It's called storytelling.
Because Stormcloaks are blatantly racists Beth is handing out a moral slit through which you'll find it acceptable to join the Imperials. Sounds pretty balanced to me.
That which yoiu call neutral would've been bland.
That opening is fine - except for the horse thief's voice acting, which goes from cocky to wussy in no time, a clear concession to amateur theatre.

I went with the Imperials, cause it felt like Ulfric was a racist [censored].

I think that although a bit misleading the intro can't be all that bad considering the fact this thread has pretty much turned into a political and philosophical discussion
game must be doing something right to get that kind of involvement from players

Actually, that Thalmor was trying to save Ulfric's life. And Tullius was telling him '[censored] you, I'm executing that guy today'.

The only reason I regret choosing Stormcloaks is that the Empire should be unified to fight the Thalmor. General Tullius was standing right there when Legate Rikke sentenced me to death even though I wasn't on the list. He just didn't seem to give a damn about whether or not I was a Stormcloak.

This is said by someone from another thread. Seems to have some relevance here as well



I actually find that the intro makes me like the Imperials far more than I like the Stormcloaks. The Imperial Sergant even mentioned that they will at least do the right thing and ship your body to the proper place for burial rites. There are also the time the Sergent risked his life to make sure a little boy made it. etc. etc.

Check out my post from earlier in the thread, page 2 or 3 i think. It's how I rationalized my Argonian joining the Imperials while it being absolutley ok to

I hated the Stormcloaks at first cause their attack got me arrested for crossing the border at the same time. Then I hated the Imperials for trying to cut my head off.

I then decided to follow Ralof. But then they annoyed me cause the Nords in Windhelm didn't like Argonians or Dunmer. So I then went to the Imperials, cause they accept Argonians :turtle:

Seriously...to the people thinking Ulfric is like Adolf hitler...you're killing me.

The guys are based on Northern Vikings, not Landlocked people like Germanic Visigoths, although that is the Theme for forsworn. <---Difference.

Ulfric is fine with people moving into his land, he isn't happy with them trying to change his customs. I.E. Dueling a King for power that he agreed to, IS NOT a Problem.

Dark Elves being treated bad? You mean the people who started the Dark Brotherhood? You mean the people who enslave/brainwash Argonian Children to raise Government Spys/Assassins in the name of Sithis? You mean the Same House of Telvanni who used to enslave many types of people for experimentation? You mean the Same House of Hlaalu who was trying to bring about corruption in all things authority for their own good? You mean to tell me...people should be trusting of mostly arrogant/selfish people like Dark Elves who has been pushing others around and making them feel inferior for YEARS should just be up and trusted?

lol them comparing Dark Elves to Jews is laughable at best. Morrowind Dark Elves were always pricks. Very few ever gave a flying ---- about anything but them and their family, and some didn't even care about their own family.

Nords know this, and just let the Dark Elves fight their own battles. Of course when nobody helps them they [censored] and moan and complain, but look what happens when you help them rise to power? It goes to their head...and they begin the Terror. Did...did any of you all listen to Vivec/Dagoth UR rising to Power? Remember...BOETHIAH is partial to the Dark Elves...Nords know wh Boethiah is, and the smart ones stay away from the Prince of Plots.

MAJORITY (Not all) of Elves have issues of power hunger and deciet, specifically the Dark Elves who's prime "God" is Boethiah.

You all just got NERD RAGED out on for calling Nords Nazi's. xD

Except 90% of the posters in the thread are taking information from the rest of the game instead of looking solely at the intro.

Looking at JUST the intro, leads me to be VERY biased against the Imperials.

On one hand you have a bunch of rebels, of whom their leader murdered the High King with his voice(lol?).

On the other hand you have a group of legionaires that were just about to kill you, regardless of the fact that you had no ties to the rebel group.

Only I found out how much of an ass he was AFTER joining. Meaning no going back or backing out. No idea how tullius and the legate are.

[quote name='CCNA' timestamp='1321980983' post='19405786']
The opening scenes do not get me to run to the Imperials. However talking to the Stormcloak leader during the game has made me reconsider. I do agree that the deck is stacked against the Imperials in the first part of the game as far as first impressions.

