Except a big difference between the stormcloaks and the Thalmor is that the stormcloaks want any non-Nords out of Skyrim. If the Thalmor only wanted non-Altmer or non-elves in the Aldmeri Dominion, they could just close their borders, put up some big "all humans stay out" signs and go about their business.

However, they are in another province, actively trying to force the Nords to stop worshipping Talos. If they only wanted to keep humans out of elven lands, why would they be doing that? Doesn't make much sense to want other races out of your empire, but then insist on sending your own people into humans lands. The forcing of stopping Talos worship is a big step in their plan to un-make the world, so you can't really say they are like "elven stormcloaks" because they have completely different goals.

Not saying the Nords haven't been really bloodthirsty and brutal towards elves, because they have, but that's not really the point. The Stormcloaks and Thalmor just aren't comparable political-wise.

I'm not sure if everyone had this happened, but I met some Thalmor early in the game after returning to Whiterun from my first dragon. They yelled at me and then when my back was turned attacked me. From then on they just attacked me on sight.

My character is a Talos-worshiping Nord, so no.

True, of course. It's pretty hard comparing things with so many variables without simplifying them or focusing on a few aspects. But if we go back in time, most provinces belonged to Mer. High Rock was elven, Hammerfell was Elven, Skyrim was Elven. Skyrim, and later other provinces, were wrested from the Elves through bloodshed. Same with Hammerfell, which was conquered by the Redguards, just that this time it wasnt just Atmoran invaders vs Elves. And its true that it was quite some time ago, but for a race which can live for centuries rather than decades it may not seem as distant.

And also, why they persecute Talos worshippers is pretty understandable, theological reasons aside. The Empire promised to stop the worship of Talos in the WGC, and going against it would be breaking the peace treaty. To make a comparison, had Redoran lost a war against the Nords and promised to pay them 100 000 septims as an annual tribute and they ended up saying "Nah, don't really feel like paying you a single coin after all." then some kind of reaction would be expected. Both in retaliation and for the enforcers of the treaty to save face.

I've just found Rising Threat which is about the Thalmor in my Markarth house. I need to brush up on the lore

I RP as an elven supremacist, so it makes sense that character follows them. I also think that if all of Tamriel yielded to the power of the Elves, the Elves would lead them to a greatness impossible for men. I like them in this sense, but many of the Thalmor characters are quite annoying. I wish there was an option to side with them.

I love...Killing them.

I don't like them.

Thing about Thalmor is that I couldn't even try to negotiate when I encoundered them first time... Becuse there was no option. I could A)Start a fight by insulting them B ) Start a fight by saying what they hate C) I could be elusive in a stupid way, getting them suspicious and pissed off.

I'm also an elf, so I think they shouldn't treat me as a nord.

They're mustachioed pantomime villains. I wish they'd have a little depth to them, with room for empathy and player identification, especially as an Altmer player (ideally with Altmer characters being able to RP either as supporters or dissenters).

I suppose if I was an altmer who believed that the mundus was a prison and that bring about its end might free our captive souls, then I might agree with them.

I see some Thalmor worshippers believe their own propaganda. The Altmer on Summerset Isles want to do away with man. Period. The first step is to do away with Talos. The solution to the Thalmor problem is a military build up then tell the Dominion to cram the WGC where the sun doesn't shine. This unfortunately cannot happen with the Empire divided under the weakling Mede II.

The Dunmer don't even like the Altmer. It was the Dunmer that gave the rest of the races the secrets of how to use moonstone and malachite to make glass and how to use moonstone and quicksilver to make elven armor. It was their payback to the Altmer for centuries of enslavement. I've spent time in Windhelm. I've spent time in the castle listening to Ulfric. Ulfric is a pathetic character like Mede II. He cannot see the forest through the trees. His house carl keeps telling him what he wants to hear. The two should just go get drunk. Mede II isn't any better. He isn't a dragonborn emperor -- not that all of them were good either (they did have their obligatory Caligula) but they were dragonborn. The Dunmer are right about the Civil War -- it isn't their fight. Still to make their lot easier I think offering aid as healers to the Stormcloaks would make their place a bit easier in Windhelm.

The Empire is Law. The Law is sacred. Praise be Akatosh, and all the NINE Divines. Upon my honor I do swear undying loyalty to? Talos, and unwavering obedience to the officers of his great Empire. Long live the Empire!

The Civil War? Oy!! Both sides are playing into the hands of the Thalmor. So.... I kill Thalmor on sight, and out of sight.

According to that website those words are just made by a roleplayer in a forum, and not from the game itself. How can that be considered canon?

Ummm.... Its Michael Kirkbride.

He pretty much wrote ALL the lore for the game.

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/General:Michael_Kirkbride

the only thing i like about what they did is they banned the worship of talos a big hero dies and gets acknowledged as a god by akatosh himself... yeah right.

I like them as a good villain race.

Too bad I don't feel like rolling a high elf character any more, I made one in both Morrowind and Oblivion but now everything seems to be working against them, so it wouldn't really feel right to play as one any more.

In a word, NO!!! The only good elf is a dead elf.

IMO the least offensive elf (excluding Orcs) are the Dunmer.

Play Morrowind and you'll find Orcs are the best elves

I like the Thalmor. They are interesting and they will he very interesting to see on the political side of things.

I actually like the Orcs. They don't all act like their [censored] doesn't stink. They also don't treat every other race as less than they are.

well then im sure that you will just adore the dunmer of morrowind...looking down on you for being a foreigner racial slurs slaves all that nice accepting sort of stuff.

Any different than the Nords treating outsiders differently...in some case outright treating them like [censored]? That's to be expected, but when Elve's come into a foriegn land and treat the natives as less than they are that becomes a real problem; one that serves to validate the need to wipe them from the face of Nirn. They can join the Dwemer in their existence, or more accurately, non existence for all I care.

I modded Skyrim a bit... got midas for spells and reduced the speed at which I level. I'm... 6 hours in abouts, and only level 5.

That first Thalmor hit squad I encountered was at level 1... I had the force push spell, and no armor... That is, I didn't have armor until I pushed all three of them into a rock and lured them into a Giant camp before watching them get used as little yellow croquet balls for a little while.

I'm an Imperial Auxillery, and they are skill Kill on site.

I actually kinda like them. I mean, they make good villains, and I'd MUCH rather be fighting an arrogant tall [censored] than YET ANOTHER cliché army of brainless orcs...

And besides, their attitude is funny sometimes. I just wish they were developped a bit more than "hey, they're the bad guys!"