Just curious as to where the majority of the Nord population would side in the civil war between the imperials and the stormcloaks. From reading a few lore articles on the wiki its still unclear to me. Seems like while the Imperials were reclaiming territory of whats now known as Skyrim, they sort of let the Nords take some of their own land, though I could be wrong and have read that wrong.

It's a matter of opinion, entirely.

Hadvar the Imperial in the intro, is a Nord. Ralof is a Nord. More than 3/4 of the population are Nords. It's completely reliant on the individuals thoughts.

They seem split down the middle. I think it has more to do with which province you're from.

As far as the Skyrim game era goes, I would say a true Son of Skyrim would side with the Imperials. The White-Gold Accord got the worship of Talos banned but Nords were still able to practice in private, it wasn't until Stormcaller and his power-grabbing thugs drew attention to this by kicking up a fuss about the ban that the Empire had to enforce the law properly.

Skyrim needs the Empire.

Well it depends. Would a Nord join the side that lies and kills a bunch of memorable friends and family, or the side with a leader who wants the throne of the High King and will mean the fall of Skyrim to the Aldmeri Dominion?

Interesting, thank you. Where can I read a bit more in depth lore involving the civil war between the stormcloaks and the imperials?

The nords are split. Which is why there is a civil war/rebellion type thing going on. Skyrim has been apart of the Empire, Ulfric is rebelling. So the choice is yours: do you remain loyal to the Empire or are you a... Nordist and think Skyrim should be for nords only?

A Nord that's proud to be a Skyrim citizen and has lived there his whole life would probably side with the Stormcloaks. He would believe that the Imperials were unfairly stealing his land.

A Nord that lived elsewhere, like Cyrodiil and didn't have much connection with Skyrim would probably join the Imperials.

It's less about the race and more about pride for the territory.

UESP.net has most of the info on the game.

I am just trying to gather information regarding the Nords, and the current civil war for when I make my Nord Warrior I can more easily make a decision as to who I would rather side with, affecting my play style.

I suppose another lore related question. Would a Nord every favor a sword and board? Or are they pure magic?

Not to mention the Thalmor wants Ulfric to win so taking over Skyrim will be easier and the Empire will be out of the way.

When it comes down to it, both the Empire and the Stormcloaks have good and bad aspects to them. Neither one is 100% right.

Stormcloaks is wild barbarians just like germanic tribes in ancient Europe, and Imperial Legion is real civilization like Roman Empire.

Romans used to have great architicture,great army,aqueducts,sanitary sewers.

I dont like Imperialism on EARTH, but Tamriel is different universe, Skyrim is not for nords,Skyrim is for evryone just like Cyrodill since Morrowind is destroyed by Volcano.

Common era nords are mostly warrior types now, and either look down upon, or shun, magic users.

actually the White-Gold Accord allowed elfs free reign to go around skyrim and kidnap and kill any nord they even suspected of worshiping Talos


and its stormcloak btw

Nord's racial bonuses make them more skilled at being a warrior, I believe. It's down to personal preference though. There's nothing stopping you from making a Nord mage.

Nords dislike magic a LOT. One of the members of the College of Winterhold had to leave his family because they didn't want him to become a mage.

High Elves and Bretons are your mages in TES. Orcs, Redguards, and Nords are your warriors.

But, as that same mage displays, Nords can still be proficient mages.
The Stormcloaks are not barbarians. The Nords are in no way savages or barbarians. Whiterun, Solitude, and Windhelm display that they are very civilized, have a large amount of architectural prowess, and are just as advanced as the Imperials. However, Ulfric is using Talos worship as a scape-goat to start a civil war, that only serves to further weaken Skyrim to be completely dominated by the Thalmor.

At the exact present, he MAY seem like a possible choice, but in the future his actions will bring Skyrim's, and the Empire's, end.

Well I wanted to make a Nord Warrior but only if it wasnt out of lore to do so. The fact that they prefer warrior types makes it that much better Now I just need to figure out who I plan on siding with and then start the character!

My reasoning exactly. Neither side is really just and noble, but there's a clear side to go with if you care about the survival of your homeland.

The alternative is Skyrim stands alone and is entirely crushed under and assimilated in to the Aldermi Dominion, who were going to beat the entire empire anyway. Choose your poison.

Yeah I know, it as a typo. My bad.

Lore wise would honestly be what you want. There are Nords (like some Jarls whom I will not disclose) who feel that Ulfric is a barbarian who lusts for power and cares nothing about the innocent lives that are lost during this selfish war. Then there are those who are prideful and who support Ulfric. Who fight for the families who lost loved ones to the elves in the great war and want Skyrim to be independent and free. They fight for freedom while the Empire fights for peace and unity. Of course, you will find that with both sides neither fight for one simple purpose. Neither side is good or bad. So choose what you feel you want to support as YOUR Nord. There are Nords who say that when a Nord has allies he fights to the death for them and so they support the Empire, then there are those who say they fight for their kinsmen and their freedom till death.

edit: Nords do not like magick. They do not trust it. If you join the college of winterhold and talk to (his name escapes me.... Osmund? Ormond?) anywho, you talk to one of the new recruits and ask him about it he will tell you a few good reasons why the Nords do not trust magick

the Stormcloaks are simply nationalistic terrorists. they bully, steal and force even their own fellow nords to conform ONLY to their views or suffer severe segregation or possibly physical abuse. The Empire is under indirect control from the Aldmeri dominion, but, the Empire doesn't approve of it anymore than the Stormcloaks do and as such they ARE gradually building their forces back up to stage a second attack against the Dominion. The Empire DOES have the strength and resources to reclaim what was once theirs. the Stormcloaks are rag-tag bullies who've only survived through a silver-tongued, twisted logic and scare-tactics. If they did take control the Dominion would fry them to ashes in an instant since they do not have anyway of protecting themselves or their people.

From what I can tell most Nords in Skyrim favor the empire since technically speak, it WAS the Nordic race that founded it in the first place. It's kind of ironic since the Stormcloaks very arguments go against the very storied and far-reaching history of Nordic Influence in the Tamrielic empire

Depends on their personal approach to the dilemma. Some understand that the empire needed to compromise with the Thalmor. Others feel they'd sooner die with their dignity, then live suppressed.

Well I suppose I may join the stormcloaks then. From what I have gathered it seems to make the most sense.

Remember that Ulfric killed the high king not only because he felt the high king was a big sissie who gave in to the demands of the Thalmor and the Empire by allowing the worship of Talos to be illegal and forbidden but also because he could. He wanted to make a statement. Nords are proud and strong and he challenged the high king to combat as any true Nord LEGALLY can. He didn't assassinate him, he challenged him by the ways of their traditions and the Empire saw it as treason.

@GunnDawg I joined the Empire first and did their quest-line. It didn't make me hate or love either side more or less. I will say that Hadvar is a very genuine person. Good heart till the end. He was probably my favorite character in the whole game. I have not played for the Stormcloaks yet though. You cannot make a wrong choice I feel. If you don't like your choice then just start over, not a big deal. I have like 4 characters LOL

That's a catch 22 in itself, though. If the situation has given you such a nihilistic attitude that you think "[censored] it, I might as well just go out in a blaze of glory", does it matter if you're under the empire? Arguably the safer, more familiar, and more comfortable of the two.

In other words, he kicked up a fuss and put his entire people at risk because he's a selfish arsehole.

Nords are stubborn and proud, but they're not all stupid. Ulfric Stormcloak is all three.