Picking a start
A new game begins in Alternate Perspective's starting room. Talk to the figure there and a menu opens: pick who you are, then walk out through the exit to begin. Groups with more than one option open into a list; many also offer Random, one of that group's options picked for you.
36 groups, 135 starts. Alternate Perspective's own groups come first; the add-ons' groups follow at the end of the menu. If a start can't move you, you're sent to the inn at Helgen instead.
"Where" is the spot the start moves you to, read from its quest; a blank means the option's name says it, or the place has no page here.
- I just arrived at Helgen
- I'll let fate decide
- I'm a regular at an inn
- I'm a traveler from overseas
- I'm a wanted criminal
- I was robbed and attacked
- I was shipwrecked
- I'm a homeowner
- I'm a vampire in a vampire clan
- I'm a member of the Forsworn
- I'm a werewolf
- I just joined a guild
- I'm the Dragonborn
- I'm a traveler in Bruma
- I was kidnapped and sold into slavery
- I've been ambushed along the road
- I've fallen into a spike pit
- I'm a bounty hunter near a hideout
- I'm imprisoned in a bandit fort
- I was raised in an Orc Stronghold
- I've been taken by Necromancers
- I'm lost out in the wilderness
- I'm a skooma addict
- I'm exploring a Dwemer ruin
- I'm an alchemist in the wild
- I'm a hunter at Angi's Camp
- I'm a beggar
- I'm a prisoner in jail
- I'm a mercenary arriving in Skyrim
- I'm a merchant arriving in Skyrim
- I'm a pilgrim visiting a shrine
- I'm a pilgrim in a temple
- I'm a Thalmor prisoner
- I was attacked by a vampire
- I'm a warlock in a secret lair
- I'm a werewolf at Frostmoon Crag
I just arrived at Helgen
From Alternate Perspective.
You go to the inn at Helgen, before the dragon comes, and can look around the town. When you're ready, sleep in the inn's bed to start Skyrim's own opening.
I'll let fate decide
From Alternate Perspective.
A start picked for you: a group at random (any after this one, the add-ons' too), then one of its options.
I'm a regular at an inn
From Alternate Perspective. Also offers Random.
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| The Bannered Mare | The Bannered Mare |
| The Bee and Barb | Bee and Barb |
| The Winking Skeever | The Winking Skeever |
| Silver-Blood Inn | Silver-Blood Inn |
| Candlehearth Hall | Candlehearth Hall |
| Dead Man's Drink | Dead Man's Drink |
| Moorside Inn | Moorside Inn |
| The Frozen Hearth | The Frozen Hearth |
| Windpeak Inn | Windpeak Inn |
| The Retching Netch | The Retching Netch |
| The Sleeping Giant Inn | Sleeping Giant Inn |
| Frostfruit Inn | Frostfruit Inn |
| Vilemyr Inn | Vilemyr Inn |
| Old Hroldan Inn | Old Hroldan Inn |
| Four Shields Tavern | Four Shields Tavern |
| Nightgate Inn | Nightgate Inn |
| Braidwood Inn | Braidwood Inn |
I'm a traveler from overseas
From Alternate Perspective. Also offers Random.
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| East Empire Trading Company | Safe Harbor |
| Windhelm Docks | Windhelm |
| Dawnstar's Shore | Dawnstar |
| Raven Rock Docks | Raven Rock |
I'm a wanted criminal
From Alternate Perspective. Also offers Random.
You start with a bounty of 200 to 400 gold in that hold and smaller ones (up to 300 each) in up to five holds picked at random, wearing studded armour and hide boots. Bounty hunters may come looking for you.
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| In Whiterun (Whiterun) | Fort Greymoor |
| In the Rift (Riften) | |
| In the Pale (Dawnstar) | |
| In Winterhold (Winterhold) | Alftand |
I was robbed and attacked
From Alternate Perspective. Also offers Random.
You wake by the road with 10 health left (20 in the Reach (Markarth)).
