Megalomania depending on whose views? Yours? The Empire is cancer, the Thalmor are witches, and Skyrim deserves to have it's cultural traditions respected and protected.

I'd rather serve this megalomaniac tyrant than be brainwashed by some failed empire.

Its all about different perspectives. You see him as a megalomanic as someone who is just wanting power for the sake of power, whereas I see him as a man with a goal and to achieve his goals he needs to be the ruler. You see the empire as the sole salvation for the world against the thalmor porely on the sake of numbers, whereas I see it as without a total reform of the empire after all the mistakes and betrayals to save its ass to which smaller countrys united against a common enemy wouIld be able to do the same thing. I see a country that isnt tainted in its intel devision or military division by the thalmor having better chance at difeating an enemy than one that is infected in all areas of military and govt by the enemy to which theenemy would see preparations and how well the enemy is being orgainsed.
This empire isnt the tiber septim empire of the other tes series, I dont see why a new empire or countrys ruled of their own would have less than a chance than with an empire that just drops countrys or betrays the subjects they suppose to protect.
As far as windhelm, ulfric isnt in charge of the rebuilding of civilians who dont pay taxes or contribute to the money that is needed to use for the rebuilding when a war is going on.
Also its all about perspectives and realizing that charectors are not to be taken on face value, u have to look at them in different angles. Tulleus is a good man but also one who dosent think twice of capturing civilians for the thalmor or to use deceit to get what he needs.

He even says as much if you listen to his dialogue with Galmar, and goes on to mention that Skyrim needs a strong king who is willing to fight. Something Torygg definitely wasn't, since he was basically a shill for the Empire.

That 'cancer' of which you speak was started by the Nords, by the way.

And if Skyrim deserves to keep its traditions, then the Reachmen should be allowed to practice sacrifices and the Dunmer must have their slaves. After all, no matter how terrible, unjust, or taboo these ancient and most sacred customs are, they should be kept for the sake of tradition.

I also doubt that a megalomaniac tyrant would hesitate to brainwash his subjects. What better way to get one to fight for you than by playing on their fears? Of course, Ulfric has never been guilty of that...

I get where you're coming from with it, but Ulfric's always struck me as something of a brat when people won't listen to him. Except rather than throwing a tantrum, he goes and murders the High King. I do get that he thinks promises and words are as hollow as air, especially after the Markarth Incident, and so he goes with action instead because it's the only way to get some kind of results. I just think he doesn't think things through for the good of anyone but his Stormcloaks and himself, which may make sense in a military mindset, but it doesn't make him a very likable guy in my book.
OH MY GOD YES I LOVE THIS MOVIE. Antonino Banderas hnnngggg.

He is said to have a temper. However, especially in his conversations with Galmar, he is the one who comes across as more thoughtful and temperate.

Compared to Galmar, yeah. Galmar seems only concerned with winning the war and such, not so terribly the politics behind it. Which is good since Ulfric supposedly has a handle on it, but it does make for a volatile combination since neither of them have the cool mind of a strategist.

I do have a question that might be off topic but when exactly did ulfric duel the king? Reason why im asking iz because about ghe timing of the beheading in solitude. That made me scratch my head and made it seem like ulfric JUST killed the king.

A loading screen says "recently." I think that's all we know. Roggvir could have been in prison and they decided to execute him after Helgen as a deterrent.

Was a great book too. I also enjoyed the film Ironclad.

It's this line in the dossier on Ulfric that I always found the most disturbing: "After the war, contact was established and he has proven his worth as an asset" It goes on to say it's the Markarth incident and prolonging the civil war which are indirectly aiding the Thalmor objectives, but I always wonder what that initial contact after the Great War was about.

I interpreted it to mean that they suborned one of Ulfric's inner circle, although the only member thereof we see is Galmar, who would never work with Elves of any sort. It could also be disinformation, planted in case anyone else finds the documents, although the fact they kept said documents under lock and key contradicts that idea, since you want disinformation to be found.

Thats being on my mind also for awhile. Its almost same boat relatively speaking as comparing ulfric to paar, both did terrible [censored] in the past but both are trying to counter their past actions like paar killing thousands and ulfric working supposedly if he has with the thalmor. Both have working against their past deeds with paar going against alduin and ulfric going against the thalmor.

Like I said some comparasions if ulfric did in fact work with the thalmor. both coulda have worked Withe super evils and both trying to change and fight against what they were working with in the past.

I don't agree that Ulfric can be compared with Paarthurnax. Ulfic's a person and Paarthurnax is an eons old son of Akatosh who has witnessed most of the history of Skyrim first hand.

Ulfric doesn't seem to be willing to help out the Thalmor in the 'present' and their dossier on him implies he has no knowledge that his actions are considered in a positive light by the Thalmor. The only point of contention I can see is the line I quoted which could be interpreted as the Thalmor getting something such as an agreement or information directly from Ulfric. They did convince him that information provided by him under torture helped them capture the Imperial City (although this was a lie) so perhaps they did have some leverage with him immediately after the Great War?

Im of the mind that the thalmor had something to do with the terms of retaking the city weither it was elf to nord or thru him being influenced by a mole and that could have been what the dossier is talking about, bc the markarth incident did greatly favor the thalmor on extending thier influence.

In a sandbox game, my views are really the only ones that count. And we all get to express our views here on the forum.

I just noticed a bit of dialog between Elenwen and Ulfric that might be related to this. It's pretty vague, but I get the feeling there's something behind it, mostly because of Elenwen's tone.

On the peace conference she says "Ulfric, why so hostile? After all it's not the Thalmor that's burning your farms and killing your sons." and Ulfric replies "You know exactly... no. Not this time."

Maybe the Thalmor were in some way involved in the Markarth Incident? Maybe even the massacre? A plan to start the civil war?

It's in reference to his torturer(Elenwen). He'd probably have a similar reaction to any thalmor, but Elenwen elicits a bit more anger due to their past relationship.

Yeah, maybe. I haven't played all the variations of all the involved quests, so I might be missing some informations. Is the interrogation between the two public known?

Tullius might know about it.(Seems to be the reason he brought her along anyways) Ulfric would probably have been debriefed by the legion after his escape during the war.