I get the point of creating a base for the protagonists actions, but why different ones that aparently based on race. Frankly it seems like a bit of a cheap way to ensure the replay value. Please tell me Im wrong about that one.

David Gaider: I'm not sure what you mean by a "base"... it's a beginning to the player's story that roots him wherever his background should be. If he's a mage, he starts off living like a mage and learning what being a mage is all about. Or an elf. Or a dwarven prince. Or whatever.

The idea is that however you enter the story, that you started from somewhere and that it has a root in the setting. And rather than it just being a quick cut-scene, we ease you into things by having you actually live a bit and have a stake in the setting we're creating and maybe learn about it some before jumping into the plot. It certainly isn't just for replay value (though that's a plus) or to provide any kind of "base"... it's something we hope will enhance the experience.