The Civil War - I'm Clueless

[justwannaddl]

Agreed with Lyanheart. The moment you find out that it is the empire trying to execute you just because you were a hobo crossing the border is the moment you know the empire during Oblivion is dead. They couldn't even be bothered to put you in jail for a little while anymore. Just kill the fool and ship him back to whatever crap hole his/her kind probably came from.

 

MrTastix sentiments rang true too. When two sides are crap, it's tempting to purge them and go for a third party. A shame that such an option wasn't written into the game. I would have loved for something like Sheogorath deciding to annex Skyrim because the number of loons in the Isles were overflowing from all the strife in Cyrodiil. It would be Oblivion with style. :P

[MrTastix]

I would have loved for something like Sheogorath deciding to annex Skyrim because the number of loons in the Isles were overflowing from all the strife in Cyrodiil.

 

I'll vote for this.

[rth1913]

I imagine it is not meant to be black or white whether the Empire is good or bad, if you look at any dynasties throughout history they are never all good or all bad and often change. I know this isn't real life but I think it makes for better story telling to follow such a trend.

 

And also Beth will either have to decide which ending is canon or not make it quite clear.

[Sheylan]

You can also assasinate the emperor as part of the dark brotherhood chain.

 

 

 

I'm not sure exactly how this effects Skyrim. Whether it helps them by throwing the empire and it's legion into disarray, or hurts them by just plain pissing people off.

[Lachdonin]

From what i've been reading here and hearing from friends, i think people are giving the Empire a much worse rap-sheet than they deserve. They efectivly lost The Great War, and managed to pull out of it intact because of the White Gold compact. By and large, despite the influance of the Thalmar, the Empire is still the Empire.

 

The issue of the rebellion, as i see it, comes almost entirely from the banning of the worship of Talos. Let's make something pretty clear here, this was the key note of the White Gold Compact, and is all thats stopping the Aldmeri Domminion from wiping the Empire off the map. From several statements i've gotten from High Elves in and around Skyrim, the Domminion doesn't seem the least bit concerned about commiting genocide against the other peoples of Tamriel. At the very least, they have a definate "Enslave the humans" vibe going on.

 

As it stands, the only thing keeping them out is the Compact. As arogant and stuck up as they seem to be, they also seem to honor their treaties. The Empire has had to crack down on Talos worship because of the Aldmeri pressure in order to avert a war. If the Stormcloaks get their way, Skyrim will seperate from the Empire, losing its protection, and will most likely be promptly squashed by the Elves.

 

The way i view it, its a shades-of-grey issue. The Stormcloaks want to maintain the Nordic identity, even if it means their end at the hands of the Domminion (For craps sake, this is starting to sound like a Star Trek DS9 arguement). The Empire, on the other hand, is trying to keep the peace and save lives in the long run. Its a matter of freedom versus survival. There is no right answer.

 

Personally, i'm more likely to side with the Empire. Elves have a terrible tendancy to fall to infighting in TES. The Domminion will doom its self eventually, particularly with the Altmer predilection for 'purity', which will create tension with the Bosmer.

 

That said, there is one quote which sealed the deal. The smith in Riverwood says "The Nords are not fair-weather allies'. The Empire has technicly fallen twice, and risen each time. It will do so again.

[Dambuster]

There is a book in the Thalmor embassy which describes Ulfric as an asset who is now considered dormant but was once of much use to the thalmors - this sends me towards the empire.

[Dambuster]

Though it does also say that if Skyrim was to fall into the hands of the Stormcloaks it would not be desirable.

[Aurielius]

I would like to thank all the above poster for enlightening me as to the side that they favor because after only a few days in and I have no clue as to who to side with, or what trip wire will put me on what side. In Morrowind I was anti Imperialist and in Oblivion a pro Imperialist, given the start in Skyrim being even more draconian than Morrowind my inclination was to side with the rebels. Now though informed, i am even more unsure what is the honorable course. :confused:

[lukertin]

Those Imperial bastards tried to kill me for no reason, without so much as a trial, why would I ever want to side with them? Edited November 16, 2011 by lukertin

[KingFrostman]

The way i see it. If Skyrim goes independent. the Empire will completely collapse. All the human provinces will be divided. When that happens the dominion will get ambitions. If you ask me, as a Redguard, even though the Empire abandoned us, I'd rather be under human rule then under elven rule.