Stormcloaks vs. Imperials - is one better?

[Rich Mahogany]

Is one more "canon" than the other so to speak. I get the feeling one is the storyline the game was meant to be, and the other one would be much duller. What are the pros and cons of joining each?

[NarrackUK🚲🐙🐔💄]

There both the same tbh game play wise, Lorewise ive always felt the Imperials are better as ulfric treats the non nord races badly with him letting them get killed without trying to help.

The imperials are more like the old roman empire, sure you wouldn't want to get anexed by them but if your already part of the empire so long and you dont rock the boat and pay your taxes they do try to keep everybody safe and treat all the races equally.

Or in short if your not playing a nord siding with the stormcloaks (lorewise) basicly setting your own death sentence.

[Crowkeeper]

Originally posted by Jack Hoff:

Is one more "canon" than the other so to speak. I get the feeling one is the storyline the game was meant to be, and the other one would be much duller. What are the pros and cons of joining each?

The Imperials are the only way to go IMO. If the stormcloaks won then there would be nothing stopping the Aldmeri Dominion from invading Skyrim. Ulfric and the rest of the Stormcloaks are morons.

[diaskeaus]

I went with Stormcloaks, begrudgingly. My character doesn't know the future and at the time most definitely didn't know about the Thalmor's plans. But the Thalmor make a big show of capturing Talos worshippers and then turning them into slaves, then parading them along public highways and killing or threatening onlookers when they look confused about why the slavers are dragging Nords from their villages in chains. Plus, when you actually tell the Thalmor you think people should be able to worship who they want, they try to kill the slave they captured (as well as you).

The Stormcloaks may be racists, but they aren't making slaves of people who disagree with them. However, the Imperials (and by proxy, those in Skyrim who are going along with the Empire, mostly because they want to keep their cushy lives and big houses) have basically agreed to the practice, even though in almost every Elder Scrolls game the PC has been tasked with fighting against the evils of slavery.

And before anyone forgets, while the Stormcloaks are racists, some of the most important Nord domains became famous only after a diversity of cultures and races came to inhabit them (such as Winterhold and Windhelm), even if they are currently suffering under incredible recession and poverty.

But the bigger reason, for my character, is because were it not for the dragon who attacked Helgen, the Imperials were going to CUT OFF MY HEAD. The fact they were taking me to Helgen in the same wagon as the dude who basically almost became the king of Skyrim means that I must have done something to really make the Imperials angry. That tells me that I probably did something against the Thalmor, and the most convenient way of getting rid of me was taking me to some godforsaken part of the world currently in political turmoil and ending my life quietly without causing a huge stir, also a great way to get rid of an usurping king with dragon powers before he could amass a formidable army.

Honestly, I think canon is meant for the player to side with the Stormcloaks and push the Imperials out, because I believe the next Elder Scrolls game is going to be about a prisoner suffering under the evil elves, starting a revolution somewhere in the Dominion, after their brutal takeover of Tamriel (all thanks to the Stormcloak rebellion, which allowed them to capture Skyrim). That seems very Bethesda.

[mickydickybob]

Imperial armour sells for more, you can change factions at about 1/3 point, and re-arrange the Jarls and the council.

[Darkwave Dahlia]

After I did my playthrough 2011, I never played the game for the story; always had the "Life another Live" mod running.

Which one is better? Can't say; I let them both kill each other; I'm staying away from fights and use my bow ...

[Andromalius]

The Thalmor don't want the Empire in control of Skyrim, and Tiber Septim (Talos) founded the empire. It just seems right that if you were to side with anyone it would be the Empire.

[Mr. Whiskers]

SKYRIM BELONGS TO THE NORDS

[Zef]

Talmor hate the nords and would love to see i go independent to further fracture the empire.


Thus empire

[Mr. Whiskers]

Originally posted by Caelistas:

Talmor hate the nords and would love to see i go independent to further fracture the empire.


Thus empire

The Thalmor say they don't want the Nords to win the war, actually.

[SpeedFreak1972]

sigh this has been debatet in countless threads since 2011

[-CFL- Danzy HnU]

Do love to see people so passionate about the game. :)

[Sol]

if you have already played previously you can also use the Jarls as a factor in your choice, since each side has a perferred character to become Jarl for their side if a hold changes sides.

Imperials unfortunatly put Maven into the Riften Jarldom, but i tend to prefer many of the Imperal Jarls in the other holds over the stormcloak canidates,

Plus i hate deposing the Jarl of Whiterun.

[SpeedFreak1972]

well sidgeir isn't that great either ....

[Tavman (4)]

Originally posted by SpeedFreak1972:

well sidgeir isn't that great either ....

But nothing tops Maven Black-Briar as the worst jarl for Skyrim.

[Raga]

It is about cultural and religion freedom of the single province/country/state in the aspect of external threat.

Would be okay to force universal law/culture/relligion by the US government for every state on the pretext of the external threat?
Would be okay to force universal law/culture/relligion by the EU for every country in the union on the pretext of the external threat?

There are many examples of uprrisings in the History caused by the forcing of external influence culture/relligion/law/government.

I am sure that noone understands what an annexation is for the common people if their country was never annexed.

That is why I can fully understand why there is so much hate for the Imperials and "converted Nords" in Skyrim.
Stormcloaks prefer to fight for their freedom even if they may die trying - many real historical examples.

I agree with the Jarl Dengeir of Stuhn:
"Some people believe Ulfric to be the devil, but at least he's the devil I know."
He also prefers the Skyrim to be ruled by someone who knows their culture and peple and not by the Emperor who is "so far away he might as well be on one of the moons."

But... “History is written by the victors.”

So the player writes the history and whoever he/she chooses the ones are right in the end.