LE Alternative to Empire vs Stormcloaks? A better faction?

[Nick_Jin]

As cool as the graphics are, I have felt repeatedly disappointed by the cynically gray quest-line.

 

Empire? I cant bring myself to support any empire out of principle, no-matter how "progressive" they claim to be. Thats like thinking the UN should invade every country with human rights problems while inflicting their own in the process.

 

The Stormcloaks? I went into this thinking how cool it would be to support a rebel faction until I realized they were fascists in their own right. I admire the determinism, agree they should have their autonomy, but their racism digusts me.

 

As a consequence I have zero interest in pursuing this quest line for lack of empathy with either cause.

 

What about the thieves guild?

I loved being a thief for the gray fox. Being a petty thief who hurts the common people? Not so much. Even if there was just a LITTLE bit of class consciousness inside the guild, some disdain for the Jarls and wealthy elite, I would be able to stomach the quest-line, but now I refuse to play one of my previously favorite guilds from the last 3 in the series.

 

Dark Brotherhood I still enjoy, but only because I have no illusions about being Robinhood when I play that quest line.

 

 

 

Back to the OP though, I really wish there was a third alternative to the Stormcloaks vs Imperials. Something that was not so racist and 'for the people' at the same time.

 

I was thinking that maybe Skyrim, who is without a king, starts to realize that royalty is just an arbitrary title. Instead of a single King they can be a federation of self governing principalities. Perhaps taking some historical themes from the Spanish Civil War where a fascist upstart attempts to overthrow a left-liberal elected government, and suddenly a band of revolutionary Syndicalists become the populist resistance. The form a movement that respects order but not rulers, democracy from the bottom up.

 

Perhaps this could be a side quest that is tied into 'the Companions'?

 

 

I have talked about this a bit, on facebook and such, and there are a LOT of people who feel this way....where they dont want to choose between US-style Imperialism but nor do they want to support a Nazi as the alternative....Isnt there a third way to bring back the Dark Elves without subjugating all of Skyrim to the Empire?

 

Maybe it would entail a series of quests where you convince all the towns, one by one, to drop support for both the empire and Stormcloaks and adopt a new model of self government.

 

 

PS: Are there any good apps for less horrible computer generated voices? Is real voice acting the only way?

[behughes]

Just saw your post in my other thread as I was working on responding to yours!

 

I agree with you that both factions are imperfect. I was very tempted to pick a side, but role-played as a foreigner who was reluctant to get involved. I was initially inclined towards the Stormcloaks, because I'm all for individual freedom. But like you, I was a bit disgusted at their anti-progressive, xenophobic ways. Its like the way to send the Nords back to the stone age and kick everyone with an Elf in their family tree out to of the province. The Imperials would be worthy of my allegiance, if they weren't a decaying bureaucracy ruled by a weak-necked milk-drinker.

 

Some of the mods I'm working on, the Main Quest Overhaul which you saw, as well as The Way of the Voice (http://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?/topic/636434-the-way-of-the-voice/) are going to try to address the Civil War story and give more options. I was thinking of adding dialogue branches that allow the player to express more moderate views, and possible attempt to sway the factions to make compromises that could lead to lasting peace. Maybe a third party option wouldn't be a bad idea though. Any specifics on what kind of new political party(s) you would want to see? What do they believe in, who would support them, etc.?