Stormcloaks are too mainstream.

[Rtoip]

I haven't done any missions for either of them yet, but I will go with the Imperials.
Outside of getting revenge because of one jerkass officer who dies anyway I don't see any reason why I should join the nationalistic, racist rebels. Especially because I tend to play non-human races and Dunmer in particular.
Really, unless you play a Nord supremacist and/or specifically give your character some backstory about being persecuted by the empire (personally I tend not to think about it too much in cRPG especially like TES where there barely any opportunities to actually roleplay) or you're extremely vindictive there's no reason to join Stormcloaks.
At least that's what I think.

 

[Damon Youngker]

But you're making the very large assumption that the Empire WOULD break the treaty. They wouldn't. The Thalmar have already inserted themselves into the Empire, they have eliminated Imperial counter-agents(the blades) and therefore could pretty much off anyone they wanted to, without abandon. I mean, really, the Thalmar have the Empire in a vice grip, if the Emperor reneged on the treaty now, he would be dead within a week. The Dominion didn't just let the Empire chill while the treaty was going on, they enveloped it. They made sure that they had control. The Empire is already lost.

That said, Ulfric is a racist bastard. About the state of his cities though, more than likely, Windhelm has been besieged more than once, and as a guerrilla fighter, as a rebel, Ulfric wouldn't have much money at all.. in fact, it's a fantastic argument FOR him, that he's still around; because he is clearly outnumbered, outmaged, and outmaneuvered. Normally in that situation, the rebels retreat into the hills (e.g. forsworn) and fight a running fight. He has somehow managed to hold on to multiple cities and villages against overwhelming force for quite a bit of time now. That's impressive.

 

[Slycne]

Concern yourself not with the petty squabbles of those who seek power through politics and strife. Stormcloak, Empire or Dominion, in the end it matters not. Their coin purses are all fat for the taking and someone will always require the services of the Dark Brotherhood regardless of who claims to own this or that land.

Slycne
Listener of the Dark Brotherhood, Nightingale Agent of Nocturne and Thieves' Guild Master.

You do know that it was the Dominion who more or less dismantled both the thieves guild and the Dark Brotherhood, right?

They are welcome to try in Skyrim.

Spoiler

I'd certainly think twice about challenging a group that's capable of sending a single agent completely undetected onto a ship full of elite guards and assassinating their leader.

 

[Tyrant T100]

As most people can associate with having their culture stolen through the EU, removal of US Amendments, mass immigration, political correctness ect.

 

[Puzzlenaut]

I only just realised...

Nationalistic political entity that hates all races except for the Nordic race overthrowing a foreign, imposed government?

Rise of the Nazis anyone?



OT: Stormcloaks get more support because its cool to be a rebel.

 

[Solo-Wing]

I'm kinda annoyed about Whiterun though...

Good! I wasn't the only one. When We took over White run I actually felt like shit. The Juel there showed nothing but Friendship for me, then I go with the Stormcloaks and run in to take him off of power. I felt so bad about that. It wasn't my fault though! I asked him which side he was on in the beginning, and he said he didn't care about the war! How was I to know he was on the imperial side!

 

[LemonFury]

I went for the Stormcloaks just because the asshole Captain said "Who cares? We got him here, just kill him anyways." I mean come on who does that?!

 

[Asmundr]

A couple days ago me and a couple friends had a talk about this.
Out of the three of us, one joined the Stormcloaks mainly because he hated the Imperials for trying to cut his head off. While we stated that yeah, it was a pretty big dick move on their part for just lumping in the Player with the Stormcloaks. We also pointed out that the Stormcloaks are pretty short sighted.

Ulfric and the Stormcloaks are Nord supremacists. While their grievances are understandable:
- The removal of Talos from the Nine Divines.
- The Empires allowance of the Thalmor to run free everywhere.
- Their fear of Nord traditions and culture being replaced by the more Imperial ways.
- Etc. (Though thats pretty much it for them honestly.)
In the end though they are blind to the threat the Aldmeri Dominion poses to them. Ulfric is only looking to secure power in Skyrim and probably doesn't have any idea on how to combat the Thalmor. Overall it's a bit to cliché: An Empire and a rag-tag bunch of Rebels.

