Empire or Stormcloaks? - possible minor spoilers

TAKR86 · Post by **TAKR86** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 3:24 am

So I've been play for while now and I'm thinking about joining one of the factions vying for control of Skyrim. I'm playing a Nord and he is mad as hell about the banning of Talos worship and the presence of plotting Thalmor agents in Skyrim so visibly influencing the empire.

The Stormcloaks fight for Skyrim's freedom both political, cultural and religous. I like them, but here is my dilemma: Skyrim breaking away from the empire might actually end up weakening it to the point where the Thalmor can easily destroy it, which would lead to a Thalmor hegemony over all of Tamriel, which would counteract much of what the Stormcloaks are fighting for. Further some members among the Stormcloaks have tendencies towards bigotry which i dislike.
Also (Possible spoiler) I found an interesting missive in the Thalmor embassy about Ulfric Stormcloak being a dormant asset, that no longer heeds their counsel, but was previously under their influence and might be again if approached at the right time.

What do you think my nord character should do join the empire or the Stormcloaks and why? Who are you joining in your first playthrough?

Curry · Post by **Curry** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 6:03 am

It doesn't matter because all the quests are just "go clear fort [name] for faction [name]" and then one bigger battle in the end of the quest chain.

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 7:22 am

Based on what you say, the real danger to freedom is Thalmor. Which means you join the Empire - at least in the short term.

TAKR86 · Post by **TAKR86** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 7:29 am

Curry wrote:It doesn't matter because all the quests are just "go clear fort [name] for faction [name]" and then one bigger battle in the end of the quest chain.

It matters if you're roleplaying and trying to decide how you'll influence events in Skyrim and the rest of Tamriel even if it is beyond the scope of this game.

Dummy · Post by **Dummy** » Mon Nov 21, 2011 10:56 am

TAKR86 wrote:It matters if you're roleplaying and trying to decide how you'll influence events in Skyrim and the rest of Tamriel even if it is beyond the scope of this game.

it sure does, but the question also would be, is your character so wise to think about politics like that?

if he is a little straight forward, he would probably go for the cloaks, otherwise imperials

is he an realist or optimist?
it is a very deep question where we probably can not give you a definit answer since we dont "know" your char

Ares2382 · Post by **Ares2382** » Mon Nov 21, 2011 1:48 pm

As my mother always says. You deal with the problem on hand and worry about tomorrow's problems tomorrow.

If freedom is what you want, then that is what you fight for. Join the Stormcloaks and fight the Empire. Worry about Thalmor later.

TAKR86 · Post by **TAKR86** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 1:54 am

While my character is not short-sided he truly believes that the empire failed its people and especially Skyrim after the Grear War. Freedom is what he wants, but he fears the Thalmor's growing influence across Tamriel. I guess I'll be going with the Stormcloaks (even though Ulfric's behaviour was outragously far out during the "Season Unending" quest in the main storyline), because that means freedom and throwing the Thalmor out of Skyrim (at least for now).

I really hope we'll see more of the Thalmor in the coming dlc and in the future elder scrolls games. They are very interesting and make for excellent devious antagonists for human-kind, but then again if you're an elf they represent a possible return to the old days of elven hegemony in Tamriel.

Lazigothi · Post by **Lazigothi** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 3:53 pm

I feel that both sides intentionally have colorful reasons to both side for and against. It's a nice change not to see sides that are rigid, diametrically opposed schisms. Both sides want what's best, and many supporters want what's best.
So, option one is to just choose the side that feels more interesting to your character. Pay attention to the dialogue you can overhear from various cities.
Maybe the Stormcloaks would be the valorous side despite the negatives because the "it's better to die on your feet than to live on your knees" sentiment. Maybe faith enough in Talos will grant victory in the end.

Option two that I might suggest would be to completely ignore both sides and try just following the Blade's questline. That way while the Stormcloaks and Milk Drinkers are fighting each other, you get to discover the real enemy.

Dummy · Post by **Dummy** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 12:27 pm

Okay have fun with the Cloaks then

Imho those kind of decisions are what make games great,
i myself play a redguard right now and usually my character would have gone with the cloaks for sure, but they are just racist so i went to solitude and checked the imperials out and joined them

TAKR86 · Post by **TAKR86** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 3:10 am

Yes the racism of many of the Stormcloaks including Ulfric is one of the reasons I initially couldn't just decide to join them immediately. My character diagrees with the Cloaks' bigotry, but believes in their cause for freedom from an empire that failed them. I therefore join them, but do what I can through quests to help the dunmer in Windhelm and Riften, so their lives will improve...

Yep these kinds of decisions are part of what makes it all such great fun.

And know I can't wait to make a character who'll side with the imperials and be based out of Solitude (a city I rarely visit). I can't decide if he is going to be an imperial sympathiser Nord or an Imperial, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Nastypoet · Post by **Nastypoet** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 10:09 am

Im still divided between both of them. The treatment in Windhelm has pissed me off being a dark elf and walkign into town seeing confrentation between one of my fellow dark elfs enraged me. Its going to come down to the treatment across the other towns throughout Skyrim. On a side note, some of these nords are racist. Def a good touch.

