Obviously it doesn't matter technically but from a Role playing perspective do you join the stormcloaks or imperials depending on your race?

No spoilers please but for example I am dunmer so at the moment from my brief interactions from both sides it just feels wrong to join the stormcloaks. Are there certain races that would suit one side or the other?

Yes, all my decisions are affected by role playing. Including not taking sides at all.

Ofcourse, however it is YOUR roleplay. You could in theory rp a selfhating Dunmer and join the Stormcloaks.

From what I can see, not really. Dunmer might not like the Stormcloaks, but that seems about it. There are many Nords that support the Empire (Rekke) but a Nord PC might have Stormcloak leanings. I'd say that the other aspects of RPing (personal history, overall personality) will be more important in who you're gonna side with.

I think it matters more whether you followed Ralof or Hadvor into the keep at the beginning of the game, because that determines whose side of the story you hear first. It seems that a Nord would be more likely to follow Ralof, while someone from elsewhere in the Empire might be more willing to follow the voice of Imperial authority rather than someone who Hadvor calls a traitor. Then again, having the Imperials wanting to chop your head off at the beginning of the game might prompt a reassessment of the virtue of the Empire.

I haven't played an Imperial character yet, but I'd probably have him support the Empire's side if I did.

Yeah. My guy's an Imperial, and even though the b-astards tried to kill him, he still holds allegiance to the Empire. That being said, he doesn't mind killing the odd imperial officer now and then, just to even things up.

Yup, of course, my first play through is with a Nord, so I might as well be a racist bastard and join the Stormcloaks, just for the sake of RP (no, I'm not racist in real life!)
And my 2nd .. probably a bosmer or dunmer, so he'll join the Imperials of course.

Well I don't see why any race other than Nord would want to help the Stormcloaks unless they were a Thalmor agent or had been brought up with Nords somehow. I guess they could feel very strongly about Talos/Tiber Septim maybe...

This. I'm not too keen on the Rebels, but they never tried to kill the character right off the hop.

It does; my Dunmer joined the Imperial side, my Altmer doesn't join any side. I might make a third Nord char to join the Stormcloaks though I might just only do those quests with him for curiosity sake and "kill" him after that.

Of course, anyone but Nords should join the Imperials, and noone but Nords should join the Stormcloaks.

Go Nord or go home, I always say. I've played Nords since MW and I am pleased with their culture progression, game/story-wise. I'll probably end up playing more of ES V than any other down the line. It's right in my wheelhouse.

Playing another race that supports the Stormcloaks seems totally viable, however. Supporting the Khajiit in Elsweyr as a Nord - hypothetically - makes sense because my Nord adventurer would understand the homeland defense aspect and sympathize.

My first character joined SC because that people who rode with my to the execution was helpful, and it turns out my people have a reason to hate Dominion.

Being a Nord my first playthrough I decided to go with Stormcloaks, to get that "our land, our freedom" type feeling. For my next playthrough I'll probably go with an Imperial or maybe a Dunmer and pick Imperial Legion side.

I had a friend who made a Dunmer character and joined the Stormcloaks. He says it was really fun "breaking the mold".

These are my characters and their alliances. I try to fill out my characters with nearly completely different skill sets, perspectives, and gameplay styles. It helps me touch all the corners of the world.

Hyva Skull-Splitter - Nord - Battleaxe - Stormcloaks
Vierna Teken'duis - Dunmer - Dagger & Destruction - Neither
Garakh Shadborgob - Orc - Mace & Shield - Empire

I have a Kahjiit that I haven't decided yet what side to choose. I followed Ralof in the beginning because he was friendly and the imperials wanted to kill me even if I wasn't on their list.
Even so Ma'Gnfik is heading more towards Empire than Stormcloaks. But that can change.

I don't see any reason why someone outside of Skyrim or Cyrodill would care about the war. But then again, it's your role play so you make your own story.

My first char (Wood Elf sniper/thief) was hired by a Legion underling to assassinate Ulfric. As he nocked his arrow and took aim, legionnaires surrounded him and took him into custody along with the Stormcloaks. The betrayal didn't end there, as the Legion then sentenced him to death by beheading. Despite their differences, he joined the Stormcloaks as a matter of revenge and retribution. Joining the DB and TG, ultimate revenge was exacted at the highest levels.

My next char (Orc fighter/destruction) was enslaved by the Stormcloaks and working in their camp when he was taken with the rest. His bitter hatred of the Stormcloaks outweighs his hatred of the "uppity" Thalmor-infested Legion, but only just. Joining either side just seems wrong, but helping individuals (the Graymanes) may lead to his joining one side to resolve the conflict.

On my third play through I'll be an Argonian mage siding with the Thalmor and their imperial lackeys.

I have a Nord who joined the stormcloaks (he doesnt care that weakening the empire might hurt skyrim in the long run, he is a Talos fanatic)
I have an Orc who joined the legion, cuz that's what they do.
I have a Breton who could give a fig about either side, so he joined no one.

so yes, race mattered in my choices a lot!

I am not well-versed in TES lore, but I play a wood elf that remains neutral with slight preferance towards the Stormcloaks due to paranoia of the Empire over-extending itself and my character's anti-imperial sentiment. My character is a tip-of-the-hat to somone that RP'd a wild elf back in NWN extraodinarily well, using Native American lore as a basis which I thought was really cool. My Bosmer character doesn't really care about the local Nordic politics (such as Ulfric's power grab aspirations) and the Stormcloaks haven't tried to chop his head off yet.

My Master Race Altmer joined neither side. Destroys Talos worshipers on sight, as is the law of the Thalmor.
The Imperial sides with the Legion, obviously.
The Nord also sides with the Legion, as the Stormcloaks are bound to lose sooner or later. If not by the dragons and Empire, then the Dominion.

Yeah. My Dunmer actually joined the Stormcloaks. He saw how [censored] the Dunmer in Windhelm had it, so he decided to do something. He despiced the Empire greatly, both for trying to knock his head off and he blames them for not helping Morrowind against the Argonian invasion as he is of Hlaalu, who supported the Empire. That belief in the Empire was crushed without remorse on the day Argonian troops stepped over the border.

But my Orc joined the Empire. He did as many of his predecessors did, proved their strength as a Legion.
My Breton didn't care, as he rather wanted to study Aetherius.
My Khajiit just wanted to survive and thieve in Riften.
And my current Nord fight for teh Stormcloaks.

So yeah, my race affects it often.

On my first playthrough it has since I play a dunmer. The next playthrough it won't but I will be aligned to the other side.

I suppose. I'd prefer not to take sides though as I dislike both paths immensely.

Bunch of crybabies.

My khajit hates the imperial legion because they kept him imprisioned for many years, when he finally escaped and headed to skyrim to start a new life he is captured again. He only joined the stormcloaks to kill imperials and fulfill his revenge, he does not care for the nords and their land.