Just a question I have had in my mind for a while. If Jarl Balgruuf supported the Stormcloaks, would you? And by you I mean those who are supporting the Empire currently. The Stormcloak option is there to try to siphon away votes that would distort the poll as best I can.

I'm a Stormcloak.
My favourite Jarl is Ulfric but that is not why I am a Stormcloak. I don't pick a side because NPCs I like or dislike.

Whenever I did the CW on the Stormcloak side, I didn't like to hear Balgruuf say he's disappointed as if I had betrayed him. It's not because of some deep bond but simply that he is a decent person.

But I don't agree with the idea that it's enough reason to avoid siding with the SCs. Everyone makes their own choices and sacrifices are part of war.

I like Balgruuf. But if he did join the SC side, I would still remain with the Empire.

"Whiterun wise", is better under the Empire or neutral, than if its with the Stormcloaks. My opinion of course.

Indeed. People who make their decisions because of Balgruuf need to roleplay and do what their characters would. Doesn't do much for either side to make choices from such shallow thought.

I think Balgruuf should have have sided with the Stormcloaks. Listen to his kid when doing a certain quest.
I'm not a fan of Balgruuf so I'm not saying he should have sided with the Stormcloaks because I'm a Stormcloak.

I'd say he is the best original Wimperial Jarl, I mentioned in other threads that I joined the Stormcloaks before meeting him in more recent playthroughs. He says he thought better of me but after all I'd done for him siding with me was the least he could do so I'm happy enough to make Vignar the new Jarl, either him or Gerdur would have been a good enough replacement for Balgruff. When the Empire surrendered to the Dominion they shamed us all.

I think the rest of the Western holds have replacements that are a lot better than the original Jarl. The Wimperials on the other hand put Maven on the throne. Brina also apparently seems to be strict about Talos worship if you talk to Behetild about her.

You may feel bad about getting Balgruff exiled but the Stormcloaks give better replacements to the western holds and stop a couple of worse replacement Jarls coming to power. Although it was stupid that Maven doesn't get exiled if you take it back after Seasons Unending.

Balgruuf is an honourable man and a great leader IMO.

He places his people above all other internal or external concerns and in so doing places himself on the path of service to the lowliest citizen of Whiterun. I remember placing my CAPS LOCK on (PC) so that my character would walk slowly from Breezehome to Dragonsreach as I had thought about the possible consequences of his refusal to join Ulfric. I walked back to my home in the same manner after his refusal. My character, devastated.

I found his betrayal one of the hardest things to do in the SC-CW questline. I found the destruction of Whiterun one of the most distressing aspects of the game. It is my home after all. WIth Hearthfire DLC installed and the Battle for Whiterun completed, my adopted children beg me to "Make it Stop". I cannot. I am powerless to stop the juggernaut or change the course of events.

I think if Balgruuf had sided with Ulfric, then joining the Stormcloaks would have been easier for me personally.

So I think kudos to the Beth writers for not giving the player the easy or convenient option. And not necessarily the right option either.

I wish...Laila really is an idiot for continuing to be totally ok with taking her advice after seeing her take control of her city...

Appropriate response is "I thought better of you than that you'd take the empire's blood money."

However I think we should call a moratorium on the word "wimperial" for normal conversation. It's kind of rude to the milk drinkers imperial supporters on the board.

Now on to the thread that will inevitably be filled with odes to how great a man and inspiring a leader Balgruuf is...

Id stay with the Empire. My allegiance isnt just because i like some NPC.

No.

The only 'great' thing about Balgruuf is that he can sing and dance.

Well, thats just like...

your opinion, man.

Yeah I know

Is it? What is great about him? Even if you saw what he does (sitting on his keister pissing off Morpheus refusing to choose red or blue) how is that "Great"? You can have an opinion, but is it a reasonable one?