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| In the Rift (Riften) | Rift Watchtower |
| In the Reach (Markarth) | |
| In Winterhold (Winterhold) |
I was shipwrecked
From Alternate Perspective.
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| – | The Seasaw |
I'm a homeowner
From Alternate Perspective. Also offers Random.
The house is yours from the start, with its key and decorating guide. Its housecarl can be married.
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| In Whiterun | Breezehome |
| In Solitude | Proudspire Manor |
| In Riften | Honeyside |
| In Markarth | Vlindrel Hall |
I'm a vampire in a vampire clan
From Alternate Perspective. Also offers Random.
You start as a vampire, in vampire armour, in the clan's lair. The clan's leader soon tells you to leave: you aren't welcome there for long.
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| Pinemoon Cave | Pinemoon Cave |
| Bloodlet Throne | Bloodlet Throne |
| Movarth's Lair | Movarth's Lair |
| Haemar's Shame | Haemar's Shame |
I'm a member of the Forsworn
From Alternate Perspective.
You start in Druadach Redoubt in Forsworn armour. The Forsworn there count you as one of them; leave and you're a traitor to them.
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| – | Druadach Redoubt |
I'm a werewolf
From Alternate Perspective.
You start as a werewolf in Falkreath, at nine at night, already in beast form. Alternate Perspective would also ask "werewolf or werebear?" with another mod, Nightmare Night, which GTS doesn't have, so it doesn't ask.
I just joined a guild
From Alternate Perspective. Also offers Random.
College of Winterhold: First Lessons is under way; you wear mage robes. Thieves Guild: A Chance Arrangement is done; you start in the Ragged Flagon in leather armour with an iron dagger. Dark Brotherhood: Innocence Lost is done; you start in the Sanctuary, which is on your map, in hide armour with a steel dagger. Companions: you start in Jorrvaskr part way through Take Up Arms, in iron armour with a steel sword and shield.
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| College of Winterhold | Winterhold College |
| Thieves Guild | The Ragged Flagon |
| Dark Brotherhood | Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary |
| Companions | Jorrvaskr |
I'm the Dragonborn
From Alternate Perspective.
Vanilla Start runs Skyrim's own opening. High Hrothgar skips it: Helgen has burned, Unbound is done and The Way of the Voice has begun. It asks who got you out of Helgen, the Imperials or the Stormcloaks.
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| Vanilla Start | |
| High Hrothgar |
I'm a traveler in Bruma
From Alternate Perspective - Bruma start.
Three ways to start in Bruma, in Cyrodiil (Beyond Skyrim: Bruma).
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| Adventurer from inner Cyrodiil | |
| Pilgrim to the city's cathedral | |
| Pilgrim to a hidden shrine to Talos |
I was kidnapped and sold into slavery
From Dwarf Sphere.
Your things are taken and you start in prisoner's clothes: Wrong Place, Wrong Time begins.
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| – | Council Hall |
I've been ambushed along the road
From Adventurer's Start. Also offers Random.
Three bandits jump you on the road (Forsworn in the Reach).
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| Bruma | |
| Eastmarch | Fort Amol |
| Falkreath | |
| Haafingar | |
| Hjaalmarch | |
| The Pale | |
| The Reach | |
| The Rift | |
| Whiterun |
I've fallen into a spike pit
From Adventurer's Start.
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| – | Halted Stream Camp |
I'm a bounty hunter near a hideout
From Adventurer's Start. Also offers Random.
You start near a bandit hideout with a bounty letter; finish the job for 100 gold.
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| Bruma | Plundered Mine |
| Eastmarch | Stony Creek Cave |
| Falkreath | |
| Haafingar | |
| Hjaalmarch | Orotheim |
| The Rift | |
| Whiterun | |
| Winterhold |
I'm imprisoned in a bandit fort
From Adventurer's Start. Also offers Random.
You start locked in the fort's prison, and its bandits (Forsworn at Fort Sungard) count you as one of them.
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| Haafingar | Fort Hraggstad |
| The Pale | Fort Dunstad |
| The Reach | Fort Sungard |
| The Rift | Fort Greenwall |
| Whiterun | Fort Greymoor |
I was raised in an Orc Stronghold
From Adventurer's Start. Also offers Random.
