Both the Stormcloaks and the Imperials seem like a pretty bad bunch, with a few exceptions. It's a bit disappointing that there is no way to guarantee "good" Jarls in every city and a "good" victory. If you choose to side with the Imperials, you'll be implementing religious persecution (against Talos worshippers) and if you side with the Stormcloaks you'll be putting "inbreds" in power who feel foreigners are not particularly welcome (when playing a non-Nord character especially, it feels like a pretty silly thing to do).

As for the Jarls, there are good and bad Jarls of both factions. So regardless of which side you decide to help win the war, the provinces of Skyrim will end up with a mixed bunch of Jarls.

Anyone else feel like they could have added in a 3rd (more difficult) option which allows you to choose a High-King yourself among the Jarls and pick who becomes Jarl in each province? Among a few options, at least 1 of them being a "good" Jarl. Would feel more satisfying to me, even though it sounds a bit cliche.

Right now I can't bring myself to finish the Civil War quest, I feel bad killing Ulfric and I also feel bad finishing off the Imperials. So the plan right now is to either ignore the quest or do the Imperial ones until I get to Riften and then stop (preventing Maven from becoming Jarl). Does this have any negative effect on the main storylines?

I have a few characters that care not for either side and they care less how the war turns out, so yes I have created a few like that. IN TES games its great to make characters with different taste and play styles.

I hate doing the CW, so attempt to not do it.

Whiterun, Solitude, and Windhelm all get trashed in a certain area and I would like that to be fixed.

I can't play through with Stormcloaks because of the Jarl's that get put in power. No offence Stormcloaks, but your Jarl's svck ass.

I dont like so much the empire, but my hatred for the Stormcloaks drove me always to join the legion just to anihilate them. Specially Ulfric! That is just the only reason I have to finish the CW questline.

I did the CW the first time through, no issues or problems, but it is not something I have pursued with my other characters.

I wouldn't want to have a good or bad side in such a conflict. It does not fit the scene at all. You should decide based on your perspective of things, not being forced into a choice because you are playing a "good" character.

But I usually refrain from doing it, as my characters generally don't care much about the province of Skyrim.

Only one of my characters has ever done it, on the Stormcloak side. I plan to take another character through it very soon though on the Imperial side.

The civil war feels like one big speech skill missed opportunity. Guess diplomacy isn't good enough when beth wants everything to be smashy smash.

Well, I dont see Ulfric like a diplomatic guy. More easy to convince the mountains to fall.

Not more than a couple times, same with the dawnguard quests. The problem is most of Skyrim's big questlines are a bore to complete more than once. The only quests I tend to repeat are short stand-alones like lost to the ages etc.

I've had multiple characters and have done both sides. Most of my characters don't get involved, though. It is very life-like in that with politics, nothing is clear cut and one has to take the bad with the good.