I would like the empire remnants to be more reckless in their methods, perhaps use more brute force.. They are trying to keep control of a major civil war after all.

I don't think that the Empire will have disappeared entirely. Will it have changed? Absolutely. Will it have shrunk? Lost some Provinces to independence? Maybe.

All I really know is that the political landscape will have drastically changed with no strong heirs to the throne from the Septim line. Think about that. As much as the populace may have hated/loved the Septim line, they were the image of stability. For over 200+ years, no one but a Septim sat upon the throne of Tamriel (there was the Jagar Thorne situation of course, but that was an aberration in my book). How did the Empire change in the intervening 200 years leading up to Skyrim? Who were the candidates for the new Emperor? How viciously were the battles for ascension to the throne?

Did Morrowind get completely taken over by Black Marsh? Did the Dunmer fight back and reclaim at least their Ancestral Lands and retain Morrowind as its own Country/Province? How much (if any) of Skyrim, High Rock, Sommerset, Black Marsh, Morrowind, etc, seceded from Imperial control and became their own Sovereign Nation again?

If the Empire shrank some but is still a relatively strong influence, would the Aldmeri Dominion attempt to put their plan for conquest of Tamriel into high-gear?

These are most of the questions I look forward to reading about in the canon/lore-books in the new game. I think that this story-line (and the history that is almost necessarily involved in it) is going to be the best one yet.

My name speeks for me. Its just how epic I and it are. :shrug:

The empire will have a presence in skyrim, somewhere in the upper left hand side of the map is an area in which they will have a strong presence in fact, this was brought up early on in 1 of the first interviews with Todd Howard

I'm glad your dead Septim, I'm glad your dead.

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Tamriel that we know of so far:
Aldmeri Dominion Controlled:
Summerset Isle
Valenwood

Black Marsh Controlled:
Black Marsh
Morrowind (Yes it was completely taken over, not to mention reduced largely to ruins by the explosion.)

Independent:
Elsweyr

Cyrodiilic Empire:
Cyrodiil (may have lost parts to the Aldmeri Dominion. I don't remember.)
Hammerfell
High Rock
Skyrim

I'm not positive with the others but please correct me if I'm wrong but I think that's the current situation. As of Skyrim there is a civil war breaking out between rebels that want Skyrim to secede and loyalists that want Skyrim to remain a province.

I think if the Empire is stable after Skyrim with the provinces I listed there could easily be an uneasy "cold war" of sorts between the Cyrodiilic Empire, Black Marsh, and the Aldmeri Dominion. The only motives known for sure are those of the Aldmeri Dominion: a "purification" of Tamriel to build a dominion to serve Altmer interests.

Again correct me if I'm wrong but I think that's what Tamriel looks like according to the most recent lore.

Well the Empire won't be gone, but it may be changed. I personally liked the Empire and thought it brought necessary order and reforms to many of the provinces. They helped crack down on Skooma and Moon Sigar trade, fought slavers until it was abolished in Morrowind, and the reduced tension among the many races of living in Cyrodiil. You could blatantly see racial conflicts amongst the zenophobic Dunmer v. The Beast Races as well as the Nords of Solstheim, whereas in Oblivion there were little more than passing jests and comments that displayed racial conflict.

I'll be eager to see how the new Empire tries to hang on to the legacy of the Septim Empire, and whether it has evolved past the former Empire succeeded in upholding order and justice or whether it's become staunchly traditionalist and somewhat corrupt. I'd like to see it become a Republic eventually, and it may be needed to unify the Nords, Imperials, Bretons, and Cyrodilic mer if the Aldmeri Dominion decides to go on the offensive or Black Marsh gets strong enough to threaten or destroy more former Imperial provinces.

Good riddance.

Good riddance I say

I almost miss the Empire, after the cool people from it we knew in Redguard and Morrowind. But no, not that happy temperate forest fantasy world filled with "BY THE NINE DIVINES" zealots. I'm glad we won't be seeing that many of them in the fourth era.

I've never had anything against the empire. But its not like I cared for them. So I guess the answer to the question is... Meh :shrug:

Redguard took place in 2E 864, 33 years BEFORE the establishment of Tiber Septim's empire. :whistling:

No, Redguard took place during the establishment of Tiber Septim's Empire. Admiral Richton, all the Imperial Guards, all were soldiers of Tiber Septim.

can't stand the monarchy ... away with it ...

No more tyrants
Tribes all the way.

Um, duh? Look at http://i56.tinypic.com/2uha9af.jpg hanging the Bethesda Studios. You can clearly see that the City of Windhelm is labled "http://i55.tinypic.com/1rvmeu.jpg" and the City of Solitude is labled "http://i55.tinypic.com/14t2e1h.jpg". These are the two opposing forces in the civil war the story is partly based on. I thought this was common knowledge.

I am glad the empire is diminished and fractured (I don't think it will be gone), primarily because I find the possible human conflicts between empire and rebel factions far more interesting than conflicts between humans and the supernatural forces of evil.

Your insurrection is at an end.

I highly suspect an aspect of the game will be:
Convince the warring factions to unite against the supernatural forces of evil!

I could be wrong though but...

I'm looking forward to seeing how it's different. I don't particularly care for or against the Empire, to me it's just been an enitity of authority in Morrowind and Oblivion. If there is background conflict/tension between Empire loyalists and opposition, that will be cool. Even cooler if it involves the player either one way or the other - a bit of choice that impacts the overall somehow would be sweet

Suffice it to say

:drag: <----- I hated it when these guys said "STOP, YOUR VIOLATING THE LAW"


I am a Thief in all the Elder Scrolls, and i don't like Psychic Imperial Guards who throw me in dungeons :down:

While this world may be more Dangerous without the Empire....this is one of the few Scenarios where i prefer Anarchy. :tes:

When I see lore comments like these, sometimes I think a few people know more about the history of a videogame than actual history. Not to say you don't. Just having those thoughts again.

I've never seen the map showing the opposing sides' territory, thanks for that!

Well with most of my characters I'll be moving to Solitude then, if the races of men have no cohesion or alliance they're going to get killed when the Aldmeri Dominion decides the races of men are unorganized and divided. With mer characters though, down with the Empire, all the better for the elves to become the dominant power on the mainland!

Long Live The Emperor! Hah! Since Skyrim is a a lovely RPG. I will probably RP my character as a Forgotten Septim. Although this may break all the Lore in all you hardcoe Fan's eyes. It's all about having fun with it. I know it's been awhile since the Oblivion Gates and now the Time of Dragons. But since we get to create our own Background, I will RP that I was sent out of Cyrodiil as another forgotten Septim hidden from everyone so that I may rise to power some day again. But as the years went on and I didn't know I was a Septim, generations came fourth continuing the blood line. Until the one Septim I will RP as has to fend off the dragons. I know many might think this is dumb, and breaking lore, but in my eyes it sparks my RP experience to a whole new level. Long Live The Emperor!

Solitude is Empire? The first town that will burn...