisius

Ive always been a fan of Dunmer culture and lore, so its been my go to pick for any ES game I choose as a main character, Altmer fall just behind that for similar reasons

wenchmore420b14_ESO

My first character was a Dunmer Stamsorc and I still play him as my main to this day!
Huzzah!

Djennku

First getting into the Elder Scrolls series, I played a Saxhleel. My preferred playstyle is the sneaky assassin-type character, and when delving into the lore and cultures of TES world, I immediately fell in love with the Shadowscales.

My main and first character in ESO is a Saxhleel Nightblade, and they are still and always will be my favorite race.

Cundu_Ertur

TES3 Bosmer
TES4 Bosmer
TES5 Bosmer
ESO (before the racial changes) Bosmer
ESO (now) there are no Bosmer anymore, so none.

rpa

Earlier Argonian, Khajit, Orc, because I prefer cartoony to failed realism.
Later mostly Dunmer and Argonian.

Nemesis7884

Nord always Nord

almightyalfo

Started: Bosmer

Now: Dunmer and Breton

Banana

Breton Breton I like em pretty

logarifmik

Breton always was. Though, now I'm also quite entertained playing Argonian maiden, mainly because of the story I came up for her.

Varana

To flesh it out a bit more:
I started TES with Morrowind, and I still adore all the weird (and probably drug-induced ) world-building around the Dunmer. As a real-life person, I probably wouldn't be very happy in a Dunmer society, but fortunately, this is role-playing, not real life. And Dunmer lore is really, really unique and strange (but in a good way).
Also, I really find lava flowing through ashen wastes, and red eyes with grey skin, beautiful.

Oblivion did very little for lore, in my experience. It was bland to an astonishing degree. Imperials suffered from this heavily - being torn between the most generic Romans, and the most generic European feudal knights possible, and neither of them twisted in an interesting way.

Skyrim was a really good presentation of Nord culture. It draws very heavily on Viking cliches - not a bad thing in itself, but also an immediate disadvantage to the more inspired Dunmer world-building. ESO unfortunately decided to ramp up the goofiness and caricature (I mean, one of the most recurring and memorable Nord characters is Rigurt of all people).

ESO did a lot to flesh out Argonians and Khajiit. I don't particularly like Argonians (esp. their sanctimonious holier-than-thou attitude ), but that's a matter of taste. Khajiit have become really fun, and finally made it beyond the warez and skooma memes.

Redguards - I like some of it, esp. the aesthetics. (The general Middle Eastern blend is always visually pleasing.) I don't care for their sword saint things, and the ESO Alik'r storyline does its very best to present them in the most stupid and annoying way possible.

Bosmer - I like the cannibalism twist, and the effed-up idea of a meat-only society in a giant forest. Unfortunately, ESO did a bit too much Bosmer stuff (almost all of the Dominion storyline is Bosmer), and the interesting bits are somewhat rare. It's kind of standard fantasy, and that's a pity. Also, the Valenwood is base-game, and heavily suffers from 2014's graphical restrictions. A giant primeval forest updated to the graphical standards of 2020 (like Murkmire, or Elsweyr) would be really great.

I don't have much to say about Altmer and Orcs. They're not bad, I just don't connect with them.

Finally, Bretons - generic pseudo-Middle Ages. Boooring! The most fatal flaw.

Eifleber

Whatever looks nice and doesn't gimp my build.
Also no fan of human bodies with animal heads and tails.

Atm mainly Nord HE and Bretons. Also have a Redguard, Bosmer and Dark Elf.

agegarton

Breton.

aaaaaaaannnnnd........

Breton.


I am NOT stuck in my ways, ok?

technohic

Always nords but I hated the passives before the revamp here. Which happened when after I was already making it work/deal. Now its meta

Chaos2088

Altmer and always Altmer -nose huff's in high elf-

worrallj

When I started morrowind I was all about the sneaky races... Khajit and wood elves. Same with oblivion. Skyrim got me into nords a bit. These days? I think the imperials probably have the best lore going on.

Redguards really need a dedicated expansion though. In all of TES history the only zone where they're really heavily featured is the alikir desert. They are pretty bland even after all this time IMHO.

MEBengalsFan2001

My favorite races on launch day PS4 was High Elf and Breton. My favorite races today is Breton and High Elf still. Nothing has really changed for me.

hasi

I really liked Dunmers, when I first started.
Now it's Bretons, they're so pretty and nice to play.🥰

Ye_Olde_Crowe

* My first and favorite character in Arena was a Breton, and she was a magic user of sorts but I forgot which type. Her favorite spells were invisibility, passwall and fireball.
* My first and favorite character in Daggerfall was a Khajiit battlemage (ya, I know). He loved to run around in chaps & straps. My second Daggerfall character was a Redguard fighter. She also loved to run around in chaps & straps. I played both, well, simultaneously, meaning that I played a little bit with him, then a little bit wit hher, and so on.
* My (only) char in Battlespire was a Dunmer ... a battlemage of course. She loved scamps, and trolling spider Daedra.
* My (only) char in Reguard was, of course, Cyrus the Redguard, and he was whatever he was.
* My first and favorite character in Morrowind was an Imperial battlemage. She is still my favorite character of all my Morrowind characters, and I had many.
* I had so many characters in Oblivion that I actually forgot who my first one was, but my favorite ones were an Imperial swordswoman and a Dunmeri assassin lad.
* My favorite characters in Skyrim were a Bosmeri archer/stealth lass and an Orcish paladin. I made a host of other characters but didn't play them very much.
* My favorite ESO character is my main - an Imperial stamsorc guy. My other favorite is an Orcish warden guy.

