Probably not DLC, but a good story to focus on for the next Elder Scrolls game.

Anyways, if it weren't for the destruction of the Amulet of Kings at the end of TESV, the Dohvakiin would more or less be the rightful heir to the Imperial throne.

I kill them all when I can

The imperials aren't being controlled by the thalmor, they're just trying to do anything to make the peace last a little longer.
Also
That said, I think they all svck. Imperials, are kindof asshats.

Imperial Empire isn't the same that Tiber Septim founded anymore

And I found Jarl's opinion to be jarring with his character, and to not even ask my opinion after I saved his town and he named me thane, even the whole discussion he seems to lean one side then he does a 180 flip in making his desicion.

Both are as bad as each other, spend time at thier camps, listen to how eager they both are just to kill another one of X's side. Oh what's that imperial "I don't realise your the only thing keeping the thalmor out of skyrim" yeah good job you done of that. They might not have one, but being bought and owned by someone else isn't a victory either, when their laws in all thier terrories can be controlled by someone else, paid for. It's not even a reasonable request to ask for in a peace treaty. "Dear Mr. Emperor, we are petty and hate walking though your lands with people worshipping a non-elf as a god, stop it now. Everywhere." or maybe "Rambling paranoia about the worshippers of talos building an army to destroy us, they have a secret club and won't let us in. We came here to stop it so unless you do, we will"

Come on they even allow thier own ancient order of protectors to be hunted and killed thoughout the land, nevermind the dishonour to thier very founder. Things have probally only gone downhill without a bloodrelated Emperor but a appointted one instead.

I don't like Ulfric after I read the book on how he massacred an entire city after he defeated the forsworn. And the forsworn actually might have been good guys, but since they lost, everyone thinks they are evil.

i dont know how anyone can see the imperials as the good guys, the good guys dont usually chop peoples heads off just because they can.

Neither side is good. Plain and simple. But I wouldn't call them evil, either.

The Empire is broken, or if not broken, on the way to breakage. They have officers executing innocents simply because the innocents happen to be in the general direction of the guilty (see: the start of the game). They are stomping over Nordic culture, including the worship of their beloved Talos and the right of one-on-one challenge (they should be chasing after Ulfric because he's an insurgent acting against the Empire and he keeps killing Imperials, not because he murdered the High King of Skyrim). They, during the war, gave orders to abandon Hammerfall for Cyrodiil (the awesomeness of an Imperial General being all that kept Hammerfall going) and then once again chose to give up pieces of Hammerfall despite the occupants wishes during the treaty (of course, what else could they do? They were put in a vile position). They now allow the Dominion to walk around their providence seeking Talos worship and basically killing those that still follow their god. Not a nice situation.

On the other hand, Ulfric is, probably, a complete monster. We know that he went around and slaughtered even Nord children- if they could hold a sword (regardless of even Skyrim seeming to be alright letting seven-eight year olds run around playing tag and hide and go seek) and weren't fighting at his side, they died. He's certainly no kinder to other races: we know that he is willing to allow the slaughter of other races people as long as the Nords are okay. We know that he did at least at one point share some intelligence with the Dominion in an effort to bring down the Empire, even though it's the Dominion who demanded the giving up of Talos as a treaty item (though he does not seem to be working with them now, despite what some people claim- they just still see him as being a help to them, as the civil war is a help to them). We also know that excepting the example at the beginning of the game, they seem far more willing to murder simply for being in the wrong place at the wrong time (or being the wrong race) than the Imperials are.

Neither are fully right. Both have done, and will probably do some more, horrible things. However, the longer they sit in civil war, the more power goes to the Dominion as both sides weaken themselves.

My Nords fight with the Stormcloaks to bring back their religious freedom and old customs; my Redguards, respecting the Nords wish to rule themselves (and to stick it to the empire who couldn't keep them safe) do the same. My Imperials fight for their Empire; my Bretons, worried of the consequences of being surrounded by an independent Skyrim and Hammerfall with the Summerset Isles only a boat ride away do the same (as if Skyrim is still an Imperial providence, they at least have more support (and easier supply lines) if the Dominion tries to invade).

My Altmer cackle gleefully and play both sides as long as they can.

Other characters, I'll probably see one at a time.

Heres what i say to your empire and heres what i say to your thalamar (Spits on ground). why should they rule over me and mine from some flowery seat in the south? What do they know about the North? about Skyrim?

It was the dragonborn we bowed to, and the dragonborn are all dead. Ulfric Stormcloak is the only man i mean to bend my knee to. The King In The North!!!

The Imperials are way to incompetend to be allowed to maintain an Empire.
Every province so far was swarmed with beasts of all sorts, killing everyone who sets a foot outside of a town.
Only every tenth or so citizen actually does something productive, everyone else is either in the army or unemployed, tells me everything about how good the Imperials are at managing an economy. If it wasnt for that century old food in the dungeons the population would starve to death.
Pretty much all of their forts are overtaken by bandits, which also outnumber the civil population, leave alone the army. What is not overtaken by Bandits is controled by Necromancers, which are, by the way, probably the only reason mankind isnt extinct, because reanimation is the only way new life comes into the world, the people are obiviously to hungry and worried to reproduce normaly. Necromancers and Bandits are the true Heroes in the Imperium, even taking land back form the beasts and fighting the incompetend Dragonblood crowd which can do nothing right exept of lighting a stupid fire every couple of decades and rely on glorified grave robbers to take care of every problem that occurs.

