@Atlas said:

Orc male.

He looks badass as hell, and I like the background of Tamriel's Orcs, how they were oppressed for so long and are still mistrusted. I didn't want to play as any of the races I played a lot of in Oblivion, which were Breton, Redguard and Altmer (High Elf Atronach Mage FTW), and I didn't want to play as a Nord because I liked the idea of playing a strange race in a strange land, because I as a player am discovering the game world for the first time, so it's cool that my character is as much a stranger as I am.

I am with you, made an Orc. It also makes sense within the lore, as many Orcs fled to Skyrim after the fall of Orsinium.

Breton so I could make a black magic woman.

Edit: got your spell on me baby

Always a Dark Elf.

Kinda because I liked Elves generally, and Dark Elves in fantasy seem so much more interesting. The Drow in DnD tend to be a bit too evil for me though. The Dunmer got me interested when I first played Morrowind years ago.

I started with a Nord warrior, because it's Skyrim. Duh.

I'm an imperial. I thought extra gold sounded good.

Nord. Because I afraid to experiment!

Orc. Because WAAAAGH!!

The fact that orcs don't look so crappy but actually badass helps too.

I'm an Altmer because I always play an Altmer. Best mage class and all that.

My main in Morrowind was an Orc warrior, my main in Oblivion was a Nord barbarian, so to mix it up just a little bit in Skyrim I'm gonna go as a Breton spellsword

Altmer AKA High Elf. Went Imperial first then rerolled when I couldn't figure out if charm was doing anything. With the High Elf I started with 150 base magicka, a racial that increases magicka regen x10 for 60 seconds, and the Fury spell.

Dark Elf cause some of the characters models look real bad ass ^^

@JoeyRavn said:

I started with a Nord warrior, because it's Skyrim.

That was pretty much my logic. That said, Nord is also a 'race' I'd not ever played in Oblivion, so as well as feeling like a good fit for Skyrim, its also a change for me.

Khajiit; because every other race is boring.

I chose Khajit as I am a stealth assassin. I love the perk where I can see at night. It's a bit of a gamebreaker imho. Sneaking up on people and one hitting them is exciting, but a bit boring after awhile. To be fair, often times I have to backpeddle because some crazy mage or monster can one hit me. So it's even :P

I am a Nord Wizard because pail skin + lanky dude with long hair is just me ina video game casting lightening.

Dark Elf battlemage, everytime. I love the history of the dunmers and they have already made some good references to Morrowind. I am also pretty happy with the customization for dark elves because damn they were ugly in Oblivion. Probably going for an argonian rogue next playthrough. I don't think I've seen one in game argonian yet but I've still got ways to go.

High elf. Because having black eyes just makes you feel like a cooler wizard.

I went Nord first so I could have my badass viking dragonslayer. I'll probably go with a rogue dark elf or a warhammer weilding orcish warrior mage for my next character.

Decided to play as a Mage for the first time ever and thought Dark Elf would make a formidable one, plus they look Evil, which I like.

I went with a High Elf - Mage. Was the same thing in Oblivion. Really enjoying it so far too.

I chose Khajit because I'm hoping to see some nice beastiality scenes with a human (or even an elf). There are sex scenes in this game right?

I chose Khajit because I'm hoping to see some nice beastiality scenes with a human (or even an elf). There are sex scenes in this game right?

I chose Nord and I am glad because after getting to Windhelm I got to act super racist towards all the Dark Elves.

Dark Elf because they look like homeless aliens (as in Grays, seriously, look at some of them)

I always play Imperial. Probably because I am always racist when it comes to choosing any sort of race in any video game.

Went with Bretan for his resistance to magic. Playing as a rogue works perfectly fine.

Argonian, that's what I played in morrowind. No spears in this game though ??? :(

What race are the giantbomb guys? Brad? Jeff? Patrick??

@TopSteer said:

I went with an Argonian. They've always been my favorite race in these games.

wood elf because sneaking bow ninja mother fucker.

Breton - because I liked their back story a bit, they don't look too non-human, and the magic resist. Although at first I planned to make more of a magic build, I'm switching more to a sneaky archer, falling back on magic attack and single-hand when needed. Magic resist as a magic user seemed like a good match, but honestly anyone could use more magic resist.

Lady Argonian.

redguard because i can make them look hispanic and thats what i am

Khajiit, because I was a big fan of Nighteye (Night Vision) in the previous games and I like to jack fools.

Orc. Taking lots of damage, giving lots of damage. Hammertime. (2 handed of course)

I chose Nord even though it doesn't fit me being a mage at all. I just like to play as a human, and I think the Nords look the coolest, plus Skyrim is their home.

I wonder if the new poll will have different results, that'd be funny

My main is a wood elf because I like stealth.

Redgaurd FTW ... got to rep the bornwess in the game. Also charecter is named Yildrim ... which was the nickname of an Ottoman sultan named Bayezid I in 1400s and translates roughly to thunderstrike or blitzkrieg

Can Redguards be white like in Oblivion? Cause I'm a Redguard then.

Breton. I wanted to look like Chuck Norris. And fuck non-humans.

I'm a Battlemage so I picked Imperial.  The charm spell also came in quite handy in the early going. 
 
I'm putting an end to that pesky Stormcloak rebellion so it made sense story-line wise as well.

@Gabriel said:

Can Redguards be white like in Oblivion? Cause I'm a Redguard then.

You can definitely give them features closer to those of Caucasians. You'd just be a somewhat swarthy white guy. George Hamilton style.