We just had 2 polls about best race.

mxxo wrote: »

We just had 2 polls about best race.

Well this one is about the best mer race. I have edited it to fix and add more to it. To explain the differances between the merish races. Including the bosmer and khajiit. So it should be interesting to see the results.

Depends what you mean by "best"

If you mean best with magicika and casting spells, I'd say the altmer. But lorewise i prefer the dunmer. Morrowind has a special place in my heart!

Although saying that, there are some very powerful spell casters on the dunmer side ofcourse. But altmer tend to be the most naturally gifted with magicka. ( at least before zos's incoming pts passive maddness)

I don't think anyone will be surprised by my answer.

I assume this is simply about lore and preference to cultures. I find in the series that Elves are all a bit 'warped' in a way. They are not like humans. The Mer are strange and alien and have a strange view or reflection upon the world. I'll summarize my point of view on each of the Mer that you list. Please recognize these are based on general stereotypes rooted in their cultures:

1. Altmer: These are the quintessential elf and likely the closest to the roots. Their praiseworthy traits include intelligence, patience, craftiness and a pursuit of perfection. The flaws include extreme Pride (review Dante's Inferno some time), Prejudice, Laziness and Coldness. The Altmer gloss over their savagery with beauty and systems. They are blinded by their own intelligence and because of this fail to recognize the intellect of their enemies. In this respect they are similar to the Dwemer who were probably their superior in both intellect and pride as well as being tireless workers.

2. Dunmer: These elves are the dark reflection of their yellow cousins. They possess keen intellect, patience and a pursuit of perfection like their cousins but their flaws run much deeper. Dunmer pride and prejudices are the worst of all creatures on Tamriel barring things such as the Sload. The flaws do not end there. Unlike their lazy cousins they are elves of action. They face adversity as a thing of beauty and this is in many ways a virtue for them as well. This facing of adversity however is rooted in a belief system and religion focused on the principles of Boethiah, Mephala, and Azura. The sum of these beliefs extol the 'virtue' of lies, ***, murder, betrayal, rebellion, scheming and debauchery. There is a reason that Orcs particularly hate this subgroup of elves.
3. Bosmer: The bosmer are a warm and friendly race of elves but they are eco-extremists in a fantasy setting. Their connection to the Green and temporal Dreaming-Now-Yffre stabilized their wild hunt. The Bosmer are an abominable monstrosity tamed by Y'ffre it would seem. I realize it sounds like I'm speaking ill of the Bosmer but it is clear to me that these are among the most moral among the elves. They hunt for their meals and protect the forests to which they have a spiritual connection. This green pact stops them from becoming the monsters underneath which is in a sense tragic but also noble. The Bosmer are not prejudiced, they are playful, intelligent but not so proud, clever but willing to laugh at themselves and seemingly cheerful to a fault. The cannibalism and meat mandate are pretty grotesque and disturbing but one has to recognize that this is rooted in some ancient pact that kept their race from existing as devouring monstrosities.
4. Khajiit: These are the ones who were marred/blessed by Azura. They have short life like those of men and are blessed/cursed by the moon they are born under. As a general rule they are clever, lazy, and agile. Their sense of property rights leaves much to be desired but they are also a very sharing people.
5. Finally, the Orcs. A race cursed by the daedra-god that the Dunmer worship, Boethiah. It is said that their hero-god Trinimac was devoured and defecated by Boethiah in front of an assembly of Chimer and Proto-Aldmer followers of an order of Trinimac. When Trinimac was returned to them he came back as Malacath. This was the twisting of one of the ennobling figures of the Aldmer. Trinimac represented justice, and his purpose was to protect the Aldmer from 'enemies within and without'. As Malacath he becomes known as the god of curses, the spurned, but still truth and honor. He teaches a straight forward and honest course of action which leads his followers quickly to violence. In general Orcs represent justice and truth but they are twisted by excessive rage. This is what Boethiah did to them. I chose Orcs because I feel badly for them given the tug of war between these two natures that do not coincide so well. Orcs overshoot true justice but the desire for it exists with them all at the same time. On this list I'd say they are the most honorable of the Mer but you're probably less likely to get harmed by the others. They are hard working and tend to keep to themselves mostly, rarely building Empires and forcing their wills on others, even among their own kind. This is not to say they do not raid but it is likely fair to say that many of these raids are related to ancient grudges they hold (another flaw in their character). In short I like Orcs because of this internal struggle between their monstrous and heroic/honorable natures.