I end up suffering from re-roller syndrome (Casually deleting characters and starting anew), however I've never been able to fully complete the Stormcloaks questline because I rarely roll a Nord (Boring race in my opinion).

What's your Non-Nord characters motivations for joining the Stormcloaks? I'm tempted to roll an Orc and wanted to try out the Stormcloaks with him but if I can't immerse myself I end up deleting them.

Edit: Cheers Mods!

I don't see why any character would side with the Nords unless they are a High elf and are helping the stormcloaks just to get the Empire out of Skyrim so the dominion can take over.

Why is this in the DG spoiler section?

This is the wrong place for it but perhaps you see the sense in Nords wanting their independence.

Had multiple windows open, ended up posting in the wrong one...

Don't get me wrong, I can see the Nords wanting their independence from a (in their view) defunct empire, but with all of these Stormcloaks vs Imperials threads I've wondered what is their Non-Nords motivations for siding with the Stormcloak rebellion.

Perhaps they just have grudge against the empire? I did that once.

That's a good point, it doesn't help they put your head to the block.

I just roleplay their reasons:

Maybe they have never forgiven nor forgotten how the Empire came close to executing them just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and figured that Ulfric was the lesser of two evils.

Maybe they just want to kill people, and they don't really care who they side with?

Maybe they, too, are patriotic just like the Nords are and saw this as a chance to prove themselves to the Nords and to Ulfric that even a non-Nord can be just as badass and patriotic as a full-blooded Nord?

They've had friends who died fighting for the Stormcloaks, and felt like they owed them a favor by joining to finish what they've started?

They have a secret crush on Ulfric because of his manly beard and gravely voice?

Their way of saying 'thank you' to Ralof, who encouraged and comforted them on the road to Helgen, as well as helping them get their ass out of Helgen?

They believe that the Empire has long since died, and is now part of the Thalmor in all but name, and figured fighting for Skyrim would be a way to restart the Empire? (Remember, the Empire started in Skyrim, so maybe they think that they can liberate Skyrim from the Thalmor Empire, then build a new empire centuries down the road?)

Their father was a Nord, and they feel that he would want them to fight for Skyrim's freedom?

They even had dialogue option 'isn't it enough that I want to kill Imperials?' When Galmar is about to administer the oath.

And there's a dialogue option where you can ask him if the Stormcloaks only accept Nords, to which he'll say that they'll take anyone of any race; he mainly cares about your resolve to fight for Skyrim.

Adding to the list...

...something in their past makes them hold a major grudge against the Empire? (Being almost executed would just add to it.)

...They hate the Thalmor and thinks Ulfric seemes more willing to fight them.

...their gods have sent them visions, showing that Ulfric is Skyrim's future.

...They think by fighting for the Stormcloaks and proving themselves, they might use their influence to improve other things.

...They are born in Skyrim, it's their land, and they agree with the Stormcloaks that Skyrim doesn't need the Empire.


...Maybe they don't come from Skyrim, but being Dragonborn and all, they feel that they belong to this land, and agree with the Stormcloaks (see above).

Or maybe a combination of several of these factors.

These are some good reasons, as I tend to RP my characters, give them a history etc. to immerse myself.

I'm thinking that Ralof is more like my saviour at Helgen, so in return for him saving my (Orc) life I'll be sworn to fight by his side, even if the Stormcloaks are pretty...well...racist.

For me I would go with slightly different reasons for different races.

Orcs are valued by the Legion and few others have done good by the Orcs so I don't think many orcs would go Stormcloak.

The Nords as a whole seem to dislike the elven races and the beast races.

Redguards seem to hate the Empire and they proved they could stand on their own so I think a Redguard is more likely to take the Stormcloak side.

As a race I can only see Nords and Redguards having an inherent reason to join, but for me it is more about the character itself and their motivation vary quite a bit.