Both have somewhat legitimate reasons for fighting each other. I want to stick to the Imperials for they fight for justice and order, but they are subdued by the thalmor. The stormcloaks are a good choice for they want to bring change, but at the cost of mistreatment of other races. I need help deciding.

Stromcloaks is the way to go. The Imperials lost order and JUSTICE they can't even control their own men aka the imperial who wanted your head cut off.

Which one suits your character?

try them both, or just pick one based on your characters motivations, like why would an imperial join the storm cloaks. Maybe your redgaurd knows that the empire isn't needed what with hammerfell being abandoned and still surviving

I wish to free myself of thalmor influence but the stormcloaks seem....radical

They seem to like my argonian

A lot of Imperials agree that a Second Great War is coming, as do the Thalmor themselves, so you'd eventually have your chance with the Legion, as well.

hail freezes-his-ass, thank you for freeing skyrim for us lol

I joined the imperials because the nords are racist and Ulfric only cares about the throne. He doesn't help anybody who isn't a nord and a high king like that isn't best for skyrim. That's just my opinion though. Do what you feels best. Btw, don't let the thalmor get in the way of your decision, the imperials hate them as much as the stormcloaks do.

Maybe the Legion is good for your character.

Both sides do have legitimate reasons for fighting each other. On the one hand, the rebellion will weaken the empire and play into the Thalmor's hands. The Stormcloaks aren't looking at the big picture, as far as that is concerned. The empire will be stronger united. However, the Stormcloaks just want the freedom to worship Talos, and that is a right they should be allowed. The Empire and the Stormcloaks should unite and build their strength up to fight the Thalmor together, but...that won't likely happen.

But whoa, did I go off on a tangent, or what? Anyway, I would try both sides out to get a feel for each one separately. Personally, though, I prefer the Stormcloaks because, for all his faults, I think Ulfric Stormcloak is more genuine than General Tullius, and the Stormcloaks are fighting for freedom, while the Empire is fighting merely to stay in power. That's the way I see it, anyway. Just my two cents' worth.

(However, I will say that Ulfric's apparent racism does bother me....)

What you say has meaning, but a racist wont unite his people. Ulfric asl seems to be oblivious to the fact that the only thing keeping the thalmor out of skyrim is the empire. the empires hands are tied.

They were nice to my Argonian, and my High Elf. In fact, they really don't seem to care what race any of my characters are. As racists go, they are epic fails.

I suggest you try each side with a different character, someone with reasons for choosing the side that they do. The obvious thing is for an Imperial character to follow the Imperial path, and a Nord the Stormcloak side. But you can do either with any race. I did the Stormcloaks with a High Elf character.

Actually you have that backward. The Thalmor are in Skyrim because the Empire have allowed them in, and are in fact colluding with the Altmer. Once the Stormcloaks take over, there will be no more Thalmor presence in Skyrim. Seeing that the entire Aldmeri Dominion had its behind kicked by Hammerfell (who had no help from anyone else), Skyrim has nothing to fear. The Redguards have clearly demonstrated that the Thalmor do not have the power to conquer even one lone province.

What you say has meaning, but a racist wont unite his people. Ulfric asl seems to be oblivious to the fact that the only thing keeping the thalmor out of skyrim is the empire. the empires hands are tied.

A racist won't unite his people? Um, yes. Yes, a racist CAN unite a people. Just be charismatic and say the right words to get everyone all up in a lather to support you cause.

Not that I'm saying Ulfric is 100% racist. He's not perfect, but nor is he a complete baddie.

Most of the Nords are accepting, surprisingly. The worst they get is a few namecallings and "SKYRIMS IS FOR THE NORDS", but that's it. Oh, sure, there are two Nords that pick on a Dunmer woman, but...that's it.

Well, consider:

1. Ulfric's rallying cry, religious freedom, is a just cause. On the other hand, it's a problem he caused. Until he made an issue of it, the Empire was happy to simply ignore the Talos-worship (indeed, many probably worshiped Talos themselves; Legate Rikke and Jarl Elysif being two examples). However, once Ulfric raised the stink he did, the Empire had to fall in line with the Thalmor in enforcing the ban.

2. Ulfric's character and motivations are cloudy at best. Some people insist that he is a hero and a visionary. Others have equal conviction that he is more interested in what's best for Ulfric than what's best for Skyrim. The information in "The Bear of Markarth" is especially troubling. Still, Ulfric may be more complex than either side gives him credit for.

3. The White-Gold Concordat is nothing more than an Altmeri plot to tear the Empire asunder and make it easier to conquer. It caused Hammerfell to break away, and the Altmeri lost no time in invading Hammerfell as soon as it was alone and vulnerable. Now, Skyrim is trying to break away, and if it does, then Cyrodiil and High Rock are seperated by an independant power hostile to both of them. Forced into an independant state that it didn't want and wasn't ready for, the Bretons will probably be an easy target. And if High Rock falls, it will serve as a jumping point into Skyrim, or a source of a two-front war for Hammerfell. In other words, supporting the Stormcloaks will more likely than not cause the Empire to fall, and the Aldmeri to overrun Tamriel. That is what the elves expected, and the reason why they banned the Talos-worship in the first place.

That is why, in my opinion, the Empire is the most logical choice.

Lol, this is true.



This I also agree with.

They have to be nice because the game has to make all races playable with either side. Just look at the gray quarter. Would you want a high king capable of that?

Join Ulfric's side he is a much more creative leader than Elisif or Tullius, and he'll likely fight with the Imperials against the Stormcloaks anyway. AND he'll bring the thuum to bear against the Thalmor.

1. Ulfric was thrown in jail for worshiping Talos after a Jarl agreed to allow free worship(which meant he hadn't been allowing it before) for him and his men.

2.The Bear of Markarth is written by an imperial writer who most likely heard about the Markarth incident from other people/reports. At best it could be considered biased and, at worst, propaganda.

3. The Aldmeri Dominion invaded and conquered Southern Hammerfell during the great war, and Cyrodiil signed over that land in the peace treaty. The warriors of Hammerfell pushed the Thalmor out of Hammerfell after the war and took back most land. If they hadn't left the Empire, that fight against the Thalmor would require the Imperials to side with the Thalmor and enforce the treaty or throw the treaty out the window.

High Rock wouldn't fight against the Nords...they have had a history of working together, and will more likely join them if the Empire tries to force them into a war with Skyrim.

Doesn't really matter, aside from some new faces you'll fight the same battles and do the same missions.

My biggest complaint about the Civil War questlines.

Yes, but it is matter of the future of tamriel. Whether its Ulfrick or tullius standing at the top, i just want to know whether or not i made the right decision

It doesn't even give you a hint at the consequences, so it's irrelevant to you further gameplay experience.

Its not about gameplay, i mean lore wise.

Well, I suspect that maybe the Empire will be the victor. It's always been abou the Empire, no?

I tell you one thing IMO that both of them can do the job.