The stronghold's Orcs treat you as one of their own.
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| Dushnikh Yal | Dushnikh Yal |
| Mor Khazgur | Mor Khazgur |
| Narzulbur | Narzulbur |
I've been taken by Necromancers
From Adventurer's Start.
You start in Hob's Fall Cave, and Vigilants of Stendarr, Carcette with them, come for the necromancers.
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| – | Hob's Fall Cave |
I'm lost out in the wilderness
From Adventurer's Start. Also offers Random.
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| Bruma | |
| Eastmarch | |
| Falkreath | Desolate Crypt |
| Haafingar | |
| Hjaalmarch | |
| The Pale | Imperial Military Camp |
| The Reach | |
| The Rift | |
| Whiterun | |
| Winterhold |
I'm a skooma addict
From New Beginnings.
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| – | Redwater Den |
I'm exploring a Dwemer ruin
From New Beginnings.
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| – | Kagrenzel |
I'm an alchemist in the wild
From New Beginnings.
I'm a hunter at Angi's Camp
From New Beginnings.
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| – | Angi's Camp |
I'm a beggar
From New Beginnings.
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| From Markarth | The Warrens |
| From Riften | Beggar's Row |
I'm a prisoner in jail
From New Beginnings. Also offers Random.
You start in that hold's jail with a 500 gold bounty (in the Reach, that's Cidhna Mine).
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| Whiterun | |
| The Rift (Riften) | |
| Eastmarch (Windhelm) | |
| Haarfinger (Solitude) | |
| The Reach (Markarth) | |
| Falkreath | |
| Hjaalmach (Morthal) | |
| The Pale (Dawnstar) | |
| Winterhold | |
| Raven Rock |
I'm a mercenary arriving in Skyrim
From New Beginnings. Also offers Random.
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| Cyrodiil | |
| Hammerfell | |
| High Rock | |
| Northern Morrowind | |
| Southern Morrowind |
I'm a merchant arriving in Skyrim
From New Beginnings. Also offers Random.
You arrive at the border with a horse of your own and your goods.
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| Cyrodiil | |
| Hammerfell | |
| High Rock | |
| Northern Morrowind | |
| Southern Morrowind |
I'm a pilgrim visiting a shrine
From New Beginnings. Also offers Random.
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| Shrine of Azura | |
| Shrine of Boethiah | Shrine of Boethiah |
| Shrine of Mehrunes Dagon | Shrine of Mehrunes Dagon |
| The Eldergleam Sanctuary | |
| Statue of Meridia | Kilkreath Ruins |
| Shrine of Peryite | Shrine of Peryite |
| Stendarr's Beacon | Stendarr's Beacon |
| Hall of the Vigilant | Hall of the Vigilant |
I'm a pilgrim in a temple
From New Beginnings. Also offers Random.
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| Temple of the Divines in Solitude | Temple of the Divines |
| Temple of Dibella in Markarth | Temple of Dibella |
| Temple of Kynareth in Whiterun | Temple of Kynareth |
| Temple of Mara in Riften | Temple of Mara |
| Temple of Talos in Windhelm | Temple of Talos |
I'm a Thalmor prisoner
From New Beginnings.
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| – | Northwatch Keep |
I was attacked by a vampire
From New Beginnings. Also offers Random.
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| Solitude | Hall of the Dead |
| Falkreath | Falkreath |
| Whiterun | Hall of the Dead |
| Riften | |
| Windhelm | Windhelm Hall of the Dead |
| Markarth | Hall of the Dead |
I'm a warlock in a secret lair
From New Beginnings.
| Option | Where |
|---|---|
| – | Cragwallow Slope |
I'm a werewolf at Frostmoon Crag
From New Beginnings.
From base GTS 118's own files: the start menu's script (GTS's copy), the add-ons' own lists, and each start's quest, read when this page is built. Your own add-ons can add starts or change these; they aren't counted here.