Ulfric's voice

[Valkasha]

Am I the only one who thinks Ulfrics voice acting is atrocious at certain points? Sure he's got an interesting voice but for example the battle speech when charging Solitude... Compare that to Galmar or Tullius and he just doesn't compare.

[Kraeten]

Secondly, Whiterun was undecided and Neutral, bit did not in any way impede access to Imperial Holds. Moving against Falkreath would have been simple enough for the Stormcloaks to operate out of Ivarstead. Instead, Ulfric attacked a neutral city to make a point.

If Ulfric ever wanted to hold the heartland of Skyrim during an attack, his soldiers would be camping in the hills along with his enemies unless he took the city. If that wasn't enough, Whiterun is one of the most important cities agriculturally. There's a reason why everyone is fighting over Whiterun.

A commander is culpable for the actions of the men under his command, which makes Ulfric, at the very least, complicit.

Assuming it wasn't the Jarl's housecarls who were the ones doing the revenge killings, then I agree Ulfric's men would likely have been used. At the end of the day the Empire didn't hold anyone accountable for the atrocities so it's all a moot point really.

 

Ulfric wants a future where he is High King. FTFY.

 

And if you think the Empire doesn't care about it's provinces, try having a chat with Legate Fasendil: "The Empire is the only thing keeping the Dominion from walking all over Skyrim. It matters little if some people here are ignorant of that truth, they are still citizens of the Empire and it is our solemn duty to protect them." The Empire is hardly distant either, or have you forgotten that the Empire's capital is closer to Riften than Solitude is?

 

And I wouldn't call Ulfric magnanimous. After all, he doesn't deny murdering a teenager who was standing between him and the crown of Skyrim (not to mention that he didn't even try to reason with him first despite him holding Ulfric in high esteem, and once he was dead, Ulfric insulted his grieving widow whenever he came into contact with her, like during Season Unending), and I've yet to see the atrocities he committed during the Markarth Incident disproven either. And when even the Jarls supporting him (Laila and Dengeir) don't trust him, there must be something wrong, right?

 

I won't deny Ulfric also wanted to be High King. Torygg wasn't merely a teenager either, you can meet him in Sovngarde for yourself. As for the Empire, the blather that they're keeping out the dominion rings hollow when the Thalmor can go around abducting people with utter impunity. Fact of the matter is the Empire as we see it in Skyrim is only concerned with protecting Cyrodiil. They abandoned Hammerfell to the Dominion after the Great War in case you forgot.

 

As for why the other Jarls don't trust him, that shouldn't come as a surprise. He was only a Jarl like them once before he clawed his way to power. His ambition is dangerous. You're also forgetting the part where Dengeir distrusts everyone, and the empire most of all.

Am I the only one who thinks Ulfrics voice acting is atrocious at certain points? Sure he's got an interesting voice but for example the battle speech when charging Solitude... Compare that to Galmar or Tullius and he just doesn't compare.

It's hit and miss, but that can be said of Elder Scrolls VO over all. I will say Ulfric's voice acting never gets as bad as Tullius's when he's rallying his men outside Windhelm..he strikes some odd notes. No one is as bad as Farengar though, he takes the cake by a mile.

Edited August 24, 2014 by Kraeten

[Valkasha]

Yeah I always thought Farengar was quite out of place with the other voice actors in that castle. The whole joke when he hurts the dragon is so poorly done as well, could've made that hilarious. Irileths acting is especially great after the first dragon. And of course Balgruuf is one of the best voices in the game. Then there's a whole lot of mediocre voices like Aela (damn that commander voice gets repetetive) Weirdly enough some of the more annoying characters actually have great voice acting (Nazeem, Heimskr, they really do make your skin crawl, just like irl jehovas and smug rich guys).

[Kestrellius]

I actually can't hate Nazeem anymore. Not after watching Mans1ay3r's videos. (You know the one.)

[GetTheJojDone]

 

 

I won't deny Ulfric also wanted to be High King. Torygg wasn't merely a teenager either, you can meet him in Sovngarde for yourself. As for the Empire, the blather that they're keeping out the dominion rings hollow when the Thalmor can go around abducting people with utter impunity. Fact of the matter is the Empire as we see it in Skyrim is only concerned with protecting Cyrodiil. They abandoned Hammerfell to the Dominion after the Great War in case you forgot.

 

As for why the other Jarls don't trust him, that shouldn't come as a surprise. He was only a Jarl like them once before he clawed his way to power. His ambition is dangerous. You're also forgetting the part where Dengeir distrusts everyone, and the empire most of all.

 

 

He was - adults are used to model older teenagers in Skyrim, like Idgrod the Younger (and of course a teenager could be anywhere from 13 to 19 years old). Regardless, Ulfric still murdered a young man in a blatantly unfair, and therefore illegal duel, without even attempting diplomacy first. As for the Empire's "blather", consider that the Thalmor are in Skyrim because of Ulfric's actions in the Markarth Incident in the first place. The Empire wasn't too harsh on Talos worship (everyone basically continued to privately worship him, according to Alvor), until Ulfric forced the Empire to formally restore Talos worship in return for control of Markarth. They quietly agreed, in the hopes that the Dominion wouldn't find out. Naturally, the Dominion did and they were forced to allow the Thalmor to crack down on Talos worship. All because Ulfric and the Stormcloaks (totally not egotistical to name your rebellion after yourself, BTW) couldn't take one for the team and just continue to privately worship Talos like everyone else.

