So I had originally thought the Legion and the Stormcloaks were just like any other guilds, and thus you could choose whether or not you got directly involved with the civil war, or just had it exist as a background element. However, some of the descriptions I've read of the start of the game have made it sound more like something you'll eventually have to do as part of the main quest. Does anyone know how it actually works?

We don't know for sure... but it does seem to be more important than originally expected as far as being part of the main quest... or at least tied to it.

There's an achievement related to the outcome of a battle which determines which side you chose. It could be a decisive battle for control of Skyrim.

i hope not, but if so i think im siding with the storms

I hope not, but if you do then that's fine.

If we do have to eventually then my allegiance is with the Empire!

Bringing this one back up to see if anyone's found an answer to the question of joining the Legion or Stormcloaks yet. Any sign in the leaked gameplay that you have to join one of them as part of the main quest?

No signs that I've seen. Though...you DO get an misc (not main) quest update to either join the Imperial Legion/Stormcloaks once out of the tutorial, depending on if you followed the Legionnaire or the Stormcloak out.

Does that mean that we are "forced" to make that choice from the start of the game?!

No, if you meet an Imperial or Stormcloak during your adventure and ask about joining it will be added as quest as well

EDIT: or you can just go to their stronghold and talk to their leader to join

Nope. In fact, you can stumble upon a Stormcloak camp--or visa versa--and get the opposite misc update of the opposite faction you followed out of the tutorial. It's simply a journal update.

I see many thanks, that was all i wanted to know! *Runs away from the spoiler forum smiling*

im hoping u can switch sides or do some work for both sides to some extent.. tho im not sure if that is possible!

I don't care...just let me join the Thalmor and I'll be happy.

As I understand it, there's a Main Quest and a Secondary questline. The Main Quest is purely about the Dragons, the Secondary one is the one where you choose a side and join the fight. But I'm just guessing. Hope it's not a mandatory thing, though. That's just dumb.