Board Thread:Off Topic/@comment-24473150-20140207120340/@comment-24473150-20140208112645

For me it depends on the game. In Morrowind, you've been a prisoner for an unknown amount of time, so it makes sense that you'd have no idea what was going on once you're released. In Oblivion, the same story. In Skyrim...well you've just been taken captive by the Empire because you happened to be in the same vicinity as Ulfrich. Of course, it's up in the air whether you were sneaking out of Skyrim or into Skyrim, but the fact remains that you've been incarcerated for maybe a day or so, and it would be safe to assume that the character would have at least a tiny bit of knowledge about what's going on. The Empire knew about the rebellion and had sent troops to take care of it, and they're in Cyrodil, not Skyrim. Your character has been who knows where, but rumors and word of mouth would have spread a little bit. I'm not saying delve into details or go on a long back story, just allow your character to know a little bit more about what's been going on in the past few years with your race through a character creation menu. Heck, the only reason you knew something was amiss as a Dunmer is because Hadvar comments about how you're another refugee. As for the racial reactions...I wouldn't want something major. I mean, even if you were a race that was considered "lesser", the NPCs could also take into account that you're essentially a badass i.e. nerevarine, dragonborn, hero of kvatch...or that you're the Arch Mage or head of the Companions or what have you. For me it kind of detracts from the immersion when your character is a "lesser" race and is treated like a Nord who has lived in Skyrim all of his life instead.