Okay, this bugs me and I'm not sure why. I've been equating the strife between Skyrim and the Empire as an anologue to the discord between Scotland and the British Empire (with each of the Holds equating to the Clans, etc.). As such, it bugs me to see the Imperials in tartans, but not the Stormcloaks. I know this is fantasy, and not historically accurate, but still. Am I alone in this?

I'm pretty sure this is a foremost concern in the minds of most players while they enjoy Skyrim.

I think you summed it up perfectly.

For anyone else that didn't know:

tar·tan/?t?rtn/
Noun:

• A woolen cloth woven in one of several patterns of plaid, esp. of a design associated with a particular Scottish clan.
  
• A lateen-rigged, single-masted ship used in the Mediterranean.

Yea I thought it was funny he just assumed everyone knew what that meant. All TES players live in the UK right chap? Also you are wrong in thinking the Nords are like the Scots they are closer to Scandinavian than Celtic.

And trying to inject RL political correlation into a fantasy game is pointless. One could make metaphors up for almost any conflict between two forces in any nation and act like Skyrim was related.

Removed Real Life Politics

Scots wha hae !

The imperials aren't wearing kilts, though. They are wearing a form of stylized long torso armor based on several types of historical armor. The 'skirt' is sort of just that; it is also, historically, part of the belt.

Edit: Nevermind

They remind me of Roman soldiers, actually.

Yea they are clearly inspired by Romans, their armor, their names etc. Even the Imperial race has the swarthy "Mediterannean" color to it.

Hold on, I'm English and I went with the Stormcloaks. So does this... does this mean deep down that I'm a traitor? By Ysmirs Beard, NO!

Anyway Imperials look (and also their names) more like the Romans and Nords Viking/Scandinavian/Germans. I was almost half expecting General Tullius to say "Varus! Give me back my legions!" at the sacking of Solitude.

Well they are called the Legion and they have colonised all of Tamriel. So there are similarities.

Because the Romans also colonized Tamriel?

(I know what you mean )