Told all of you that the ulfric was flawed! But despite my view i thought him to be Honorable. But as that guard Captain said "Being Honorable and a Good man does not mean Your right?
"

Heh, well so much for my theory on Ocato. Unless he has eternal life.

Those that run the empire now, obviously don't know what they are doing.

LOL, exactly what I was thinking. I think Skyrim needs to leave the empire in order to grow because the empire is down for the count. But only after they've all allied in order to stop the greater evil, the thalmor.

This very true. According to lore many younger Altmer are pushing for social reform. Go Altmer? And I was seriously considering joining the Stormcloaks until I actually starting playing the game. I changed sides after a certain meeting between Ulfric and Tallius. Ulfric just acted like a jerk the entire time and he doesn't seem fit to be a proper leader. He's just power-hungry.

Edit: Actually with the Empire currently having no leader, and the PC being a dragonborn...... Who's up for some "Become the emperor and lead the Empire against the Thalmer" DLC!? COUNT ME IN!

The Legion is taking the long view, the stormcloaks are taking the short view.

The end result of the Legion is a united empire and eventual freedom.

thankfully, one thing beth did right in regards to the questlines is not make either side right or wrong. the thalmor instigated the civil war, so right though he may be ulfric may ultimately be bringing the doom of skyrim by liberating it. the empire doesnt like the white-gold concordat anymore than skyrim, but they had to bite their tongue and deal with it until they could build up their forces and have a chance of victory against the dominion, which is what ulfric needs to do as well, because the empire absolutely needs the support of the nords with all that theyve lost. of course, there is also the fact that ulfric is a zealous maniac who will commit any and every atrocity under the sun if it brings him a step closer to the throne of the high king; he is a smart guy and genuinely wants a free skyrim, but only to his own ends. its that little part at the end of the stormcloak questline that tells you everything you need to know about ulfric:

at the same time, the empire lost in the first place, and was willing to sacrifice hammerfell just to save their own asses. theyre a crumbling empire, and might not ever achieve the strength to fight the thalmor again. the empire is just strong enough to keep the dominion from attacking, but even if they had skyrim it might only postpone the inevitable.

so, my opinion is that skyrim is screwed either way... kind of like every province after every main quest in every elder scrolls game .

While that may be true I went with stromcloaks simply because the empire had been taken over by those damn stinking yellow elves, and unless they are completely [censored] they would regulate the imperial army to make sure it would never be strong enough to strike back, Whereas the stormcloaks are more the wild card in that respect. Just wish I could choose a different leader for them that wants to strike back and not sit in Skyrim stroking his ego.

I support the Dark Brotherhood. Both sides are incredibly flawed in their own ways and this is the reason: neither side brings something good without something bad.

The Empire brings corruption and more importantly, the disgusting Thalmor to the table. Yes, the Empire had to surrender to the Thalmor but that doesn't mean they can't at least fight a guerrilla war with them. Employ the children of Lord Sithis, team up with Stormcloaks and blow their miserable bums back to the stone age. It really doesn't matter but they still side with the Thalmor. Why?

Ulfric is a racist. You hate the Thalmor sure, you hate those who support the Thalmor, sure. But why be racist? You hate the Elves right? Well sure, that's interesting and a good concept for a faction. But rather than hate all races, wouldn't you just get all of the beast races and men to team up against them? Doesn't that make more sense than being a social club for Nords? Yeah...exactly.

Just played a little bit into the stormcloak quests...I hated it..hated attacking whiterun that is my home after all...and whats worse apparently you get kicked out of the companions...maybe the imperials will be different I don't know..I rather not join any but their seems that their isnt alot for a companion good guy to do..

But there are a lot of key people in the Empire that wants to be free of the Thalmor, including Tallius. In my eyes, that redeems the Empire a little.

Says who? The Argonians are far more free outside the Empire than inside it. The Empire was hardly mutually beneficial for all.

originally, i was going to side with the empire. I heard some guy in the jarl's house in riften talk bout ulric just wanting to sit on the throne for the power, and how ulfric killed the king in cold blood. and how they needed to keep the empire for stability and blah blah blah, i was going to join them

but then, after playing some of the various quests and listening to some of the townsfolk, i sided with the storm cloaks and have been happily helping the rebellion since

I sided with the Empire. Because the stormcloaks want only Nords to rule with no one else. While the Empire came to a compromise with the Thalmore. So if you don't like the Empire because it chose peace instead of war with the Thalmore then you really don't like peace and order.

And I might just like the Empire because I'm an Imperial.

I'm kind of conflicted I agree that only nords should be in a position of power in skyrim...but I don't like that you have to attack whiterun..

I'm conflicted. I feel like I should join the Empire so that they can muster strength to beat back the Thalmor...and to liberate my home city of Makarath from the Silver-Bloods...yet...I believe Skyrim should have sovereignty and the Thalmor slaughtered...

Wish there was just an option to whipe out the Thalmor. I'd much rather do that then having to go against whiterun or side with imperials