I'm new to the Elder Scrolls. But I'm a huge Fallout Fan. And I can't decide who to side with. So please leave your comment on who I should join and why:)

The Empire of course.
The only side with a future!

Neither. they are both puppets of a divide and conquer scheme.

I was wondering this also. I heard the Stormcloaks are racists but I the Legion condemns Talos worship. I do lean to the Legion but I also want to choose what's best for Skyrim and her people.

The Legion worships Talos.
A united empire is the only way!

Hmm, I guess it was banned for peace and I do like the idea of a more governed land. Elves would probably enjoy this as well. legion does seem like the logical choice.

Both sides has been designed in a way allowing you to join them with only a little remorse. Both have their own view points. Just play a little more and join the side you like more.

It's not a black & white situation, and really depends on the character you're playing. There's no need to rush to join either faction - travel around, listen to people and read books to familiarise yourself with what's going on: Bear of Markarth, Rising Threat, and The Great War, to name a few.

I'm at level 42 and STILL have joined neither.

At first I was thinking Stormcloakes because of the Helgan incident. But I decided to wait. Now I have dozens of opinions from NPCs in the game from all over the place. It's interesting hearing about both sides. And it's interesting entering palaces and hearing the banter there on the subject.

With the ongoing threat of the Thalmor, I'd say the best bet is to join the Legion. Ulfric wants Skyrim to be free, sure, a good cause. But he also wants to be high king and his Stormcloaks are racist bastards.

Sure, the Legions wanted to cut your head off in the beginning, but that was a mistake.

If you join the Stormcloaks, you will get a weakened Empire and a free-but-weakened Skyrim (no Imperial aid, no soldiers for patrols, no trade routes). And don't think the Thalmor will help you where the Imperials used to; Ulfric used to be a Thalmor pawn but after a while became a liability and a nuisance, and an uncontrollable one, at that. So the Thalmor aren't fans of Ulfric and his rule, and they're not fans of the Imperials, either (obviously). If you join the Imperials, you'll get a still-unified and strengthened Empire with their oldest and strongest ally (Skyrim), and a unified Skyrim. You still have the Thalmor occupation, which is the reason Talos worship is banned (the Empire was forced to ban it when they signed the White-Gold Concordat, the peace treaty that ended The Great War)... yet while it is officially banned, that ban is not strictly enforced, especially in Skyrim (where Talos/Tiber Septim was born). In fact, the only town that has a real Thalmor presence that I know of is Markarth. As for racism, if you listen to in-game dialogue you can pick up on things about Ulfric being racist and elitist.



It is possible that future DLCs/expansions will expound upon the Thalmor occupation. (That's my wish, anyway)

The Thalmor are more than happy to "help" - their "aid" comes complete with ethnic cleansing and a steep price tag.

I don't know why this is always assumed. If Cyrodiil won't trade with Skyrim as a free nation- only one under their control- then to Oblivion with them.
No one wants or needs the Thalmor's "help." The Stormcloaks are fighting the Thalmor. As for Ulfric being their pawn, that is only what they claim and we don't have any other evidence to back it up. The empire are much bigger pawns for their aims.
And Solitude. Basically, anywhere the empire controls.

The biggest disadvantage to imperial rule is that their leadership is weak and corrupt, not willing to finish the job against the Thalmor, and they are cooperating in removing humanity's biggest ace in the hole- the worship of, hence strengthening of, Talos.

You should join the stormcloaks:

1. For ethical reasons: they aren't perfect but serve a good cause. Their perceived 'racism' is no more than unrefined patriotism. It is relatively good-natured compared to the racial and religious supremacism of the Thalmor and their puppet empire.

2. For practical reasons: the empire is finished and has proven unable to stand up to the Thamor. The redguards of Hammerfell have shown that the Dominion isn't invincible and can be fought to an standstill by determined rebels.

After much deliberation I joined the Stormcloaks. It just seemed more obvious, since the other faction decided to have me decapitated out of pure boredom. I don't hate elves and I don't think Ulfric does either, I never heard anything concrete about this - that thing about him not helping non-Nord raided caravans is just gossip. Also that about him wanting to be High King is stupid, of course he does! He defeated Torygg in a fair match, according to the Nord tradition, and was imprisoned for that!

Stormcloaks if you want to have fun. Imperials if you want to feel self-righteous.

Do Both! I'm going to have a Nord Warrior side with the Stormcloaks, and an Imperial Warrior side with the Empire, then, I'll have a few who ignore the conflict entirely.

+Petrose