Choose the strongest city

What do you mean by 'strongest?'

If you mean defensible, then I will say, Skingrad.

I won't vote yet until the IC is added to the poll. And why Cloud Ruler Temple? It's not a city. :shrug:

Well obviously the IC would be the most defensible which is why it wasn't added I guess. But I would say Kvatch or Cloud Ruler Temple. Maybe Bravil as well.

Skingrad and Kvatch would be the most defensible, certainly.

Well, we all know just how incredibly defensible Kvatch is. :rolleyes:

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080718074011/elderscrolls/images/thumb/3/3c/RuinedKvatch.jpg/300px-RuinedKvatch.jpg The pinnacle of safety, isn't it?

I agree.

Kvatch was completely obliterated! Granted it was invaded by a Daedric Seige engine and not a normal flesh/blood mortal army.

To me the most defensible city is Skingrad. There are so many positions one can take up should Skingrad be invaded.

@hero of kvatch 99

yes but there is a huge hill right next to the town. Put some spellcasters and a few catapults and the cities gone.

I stand for Kvatch. Its plopped right on top of a hill. The only way of attacking it would be just like what the deadra did: open gates on top of the hill to remove the height advantage of the defenders. (plus they were not ready)

Aside from the Imperial City, Kvatch is considered the most defensible. Because it is on a mountain with a limited, narrow path to reach the city.

I picked Bruma as you got Mountians to the North and hills off to the west and you can pretty much see anything coming. The only weakness that Bruma has is Jearls house but nobody's going to know about that.

Anvil, Bravil and Leyawin are port cities so its easy to attack them.

Let's see, from a military and economic point of view
1. Bruma: small, remote (access can be easily blocked). The only advantage is steep terrain and cold weather. But the economy consist mostly of mining and is dependent on food imports.
2. Chorrol: nothing special to work with, except for the implied high living cost.
3. Cheydinhal: atl least one side is protected by a steep slope, not so much to say about economy excpet for the dunmeri immigrants, who are not so well off.
4. Kvatch: did had formidable defences, but not against a supernatural atack. It was most probably rich as it did have it's own arena.
5. Anvil: Bad fortifications placement, the docks are not protected and theres is a hill just nearby. The economy should be rather strong because of the sea trade but there is a number of abandonend buildings, maybe a crisis?
6. Skingrad: good defences and a strong, diversified economy.
7. Bravil: rather good defences because of the moot, but poor, rundown and with a for a count
8. Leyawiin: fairly standart defences, should have a sea port, but this was srapped for whatever reasons (dev's lazyness?)

Overall I would say Skingrad.

Cloud Ruler Temple is not a city.... it's too far away from Bruma as well, to be considered as a part of the defenses for Bruma. I'm going with Kvatch followed by Skingrad, in terms of defenses, including natural terrain.

Voted Bruma. Mountain ranges to the north, east and west and a good view to the south. Not to mention all the axe-loving nords :toughninja:

So would Skingrad be protected from a supernatural attack? And if not what would be it's advantage over Kvatch?

ald ruhn

If by "strongest" you mean "most defensible", I'd have to say Kvatch before the siege. I have several reasons for my choice. NOTE: All of these reasons are based on conventional medieval warfare (accounting for magic, of course):

1. It sits on top of a tall hill with a good view of the surrounding area. From this vantage point, any approaching army can be seen from a great distance.

2. There is only one approach. An invading force would have to ascend through a series of switchbacks that would leave them vulnerable to attacks from above. There is also only one entrance to the city, which would make it easier to defend. All other cities in Cyrodiil (minus the IC) have at least two entrances, which means they would have to split their defenses.

3. The switchbacks are so narrow that siege engines would have to be carried up in pieces and assembled in front of the main gate. This would leave them vulnerable to attack as well.

4. The area in front of the main gate is almost completely devoid of cover. Archers and spell casters could devastate an army gathered there before they could assemble their siege engines. This is made even easier by the narrow switchbacks. Soldiers would emerge onto the field in front of the gate one, two or three at a time. Archers and spell casters could eliminate them rather quickly. And let's not forget about the havoc that a well aimed Frenzy spell would unleash on the enemy ranks.

5. The height at witch the city stands makes it very visible for a great distance in any direction. Any siege would be noticed fairly quickly and aid could be sent before the walls could be breached.

6. While the walls are being defended, fortifications can be erected in the courtyard in case the gate is breached. These could be set up to force the invaders into narrow areas where only one or two can pass at a time. The archers and spell casters lining the walls could then rain death and destruction (and more Frenzy spells) down on the heads and backs of any enemies that enter while more defenders engage them from the front. If help arrives before (or even right after) the gate is breached, the invaders will be sandwiched between enemies and crushed (or forced to surrender).


All in all, the overnight fall of an extremely defensible city like Kvatch should have engendered much more fear than it seems to in game. Seriously, the Emperor and his heirs have been murdered, Oblivion Gates are opening everywhere spewing forth Daedra like vomit from an overfed drunk, one of the most defensible cities in Cyrodiil has fallen overnight and all you hear is "I saw a mudcrab the other day." :facepalm: I mean, really? Could they be in any more denial?

Well, Skingrad does have a supernatural count...
Besides, I meant its defensive value vs. mundane armies (although with levitation from Morrowind all walled cities would be compromised).
Skingrad has the better economy, a mighty wizard for a count and better defences, especially the separated castle with the bridge (unfortunately not retractable).

Very good points, but I think you forgot about catapults. They could devastate Kvatch from a distance and below

A projectile launched from a catapult at the base of the hill wouldn't hit with enough force to cause much damage. They would have to use http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trebuchet for that. And such a large contraption would be seen from a distance, so sabotage teams could be sent out with Destruction and Frenzy scrolls before they got in range. But, if they sent the main body of their force against the gate and assembled the trebuchets on north side of the hill...

They would do some damage for sure. And lets not forget the favourite projectile of medieval times, cadavers, preferably with some nice disease
Not only is there a chance of infecting the population, but mainly it would instill fear and the will to fight back would drop

Skingrad for sure. Lots of places to hide and also for archers to rain down fire. Also they have the most powerful ruler of all the cities. Would like to see Janus Hassildor vs Chancellor Ocato in a duel to the death haha.

True, catapults would do some damage, just not much. Disease-ridden corpses would be a good idea, but they'd be just as likely to spread the disease among the invaders and so probably wouldn't be used. Launching the severed heads of previously captured citizens would certainly have a strong effect. I think the most effective method would be to send a lone soldier into the city as a "merchant" for reconnaissance. When the "merchant" reports back that there are limited supplies of food within the city and no internal means of replenishing it, just blockade the road. They could easily starve the city out, although it would take a while. No city is invulnerable to attack, but there are easier one to take than Kvatch.

Cloud Ruler Temple is a fortress, but not really a city. Failing that, probably Skingrad.

Skingrad also has Destruction mages who could help the guard as well.

Okay, went ahead and voted since the OP seems to have fallen off the map. Don't understand why the IC can't be included in the poll, since the subject of "strongest" is somewhat vague. IC can be debatable as the "strongest" for many reasons.

Voted for Skingrad.

1. Leadership (Janus Hassildor):ninja:
2. Glarthir.
3. A necrophiliac
4. An atheist.
5. A good supply of cheese and wine for the long haul! :foodndrink:

This town is wicked hardcoe. They have a handle on the West Weald.


[edit] hit the wrong damn button.