I have just visited Solitude after 70 odd hours exploring, now the first thing I noticed is how Imperial the town is which surprised me not knowing anything about the town! Now I love the architecture there, I am a bit of a stickler to the old styled stone fortresses and houses and I could really see myself setting up home here, but how DO you buy a house in Solitude anyhow ? Where is the Jarl of Solitude all I have found is the queen! Haven't seen any options to buy one or even step towards getting one?

Do I have to join the Imperials and follow that quest line to get one? If I join the Stormcloaks will this stop the chance of me buying a house in Solitude or even be allowed in?

I am not sure which way to go depends on the consequences, after all the Imperials were trying to kill me when the Dragon arrived! But I am a Wood Elf what concern is the Stormcloaks cause to me?

What did you choose and why?

Wow threads slide down fast on these forums these days not even one view lol

It doesn't matter who's the regent. In Whiterun, the Stormcloak jarl will have the same objects for you to complete in order to gain the position of thane and buy a house as the Imperial jarl.

The moral choice? There's no good or bad side here. One side is fighting for their country, the other side is fighting for the Imperials and to enforce a treaty which is legal and legit, but still not tolerated by most Nords, especially the Stormcloaks. Since you're a Bosmer, you should be on the Imperial side and support the elves, the Thalmor. But the Thalmor are Altmer, not Bosmer. I don't know, it depends on how much you feel obliged to support the elves as a whole, or the Altmer in specific. But you could as well support the Nords instead, maybe since the Imperials wanted to execute you? Maybe you felt the Stormcloaks were the more welcoming faction after that first introduction?

[quote name='Thorn2002' timestamp='1323337351' post='19691921']
I have just visited Solitude after 70 odd hours exploring, now the first thing I noticed is how Imperial the town is which surprised me not knowing anything about the town! Now I love the architecture there, I am a bit of a stickler to the old styled stone fortresses and houses and I could really see myself setting up home here, but how DO you buy a house in Solitude anyhow ? Where is the Jarl of Solitude all I have found is the queen! Haven't seen any options to buy one or even step towards getting one?

Do I have to join the Imperials and follow that quest line to get one? If I join the Stormcloaks will this stop the chance of me buying a house in Solitude or even be allowed in?

I am not sure which way to go depends on the consequences, after all the Imperials were trying to kill me when the Dragon arrived! But I am a Wood Elf what concern is the Stormcloaks cause to me?

What did you choose and why?
[/quote]

Before i had even joined a side in the Civil War, As a Nord female player, the Imperialised town of Solitude people were so rude, conceited and unfriendly to me when i got there, that i hated it there despite knowing u could buy a big fancy house there. (Proudspire Manor)! If i walked past a guard (or sometimes others) they would warn me rudely that if i said one wrong word my head would be chopped off in a second cause heads were rolling very easily. Anyway, i could not wait to leave that crazy place. I ended up joining the Stormcloaks and i may wait to buy a house in Solitude until the Imperials and their puppets are ousted and Nords are back in charge of their own main Palace City again! As a Woodelf, the Nords could not treat u any worse than the Imperials or Thalmor for sure would, and probably the Nords will treat u better as long as they know u are not an Imperial spy, like if u jined the Stormcloaks they would trust u totally. And u owe no loyalty to the Thalmor who look down on other types of Elves except 'High Elves' (Altmer) and want the whole world destroyed anyway so they can rejoin what they feel are their real place in their 'gods realm' so to speak. They think the existance of the mortal world prevents them from that, and should never have been created. If u want to join the Imperials u might find living in Solitude bearable, but treated rudely sometimes as is their Imperial way as overlords. If u join the Stormcloaks, then regardless of your race u will be treated as an equal race by Ulfric, if when he asked u why u wish to join the Stormcloaks if u are not from Skyrim..u simply answer with the option that says something like this..'because Skyrim is my home now' or 'because this is my home now', Ulfric will then stick up for u and say back to u, 'Well, that is good enough for me! " Anyway, that is was happened when i brought my Darkelf with me, so it should happen for a Woodelf too! Once the Stormcloaks (should u join them) take over Solitude, u will never have to worry about being beheaded for no reason again! U will be able to enjoy your mansion and u will get a beautiful Nord as your Housecarl to protect u with her life. Not bad.

When i play an Imperial, then i might try living in Solitude under Imperial rule, but till then, i would rather wait till the Nords take back the city and keep my head. But anyway, u will have no trouble joining the Stormcloaks as a Woodelf, like i explained. And if u do not want to wait till after the Civil War to buy the House in Solitude, u could buy it before signing up with the Stormcloaks and just do not tell them that is what u planned to do, until the Stormcloaks take over. Giggles

EDIT: Thorn, you need to do a few quests for the Steward and then the Queen will give you one, think you can buy a house after that.