But in the long run the conflict in Skyrim benefits the Thalmor more than anyone else.

Now, granted I joined the Mages College in Winterhold, the Bards College in Solitude and my Nord character worships Zenithar (the removal of Talos doesn't bother me in a bit...though it's odd saying "the Eight Divines") picking sides isn't on my to do list yet. I do have something against the Aldmeri Dominion and do not want to see them get the upper hand on either the Empire or Skyrim.

How the hell do you think the Aldmeri are going to invade Skyrim? I don't know if you've tried, but I suggest you consider how hard it is to leave Skyrim without being able to fly over mountains. Skyrim is incredibly, mind-blowingly easy to defend because every single entrance is a narrow mountain pass and this is a world where it is not only feasible but fairly easy to bathe a small area in magical fire that will kill most normal people on a constant basis.

Both sides (the Empire and Stormcloaks) would be to exhausted to combat the Dominion fully. Besides the Thalmor's magic makes up for a lot of their other deficiencies. Numbers as well when you can compare the population of Skyrim vs the population of all the holdings the Aldmeri Dominion currently has. An opponents geographic advantage means nothing if you can out think them. The Dominion can just whittle away the Nords bit by bit. That, coupled with some insidious methods (like having more conflicts break out in the region to weaken them further) and the Thalmor gain the upper hand easily.

I went for the Stormcloaks just because the asshole Captain said "Who cares? We got him here, just kill him anyways." I mean come on who does that?!

Someone who just doesn't care and wants results. She was probably just an Imperial Officer who got their position by brown-nosing. Think about, your captured along with Stormcloak rebels. Everyone gets executed. She can brag about it and look good for carrying out such a large execution of traitors to the Empire. If she let you go it would call into question that maybe others might have been innocent, thus making her look bad and calling into question her ability to command.

I honestly feel sorry for Hadvar and other legionaries like him. Having to sit by and watch things like that happen cause if he spoke out it could be construed as sympathy for the Stormcloaks. If fact, I wouldn't put it past that damn Captain considering...

 

[Booze Zombie]

The only thing going against The Empire is they tried to kill me, once and failed just slightly... also religious oppresion, but who cares about that? Oh wait, Talos...

As most people can associate with having their culture stolen through the EU, removal of US Amendments, mass immigration, political correctness ect.

LOL, that's called change and it happens. Most cultures endure over time, people just like ot make themselves busy thinking they're being "attacked", so boring is civilisation.

 

[Elsarild]

-Snip-

Sorry, but that was a bit too long to quote, but it was the OP, so.

But this is bascially the reason my first character joined the imperials, except, I didn't think so much about the state of Windhelm, but it is a valid point, but can be counter-argued that he has alot less resources to work with, and still has to try and outmatch the imperial forces.

But most importantly (to me) was the racism, I had been debating in my mind who to join, but first time entering Windhelm, and listning to those guys call out a Dunmer, only to try and beat me up for being a Bosmer? Then shit just got real!

 

[Elsarild]

True, but the Stormcloaks didn't try to execute you within the first 5 minutes of the game. Also, if you go deep enough into Imperial territory, you'll find the same problems. Markarth, for example looks like a sad and depressing stony town that is completely controlled by a single noble family. Everyone either works in the mines or is constantly being harassed by the Forsworn who will harass any trade you plan to do. (And before you say that the Silver-Bloods are mostly in support of the Storm-Cloaks, the Jarl still accepts Imperial rule.)

Both sides have some pretty bad ruling habits man.

The Jarl has accepted imperial rules, because Ulfric fucked shit up in the first place, he will even tell you that himself, Ulfric startet the uprising there.

