Just base it off of your character.. is your character an imperial, or a nord.. is your character a loyalist, or a rebel.. is your character interested in a new regime, or a stability brought back by the empire.

Cake.

The "Imperial Legion" is the military force of the Empire, whose center is in Cyrodiil, but the Empire is just that - an empire. It strives to unite all of Tamriel under one goverment, so in Skyrim, the Imperial Legion and the Stormcloaks are fighting control of the province.

I'm with you, brother. I'm a Cleveland sports team fan.

Kudos.

Because i'm a "Needs of the many before the needs of the few." type of guy.

As others have said - the Empire disintegrating would cause nothing but death, poverty, and outright anarchy.

Perhaps not for the top percentage of folks who have the money or the power to outmaneuver the many symptoms of said mass disintegration - but for the majority of innocent people who have no such assets, it will be a comparable hell on earth. (Nirn. O.o)

If blood has to be shed in the short term for long term stability, and prosperity - so be it.

You won't hear common people complaining about who rules them for the most part.

The only people that gripe are the few that don't have as many folks to boss around anymore, or aren't making as much personal bank as before, because they now have to answer to the Empire or pay increased taxes.

Personal roleplay reasons, though? I'll be an Imperial who grew up in the Legion, who wants to serve his people, and his country. (Empire. =P) Morality be damned.

That's what multiple playthroughs are for.

Not quite that simple, seems like a very lacking and under developed start to defining an RP character. Also a brief outline/going with the flow adds more fun than all out pre-planning.

In terms of rebel or loyalist, that's in terms to the new and old regime. But there's bigger things at stake than just Skyrim and much old history and the happenings of surrounding provinces/cultures will give a part. So you can add in more to your character than a Nord who's loyal to the old ways which only extend back a little more than a couple hundred years.

One reason: Michael Hogan.

It's DEFINITELY as simple as that..

you should have a character in mind.. and that character should develop throughout the game.. that's what an RPG is all about.. so what does your character decide.. easy..

In fact it's probably SIMPLER than what I said originally..

This

Er. That's what I just said. I was talking about the political problems and lore-wise things being more complex. Not that.

"Not quite that simple, seems like a very lacking and under developed start to defining an RP character"

That was your response to me saying "just base it off your character"

in other words, what would your CHARACTER do.. and you called it a very lacking and under developed start to defining an RP character.. ?? I'm confused.

In summation, do what your character would do people.. it's that easy. If you're not developing a character, and are going for the "action" aspect, who cares. Do what YOU want..

Thats what Americans thought when they elected Obama.

"Anything is better than Bush"

I was talking about back story. Also I don't care if someone just goes in, becomes an Orc and focuses more on slaughtering everything in sight.

I am however a large proponent of RPG mechanics because I'm an RPG player. But I in no way support dictating what others do.

On the flip side I support not stripping features away for the sake of the guy who doesn't like statistics not having to bother as the case with the majority of RPGs released since 2000.

The Empire is an Oligarchy. This means that a group of people run it... now that the Emperor is dead and no one to take the throne that is.

The Storm Cloaks might be able to hold on to Skyrim by being a Republic, but to rule over 10+ races and many other lands as the Empire does, a Republic just would not work. With the way news spreads it would take too long for anything to happen if government was dependent on peoples opinions.

Possibly they could become more of a Democracy, having representatives from each province, or city state represent the decisions that the province/city state came up with.

Either way, who knows how Skyrim will play out... you may get the chance to become the Emperor yourself, i doubt it but who knows.

The one thing i can infer at the moment

I honestly expected the Empire to crumble. Face it, they were downright useless in Oblivion, (In my eyes, anyway. And I mean the legion.) The emperor is dead. The new-10-minute-emperor Turned into a dragon and kind of...died? Etc, etc.

In the old Empire, the Empire obviously stood for morality and justice, you need to join to restore it to its former state.

I want to see what the new Empire is like. All I know is the Septim-Dynasty. I've really only played Oblivion, and everyone seemed to like the Empire. But I don't think the provinces should be leaving the Empire... That's just silly...

There's a new Emperor. A new line was started, beginning with Titus Mede.

im joining the legion because i always play as an imperial

I see as both grey, but I myself dislike the romans, (lousy, cheating, bloodthirsty copycats... Greece on the other hand.. Wait.. I am getting off topic...) so I will probably join the Stormcloaks on my 1st playthrough. But in another i will do legion.

Also, I beleive that while Alessia had the Amulet of Kings in the world and Akatosh was a symbol of order and helpfulness, the Empire was beneficial, but now, with the septim line dead, Talos' heirs no longer among the living, I think it is time that the provinces moved on and became their own seperate countries. I know people will say that if the provinces are independent, they will war with each other constantly. But I ask you, is that any better than warring with the Thalmor or Legion? Besides, even with the legion watching over them, there is all the bad things going on, dragons, Oblivion crisis, and even then the provinces fight between each other.

So my loyalty lies with the Stormcloaks.

Honest question if anyone can help. Do we have to join either?????

I will play Altmer first race, so i dont know why he would care about stormcloaks or legions..
or is it like main quest kinda thing where you gonna join one side sooner or later???

No, you dont have to join one. It is like guilds in OB, except they are fighting each other.

Well, the Empire are doing a bloody great job of maintaining order right now aren't they!

Also, tell that to Sheogorath or Jyggallag (Is that spelt right?)

Maybe you will need their help with something... dragon related?

/rp on

"Stormcloaks.... Empire.... at this point in time I could care less for either of them. Only fools argue over the cottage while it is being burned by the dragon's fire."

/rp off

Isn't that what their trying too do?

Or is it the Empires fault that the Stormcloaks are stirring insurrection ?