Poll: Empire or Stormcloak?

[Sleepy Sol]

I'm playing as an Argonian, so you bet your ass I chose the Empire. As for reasoning, I chose them because I think a united Skyrim under the Empire will fare much better against the Aldmeri Dominion than Ulfric's apparent vision of what Skyrim should be. The whole racism thing doesn't exactly win me over either.

 

[Phlakes]

I went with the Stormcloaks, but I accidentally made tons of friends in Solitude, including the Jarl and the court, and I wish I didn't have to betray them.

I had Ulfric leave me out of his speech because I felt terrible.

 

[TheDrunkNinja]

Actually, Ulfric Stormcloak doesn't 'attack Whiterun for no reason.'

Whiterun is in the middle of Skyrim, and a buffer between the East (which has solidly pro-Imperial Jarls) and the West (which has solidly pro-Stormcloak Jarls.) The other holds aren't 'stepping stones to Solitude', they're Jarls who support the widow for the office of High King. With the land so evenly divided, the Moot to determine High King would be at a standstill, meaning actual war is inevitable. And Skyrim NEEDS a High King at a time when OH GOD DRAGONS EVERYWHERE.

So, Ulfric approached the one Jarl who was the swing vote with the offering of his axe, essentially forcing the one fence-sitter to choose: Keep the Axe, meaning he's willing to fight for Ulfric, or return the axe, meaning they are not allied.

Whiterun doesn't get attacked for no reason; it gets attacked because doing so leads to the end of civil war.

Remember, Ulfric challenged the High King according to Nordic law, and the king accepted the challenge, and his reasons are just; Skyrim needs strong leadership, and the High King was not strong leadership.

Alright, young Stormcloak, let me be more clear in my meaning:

"It was around the time where he mentioned attacking Whiterun without provocation that I began questioning everything."

And a king who extends only absolutism to his followers is never a strong leader.

Also, Ulfric's murder of the High King never struck me as a wrong action considering all the underlying issues. What did bother me, however, was the fact that he used the incredible power of the Thu'ume for something so petty as a political assassination. I don't believe he would use any given power responsibly if he so readily misuses possibly one of the greatest powers offered to him. It doesn't matter if it was to "send a message", if anything that makes it worse.

 

[Codeman90]

The empire tried to cut me head off despite having no clue who I was. Hell I could have just been walking by when they took me hostage for no reason and then decided to execute me despite not being convicted of any crime.

Take a wild guess who I sided with. I also make it my goal to murder Imperials and Thalmor on site. I hate both groups for different reasons. Siding with the Empire after the intro would just be ridiculous.

 

[DarkRyter]

And if there is anyone to blame for this is fucking Martin, really dude you couldn't have gotten married. I mean who would want to marry a fucking emperor!?!

He could have at least taken a page from his dad's book and checked if any of those blades were interested in taking their duty to guard the Septim bloodline to the next level.

Wait, I never said any of that.

 

[DracoSuave]

Also, Ulfric's murder of the High King never struck me as a wrong action considering all the underlying issues. What did bother me, however, was the fact that he used the incredible power of the Thu'ume for something so petty as a political assassination.

The Thu'um he used was nothing so powerful as as firey breath... it was the force shout. He didn't kill the king with the shout, he knocked the king back so he could perform the killing blow.

And usurping a weak king so that your country can eventually stand against foreign agression under strong leadership is hardly a petty act.

I don't believe he would use any given power responsibly if he so readily misuses possibly one of the greatest powers offered to him. It doesn't matter if it was to "send a message", if anything that makes it worse.

The problem is the destruction of their culture by foreign interests. Rebellion in that case is justified, and Ulfric using the shout is no different than wizards casting their spells... it's a power he has, he used it, and it showed the High King as too weak to rule a country that's supposed to carry the warrior tradition.

That's another important detail: Skyrim IS a warrior culture, but the High King was not a warrior. The moment that sealed it for me was when the guard that let Ulfric go got decapitated. The guard was obeying Nordic law. The people in the court even admit it; Ulfric, by issuing his challenge in court and the High King accepted, made the kill legal, and nothing they can do about it. And yet they killed the guard for doing the exact same nothing that all the Thanes present did... letting Ulfric go.

 

[winginson]

Neither, I hate both of them. I wanna go back to blackmarsh.

The empire is now rubbish, only the nordic supporters of it are ok and they tried to execute me just for existing.
The stormcloaks are racist, their leader is a douche, and they wreck whiterun.

The only faction I like is whiterun. I want to help jarl whiterun take over skyrim.

I like the dragons too but they try to eat me.

 

[Ascarus]

I am going with Stormcloaks on my first playthrough then Empire on my second. Of course, I'm picking a rogue on the second run and am going to be all evil and stuff. First time I'm goody goody.

this is exactly what i was going to do.

GET OUT OF MY MIND!

 

[pffh]

To all the people that keep saying that the empire wanted to execute you for no reason think about the circumstances of your capture. You were captured by an ambush set for Ulfric so of course they'll assume you're with him and can't take any chances by simply letting you go otherwise they would have to let every idiot that's allied with the stormcloaks but not famous enough to be on the wanted list go when captured.

 

[Darth_Dude]

But his blood worked for the ritual in Oblivion. They needed the blood of a divine, they used the blood of Tiber Septim, and it worked.

Also, if I recall correctly it was kind of hinted that Wulf, a guy who appears and gives you a lucky coin in Morrowind, was supposed to be a manifestation of him.

Oh and in the Knights of the Nine you use Talos' blessing to follow Umaril's spirit after you beat him the first time. I believe that someone mentions that's something Pelinal Whitestrake lacked when he first fought Umaril and that's why he didn't managed to actually kill him.

