So when Skyrim is released, do you want Bethesda to allow the player to leave the empire scattered, and have the kingdoms with their own independence, or do you want the empire to be reastablished?

Personally, I dont really like the whole continent to be rule by an emporer, so I'd like to see the provinces independet again.

No. This should be the end of the empire as we know it.

Edit: ...but if restoring the empire is the main plot I'll be okay with it, but I've been waiting for the fall of the empire since Morrowind.

It should end. It's time for a new chapter, a change in the world. Plus I never liked Imperials..

I'd like to see more independent provinces. It sounds more chaotic and more unpredictable hehe

Exacly what I was thinking about.

I didn't even realize the empire had collapsed until I read it a few days ago on this forum. Does that mean Ocato is hea honcho of just Cyrodiil now?

Reunited!!

I'm sure at the end of Skyrim, the empire will usher into a new era of whatever form of government they see fit.

I'm not sure how canon the book is, but if this is a direct sequal to oblivion, and the book is set 40 years after oblivion, then i guess skyrim will simply be the inbetween of the old empire collapsing and the current empire being led by Titus Mede, so surely theres no real question about the older empire being reastablished, since i believe titus mede managed to conquer cyrodiil (or at least the imperial city) with little effort.

I'd like to see a less totalitarian alliance take form.

I expect that the empire is licking its wounds in the Imperial City though, struggling to hold control of that province, with even the northern cities being controlled by Skyrim.

I don't know how the second book will end but I think things are going to be very different. I don't like the idea of stereotypical feuds between races that last forever. Basically I don't like either option, and it's not that I don't care, so I won't vote.

I think I want to see an independent Skyrim that by the end of the game allies with others.

I'd like it if there were an empire but smaller and more confined. So that there's room for some more or less independent states. It would bring more interesting political mechanics to the world imho.

To me it would make no sense if the empire as an entity would simply cease to exist. As with any empire there's always going to be follow-ups which lay claim to the glory of a former empire. Any ruler of Cyrodil who sits on the throne in the Imperial City would certainly want to claim the imperial title and the glory it represents.

The Empire will remain but it will be only a shadow of old times. A new, darker Tamriel is rising XD

more exciting if the empire falls

For those who havnt read about the events of the canon book, The Infernal City, I can make a quick summary of what has happened:

Vvardenfell has blown up, Morrowind is heavily flooded and destroyed too. Dunmers have fled to Solstheim after these disasters and the Argonians attacking whats left of Morrowind.
The Empire has fallen, a warlord/banditguy named Titus Mede has united Cyrodiil and maybe some other provinces too (although im pretty sure he hasnt), but thats not sure. He has a son, Attrebus Mede, who is involved in the adventures of the book.

So you all know that the Empire HAS fallen and that Morrowind is pretty destroyed. Personally I dont really care, a new Empire would be nice, but would it be more interesting with Kingdoms everywhere? Personally I believe a new Empire this soon after the fall of the old would become pretty boring.

To be honest, I'm sick of the empire

Destroy it all you want, Bethesda. Give us Empire ruins

I'd like to see a very crippled Empire trying to gain a foothold in previously owned territories and some tension between the Empire and other factions.

Restoring an empire is not something that happens over night. I might like to see it eventually get restored but it should be long after the time period occupied by the game.

I think I remember hearing somewhere that Skyrim would be set several hundred years after Oblivion, but I find this hightly unlikely. In any case, it will most likely be after the events of The Infernal City. Maybe we'll hear about just how successful Titus Mede was. Heck, maybe he's the main antagonist

I'm not sure yet because we don't know how much damage that Infernal City caused to Tamriel or what Dagon did in Oblivion.

I would rather have things be more feudal between the realms with the 4th era. The Empire can still be around but it would have much less influence.

Besides it would make for more conflict between provinces and conflicts always makes for more fun in games.

I'd prefer for the Empire to be dead and gone. If it must be brought back, I'd like for it to be a bit more morally ambiguous. I'm a bit sick of the benevolent tyrant routine.

I want the provicnes to become their own kingdoms again and in a later TES game be reunited to fight a new big enemy.