Do you think the Empire is like the good guy or the controlling jerk who tries to win everyone over by force? Would you like the Empire to stick around or just stay in Cyrodiil?

No personal comments or insults will be tolerated. Anyone caught throwing around insults and personal comments will face execution by firing squad tommorow evening. Anyone who commits these acts of unspeakable cruelty after tommorow evening will meet the headsman's axe on the day following from when the offence was committed.

this won't end well...

The definitive answer to all those CW threads:

- Empire GOOD if they've some sort of "secret plan" against the Thalmor (although they could also be smart enough to share it with the resistance groups in all the other provinces...mostly so they don't confuse you with the freakin' enemy).

- Empire BAD if they're either allied with them, or they're doing nothing but hoping that a miracle occurs.

So far I haven't seen any proof of that secret weapon / plan / whatever, so Empire = bad. Maybe just by now, but bad.

I think it's a bit of both like everything in this situation. The Empire has no point of existing anymore after the fall of the Thalmor from a divine perspective. However it is my opinion that it is probably good to have around as a united front against the Thalmor. Expelling it via bloodshed isn't the greatest situation at the moment.. but who knows what will happen? Overall it's not the same Empire as the Septim one was... but in my opinion it might be worth keeping around for the time being.

Long story short: nobody is right. both are wrong in their own ways. pick your poison because we can't see the future.

Actually my CW threads usually end happily. Just gotta set down a few ground rules before you start.

You're right. I wish there was the option of "sitting both sides in order to negociate warfare against the Thalmor". The bad thing is that while Ulfric would probably agree to that, Tullius would probably stick to his military brainwashing and avoid it...

Can't vote, Poll is too black and white.

If I were to give my vote, I would've said it was once upon a time, but not so much anymore. However, this does not mean I think it's bad, just that it has seen better days and could again with better leadership.

Why is it that it's Imperial supporters who say this stuff when a poll doesn't blatantly favor the Empire yet they never seem to make any fuss when a poll has answers like "Supporting Stormcloaks means supporting the Thalmor."

Well, I wanted the poll to be definitive. However if you don't like the options on the poll feel free to state your opinion in the replies. This applies to everyone.

I supported the empire in my main playthroughs because I figure they are the only ones capable of beating the thalmor. If the stormcloaks win they are just a small army trying to fight the thalmor. If the empire can gain the support of hundreds of strong nord warriors and combine that with the rest of the legion, they may one day be able to strike back against the pointy eared pr*cks

I don't like cake because I prefer meat. Cake is too sweet. Forget cake, I want steak!

edit: Wow that rhymed...I didn't even mean for it to...



No I don't think the Empire is good. But then again, no one is. If you mean for Skyrim, then no, not while it is in such decline. All Empires die. This one's expiration date was called out by Wulf in Morrowind and again by the prophecy in Oblivion. The writing's on the wall.

To be honest, either 100% supporting the Empire, or 100% supporting the Stormcloaks is, in a way, supporting the Thalmor, because they have always wanted the civil war in order to debilitate both of their foes.

Unfortunately, there's no option for "sit both sides for a negociation and possible alliance against the Thalmor", so you are left only with choosing the lesser of both evils (Stormcloaks IMO).

Not really, as supporting a side makes sure the war comes to a quick end.

And where does it exactly say that the actual Empire is capable, or even willing to engage against the Thalmor?

What I'm getting at is that threads that 100% support the Empire and bash the Stormcloaks never get allegations of bias yet a thread with even a hint of pro-Stormcloak sentiment is deemed biased as heck. Hypocrisy at its finest.

"Quick" (I suppose "painlessly", too) from a gamer's perspective. If the combats were real, I assure you there would be way more copses around the fields.

Still, I guess it makes the CW to go more smooth (based on one of those Thalmor dossiers). But still that's far from the ideal solution IMO.

I'm not saying the empire will fight back, just that they are the closest to being powerful enough to do so, and there are many indications that the empire resents the thalmor, so they clearly have a lot of incentive to fight

Well, neither side is realistically going to negotiate until a victor is established. The only choice there is is to pick a side. As dragonborn, you can end it (relatively) quickly compared to the war going on in stalemate without you. You command storms, dragons, can make groups of men turn on their allies, etc etc. Very very useful.

It's difficult to say without knowing about Tamriel's economic policies, public services, immigration policies etc. The natives of Morrowind didn't seem to get much out of it and it didn't do a lot of good in The Argonian Account either. It might well have benefited the other western provinces when it was there.

Never said I was an Imperial supporter. never said I hated them either, only that once upon a time the Empire was good, but has seen better days these days. This does not equate to throwing my support behind them, and against the Stromcloaks. I think they have a legitimate gripe against the empire, but haven't exactly gone about expressing their disappointment with it it the best of manners.

That said, I think the Empire has handled itself poorly since the days of the Septims. This is why I no longer think they are as good as they once were. It's not a matter of the Empire being the "Good White Knights" and the Stormcloaks being the Troublemakers of Tamriel. It's about what they could be again with better leadership. Whether I like them or not, I think Tamrial is better off with a strong empire, rather than what we currently have...and this applies to the Stormcloaks too. I don't see them as having any great leaders capable of guiding Tamriel back to greatness.

I'd say that Nordic + Redguard (+ Khajiit + Wood Elf + Argonian + Dark Elf, probably) resistance also makes a nice force against the Thalmor. And that without an Empire trying to smash their culture and customs wherever they go. And if the Cyrodiilics want to join, not as an Empire, but as an equal....they're also welcome.

At least Ulfric is trying to contact all the other resistances in the other provinces. Does your Empire could say that much?

An independent Elsweyr is the only Elsweyr - free from both the Imperial and Dominion meddlers! The Thalmor are nothing but tricksters with regards to bringing back Masser and Secunda, and it'll take a great Khajiit (in my head-canon, a Jellicle Khajiit) to make his/her fellow felines realise this. As for the Imperials, the Khajiit are not another race for them to 'civilise'.

Also, no cake - the cake is a lie.

"There'll always be an Empire,
And the Empire shall be free,
If the Empire means as much to you
As the Empire means to me.

This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Talos,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war,
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in a silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall,
Or as a moat defensive to a house
Against the envy of less happier lands
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm
This Cyrodiil. "

I'm up for a new Empire as well. There's no saying that a strong Empire has to have the Imperials as the leaders. Perhaps something like a independently governed confederation of independent states. Even if this were the case, you would still have to choose a capital for the delegates of each province to meet and help keep order.

Sorry, allow me to clarify...it doesn't necessarily have to be called an Empire, that's just the terminology I used to get my point across.

No and No

I hate empires.

Cake No, Sweetrolls Yes.