Skyrim: Imperial Legion or Stormcloacks

[KaveX]

I've been trying to decide which faction I should join - the Imperial Legion or the Stormcloaks.

The whole time I've been playing Skyrim I have been plagued by this choice. If you asked me which one I like better I wouldn't be able to say. The Legion keeps order in the empire and protects them.. But now they have become Thalmor bootlickers and are a fraction of what they used to be. The Stormcloaks want to free Skyrim from the Imperial Legion but they seem only to care for Nords. They have little to no love for Elves, Argonians, or Khajiit. Also Ulfric seems to want the throne for personal gain.

Any help on the choice and opinions as to why?

*possible spoiler*

Is it true that Solitude is destroyed if you back the Stormcloaks?

 

[Tsuyu]

No Hold is ever destroyed. All that happens is that the Jarl gets replaced and the guards change to either Imperial Soldiers or Stormcloak Soldiers.

 

[Arseface]

Imperial all the way. The Stormcloaks want to seceed because of the ban on Talos worship, but they forget that it's Talos's empire that they're turning their backs on. They also don't realise that the Thalmor will be a lot more of a threat to Skyrim without the Empire's support. Plus Ulfric only wants the throne for personal gain.

 

[Tsuyu]

200 years have passed since Oblivion and The Empire has only gotten worse. I'd imagine that counting back from the time when Talos founded it, it has gotten a lot worse.

 

[Zarkes]

It doesn't matter either way you are playing into the Thalmor's plans, so it is personnel choice. The stormcloaks want Skyrim for the Nords alone and view all other races as sub-outsiders. The legion just wants to restore order and hold on to their assets like the Reach mines.


I chose the Stormcloaks just to rebel.


But like I said in the end it doesn't matter, you are just setting Skyrim up for Thalmor control.

 

[Tsuyu]

The Empire is indeed screwed either way.

You side with The Legion - The Altmeri Dominion will attack.

You side with The Stormcloaks - The Altmeri Dominion will attack.

 

[Zarkes]

The Empire is indeed screwed either way.

You side with The Legion - The Altmeri Dominion will attack.

You side with The Stormcloaks - The Altmeri Dominion will attack.

So it comes down to something like this, side with the legion for an important ally when the **** hits the fan, or decide it has become to weak and infected and cut it off so at least Skyrim will have a chance in the end.

 

[Tsuyu]

And I personally believe that going back to the old ways under The Stormcloaks is the better choice. After all, look at what happened to the last bunch of elves that messed with the Nords; they were driven underground and forced to live out a Gollum-eqsue existence.

 

[Arseface]

200 years have passed since Oblivion and The Empire has only gotten worse. I'd imagine that counting back from the time when Talos founded it, it has gotten a lot worse.

It's still his Empire. And besides, like Hadvar says: "What the rebels like to forget is that the Empire is the only thing keeping the Dominion out of Skyrim."

It's both the right, AND the most practical choice.

Also, haven't finished half of the main quest yet so if you're going to spoil please use the white font.

 

[Angel]

I belted through the main quest without really paying much attention to the politics involved - all I know is, someone was trying to chop my head off at the beginning for no reason whatsoever and that person was Imperial. So I sided with the Stormcloaks - but after speaking with various NPC's, they all seem to complain that the Nords are the only ones getting any improvement in their lives thanks to the takeover so I might back the imperials next time around, if only for a different experience.

To be honest, it took me about four playthroughs of Oblivion to understand the story of that one - I'm a little on the stupid side so this plotline might just take me longer to figure out.

 

[Tsuyu]

It's still his Empire. And besides, like Hadvar says: "What the rebels like to forget is that the Empire is the only thing keeping the Dominion out of Skyrim."
It's both the right, AND the most practical choice.

Also, haven't finished half of the main quest yet so if you're going to spoil please use the white font.

The Altmeri Dominion is already in The Empire and Skyrim and have a lot of influence. They are not kept out at all, The Empire is their b*tch. You may not have done the main quest(s) in their Embassy yet, but when you do make sure to have a nice little chit-chat with their Ambassador. Real eye-opener.

 

[Arseface]

The Altmeri Dominion is already in The Empire and Skyrim and have a lot of influence. They are not kept out at all, The Empire is their b*tch. You may not have done the main quest(s) in their Embassy yet, but when you do make sure to have a nice little chit-chat with their Ambassador. Real eye-opener.

Alright. What would you have done then if you were the Emperor.

Option 1

Keep the war going, and lose all territory to the Dominion, effectively returning to the Ayleid era human slavery kinda thing.

Option 2

Try to broker some kind of peace agreement, to at least buy some time to replenish your army, even if it means banning something imortant like Talos worship.

 

[Tsuyu]

As I said, it is not peace. It is temporary ceasefire. All in all, The Empire isn't worthy of Skyrim.

 

[HeroOfCrapsalot]

Stormcloak. 'Nuff said.

 

[Arseface]

As I said, it is not peace. It is temporary ceasefire. All in all, The Empire isn't worthy of Skyrim.

It's lasted thirty years dude. Not exactly unstable, is it?

And tell me what you would have done if you were Titus Mede II.

 

[Tsuyu]

Probably sacrifice Skyrim like he did.

Does the fact that I would've done the same make it right?

Nope.

 

[Angel]

Just decided it doesn't matter anymore since I killed the emperor last night. Sucks to be him. Didn't even argue with me either...

 

[Tsuyu]

There's always an uncle or brother or cat to take his place, I reckon.

 

[Zarkes]

The moral of the story is that Elves are bad asses.

 

[Arseface]

Probably sacrifice Skyrim like he did.

Does the fact that I would've done the same make it right?

Nope.

But the point is that he didn't really have a choice. And how is he sacrificing Skyrim?