Ahh yes, Elf reproduction IS rather slow isn't it? No wonder Dark Elves are so promiscuous, little consequence after all

According to The Real Barenziah an elven woman can expect to have four children at most if she is very fertile.

Where are you getting these figures from?

Stormcloaks are anti-Altmer and that is why I go with them. The Altmer are the real enemy here IMHO. They have their fingers in everything attempting to direct the outcome. Smart, yes. Unsavory, yes.

I'll agree with the nationalist perspective, were they racist, they would simply cull the Dunmer in Windhelm.

All the more fodder for nationalist pride and even supremacist leanings...

Stormcloaks DOWN WITH THE IMPERIALS!

If i got to choose any though Dark Brotherhood and Stormcloak for me

I almost always pick the side of the stormcloaks when i make a character, i don't really like the empire in skyrim. The one in oblivion however is a different story. It would be nice if we got to be able to ''persuade'' Ulfric into less racism to the elves. But that might screw up a part of rping in the game.

I'm Stormcloak the imperial Empire is obviously based on the romans yet they fight like old grannys.

Thats just my feeling from talking to people in game, and an objection to the people claiming that half the nords are for ulfric and half for tullius. Its clearly NOT a 50/50 divide.

Seconded! Legion doesn't sit too well with me. They're nothing but trouble.

Since I don't want to go too much into spoilers, it may be difficult for me to go into certain details. Therefore, I think it may be best if I were to approach the fundamental situation in a different context. Also, I accidentally mixed up who initially gave the power of the voice to mortals. It was the goddess Kynareth, not Akatosh.

Wisdom, and through it magic, is often considered the domain of Julianos. Magic can be seen as an extension of the divine. When one's desires are tempered with caution while gaining insights from Julianos, great acts can be achieved, which are revered by all. And yet, when these desires are not bound to anything that would restrain a person from doing harm, it can and will lead to ruin for the person acting on such impulses. An extreme example of this can be seen in the main quest line for College of Winterhold.

The power of the voice can be looked upon in much of the same light for Kynareth as magic is for Julianos. My personal impressions on the power of the voice seem to indicate that there is a much closer divine link between the voice and Kynareth than exists between the knowledge to attain magical understanding and Julianos.

My fear is that, with how and when Ulfric chose to use the power of the voice, this may, to some degree, have corrupted him, turning him away from a divine path. Naturally, I do not assume that the degree to which Ulfric may have been tainted by his own actions is anywhere near what is encountered in the Winterhold quest line. However, I do believe that the amount is sufficient to warrant a reasonable amount of concern.

I chose the Empire. I feel it's the safer choice, given how little we actually know.

Ulfric acknowledges that he has strayed from the Greybeards' teachings. But he still holds an opinion that the Voice should not be used lightly, only with good reason. In this case, it was probably to prove a point. In shouting Torygg, he was most likely reminding the Imperials about Talos. Ulfric would have no problem defeating Torygg in fair-combat, considering that Torygg was a young man and Ulfric was a Legionnare veteran.

The Stormcloaks would fight the Thalmor sooner than later, while the Empire seems to be biding their time more.

The Empire's professional, organized and resourceful army has quite a difficult time eliminationg a 'rebellion' (in that there is a stalemate until the Dragonborn intervenes).

High Rock is a wild card. Hammerfell is crucial for whoever wants to win the war, and Hammerfell has a lot more reason to unite with the Skyrim than it does the Empire.

Since the side you chose won't affect the ultimate ending, for me it's a matter of morality. And I'd rather support the Stormcloaks than the Empire.

Bah, morality...What good is it when it holds you back from what must be done?
Edit: There is only one thing on the battlefield...Survival, The stormcloaks foolishly think that a concept such as "honour" belongs on the battlefield, it does not..

And what must be done? The Stormcloaks are more eager to destroy the Dominion than the Empire, that's good enough.

As i "edited" in my last post, the stormcloaks have one thing blinding them, "Honour", while the Imperials seem not to care for it, meaning the imperials will have no problem using underhand tactics, stormcloaks...not so much. Also playing the dominions "[censored]" is also necisary to buy time for the legion to recover.

What underhand tactics? The same ones that one them Red Ring?

Well yes, Im also speaking in broader terms, as you know, we know how the imperials think of nordic "culture", in general nords hate using underhand tactics, the stormcloaks are basically attempt to follow there nordic customs, so you connect these 2 points and come to the conclusion that the imperials have no problem what must be done(shown in the start of the game, you know what im talking about) while the stormcloaks appear to prefer not to use underhand tactics.

You've still yet to define these 'underhand tactics,' and cite examples of them within TES history. When Nords talk about Honor, I'm almost certain they mean the honor of battle, not noble tactics. Sure, they have a distrust of magic, that's about the only thing they won't use. And it hasn't stopped them before (long term), the Nords have been very successful in the art of warfare.

Well im talking "generally", sure we have examples, Ulfric broke the oath he took to the empire by turning into a "traitor", Also im heading to the imperial libary and ill look for some links.

Well, you might be too late, I'm going to bed. If this thread is still on the front page about 16 hours from now, I'll be sure to take a look.

Basically boils down to this--

Ulfric has been betrayed by the very empire that he served and views the empire to weak to have the right to rule over skyri and wants to do away with thier inluence to wipe the slate clean so that the people of skyrim can start fresh.....as in go back to the traditions of thier heroic forefathers.

General Tullius is there to do a job and he will see that job to the end. he is there to do what is best for cryodill..the empire...and will undermine even the thalmor when it comes to whats best for his homecountry and empire, which he proves twice both in situations that were what was ebst for the empire.

I found both charectors after several hours doen very well when i looked at each charector and judged them by themselves and not compared to the other. Really the game dosent show them both in thier best light because they have a job to do and they are solely focused on that job, thats the only side u see of them. I cant wait to see how the charectors are fleshed out in the dlc thats after the civil war.

Honestly, for TES fans who have played previous games it comes down to this, I think.

You have fought for the Empire countless times throughout the series, so:

a.) You are sick and tired of them, and want a change.
b.) You have fought for them long enough that you can't bring yourself to betray them.
c.) You've hated them ever since Morrowind.
d.) You don't care at all, neither of them are worth fighting for.

For people who were first introtuced to TES by playing Skyrim, most of them have an enormous grudge against the Empire because a corrupt and [censored] captain orders your execution wrongly.

They also hear Ulfric speak for the first time, and feel like they are in the presence of a god. I think, for the most part, you have to play previous TES games to really understand the Empire at its best.

Well first off I would like to ask didn't the nords come from up north and slowly go down south into tamriel and skyrim? Just wondering. But anyways...

Since i have been an imperial since i started in morrowind, i chose the empire. Although i do wish that they looked as cool as they did in the elder scrolls 4, i stuck with them. Stormcloaks do fight for their land i understand, but i could not live with myself with Ulfric as High King. It seems that he fights for power while the stormcloaks fight for freedom. Plus i think that since the empire basically owns almost all land in tamriel they have a right to skyrim.