Also, his shrine does work like the others. Despite what I'm sure is a glitch where it gives me a 0% bonus -__-

]But Oblivion does. Martin needed the power of the Nine to complete his gate to Paradise. And he used a relic of Talos.
Not to mention the blessings Talos grants his worshippers in the games.

Well, having totally proven wrong on this point, I accept defeat.

However, The Empire is just buying time with their treaty, if they win the next war with the Thalmor, worship of Talos will most likely be reinstated.

 

[Cetaciane]

I don't know the lore of the past games and I have'nt decided on Empire or Stormcloaks yet. I kinda want to rule the planet myself

I was suprised to find an active Thalmor fortress in the north west. I would have thought the Empire would have been a bit pissed about it! I doubt the SCs would have tolerated it.

 

[WolfThomas]

I'm likely choosing Stormcloaks, even though I'm an Imperial, motivation wise I think the Empire is too weak. People talk about them standing agains the Aldmeri Dominion, but they aren't, they're capitulating again and again. The banning of Talos worship within their own borders and the disbandment of the blades are signs that the Emperor has lost his way. He's not a Septim anyway, just a Colovian warlord.

I'm going to secure the Nords under Ulfric as a nation and then in my mind use Ulfric's support to make my character Emperor, surely I must be a descendant of Septim, I am a Dragonborn Imperial.

 

[Nooh]

I am really torn with this, haven't been able to pick a side for the simple fact that the Empire is willing to give up the freedoms of the people in Skyrim for their own gain, they are willing to barter with innocent lives because it fits their big picture, mostly ruled by nobles or "milk-drinkers".

However, while the Stormcloaks have a noble goal, they are deluded and aggressive. They are not shy of resorting to excessive force towards their own kin who disagree with them and they are not afraid of calling other races (especially elves) filth and rid them of their human rights. Their battle to make Skyrim independent, to let the people take their own decisions for their own best interests instead of letting rich politicians, who don't care for them, rule their lives is inspiring.

So, the Empire is good for the "smaller" issues, they are not racists for one.

The Stormcloaks are good for the "bigger" issues, they care about their own people and their own fate.

 

[ImperialSunlight]

I went with the stormcloaks for my warrior character. I don't really mind their methods because the empire are a bunch of dicks. Trying to kill me and all... Death to the Empire! Hail the true sons and daughters of Skyrim! >

 

[Free Thinker]

I was Stormcloak until I actually talked to the NPCs in Windhelm. The Stromcloaks are racist bastards. Making the Dunmer live in slums, ignoring crimes against anyone but Nords, etc. So, I'm Imperial Legion now after actually listening to NPCs.

 

[Vegosiux]

I get this feeling that Stormcloaks are more a "fight the power" and "stick it to the man" choice that may not necessarily be completely rational or conscious. At least that's the vibe I'm getting. Not saying anything against it, it's just an interesting trend to see.

I ultimately decided to hear both sides of the story first. Then, if I had my way, I'd usurp the Legion command, pull it out of Skyrim and let Ulfric and his Stomrcloaks deal with the Thalmor on their own. Then see how long until they come crying for help because big words and chest-beating won't do much against those smug and pretentious elves. And even if they win they're going to have a rebellion of their own at their hands when every non-Nord gets fed up with the fascist oppression.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

I went with the stormcloaks for my warrior character. I don't really mind their methods because the empire are a bunch of dicks. Trying to kill me and all... Death to the Empire! Hail the true sons and daughters of Skyrim! >

All that "true" Nord nonsense really pushed me away from the rebellion. Were your parents Nords? Congratulations, you're a Nord. That "true" stuff reeks of nationalism and No True Scotsman.

 

[King of the Sandbox]

I haven't really chosen either yet (50+ hours in). In fact, I'm still on the main mission where you're supposed to go find a horn or something for the Greybeards. But on the way, I looked out at Skyrim, saw some ruins, and was like, eff that, time fo' explorin'.

Although the way my people (Dunmer) are treated in the Stormcloak's home town is kind of turning me against them, but only a little. I still have no desire to join the Empire that nearly had me beheaded.

 

[Bobbity]

Empire.
Before the game came out, I was completely and utterly taken with the Stormcloaks. During Helgen, I ran off the with Stormcloak guy, and I really liked him. I put off the civil war until after the main quest, but by then my perspective had started to shift. Ulfric is a real dick, and the Empire is not the tool of the Thalmor they're made out to be.

Although I can't find it, there's a book in-game that describes the Great War between the Thalmor and the Empire, and it lets you see things very differently. The Emperor Titus Mede, who seems more than merely competent, drove back the Thalmor, but was forced into the treaty as a means by which he might gather his strength to throw back the invaders. The terms were harsh, yes, but necessary. Furthermore, Ulfric's rebellion does nothing more than weaken the Empire's front against the Dominion, which is hardly positive.

Although I mean to finish the last couple of Winterhold quests before I dive into the civil war, rest assured that I mean to choose the Empire.

That said, I might be kind of biased. The Roman Emperor Titus was a great guy, and I've just finished studying the Empire's fall. I have no desire to plunge Cyrodil into the same era of darkness that we experienced.

 

[Smeggs]

Empire.

I can see where the Stormcloaks are coming from, but the fact they all seem to be a bunch of racist bastards turned me off of them.

The Empire may be run by some ignorant assholes, but it wasn't the Empire who started the war, and most people I've spoken to in-game seem like they liked the Empire because they had been keeping the peace for the most part.