» Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:23 pm
As has been said many times before, both sides have their flaws and their strengths. However all things considered, I chose to support the Stormcloaks.
On Ulfric:
Yes he may be considered a racist and may utilize underhanded tactics to achieve his ends, but people must look at this situation more objectively. He is part of a dire rebellion which could have the fate of the world on its shoulders. He has made the difficult (and yes, sometimes immoral) decisions for the greater good of his people and all the people of tamriel, as crazy as that sounds. He needed that ambition, that power hunger, to gain support from all his nord brethren and to ascend to his level of power so quickly. He is making these decisions so that eventually he can put himself in a place of such power to actually fight back against and defeat the Thalmor. If he has to piss some people off to get there so be it. A weak empire that's a shell of its former self with subjects who doubt its cause and ability stands no chance against the elves- an ambitious, battle hardened, widely experienced, energized ruler with the full undying support of his people does stand a chance. Right now Ulfric seems like a bad person, but he has the right intentions at heart and at the core is just trying to protect his own and defeat the thalmor.
On the Empire:
I'm not one of these "anti-empire, death to all imperials" kind of guy, but I think they must be ousted from Skyrim. Ultimately the fight against the elves comes down to a Unified front. Ulfric will have an easier time unifying his people of skyrim and any remnants of the empire than the empire will by trying to unify the stubborn nords, the people of hammerfell, and other imperial supporters based on cultural differences and recent events. Many say, "oh well you should thank the empire for the White-Gold Concordat or else everyone would be dead already". First of all, I don't think the thalmor and aldmeri would conquer that quickly- the total eradication of a race is harder than many believe. That being said, the Concordat did serve its purpose- it delayed the elves and served as an issue/grievance for the rebellion to form behind- the nords can agree on this treaty as being despicable- it gives the nords reason to join the rebellion. If in some way the empire can survive while still being kicked out of Skyrim, I'm all for that. Ulfric is more concerned with stopping the thalmor than he is with the empire- once they are out of his country, I think Ulfric would consider joining with them to stop the Thalmor and protect his people.
On the Thalmor:
It has been brought up many time that the Thalmor believe Ulfric to be an asset. This is true, yet the same text explains that a quick victory for either side would be disastrous. Basically, the only way for a quick victory for either side is through support of the Dragonborn. If the Dragonborn supports the Stormcloaks, you end up with a vigorous, encouraged, independent and unified skyrim under an effective, charismatic, ambitious, patriot ruler with the aid of the blades/greybeards and the greatest warrior in all of tamriel. People would see this success and rally to the cause. If the dragonborn were to side with the imperials, you still have an empire under the yoke of the Thalmor with varying support from the other people of tamriel.
Ultimately it comes down to personal view. Yes right now Ulfric seems like a d**k, but he's really making the difficult decisions that other men wouldn't have the balls to make. And honestly, if you spend time around Ulfric in the game, you realize his intentions and it seems to me that really wants to do whatever it takes, absolutely anything it takes, to defeat the thalmor and aldmeri. He's not just a dumb racist bigot with only selfish goals as everyone makes him out to be. For everything immoral or questionable he may do, he has a valid reason behind it. In the scenarios that I see a victorious empire would only delay the inevitable.
Thats my 2 cents anyway.