I've asked this plenty of times before but never have gotten a straight answer. If I complete the Civil War on the Stormcloaks side of things, do encounters with Imperial Patrols and Thalmor Justiciars stop or are there just greatly reduced chances of encountering them?

On a side note to add more meat to the topic, what encounter or encounters caught you off guard the most?

They do not stop, that much i know. I was caught off guard by a rich nord telling me to get out of the way or else...I turned into a werewolf and ate him and his guards lolololololol

Whether you choose to finish the Civil War or not, it will not impact on the patrols. All 3 factions will keep on respawning on roads.

And on the side question, DAMN SABRECATS! They always freaking sneak up on me and scare me to death. You can't hear'em and when they jump and roar, that's just not nice while you're enjoying the landscape...

Well when I completed the CW quesline for the Empire the Imperial soldiers transporting Stormcloak soldiers disappeared. Also the randomn groups of Stormcloak soldiers in the wilderness disappeared as well. Howver the Thalmor prisoner escorts were still a common sight. Don't think completing it for the Stormcloaks stops the Thalmor either, probably be a bit of time before Ulfric banishes them as it's effectively declaring all out war on the Aldmeri Dominion.

I still see some Imperials and Stormcloaks fighting. As well as the usual prisoners and Thalmor patrols.

After winning the war for the Stormcloaks I have still seen random Imperial patrols, including those with a SC prisoner. In three such playthroughs I have yet to see any Thalmor roaming the country after a SC victory, but others apparently have so YMMV.

I completed the Stormcloak questine not long ago with my current character, and I still encounter Imperial patrols in the wilderness (and I get a bounty for killing them!). So far I have not come across one with an Stormcloak prisoner. Nor a Thalmor patrol with a prisoner. But it has only been a few days of playing. I may have just not had time yet.

I've seen Thalmor Patrols (with a prisoner mind you) inside the walls of Windhelm, though I think that was the result of a very odd glitch. It was also before the Civil War concluded.

As for interesting encounters:

1. A wagon/cart that had been attacked by a dragon
2. A woman asking if I could cure her vampirism before she turned
3. A woman that had escaped from Mistwatch.

In my Stormcloak playthrough I have yet to see any Thalmor after winning the civil war for SC but I still see some Imperials having a SC prisoner.

There is a video where Thalmor assassins go after you even when the battle of solitude has finished so it is a gameplay thing, not a lore thing.

Mine was when a thief gave me a random piece of enchanted equipment and telling me to keep it. Another encounters was witnessing Alduin resurrecting a dragon out in the wilderness.

But my favorite encounter has always been the Dark Brotherhood assassin. They always have something valuable on them and their weapons fetch an alright price. Though I do laugh whenever they attack me in the middle of the day.

Since you have your answer mine is odd in taste... Three Stormcloaks vs Three Imperials who happen to be in a Frost Troll area along with a Dragon who was looking for me.... a true shut up and fight... Its irritating because it happens at the worst possible moments (low magicka, health, stamina, or no potions..) I hate turning down challenges so weither I die or not doesnt make a difference (Although when attacking the Ancient Dragon and letting your hit slip into an Imperial or Stormcloak it becomes difficult to focus) add that to the Frost Troll who refuses to die (normally not an issue but I try and get the larger threats first)

Mine is when bandits act like soldiers and ask me to pay a toll.

I've never seen any Thalmor who stayed alive long enough for me to take a screenshot.

Miaq the liar and and a merc who was on the job but refused to tell me what it was. I was like "but I'm the dragonborn! I paid $60 to be this so I want to know where you are going!"

I like when Thalmor Justiciars come after me. Means I'm makin waves.

Does anyone even like the Thalmore, i mean i know some guys who play altimor characters and are die hard Valenwood supporters and they hate the [censored] out of them.

Anyone?

I like the Thalmor. They give me something to kill. Something convincing.