Welcome to Gaia! ::

Hey all I'm just now starting and I'm wondering who the best category to start out with?

The game is flexible enough that for the most part you can start with any race and do any class you want. The only thing that you have to choose early on is really when running from the first dragon do you follow the imperial out or the stormcloak.

Play how you want to play and you will find that your character levels the way you want to play.

no offense to anyone I just want to make sure I get a good start on the game I've played so many rpgs that I get left behind cause I forgot something or can't beat a level cause I wasn't higher then the monster I was facing that's all. I just don't wanna loose any advantages I could have if I didn't choose the best race.

Watch out noob, it's about to get nerdy.

First, according to your personal choice, you must ask yourself and honestly answer: "How do I want to play this game? Do I want to wear heavy armor and bash through enemies with ease with a sword and shield? What about two handed weapons? Or do I want to dual wield? Or do I want a one handed weapon and a spell? Or do I want to sneak around, slitting the throats of my enemies without being seen? Do I want to learn powerful magic that would kill most enemies in one hit? What weapons or tools do I want to use when I play?"

Just for example's sake, I'll give you some examples of previous games pre-made classes.

The main three options:
Warrior- a warrior is a person who delves into melee combat the same way a fish swims in water.

Thief/Assassin- patience is a virtue and a life saver here, where shadows are your best friend.

Mage- patience is also a virtue here, and hard work and dedication will pay off when you're able to destroy enemies without them even touching you.

Other options:
Paladin- warrior who specializes in one handed weapons, blocking, and restoration.

Rogue- An assassin who uses illusion and alteration magic to enhance his stealth and combat abilities.

Bladesman- A warrior who wears light armor and uses stealth consistently, striking from the shadows with a gigantic warhammer ready to pop heads.

There's essentially infinite possibilities, the only option is what do you want to be?

After this, you have to choose which race best applies to your preferred class. If you choose warrior or a melee class, Nord, Redguard, or Orsimer best applies. If you want a mage class, Breton or Altmer. Thief or assassin? Try Wood Elf, Khajit or Argonian. Want a combination? Try another of the races. If you want to be as specific as possible, I recommend going to UESP and finding the benefits of each race, their skill bonuses and their special abilities to find one best suited to your situation. Lose any notion of "best race", there is only the "best race" suited to your class.

Beyond that, you have to play true to your style. My friend makes horribly ineffecient and stupid mistakes, where he makes pretty decent and basic mage build with a High Elf, but then before he even gets to Riverwood he's using heavy armor and two handed weapons, totally forgetting he was a mage. And then, a few levels and miles later, when he suddenly realizes he needs magic for a certain situation, and dies, and rage quits, I tell him he screwed up. If he had stayed true to the mage class, he would've been powerful enough with spells to fight the enemy. If he instead made a warrior character like he was trying to play, he would've been better prepared for fighting the enemy, instead of trying to switch back to his first option. Now, sure you can make a style that suits both two handed and destruction magic, but the way he did it was awfully stupid.

Also, having a standing stone buff that applies to your class helps too. If not, then just default to steed stone, always useful, that one.