So there... *shrugs*.
You see, it depends on the game and my current mood. I just never really liked Nords (and I'm not very much into the cat-headed Khajiit furstock). None of my currently 15 ESO characters is a Nord.

sniperfire03

Started with bosmer as my favorite, and khajiit as my least favorite. I still prefer bosmer, but khajiit has quickly become a very very close second for me.

Rye_puff

SmukkeHeks wrote: »

Oblivion, The nord lore are also very interesting, but the way the individuals are portrayed in eso rubs me the wrong way. It’s the standard generalization of the Viking culture and it’s pretty shallow. But that’s probably just me finding it somewhat offensive due to my origin. And especially in eso, I’m finding it very confusing with those big, muscular, nordmen having fine, almost delicate voices. As confusing as seeing an argonian riding a horse.

It is pretty weird! I always thought male Nords looked way too baby-faced compared to in Skyrim. I know that’s just ESO’s style though. They still look great when they have great big beards and a little age.

Casterial

Redguard, Redguard.

Breton to.

Nanfoodle

My first char back in beta was a Elf as well. When I came back I picked DC because I like underdogs in PvP. So the fact I like playing magic classes and ranged. My only option being a mix maxer was a Britton. Being a Brit in RL it kinda tickles my fancy lol. Love my Warden and my DK =-) both Brits

Sibenice

My favorite race, and first character was an Altmer. I have played, and have characters of all the other races now. But my favorite is still Altmer.

What can I say? I'm a basic *** and I like elves.

Aerenthir

Once an Imperial, always an Imperial.

OneForSorrow

Favorite at start: Khajiit and Argonian
Favorite now: Khajiit and Argonian

need the tail swag.

Dunmer is fine too.

Nord_Raseri

LanteanPegasus wrote: »

Back when I started playing TES, knowing nothing about the lore, I chose an Imperial. Charismatic diplomats, cosmopolitan traders, and good with the only weapon that doesn't make you look like either a brainless barbarian or some cheap cutthroat - swords. Sounded just like my cup of tea.
Playing the game, learning more about Morrowind, and how it used to function "on its own", I was happy about my choice.

Knowing more about the other races now, I instantly chose an Imperial again for Oblivion. I loved it ! Returning to serve my emperor one last time (albeit in another incarnation of my character), discovering just HOW important the Empire is for Tamriel (Dragonfires!), fighting in and for the true way the Empire should be, giving the Amulet of Kings to the true heir of Uriel Septim, and witnessing the Avatar of Akatosh fulfill his pact with my people. Just loved it !

Of course I played an Imperial again in Skyrim. And of course I sided with the Imperials. All the reason the Stormcloaks gave me for wanting "independence" was some wharbling that amounted to "I want to kill who I like when I like, and do as I like whenever the fancy strikes me to, and they won't let me ! And all the rest of Tamriel is stupid, anyway ! Oh, and Talos !" Gosh, grow up !

Faulgor wrote: »

[...]Playing Nord in Skyrim is just a no-brainer. [...]

That's true. Because the average Nord has next to no brain. Or at least they don't like to use it very much. Sorry, couldn't resist. I'm afraid Skyrim ruined most Nords for me, and ESO didn't help to improve that again.
I'm sure the whole Dovakhiin thing made slightly more sense when playing a Nord, but this one time TES failed in capturing my heart with their main story, so no loss there.

Then ESO came. I was seriously irritated that I had to create a character so I could get to the crown store to buy the Imperial edition to create the character I wanted to play. Maybe I missed something, but that seemed like the only way to me to get an Imperial ??
I'm sad to see the Empire in shambles, far from its ideal of being a (positively) unifying force for Tamriel. But meeting people like Varen, Abnur Tharn (astonished how many people don't get that character, aside from him being difficult to handle), Prefect Calo, General Renmus and so on, I know I'm still right where I belong.

Although... From Morrowind to Skyrim all the TES titles didn't give me much about the Khajiit besides "thieves, tricksters, and skooma".
I'd say ESOs greatest achievement - in my book - was fleshing out the culture of the Khajiit in such a glorious way that I now love them just as much as the Imperials.

But still, once the next TES game comes, and I'll have to choose once more the one hero that will save Tamriel, it will be a true Imperial.

PS: No, game mechanics don't matter to me. As it should be in any good TES game, but alas, ESO being an MMO I see why it is mentioned here and there.

Oi, made a text wall. Short:
Morrowind: Imperial
Oblivion: Imperial
Skyrim: Imperial
ESO: Imperial
next one: Imperial

Show us where the naughty Nords hurt your feelings...

Jarndyce

I created my Stamscorc little Bosmer during beta. Recreated her identically at launch. She has been my main for 6 years now. I now have 10 other characters of various races and classes. Bosmer is still my favorite.

Crazyprophet

First Elder Scrolls game I played was Skyrim. Having no previous context - I saw the Roman-esque vibe of the "Imperials" and I was like "Oh my god, fantasy Romans." I then proceeded to make an Imperial. They were my favourite race for the longest time, and my Skyrim and Oblivion characters both are generally Imperials.

As time goes on though... I think I'm really starting to feel the Bretons. I like the medieval france kinda vibe well enough but it's more that I've come to appreciate the more subtle elven undertones of their society. I kinda like that they're the main human race to actively celebrate magic, a lingering cultural feature of the Direnni no doubt. I like that they have subtle elven remnants to their society in the form of a particular love of the fancy - ornate armour and clothing. They have fascinating political intrigues and squabbles. But at the same time, they're down-to-earth humans. Farmers, fishermen, lumberjacks. Normal people. I feel like the Bretons kind of have it all, and I'm really coming to enjoy them.

That said my main character is an Imperial in ESO too so I dunno if I've fully transitioned to being a Breton fan yet. But.. there it is! Starting to love the Bretons!