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 7:17 pm

Yeah... lots of racism on all sides, and really nothing whatsoever to do with being Imperials or Stormcloaks - it's just endemic between all the races, seems to me, just like in RL. So I ignore it, pretty much. My girl is a dark elf, and has no intention at present of joining either Imperials (who wanted to behead her) or the Stormclocks, who don't seem very intelligent. Besides, she doesn't like Ulfric.

Dungeon crawling to make money is what she is about at the moment. The Blades are in her picture, though; not sure how that'll work out. She killed a newly raised dragon for 'em, but hasn't gone back to 'em yet. To busy! :laugh:

Rancid Sushi · Post by **Rancid Sushi** » Mon Feb 20, 2012 1:20 am

I think the idea that the Thalmor would conquer Skyrim under the Stormcloaks is rather baseless. Military superiority will amount to basically nil if the Thalmor can't force a decisive battle with the Nords. Ulfric could employ his usual guerilla tactics while enacting a scorched earth policy, which would severely hamper Thalmor logistics given the distance between Skyrim and Summerset. Anyone remember Napoleon's invasion of Russia? I imagine that would be the situation for the Thalmor. An invasion of Skyrim would cost a lot more than it would be worth and would probably end in failure anyway after years of chasing around elusive foes through the miserable cold and burning farmland.

Enwah · Post by **Enwah** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 9:02 pm

Rancid Sushi wrote:I think the idea that the Thalmor would conquer Skyrim under the Stormcloaks is rather baseless. Military superiority will amount to basically nil if the Thalmor can't force a decisive battle with the Nords. Ulfric could employ his usual guerilla tactics while enacting a scorched earth policy, which would severely hamper Thalmor logistics given the distance between Skyrim and Summerset. Anyone remember Napoleon's invasion of Russia? I imagine that would be the situation for the Thalmor. An invasion of Skyrim would cost a lot more than it would be worth and would probably end in failure anyway after years of chasing around elusive foes through the miserable cold and burning farmland.

sounds like Afghanistan.

Rancid Sushi · Post by **Rancid Sushi** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 3:41 am

It would be worse than that because Skyrim is wealthy, unlike Afghanistan which has always been dirt poor.

Nastypoet · Post by **Nastypoet** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 8:56 am

I look at it more like the thalmor is the USA involving itself in the war. they are in it for themself, not really caring about Skyrim. I choose my allegiance to the imperials, the long lost decendant of the great BoneZ, the unnamed prisoner which helped in the oblivion crisis as described through the books, as well as the previous game. During the boarder crossing, my assisnation attempts were unknown, due to my orders coming from Imperial City itself, hence the reason there was no referrence to my name on the clip board at the inital beheading. I was nearly there till that F'ing horse thief ruined it all for, me. Now I'm taking my fight to the Stormcloaks and F them....

Im A Dark ElF that will Burn Ulfirc Stormcloak
Long live the empire,

Until i start a Nord 2 handed character lol

geek goddess · Post by **geek goddess** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 6:23 pm

leaning towards empire

I chose to play a female Nord. I didn't want to chose sides when I started, but seeing as the Empire wanted my pretty little head at first level I was leaning towards Stormcloaks. I have become Mistress of the thieves guild in Riften and the Dark Brotherhood. I intended to be truly good and heroic, but my path has lead me over and over again to commit murder and treachery. I have become evil. Now I seek to become Empress and replace the feeble Emperor whose warm blood still stains my assassins gloves. It seems that for the mighty Dragonborn, morality is but a luxury.

Does anyone know if it's possible to take over the Empire once you've completed that story line, as you can with Nightingale and Dark Brotherhood story lines?

Chiawei · Post by **Chiawei** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 12:36 pm

Hi, here is how I play it.
I play a bosmer (wood elf), who joined the Imperial for fighting Ulfric, so I can unite Skyrim. Then I want the Thalmor out of Skyrim, they are just big crybabies and trying to take back Tamriel, because they lost it to Talos, a Nord. No wonder they are trying to ban the worship of Talos. On my way, I try to work on connections to ALL the Jarls, so I can become the High King of Skyrim.

Then, the biggest quest, the dragons. I'll save that one to last. Going to be FUN!!!

Chiawei · Post by **Chiawei** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 12:42 pm

After I kill Ulfric, I will call a Moot (a gathering of Jarls), so I can probably affect them to make me High King. I have to become a Thane (member of the Jarl court) in every Jarlhood first. A lot of work has to be done. Right now, I'm Thane in Riften, Solitude and Whiterun.

Rancid Sushi · Post by **Rancid Sushi** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 3:17 pm

Becoming High King would make for an interesting mod. A non-Nord would have to be a legendary hero beloved by all in order to gain that title though.