At the end of the day:

1: The Empire is as much Nordic as it is Cyrodiilic (this war is supposedly about Talos worship), so this isn't about Nords fighting for their home against outsider Imperials, this is Nord against Nord, started by the Stormcloaks.

2: The ban on Talos worship wasn't even enforced until the Stormcloaks started the war, so its not really a legitimate reason to start the conflict, merely an excuse. Even if were a decent excuse, the Stormcloaks are just as bad as the Thalmor for fighting over religion.

3. Ulfric is personally motivated by power as much as what is 'good for Skyrim,' his faction is named after him! He supposedly fair/traditional killing of the High King amounts to murder; the King had to accept to challenge, even knowing that he would lose.

4. The Stormcloaks started this conflict, weakening all Men when they are on tender-hooks with the common threat of the Thalmor.

5. The Empire is much more cosmopolitan and tolerant than the Stormcloaks. Witness the treatment of Dunmer in Windhelm, the referring to Khajit as 'cats', and the comments made that all outsiders should get out Skyrim by Stormcloak supporters etc. Stormcloaks are basically racists. Again, they are just as bad as the Thalmor here, who regard Mer as superior to Men. The Empire may have had a war with the Aldmeri Dominion, and regard it as threat, but it has nothing against individual Elves.

Basically, the Thalmor and the Stormcloaks are just as bad as each other, and if your character thinks telling people how to live/judging them on their race is a bad idea, you should support the Empire.

Taken from another thread. The last part should be something along the lines of what you are looking for.

I got something to say, but it'd spoil something. I will say if you do enough digging around during the main questline and you'll eventually learn some things about the sides. Things that may change your perspective on the war.

Skyrim for the Nords I say!

Death to the Imperials: t?t mán!

Azrael
The Nord with the Sword

House in Solitude eh?

Not for everyone to RP but why not cast your character as a mercenary. An envious one. Grew up in some backwaters and swore one day he'd have a big house in Solitude, and more besides.

Then your question isn't one of morals, but rather expediency. Which side offers the most opportunity? The biggest reward (the game itself probably won't give you answers to these, it is up to you to imagine.) Then when/if you run into something unpleasant for the faction you choose you decide how much that concerns your character.

But anyway as a Bosmer you might get some attitude from the Stormcloaks because some have taken to tarring all elves with the same brush (not that it will affect your ability to advance).

I believe that the imperials are the better moral choice.

For one in windelm there is a old veteran of the great war who says how if a group of nords gets raided or attacked then ulfric will send the men without delay. But if the same happened to a caravan of Khajit or elves then no assistance would be given. That is not true moral fibre. The imperials would and often do send out patrols to help distant settlements against bandits or dragon attacks no matter what the race because its the right thing to do, even though this stretches thier man power.

Also General tulis and others in the imperial faction have let slip that they need to finnish this revolt and make the empire stronger again to take on the thalmor. That is the only reason why they are enforcing the white gold concord. Because if the imperials joined the stormcloaks against the thalmor as they are, the human faction would no doubt be destroyed. So while the empire is consolidating its forces and making itself strong enough to fight the thalmor when its time, the storm cloaks are being nothing more that children annoyed at the fact that what they want they cant have right now.

So in summary not only is the Imperial faction far more fair it also has a goal to defeat the thalmor when thier strong enough.

You don't need to join either side to purchase the house in Solitude, to answer your question. Speak with Jarl Elisef the Fair at the Blue Palace, and she will instruct you on some quests. Also, make sure you do quests for people within the city, because you will need to help at least five citizens with things before you can purchase the home- Proudspire Manor (the home costs 25,000 gold to purchase, but a total of 36,000 gold to furnish, just to note). I believe the only home in the game you need to choose a side for is the one in Windhelm, Hjerim (this is because you always need to befriend the Jarl in the city, and to do that in Windhelm, you must befriend Ulfric, which is joining the Stormcloaks). I have every home in the game (except Windhelm), and have not done anything with the civil war, or even spoken to the Greybeards yet. Homes become available for purchase when you become Thane of the Hold, which is achieved from the five quests and obtaining the favor of the Jarl. And as far as the citizens/guards sounding rude to anyone in cities, the worst I have heard from anyone is the "pickpocket phrase" of "if I find your hand in my pocket, I'm going to cut it off" but no one has ever said anything rude to me, and I'm a Khajiit. As far as the war, it's completely up to you on who you decide to side with. If you want a little more back story about the Thalmor Elves, I do believe there is a book in Dragonsreach. It is up the stairs next to the Jarl's throne and around the corner to the left. It is something along the lines of "The Great War" and it can give you more information. Happy Hunting!