 

[Tyrant T100]

The only thing going against The Empire is they tried to kill me, once and failed just slightly... also religious oppresion, but who cares about that? Oh wait, Talos...

As most people can associate with having their culture stolen through the EU, removal of US Amendments, mass immigration, political correctness ect.

LOL, that's called change and it happens. Most cultures endure over time, people just like ot make themselves busy thinking they're being "attacked", so boring is civilisation.

Genocide would be a better word for it.

 

[Outcast107]

*snip

Dude, the empire signed the treaty because their precious imperial city was getting raped.

As I said, the Empire had to bow to the Dominion because the Empire would have fallen to them if they hadn't.[/quote]

Actually, they could have fought them off just like hammerfell did when they were by themselves. I mean if hammerfell could get a stalemate against the Thalmor so can the Empire. But it seem a bit to late now since they got rid of so much of their strength. Mages guide, no talos, a thalmor outpost everywhere it seems.

 

[George Barrow]

personally I sided with the storm cloaks for a multitude of reasons
1. Played a Nord who is a bit of a patriot
2. I ran into the thalmor before i made a decision and i thought like an old guard of cyrodill
they ere criminal scum
3. I am dragon born dovakiin whom ever i but by lot in with shall win, I have slain gods, killed hundreds of dragons, can kill with a whisper and my sword has tasted the blood of all races and screams for the blood of the thalmor king

I am known by many names
Murderer
Assassin
Thief
Agent of Sithis
Godslayer
Stormcloak
Arch mage
Bard
Dragon born
Thane

But I am George
And I am DOVAKIIN

 

[Stammer]

I'm only with the Stormcloaks because I was following that one guy right at the start of the game. Now that I know I have an option I'm going to go with the Empire in my next playthrough.

 

[superdevildude85]

I found that in Skyrim, the two main factions are kinda under characterised. The stormcloaks, (who I assume are supposed to be the good guys) are Racist dickbags, alot of whom tried to kill my sexy high elf, and caught a severe case of death because of it, And the empire, whilst (I assume) are supposed to be the baddies, the only nasty imperial is that ***** captain who condemns you to death for no damn reason (She got burned too.) So for me, I prefer the Imperials, but I only realised that after I'd already fucking joined the damn stormcloaks.

Time for a new character, methinks.

 

[electric_warrior]

I always hated them and sided with the Empire. The rebels aren't always the good guys, in fact they rarely are.

 

[Fieldy409_v1legacy]

But I've yet to see the stormcloaks carry out an execution. Especially for such petty reasons the empire do them for! This is not the good old empire, this is something perverse and tyrannical. I might not agree with everything ulfric says, but I hate this new empire.

 

[captaincabbage]

Dude, I agree wholeheartedly, as does my girlfriend. All of the points culminate for us in joining the imperial legion. Yes they tried to cut your head off, but it was just an honest mistake.

There is absolutely no reason why Skyrim should succeed from the empire, aside from weakening it greatly. Not to mention being called a "thieving greenskin" all the time (I'm an Orc) is annoying as fuck and they're essentially just a bunch of racist KKK pricks.

Also, holy shit I'm not the only one who thought Windhelm was a shithole!?!

 

[megaraccoon]

i went stormcloak for these reasons:
1. even if they are rascist it doesn't matter cuz i cant expect anyone to "accept" forigners and the fact they dont kill e'm on sight shows they at least tolerate them.
2. the empire is a dead duck especially after you (spoiler) kill the emperor as the dark brotherhood let alone its alienation of its allies in hammerfell (redgaurds)
3. the stormcloaks wont compromise thier beliefs even with the threat of destruction showing that they have actual dedication to thier faith and morals (however much you may disagree with those morals)
4. sure its a slum now but it can get better with proper management visavi yours truly
5. sure they haven't done anything about the thieves guild but niether did the lord of cheydinhal do anything about the dark brotherhood sanctuary and murderes are worse than pick-pockets