Help?

[zJonnnn]

Right so I'm just asking what would be the best race to choose or is it just personal preference?
And which is the best side to choose at the beginning Imperial or Stormcloaks?

[WillofChampions]

depends on what you're going for. there are trophies for remaining neutral, taking a stormcloak fortress, or an imperial fortress.

As for race, that is personal preference and makes only marginal differences in gameplay. (Khajit do more damage unarmed because of their claws and they have nightvision) I ended up with a Nord with 100 on sneak and 92 on archery.

[Solomon Hawk]

It's just personal preference really. Whatever character you play, it still follows the same story line with various options as you go along.
You should remain neutral to either side for as long as possible, preferably till after you defeat Alduin. After that, it's a choice and you can decide once you gather enough information from various NPCs of both sides after talking with them. There is no right or wrong in the matter, but it's up to you to make your own judgement calls.

[Clever Monkey]

at the beginning the person you leave with means absolutely nothing once you leave helgen. you will get more smithing supplies for free if you go with Halvar but you could just steal those anyways.
Race because less of an issue as well the further you get. think of the the racial powers for a long term solution. most become useless by level 10.
although you can't go wrong, you will also never be right either

[Urgh]

Pick a nord. Its skyrim. A dragonborn is kinda a nordish thing. Imo.
But it doesnt really matter all in all.
Go with Ralof, Imo its more natural, he's nice and isnt trying to kill you (if you're new and have no clue whats going on, whats more sensible: going with the nice guy or the one that doesnt seem to have may issues with handing you over to be executed?). If you go with him it doesnt mean you have to join stormcloaks, you can join imperials if you prefer that.
Or something :)

[mpd1958]

The great thing about Skyrim is you have all the time in the world to play everything and anything.

[LC=afk]

just
play
and
find
out
for
yourself

[zJonnnn]

Thanks for the advice guys, I appreciate it!

[Brandybuck]

After about level five or so, the racial differences don't matter much. A few racial abilities are good though (those with constant resistances), but they're not game changers. So it's really up to your preferences. If you want to play the big burly Nord, the play a big burly Nord. If you want to be a kitty or lizard then be a kitty or lizard.

As for Imperials vs Stormcloaks, they're equivalent. Neither has the moral high ground. You'll probably need a compelling reason to join the Stormcloaks if you're not a Nord, but there's really no reason you couldn't be an Altmer Stormcloak if you wanted to.