Windhelm's Hjerim is the only house limited by the civil war quest. You have to side with the Cloaks to get it early, otherwise, you have to complete the entire Legion side to buy it. It is truly the best house, with Proudspire Manor making a close second due to the levels that make it look bigger

My Khajiit is a Stormcloak. Those Imperials did try to separate his head from his body after all. Yeah the Nords might be a little racist. Racism is a lot less deadly than an executioner's axe. My khajiit uses the Solitude house the most. I just love the architecture there.

I'm playing Bosmer and staying neutral for as long as possible (unless I learn something in-game that tilts the balance).

I completely lost my faith in the Stormcloaks after being in Windhelm. Ulfric doesn't seem to care at all of the other races, especially the "inferior" ones, like Dark Elves, Argonians and Khajiits.
If you ask me, all this Talos worship is nothing but an excuse for Ulfric to become the High King of Skyrim. He pretty much took something most people would be sympathetic with, and used it as a tool to gain their favor.

The Imperials, on the other hand, needed the so hated concordat in order to prevent the Dominion from invading everything. Why would they want to banish their own founder worship by their own initiative? Clearly the Emperor had no choice, and had to submit the demands of those arrogant elves.

In the end, the real enemy is the Thalmor.

Both sides are extremely grey to me. I see no real moral advantage to either position. They both are "good" and "bad", which to me is one of the biggest improvements of this game over Oblivion. The thing to remember is that "good" or "bad" people can end up serving either cause for their own reasons. Figure out WHY your character would join either side rather than trying to view each organization as a whole.

To the person that said Stormcloaks call Khajiit "cats", ...so do Imperials. Try playing a Khajiit, you'll find out right away. It's probably a product of the region. Not many "cats" up nort der don cha know ya you betcha

I know housing issues are of paramount importance these days. But I still doubt if they should be escalated to a "moral choice" level issue.

Anyways, you can still get all the houses no matter who you help.

And who I choose to help greatly depends on my character.
Basically my greedy Imperial thief joined the Empire because he thinks the Empire is stronger than the stormcloaks ATM.

I joined the stormcloaks, and i am a wood elf too. The empire has a treaty with the high elfs, so no big deal...
Anyway, i dont like the stormcloks means, but theyr cause is good. I mean, the empire banned the worship of Talos, wich is very conected to the dragonborns history. And also kinda puts Skyrim into a dictatorship, since there's no freedom of choice.

Thanks I did this, for some reason when I first entered the palace to talk to them it didn't come up with the quest, that citizen wasn't there either, but after exiting and reentering all of a sudden he was and then the option appeared too!

25k seems like alot of gold, but it is a nice enough place just as well I had 27k saved up! Place could do with some fixing and upgrading

Leaning towards the Imperials atm, Stormcloaks seem a bit barbarian for my tastes but each to their own !

You just summed up pretty much everything I thought of the conflict. Ulfric is on a straight power grab and that's it. If you do the Stormcloak side and listen to his dialog in private it's quite clear that's all he cares about.

This is about people defending their very right to exist. Thalmors want to exterminate the humans and the empire is granting them doing this slowly.
The Thalmor embassador, complains that thalmors inquisition on thalos workshiping has been halted because of war.
He could refuse. Then the council whould be called to decide if he or other should be the king. He died because he thought he had more chances in a combat to the dead than seeking the support of his jarls, wich didn't say much in his favor as a king.
The thalmors started the conflict. You can support the empire view point of giving the ones seeking their destruction all they ask hoping that somehow this will weaken thalmors instead of them, which is odd, but saying that Stormcloacs started the conflict?
Refugiates are hosted inside the city of Windhelm in poor conditions. Do you know any other hold or imperial fort hosting them at all?
The empire won't do anithing against thalmor. Ever. While thalmors are destroying the empire while using it to kill all humans.

Sorry, but none of what you say is really supported by what is said in the game. The King couldn't deny Ulfric's challenge and remain king. Not to mention Ulfric used a dragonshout on him. All of Ulfric's dialog shows him as a power grubbing, racist punk who couldn't care less about Talos worship. The priestess in the Shrine of Talos even mentions that he never comes to the shrine. It's also said outright by multiple characters that the ban on Talos wasn't enforced until Ulfric started his rebellion. The Thalmor didn't even have inroads into most of Skyrim until he forced the Empires hand and by proxy basically invited the Thalmor in.

As far as the Empire and the Thalmor? Do you honestly think the Empire isn't trying to gear up and push the Thlamor out again? Talos founded the Empire! And do you not think a untied Empire would be more successful in doing that? Ulfric is a selfish petulant child.

Exactly what i think, look at my earlier post and it basically states that the empire is looking to take on the thalmor. only when they are ready though. Which isnt helped by ulfrics selfish aims.

The only moral choice is to kill both on sight.