Every time I talk to Legate Fasendil I tell myself that it would have been awesome to have more people like him in charge of the camps. He offers some insight to the Legion, but he is also the only one who does. Wouldn't it be great if all the hold-commanders had something unique to say? It could have been used to flesh out the different sides more.

Interesting hold commanders is but one of many lost opportunities in fleshing out the Civil War...

An Altmer soldier in the Legion?? Wow!! I figured the Altmer didn't take any sides, but that's really cool!

Not only soldier, but a Thalmor hating Legate.

I wonder if some of the extremely racist Nords around here know about this..

I'm tired of Altmer getting picked on.

The whole Civil War is a lost opportunity. The best Civil War quest happens within the Main Quest.

They're not lost opportunities, they're scrapped ones.

Leftover dialogue, markers, quest updates, and other evidence suggests that at one time the game's developers intended the Civil War to be much more dynamic and complex than it currently is. Taking a hold would have involved capturing the outlying villages and/or points of interest as well as completing the regular missions. In addition, sieges like those seen during http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Battle_for_Whiterun_(Stormcloaks) and the final two battles were intended to occur with each hold capture. On top of this, the opposing side would actively participate in the war, which would have forced players to play defensive as well as offensive missions. Finally, it would have been possible for the opposing side to lose their main capital yet still have other holds, meaning the final battle may have taken place elsewhere (for example, for the Stormcloaks the final battle could also have taken place in Markarth, as well as Solitude.)
http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Civil_War

You can google around for more info.

QUOTE: I wonder if some of the extremely racist Nords around here know about this..

They probably try not to think about it.

My favorite perspective on the Empire is offered by Sybille Stentor. She is one of the two reasons why no character I create supports the Stormcloaks, no matter how cool Ulfric's voice sounds.Something like this:

"Because the Aldmeri Dominion is a sleeping beast that Skyrim cannot slay alone. Because many Nords are members of the Legion. Because Skyrim depends on the food and goods it gets in trade from the Empire. And because even if we can't worship Talos openly, this is still his empire."

You mean that most Legates like the Thalmor?

Nothing odd about a Thalmor-hating Altmer. Go to Windhelm and listen to what Niranye has to say to the priestess of Talos, for example.

Probably the coolest thing said in game. Scratch that, second coolest thing said in game.

The Septim dynasty - and Empire - ended with Martin's death. That the barbarian warlord Titus Mede I stepped in does not a divine Empire - or Emperor - make.