I am glad that I did not pick a side right then and there. Still not sure who I am going to support.
[/quote
Yeah, because when you pick a side your stuck with them. Try imperials, you already seem to dislike the SC, so may aswell see what the imperials have to offer.

The fact you immediatly get the impression that the imperials are the bad guys was the point of the way it was written. You then go on to meet folks like Rolof and Gurder, good, honest, kind hearted folks and you sympathise with them and you hear of the rebellion and it makes you want to stand with honorable people that have endeared themselves to you.
You can chose to do that, that's understandable, but as you travel across Skyrim and you speak with it's people you begin to learn that it's not that clear cut.

Personally i've loved every second of it, i'm 80 odd hours in and i'm still aggonising over the decision of who to side with. Ulfric seems somewhat unbalanced, and i really don't like to think how things could end up for non nord races if Ulfric wins out, but I'd feel like i'd be betraying the folks like Rolof and Gurder, the people that showed me kindness and trust and that truley believe in the rebellion. On the other hand those same folks don't seem to realise that the empire was forced into the accepting the concordance or the war with the elves would have dragged on and many more would have died and the empire could of lost and skyrim would of been next.

Personally i'm holding out till i have more information that could tip me one way or the other but right now i can help the most people by not picking a side

I went with the stormcloaks for rp reasons (my character would them for trying to fight for freedom and all that, not so much the racism ) but i would never join them. In the beginning they struck me as Skyrims version of a very toned down BNP or perhaps UKIP my point is quite a nationalistic party, skyrim for the nords and all that, by the end they might as well have been storm troopers.

I use to think the current Emperor was weak-willed But i still choose to follow the empire out of loyalty......But after reading The book.....I thought he was one of the noblest emperors to date....He sacrificed He image and the PeopleS respect To save them....He Sacrficed soo much for his people....And what does he get? Being called a traitor..Its very sad.....And when you meet him.......He faces his fate so calmly.......One of the saddest moments in Tes hISTORY

It kind of makes me miss Oblivion, where things were more black and white. Mehrunes Dagon = Bad Guy, Martin Septim = Good Guy.

Oblivion Thieves Guild = Robin Hood steal from the rich and give to the poor = Good Guys. Skyrim Thieves Guild = Extorting money from innocent people who are just trying to live their lives and are in the back pocket of a power hungry [censored] = Bad guys.

I'm sure the same lines could be drawn for the Companions guild, Dark Brotherhood, and Mages guild.

ACTUALLY..... not true. Because...

Oh sidenote Does anyone know if the Mede line was completley Destroyed?

grey morality is far more interesting in my opinion.

am i the only one who read the lore about tiber septim unifying the whole of tamrial whith dragon shouts the nords can defeat the thalmor and the aldermai dominion with ulfic as the next tiber septim the nords just need a strong leader which the imperials dont have hence why they lost the war so for those who choose imperial just because there the only thing keeping the elfs at bay u need to research more of skyrims history the nords can do it again...... i dont find ulfric dishonourable either he mearly asked the high king for a duel won with his blade then got arressted

TITUS MEDE 2 CUT HIS FRICKEN WAY THREW THE FRICKEN IMPERIAL CITY WIELDING GOLDBRAND!!!!!!!!!!! THAT IS hardcoe

i need a book on titus mede

But he still lost the war...

If the Empire grows too strong, the Thalmor won't be able to control them anymore.

Basically, if they get enough men, resources and money, they can stand up against the Thalmor and quite simply say 'Screw you, we're reintroducing Talos!'.


So in other words, get out there and conquer the rest of the world, Legionnaries.


Skyrim today, Summerset Isle tomorrow!

He didn't lose, he made a peace treaty. Both sides agreed to stop the fighting. He recognized (arguably falsely) that the empire could simply not afford to keep fighting and sought to end the war. Once he has reconsolidated the empire, perhaps he can convince (or coax) Hammerfall into an alliance of convenience (or even maybe re-entering the empire) and smash the dominion.

The legion's more like hitler. They are a foreign occupation that has taken the lands of others and enforced imperial law on the people of tamriel.