I don't think a genocide argument is a valid one in Skyrim. Certainly, there is victimisation and separatism, but it hasn't flowed over to outright extermination, 'yet'. The Stormcloak leadership has a very simple, very effective, and in terms of our real world, historically precedented, tactic...they offer jarls and cities the opportunity to join them, and if it's refused they wipe it out. Alexander used to do it, the Romans used to do it, and numerous others used to do it. It's not genocide, it's the 'join or die' strategy.

In respect to the 'Thalmor threat', there's too little information on what the situation is across the entire Empire and the strategic balance against the Thalmor to make an accurate assessment. The Thalmor are more or less acting in the role of a superpower, with 'advisors' in place, monitoring things. That leaves them a range of options. The issue for the Empire is that if they strike, they have to strike everywhere at once, to cripple the Thalmor intel and communications, while maintaining a credible defense.

What do you expect the Empire to do then? Just pull out of Skyrim and strengthen Cyrodiil? They aren't blind, well maybe the Stormcloaks, but the Empire can't just withdraw from an entire country to preserve it's forces, it's that type of weakness that encouraged the Thalmor in the Great War.

I'm not sure I even understand your point. Ulfric's challenge to Torygg was brilliant. He couldn't lose, Torygg accepted and with that gave legitimacy to the duel, and the outcome was one that Ulfric knew the empire could not ignore. In one swoop he took out the imperial puppet and demonstrated that the empire's lip service to respecting Nord sovereignty in Skyrim was a sham. Even if Torygg declined the duel, that would trigger a moot and since Torygg would have shown himself to be weak, his rule would likely have ended unless the imperials propped it up.

I propose the empire and Stormcloakw align.

The High King is elected by the Nord Moot, not in a "duel". My point is that all the [censored] "tradition" that the Stormcloaks seem to respect could very well culturally stagnate the country, all they seem to respect is the ancient Nord's who beat the Dragons. Tiber Septim was a Nord right? Therefore all we Nord's can use him as a rallying call for our Nordic greatness!

By the time of the Fourth Era, anyone who believes that killing the previous King - not local tribesman of course but leader of such a huge province - is a legitimate means of succession is a fool.

Nords are great, very proud of their heritage, and will fight for it.

Nords+Ulfric and his thuum+ Dragon born= NO One is taking Skyrim.

Seems like they only care tradition that make them look good, thus trying to keep worship of Talos.

I agree, the Stormcloaks should get over themselves and stop the pointless fight.

What would honestly change? Septims would still be the currency, the Empire wouldn't be disolved, there would be no real affect on private enterprise - even the East Empire Company operates in Windhelm - or on the number of troops garrisonned in cities. People would just be able to leave crappy steel axes on Talos statues in tribute in peace from the Thalmor and if that is what has divided a whole province then Divines help the Empire.

Got me thinking, why wasn't there a chance for diplomacy too end the civil war, an alliance?

Because it might involve dialouge trees, branching quests or hell even a reasonable amount of player choice. Speech has never been overly emphasised as a legitimate stratergy for resolving major conflicts - unlike say Fallout and Fallout 2 - in Oblivion or Skyrim (I can't speak for Morrowind).

That's just silly. You're acting as if there's no such thing as sovereignty and that religious persecution is just a minor inconvenience.

I look at things relatively. Of course the Thalmor dragging people away for torture is horrible, I hate the Thalmor and so does the Empire and the Stormcloaks. Why then is the Stormcloaks goal to utterly crush the Empire in a military war and then politely say to the Thalmor "The White-Gold Concordat is no longer recognised here, please leave." If the Stormcloaks care so much why not attack the Thalmor Embassy? Why not drive the Thalmor out and expose their agents? Because Ulfric is a power-hungry nob riding on public hate or a hypocritical fool who doesn't know what he's doing - whichever you prefer.

Shame because it should be the right ending, as even though Ulfric arrogant twerp, he could still do some good, General Tullius could also learn a lot. There should always be three outcomes to all quests, for instance it always annoyed me in first Fable how even after ya found out Lady Grey killed her sister, ya could do nothing. They really need to allow ya to rip apart world or make it better, not limit ya according strict plan.]

Essentially Skyrim should have at least five different endings, depending largely on ya actions and whom ya killed or let live.

Unless I am mistake, all the Nords were in that one city at the time. That was their settlement.

Except that Skyrim doesn't end does it? Todd Howard said that was a "mistake" from Fallout 3 that will not be repeated. I cannot emphasise my disagreement with that philosophy enough.

I think it is unlikely that the elder council appointing a new emperor will make things all better. The empire has been degrading for a long time. Its not all the fault of the current emperor.

That valid point, Baldur's Gate went on two games, and even the closing left questions unanswered. Perhaps game companies need to be less in a hurry to close everything in a neat bow?

I just think that Bethesda Games have prioritised dikeing about in dungeons over story. Open ended sandboxes don't end know, they just keep going for your level 86 player to smack [censored] around in.

Even to this day on the Fallout: New Vegas forums people still join just to ask if a continuation DLC is coming out...

I do not like the way the Nords were presented in Skyrim. They seemed, rude, ignorant, and stupid half the damned time. I like the Nords so that is kind of irritating.

Well could do it the way of few other rpgs, show credits ect, but after give chance to continue even seeing changed world. That would be awesome, they even did that in Red Dead.

Well maybe that's just how they are? If you don't like the majority of the Nord's in Skyrim then you don't really like the Nord's as a whole do you?

They don't want to crush the Empire, they just want it out of Skyrim. As simple a solution as the Stormcloaks giving up might be, the Empire pulling out would be equally simple. But these aren't real solutions as the fundamental disagreement is one between different groups of Nords (it's a civil war after all), not between Skyrim and the Empire.
Attacking the Thalmor embassy would be treating the symptoms instead of the disease. The problem is the concordat, which legitimizes the Thalmor activities in Skyrim. Direct action against the Thalmor also brings the Stormcloaks into conflict with the Empire.

And again, Ulfric wanting the throne is no slight against him any more than it is against anyone else who has ever achieved a position of power in Tamriel. Think Titus Mede didn't lust for power when he took the Imperial City by force of arms?

The stormcloaks goal isnt to crush the empire. The goal is to deny the WGC. The fact that the embassy still stands is due to 1. Ulfric cant wipe it out while Solitude is held by the imperials and 2. Beth didnt add any ability to burn it after the civil war. Much like how they didnt make imperial camp leaders killable. But it is plain that his next step is to clear out all thalmor from skryim.

I don't mind the Nords. Everyone has a right to protect what they've worked hard to build from exploitation, either external or internal. The Nords just as much as anybody else.

As long as they don't [censored] it up I see no reason why it couldn't be done like that, I have no problem with playing past an end as long as there is an actual ending given. Unfortunately Bethesda's past record is Fallout 3's Broken Steel which I believe was a collosal let-down that failed on every level to show any real change - taking place only a mere 2 weeks after all - and one of the two endings wasn't even touched upon at all if you chose it outside three lines of incidental dialouge.