I see people comparing games to the past in real life, quite interesting how we are trained to think. If you RP as a Arrogant race that thinks other people are just lesser you would feel no emotion while putting them down no? Men are lesser to Mer and their loose grip over the empire was fortunate thus far. We need the more intelligent Mer to takeover and if in the process these men and beast folk think we are being unfair, so what?

Basically the Thalmor believe the land rightfully theirs, and they are going by when the Aldmer had the most influence in Tamriel in the past until the slave queen rebelled. So in their minds it is right. You always have to perceive the others point of view, to them it is the obvious thing to do, to the Men who have grown accustomed to ruling, it is unheard of.

that's y i'd see no problem (actually i'd love to be able to) in being able to choose their side if i decided to role an elf, when i roled a nord barbarian i sided with the stormcloaks , the redguard and Khajiit sided with no one and the imperial mage sided with the imperials..as easy as that

When I started this game, my character would not kill unless forced to do so, now my character will go out if their way just to wipe the Thalmor off Nirn, Thalmor are the so called "master race" of Nirn, they deserve every sword slash my character dishes out.

By reading the lore about them written by other high elves. The Thalmor were a mintority extremist political party that used a time of crisis and turmoil to sieze control of their homeland which they hold in the grips of totalitarian rule. They have proclaimed themselves saviors of the elven races and, according to one Thalmor you meet in the game, beleive it is their destiny as the superior race to rule over all things. It's not a stretch to see how in the world could I have possibly come to conclusion that they may be allegorical of similar fascist-sounding regimes in real world history.

The ancient nords were pretty nasty and some of the factions in present day skyrim could have similar comparisons drawn. The Thalmor are acting much like the ancient Aldmeri dominion the nords are not exactly acting much like the ancient nords. Some nords are quite disgustingly racist, just as some high elves in the game are. Not all high elves are Thalmor as they are a political party and religious order not the entire race - a powerful minority in fact.

People seem to conflate Thalmor with Aldmeri - they are not one in the same. The Psijic Order is mostly composed of Aldmeri and their opposition to the Thalmor and the Thalmor purges (exiled or killed outspoken dissedents in great numbers) is beleived to have prompted their taking of one of the largest of the Aldmeri home islands.

I take it you were upset you couldn't join Dagon in Oblivion.

I'm going add this to the mix....no real world examples please just think of this in a pure fantasy context.

Why is it so bad when elves want to take over the world?

What if it had been the Nords that had been waging war and crushing everyone else?

Would people be so quick to condemn?

When elves throw their weight around suddenly it's the worst thing ever?

Realistically, the canon of the elder scrolls series has to follow a certain script. Bethesda can allow us a lot of freedom, but not total freedom. Also, Skyrim's focus is on the dragons and the civil war, and we haven't quite gotten to the final showdown between the thalmor and the empire. I agree that it's an interesting concept, but Bethesda can't allow us to join the Thalmor and take over skyrim if that's not meant to happen in the series.

It could merely be spy missions that affect nothing, Besides look how grey it is gonna be with some of us with the empire and some of us with stormcloaks.

I agree. My Altmer feels completely out of place fighting for the Stormcloaks or the Empire. It would be nice if he could join his own people. Hopefully we'll get some dlc where this is a possibility. If not then I'm almost positive that the next TES will take place within the Dominion. It would svck if we have to wait that long though.

I'm really hoping that doesn't happen. Not for some time anyway. Everyone getting along under one flag is boring as hell (Oblivion anyone?) I like that there is another power vying for control. A group that can stand against the Empire makes for good politics which means better games imo.

I am with you on that, I am hoping for Political quests and secret quests. Something that can be added but be grey like the stormcloak or empire victory will be. After the Main quest you go to the embassy and talk things out and become somewhat of an informant for thalmor and work your way up to, Possibly Ambassador.