Ulfric was an Imperial soldier at the time

They both have their flaws.

Ulfric is a bit racist, he keeps Dunmer in slums (though they should be happy he let them in at all, they were racist as [censored] towards nords in Morrowind) and Argonians on the docks. But that's one leader, the majority of the Stormcloaks aren't racist .

The Empire is weak and under the control of the Thalmor, which threaten the existence of all of mankind on Nirn. They aren't the same Empire that it was in past games. Whole new bloodline, weakened by the war, and, again, under the control of the Thalmor.

Ulfric is simply furthering the goals of the Aldmeri Dominion, whether he knows it or not. The Aldmer are the clear villains, who want to wipe humanity from the planet and ascend to godhood. The Stormcloaks themselves aren't evil, or even remotely bad. Ulfric, however, is. He killed the High King, who respected Ulfric more than any other living person. If Ulfric had asked the King to declare independence, he may have done it. But Ulfric's goals are too become High King and hold complete control over Skyrim. The way he's doing it is both damaging the Empire and Skyrim itself, allowing the Aldmer to capture them more easily when they decide to strike.

If not for Ulfric, the Empire may be well on their way to tossing out the Aldmer, but they have to waste the resources they were gathering to fight the Aldmer on Ulfric's uprising, instead. Beyond that, most of the Imperial Army in Skyrim is made up of Nords, so Ulfric is sending in his own people to kill and be killed by his own people.

And, let's not forget, the ban on Talos worship wasn't enforced very hard in Skyrim, because the Aldmer didn't want to be there. Until Ulfric pulled his stunt.

So, while the Stormcloaks aren't bad, their leader is. The Empire isn't bad, and neither is their leader (in fact, one of the leaders worships Talos).

The Empire is not bad, just stupid beyond belief. They win a major victory during the Great War, and immediately surrender to the Thalmor, agreeing to all the terms they refused when the Great War started. I miss the Third Era Empire with their oracle-of-an-Emperor Uriel Septim VII. I keep having to resist the urge to join the DB just to kill the Emperor.

Ulfric was a soldier in the Legion at the time. Markarth was tooken by the Forsworn from Nords during the Great War, Ulfric simply took Markarth back for Skyrim.

If the Septim line was still on the throne, I'd be all for the Empire.

Actually, that fact that Ulfric doesn't make an effort to improve the lives of Dunmer refugees doesn't necessarily point to racism. Keep in mind that refugees often aren't able to be given first class treatment, especially when one's resources are spread thin from fighting a war, oneself.

In fact, if you're an elf and you support the Stormcloaks, you're given the exact same opportunities as if you were a Nord.


EDIT: A third thing to keep in mind is that Nords and Elves are old enemies, so the fact that he seems a bit wary of an elven Dragonborn at first should be only natural.

The Empire isn't necessarily bad, they are just spineless worms who cave to the whims of their enemies even when they have the strength to fight them.

Consider the fact that they WON the final battle of the great war.

The Aldmeri Dominion can't defeat and independent Hammerfell, they will likely find Skyrim an even tougher nut to crack.

Neither side is bad, both have good qualities and bad qualities. Decide who to side with based on the character you're playing and the normative values you or your character advocate.

Exactly, they should be happy they got accepted into Windhelm at all, seeing as how they treated Nords before their home blew up.

theres actually not a valid answer for this question. It's whatever you perceive it to be. Think of it like the democrats and republicans in todays society. both sides have their pros and cons, but you couldnt necessarily consider either sides to be fully "evil" or "good" .. however, the thalmor are evil

your first point, the Dark Elves were only allowed in Windhelm in the first place because the High King (who was Ulfric's best friend (who Ulfric killed instead of asking for help (which he would have received))) asked him to let them in.

your second point, Ulfric is full blown racist, and the fact you walk right up to him and say 'I want to join' earns you the respect necessary to be treated like an honorary nord.

The Empire is awesome. I don't exactly agree with them appeasing the Thalmor, and holy crap I hate the living crap out of the Thalmor, but I sided with the Empire because I figured that one day there's going ot be another Great War, and Skyrim wouldn't really stand a chance alone.

Ulfric is bad in many ways, but the situation of the Dunmer is a BLESSING. Not only did he let them into the city, a group of starving, ragged refugees without two coins to rub together, but he gave them homes and jobs. But, apparently, the Dunmer are total [censored]es and demand more. They ALL have homes and jobs, and that's not enough for a bunch of refugees that got smacked of their high horse of 'racial superiority' that they flaunted in front of everybody in Morrowind by the race they had subjected to centuries of slavery. Not only that, but their home blew it's top and sent smoke and smog all across Morrowind. So, running from both of those events, they went to Windhelm, the first city they came to. Ulfric let them in, despite the racism they had showed Nords in Morrowind, and gave them things refugees could only hope to dream of.

Karma was forgiving beyond belief to the Dunmer, and rewarded them, for some reason. But that's not enough, because the natives, that have lived there for centuries before the Dunmer, are in better positions than them.

And that, dear children, is why I [censored] hate Dunmer with the passion of seven stars.

Nothing points to the fact that Toryyg would have supported Ulfric's cause beyond the testimony of his grieving (and rather ditzy) wife. And who wouldn't be hesitant to let refugees (regardless of race) from another country into their city when supplies and resources are already spread thin from fighting a Great War?

And the fact that he is willing to treat you as an equal points to an obvious lack of racism.

The only racist act I've seen Ulfric do is refuse Argonians entry into the Windhelm. He still gave them shelter and jobs on the docks, which may be for the best, because of the tension between the Dunmer and Argonians. You can hardly say "Ulfric is full blown racist" from that.

Also, seeing as two of the elven races just completely turned on the empire and attacked it, he should be pretty weary of the Dunmer.

Does the religious persecution of the native reachmen count?

But the Empire captures random people (the PC), ignores the fact that the citizen is not part of the "wanted" list of known rebels, and orders the citizen's execution, anyway, just as a matter of course.

... and you want to defend this form of governance? Hmmm.....

I believe I've said this before.

The Forsworn took Markarth and the Reach during the Great War when the Empire attention was diverted away from the other provinces. Ulfric, who was a legion soldier, promised his soldiers that they would be able to worship Talos if they retook the Reach. So they did. And upon recapturing it, they were kicked out by the Jarl in accordance with the White-Gold Concordats ban on Talos worship.

I think we're all in the star wars mindset that everything 'empire' is bad...

Then there's these all the people who were thrown Cidhna Mine just for talking to the forsworn. Or killed to the last family for fringe association. I can't say the PC is faring any worse there.Unless you some how RPed the PC's slaughtered by the empire or something

Not really. I think we're all in the mindset that some bad apples mixed in with the good ones somehow ruin the entire batch.

Actually, that anology can be applied to both sides of the civil war.

Given that there's apparently an all-out war between Argonia and what's left of Morrowind, Ulfric might've intentionally avoided housing the groups next to eachother.

I'm pretty sure I just said that. "The only racist act I've seen Ulfric do is refuse Argonians entry into the Windhelm. He still gave them shelter and jobs on the docks, which may be for the best, because of the tension between the Dunmer and Argonians. You can hardly say "Ulfric is full blown racist" from that."

Or maybe it's the fact that the Stormcloaks are seen as the underdog?... We all love the underdog.

I would not say that either side is bad just different. They have different views and ideals, such is the way with most wars. The Stormcloaks are racist, well some of them anyway. The Empire is basically controlled by the Thalmor bent on destroying the world. The Thalmor might be considered the most menacing force in this game. That is however a matter if opinion.