 

The same with Hammerfell. The Empire had to renounce it as a province or risk further war, which it was obviously too weak to sustain at the time.

[Lachdonin]

 

At the end of the day the Empire didn't hold anyone accountable for the atrocities so it's all a moot point really.

 

Yes it did. It locked Ulfric up for several years. Since his imprisonment happened pre-Inquisition, during a time when the Empire was not enforcing the Talos Ban, the only reason to lock him up was for his actions in Markarth.

[Kraeten]

As for the Empire's "blather", consider that the Thalmor are in Skyrim because of Ulfric's actions in the Markarth Incident in the first place.

 

And the Thalmor wouldn't be capable of getting anywhere near Skyrim if Mede hadn't surrendered to the Dominion in the first place. The Empire crushed the main invasion force in Cyrodiil, a hard won victory that Titus Mede effectively threw away with the Concordant where he gave in to practically the same demands the Elves had originally made before the Great War had even begun.

 

But that's beside the point. The Thalmor are in Skyrim, and the only one who is interested in driving them out again isn't wearing an Imperial uniform.

 

Yes it did. It locked Ulfric up for several years. Since his imprisonment happened pre-Inquisition, during a time when the Empire was not enforcing the Talos Ban, the only reason to lock him up was for his actions in Markarth.

 

That's completely speculative. In all likelihood the Empire arrested Ulfric in an effort to appease the Thalmor.

Edited August 24, 2014 by Kraeten

[MidbossVyers]

 

 

 

I won't deny Ulfric also wanted to be High King. Torygg wasn't merely a teenager either, you can meet him in Sovngarde for yourself. As for the Empire, the blather that they're keeping out the dominion rings hollow when the Thalmor can go around abducting people with utter impunity. Fact of the matter is the Empire as we see it in Skyrim is only concerned with protecting Cyrodiil. They abandoned Hammerfell to the Dominion after the Great War in case you forgot.

 

As for why the other Jarls don't trust him, that shouldn't come as a surprise. He was only a Jarl like them once before he clawed his way to power. His ambition is dangerous. You're also forgetting the part where Dengeir distrusts everyone, and the empire most of all.

 

 

He was - adults are used to model older teenagers in Skyrim, like Idgrod the Younger (and of course a teenager could be anywhere from 13 to 19 years old). Regardless, Ulfric still murdered a young man in a blatantly unfair, and therefore illegal duel, without even attempting diplomacy first. As for the Empire's "blather", consider that the Thalmor are in Skyrim because of Ulfric's actions in the Markarth Incident in the first place. The Empire wasn't too harsh on Talos worship (everyone basically continued to privately worship him, according to Alvor), until Ulfric forced the Empire to formally restore Talos worship in return for control of Markarth. They quietly agreed, in the hopes that the Dominion wouldn't find out. Naturally, the Dominion did and they were forced to allow the Thalmor to crack down on Talos worship. All because Ulfric and the Stormcloaks (totally not egotistical to name your rebellion after yourself, BTW) couldn't take one for the team and just continue to privately worship Talos like everyone else.

 

The same with Hammerfell. The Empire had to renounce it as a province or risk further war, which it was obviously too weak to sustain at the time.

 

Incorrect. First of all, it was the Imperials, who first called the uprising the Stormcloak Rebellion. The rebels just took the name because it matches what they believe in. Kinda like how Yankee Doodle was originally a British attempt to insult the revolting colonists. Secondly, Torygg could have just forfeited the battle. That would not automatically make Ulfric High King. However, it would allow him to call a Moot to vote for a new High King. Torygg could have hypothetically been voted back up, but maybe, he thought that the only reason that he had this position is because of Imperial influence and that if the decision was left to the Jarls, he might have a higher chance of staying High King by just fighting Ulfric. Obviously, that wasn't the case. Also, Shouting isn't cheating. That's like saying someone is cheating just because their fists are stronger. In this case, Ulfric's vocal chords were stronger.

[Lachdonin]

 

That's completely speculative. In all likelihood the Empire arrested Ulfric in an effort to appease the Thalmor.

 

 

In a time before the Thalmor were tapping the treaty like stuffy bureaucrats? There was nothing to appease. Ulfric was turned over to the Imperials shortly after the Markarth Incident in 4E176. He then spent several years in prison, before being released and becoming the Jarl of Windhelm. We are told by several sources that the Thalmor presence, and the actual arresting of Talos worshippers in Skyrim is a recent turn of events. I've never heard of 'recent' being used to describe something 24 years old.

 

 

Also, Shouting isn't cheating. That's like saying someone is cheating just because their fists are stronger. In this case, Ulfric's vocal chords were stronger.

Shouting IS cheating. Tongues were gagged in duels to prevent them from accentually using the Thu'um. The use of anything but martial skill is strictly forbidden in Nord duels, and has been since the time of Ysgramor.

Edited August 25, 2014 by Lachdonin

[Kraeten]

In a time before the Thalmor were tapping the treaty like stuffy bureaucrats? There was nothing to appease.

 

By forcing the Empire to renege on the ban of Talos worship, Ulfric put the Empire in a position where it was challenging the Dominion's authority. This led to pressure from the Dominion where upon the Empire went back on their agreement with Ulfric...which is when he's imprisoned. The connection is obvious. Putting Ulfric in prison was meant to smooth over relations between the Empire and their Aldmeri masters.

Edited August 25, 2014 by Kraeten