I dunno, before I had even been to a Stormcloak city, I was rather turned off of the Imperials the first time I entered Solitude:

In the beginning I was rather opposed to the empire (what with them randomly deciding the execute me and all). I still haven't decided which side I'm going to go with but the more I learn about the situation and the people involved the more difficult I'm finding the decision.

So far I feel like gamesas has done a wonderful job setting up a gloriously grey situation.

i think all the ppl in game talking about how horrible ulfric is made me join the empire, but eventually i will try the stormcloaks

Oddly enough i was anti empire in the previous games but skyrim did a good job introducing groups i dislike enough to make me join them finally :thumbsup:

I don't know about nudging you towards the Empire but they certainly make you rethink your alignment several times being a Stormcloak...mostly because Ulfric is a total jerk.

The Stormcloaks are being played by the Thalmor as well, both are just finger puppets to the elves.

Honestly, I've always felt more pushed towards the Stormcloaks.

I'd say it's just in our heads.

I kinda noticed that, too, especially when comparing the two "capitals" (Solitude and Windhelm). While one has nice streets, houses, etc...Windhelm has murky ones, half-broken houses, an assasin running wild...

But again, I don't mind conquering Whiterun and Solitude, as I did with my Stormcloak. And now I live happily in Solitude, a city I conquered myself. Quite satisfactory if you ask me

On my first character I felt like I was nudged towards siding with the Stormcloaks. Been Empire since :tes:

Um not everyone thought that. Some of them wanted him dead. And if he kept the gates locked the guards could have caught up and beat down Ulfric.

I would disagree. I thought you were pushed towards the storm cloaks. One the empire tries to kill you in the very beginning and then along your quests you will run into imperials trying to mug you for your money. Like most people you probably do the companion quest and there you are given SC propaganda from the Gray-mains. When you meet the Battle-born they come off as arrogant. Also the games starts you towards the Gray beards and that way is heading to Windhelm and yes you run into people on their way to join up with the SC.. So I would argue that the subtle nudge is to the SC.

Two things made me choose the Empire in the end. One I was part of the empire or supported it all my Oblivion time until Summerset isle when I became the ruler of that place. then I agree with some of the posts. Just compare Solitude to Windhelm. Windhelm is the Detroit of Skyrim and Solitude is almost 100 years ahead. I relies that siding with a ghetto will only grow the ghetto. So I joined the Imperials. Yes I will agree more needs to change now that the war is over and that I am some hero of the empire. Also I am a Ligget I should be treated better by the common troops.

Absolutely! A mod will come along that will correct that. :thumbsup:

Well, I would assume that the Legion does bring a certain order to a city, while the Stormcloaks who are focused on waging a war don't have a lot of spare resources to enforce simple laws.

Its fully believable that cities that have been rested from the well-organized empires hands would come under a certain level of lawlessness initially.

That can be arranged... Oh yes it can :yes:

I definitely felt pushed to join the Empire. Still have yet to fight the Empire civil war campaign. But still, the Thalmor's boot-lickers did try to cut my head off, I mean, I wasn't even on their list!!

Besides the gigantic shove in the first instance I didnt feel nudged by the cities.

Calling Whiterun an Imperial city is incorrect. Whiterun only takes sides in the war when forced to do so. At this point, the Jarl chooses the Imperials because he's a complacent coward or because he's looking out for the interest of his city, depending on who you ask.

To me it seems you are certainly pushed towards the Stormcloaks, and then they try to make up for it later by blurring the lines between who is in the right. I mean, you take Skyrim, where it's Nord ancestors basically were betrayed by snow elves who they thought they were allied with. Heck the Companions guild pays homage to the men who basically helped defeat those elves. Add to that the Nords deep racial empathy towards Dragonborn. Then the Empire decides to allow elves to come into Skyrim and ban the worship of a Dragonborn god to save thier own necks? My only question is: how could ANY decent Nord support the empire after that?

Later like I said the lines are blurred, due to the ambition and racism in Ulfric's motives. But I don't find the Imperials to be much more sympathetic... the Empire simply doesn't get what they've done in the name of "peace".

I had to figure out that you even COULD join the empire. Looked to me like we were set up to usher in the new government after overthrowing the dying empire.

I didn't find Ulfric racist, rather a patriot carrying for his people, Nords, the most. Elves in Windhelm are more than welcome to stay but they are not his priortiy at the time of war with limited resources to fight the Empire, which makes perfect sense. Why would he waste resources on those that don't want to take part in his cause?

He would be a good choice if it wasn't obvious that he used Empire-Thalmor treaty and banishment of Talos as an excuse to start a war and become a High king of all Skyrim.

Meh, Bethesda didn't REALLY do much to nudge you to the Empire. Stormcloaks are a legit faction and no matter what the Empire supporters say, I don't count them as underdogs. Rebels? Yeah. But I almost NEVER support the rebels, even in real life. I just dislike the rebellion faction because their cause isn't very good. However, Stormcloak cause is just and sound.

*sigh* If only New Vegas had such morally grey factions. Caesar's Legion all the way...but they're still portrayed as the bad guys.

One of my main issues with ulfric elf hatred aside, was how he kept making those grandiose speeches about representing all nords when forty percent of the country are pro empire <_<

I don't think so at all.

The rebel faction is as rebel factions are always, chaotic but motivated by a disdain for authority. Star Wars, America, etc..

Also, the Empire makes everyone wear miniskirts. Not gonna win many converts that way! (Well Farkas would if he knew about it)

Because the US went from rebelling colonies to civilized country in the course of a weekend...

When you first start playing the game, knowing nothing about the game or its lore, they seem to strongly suggest you go with the Stormcloaks. The Imperials are the ones about to cut your head off, and then you're an escaping prisoner like Ralof.

Yes, there are nice things to be said about Helvar, and the Empire is probably the way to go in the long run. But in that hectic moment in the beginning, I'd go for prisoner solidarity.

Those same thalmor thought they'd easily crush Hammerfell, look where that got them.

Who told you Skyrim needs the empire? the Empire. Who told you Skyrim will fall to the Thalmor? The Thalmor. Talk about biased sources of information.