Alright, this is going to clear up some confusion about the Empire. For one, they were never the "good guys" like so many wrongfully claim. THE EMPIRE INVADED ALL OF THE PROVINCES OF TAMRIEL, THEY WERE NEVER PROVOKED! So what if the Empire outlawed slavery, they still allowed it in Morrowind, conquered and killed many innocent people when taking all the provinces, levied huge taxes on wealth and people (to form new legions). The Imperials never had any sort of claim to any of the territory that they took over. So why do people see them as the good guys? There are several in-game books at the time of Oblivion that question just why the hell does the Empire try and hold onto some of the more far-flung provinces. Elsweyr for example has been in practically open rebellion with the Renrijra Krin...
So, now we are in the time of Skyrim and for once I believe BGS is rightfully portraying the Empire-as corrupt Romans that are desperately trying to hold onto illgotten gains. The Stormcloaks are no saints themselves either, just to clear that up. So please stop saying that the Empire are the good guys, far from it.

Well, its never about good guys or bad guys.

I know but on countless threads people have been like "I will side for the Empire, they are the good guys, blah, blah, blah"

There we go. Very nice, educated, unbiased opinion. Finally someone who doesn't say who's "side" he is on, and just states the facts as they are. Thank you sir.

Who fought and aided the orcs during the red guards and bretons Invasion of orsimer(In the fouth age) The empire! Infact the imperial legion acted as a rear guard to protect the orc civilians as they fled! The empire is noble...

The Empire ARE the good guys.

Rebel scum try and rile things up and all it ever leads to is civil war. The Stormcloaks would have neighbor kill neighbor while the Empire would have you live in peace. All it costs you is a few measly pieces of gold in taxes.

Op there not selfish why would the sacrifice there OWN People to aid fellow memebers of the empire? Hmmmmm

True, the Empire are not the "angelic never-doing-wrong good guys" - but under the Septims they at least had nobility and held law and order.
In Skyrim, it has become corrupt and desperate to maintain power, though it still holds some law and order. The Stormcloaks are revolutionaries who wish to split from the Empire, but that involves forcibly overthrowing the Empire, which has to be done through fighting - which has destroyed the law and order the Empire maintained. It all depends on your perspective - do you crush the rebellion to restore law and order plus the corrupt and unpopular rule or do you side with change and fight to overthrow the Empire, thus plunging the world into chaos?

Either way, neither side is good - but the Stormcloaks do seem to have more legitimacy than the Empire - but looking at the varied views in this thread you can see this is exactly how civil wars start.

Dependent on who the Mede dynasty took after, Titus, or his son. The last thing Titus tried to do was keep stability and aid the other provinces, to me its more of a "Okay guys, I'm in charge now and things are hunky dory. Just don't ask for help."

HE SENT A LEGION TO AID THE ORCS DURING THE INVASION OF ORSIMER!

The real tipping factor is which guild leader has a better accent. I hope we can alter individual economies and start or stop wars between waring factions.

Whats so great about it is that it is a gray area, this is basically an argument between central authority and autonomy. While the Empire did do obviously bad things, they also united Tamriel and helped bring cultural tolerance through the provinces through assimilation of cultures, they helped end slavery, and they prevented inter province war such as the Arnesian War between Black Marsh and Morrowind. I'm not saying they are the good guys, but they aren't bad guys either.

Uhhh... Is there a new emperor or is Tamriel now ruled by the Elder council? And is it True that the Rebels Are infact bigoted against elves? I Think im screwed you see I love elves and Talos is my favorite god! What faction to side with??

And yet when a giant floating city rauaging Argonia and a massive army of the undead causing havoc, and is heading towards Morrowind (Which was still under the empire) he didn't so much as lift a finger at first because it had nothing to do with Cyrodill. . He couldn't even stop High Rock and Hammerfell from attacking Orsium in the first place.

It could be argued that they brought civilization to the more 'primitive' provinces of Tamriel.

They're just butthurt because the Dunmer (And possible others) didn't initially side with them. I'm thinking that they might have you try to find allies for them as a quest.

Okay Just afraid i'll be standing there as an Altmer/bosmer/Dunmer taking [censored] from an old Grumpy nord. And I dont like racists Even when i'm gonna play an Imperial.

The Empire are the good guys by a certain logic. Think about what happens all the time with small countries... They end up fighting and utterly destroying one another. By conquering and uniting all kingdoms under one banner, peace is made for the future. countless lives are saved. Sure, many will die in the invasions, but that is nothing when compared to the life, freedom and liberty's that will be experienced by the peoples of the empire after the formation and for thousands of years to come. The empire is worth fighting, killing and dying for, even if they may seem "wrong" by small pockets of minority anarchists....

The empire is forcing it's beliefs on the other provences along with the peace. I'm not upset with Mede trying to hold the Empire together, but his greatest mistake came when he had to sign a peace treaty with the Thalmor. For a normal guy he did pretty good, but I fear without devine backing or some kind of super weapon to force the other lands to follow the bloodshed will only continue. Like it is now the Mede Empire is only going to be able to keep part of the Empire together while the other half resists it, forcing the Empire to bend more and more rules so that it doesn't fall appart till it's not even close to what it used to be.

The Empire isn't evil, but it sure isn't good either.

Under the Septim reign it was supposed to be a prosperous time in the land of Tamriel, before the Empire it was chaotic and then Tiber Septim forcefully took all the provinces, but he brought peace and justice, so they are good in a way, but every government has its corruptions, but like stated before they helped the Orcs, and other cultures as well.

The biggest factor is the Emperor. 99% of the time if the Emperor is a tyrant the empire is evil and vise versa

when the septims ruled they were good. but now the Medes are ruling and everything is going to hell.

Ya, i was just stating that it wasn't always bad, but i mean with the Medes destroying everything, i may be Rebels and show some imperials up, hopefully there faction fighting on the border's of provinces and stuff that would be cool.

Interesting point you made. My firsts choice without knowing much of either side would be the Empire. There is still long term peace in the Empire -even through a war that would engulf all of Tamriel for many years. That's what is best for all the people. Rebels will die and their ideas with them...
But I'll make my final decision when I have the game.