Just curious what his role really is.. It seems that the player of Skyrim has more options to play the "Kingmaker" role (especially if you buddy up with Ulfric), which is reminscent of rumors that Hjalti Early-Beard was aided by Wulfharth (we're led on to believe we're important like Hjalti, but actual gameplay wise, we're no better than Wulfharth. Ulfric or Tullius is Hjalti). Yet Wulfharth was supposed to be king in his own right. Not only an earth king, but the Underking too (unless that's still Zurin Arctus). The Kingmaker aspect reminds me of Merlin, but I'd rather be the King (I'm kind of thinking Wulf would too).

"Also during the Late Merethic Era the legendary immortal hero, warrior, sorceror, and king variously known as Pelinal Whitestrake, Harrald Hairy Breeks, Ysmir, Hans the Fox, etc., wandered Tamriel, gathering armies, conquering lands, ruling, then abandoning his kingdoms to wander again." - Before the Ages of Men

Given this archetype, Kingmaker works just fine. No time to be a proper ruler before it's "on to the next one." More fun for everyone.

The Dragonborn is relegated to "King Maker" because the character's canonicity has to remain ambiguous (something I'm getting tired of by the way).

Me too. It doesn't create anything interesting from my perspective. I'm just reduced to a guy who traverses the land and clubs everyone over the head. Pew pew pew. I feel like all the interesting political/dialogue/roleplaying/world changing stuff is stripped from me, and others (NPCs) get all the power instead.. It's like being a kid or a woman in Victorian England. "Don't come around here. The grownups are talking."

In that light, I can understand why the Underking is so pissed off and vindictive. I once hated Wulfharth, but I sympathize now. Even further, it makes me think Talos worship should actually be banned. If there's anything to the Arcturian story, then Tiber Septim is a weasel. Wulfharth was probaby doing the equivalent of what the dovahkiin does in Skyrim - lots of quests and stuff haha.. and then Tiber Septim steals his thunder (literally!).

Why just kingmaker to Ulfric? Tullius is so Caesar-esque that it's uncanny.

Ulfric is more like Hjalti (from the Heresy) than Tullius.

The players and the roles in an enantiomorphic event are not set in stone.

If there's someone who could convince everyone he's a dragonborn and has the thu'um, Ulfric can do it.. Because it's partly true. He can shout at least. He's just not dragonborn, but I can easily see him using your acts to his advantage and getting noteriety from it. Other people wouldn't know better. And there's already Stormcloaks who thinks he's the second coming of Talos as it is. I imagine Hjalti might've been in the same position compared to Wulfharth. Wulfharth was an "advanced" tongue, but Hjalti probably knew a basic shout or two (similar case with you and Ulfric). He could demonstrate enough to B.S. people.

OTOH, Tullius can easily play the part of the Tiber Septim who "got his throat cut" and couldn't shout anymore. He's also in the best position to take over after Mede possibly.

I know that. It's just easier (for myself at least) to percieve Ulfric playing the role of Hjalti because of their similarities. That doesn't stop me from siding with the Empire though. I really don't like Ulfric.

Let's not forget the Thalmor Dossier on Ulfric. Part of Wulfharth's and Hjalti's falling out was his decision to parlay with the Tribunal.

There is no "role of Hjalti". There is the King, the Rebel, and the Observer.

I don't like Ulfric either. But in this light, I don't like Tullius as well. Like any situation, I want to get paid for my work. I don't like people taking credit for anything I do.

True.

Really accurate portrayal of events. If Ulfric doesn't get killed by the PC, and we properly understand the kind of person who achieves CHIM, he's a damn shoe-in.

On a sidenote, a role like Pelinal's is more tolerable to me. Alessia didn't steal his thunder. If anything, she tried to help him. And for whatever reason, their identities aren't muddied up like the Talos thing. Morihaus, Alessia, and Pelinal all stand on their own. That's cool. It would be extremely frustrating to get lost in time and events like Arctus or Wulfharth. Depressing really.

Yeah that's who (Pelinal) I look to the most when modeling a PC for a Dragonborn playthrough in Skyrim. He's the guy who conquers a kingdom and on the day of his coronation he gets bored and wanders somewhere else to stir up some more trouble. It also helps me explain my in game rampages on unsuspecting virtual villagers.

Same. 'Pelinaalilargus the Pragmatist' as main, which also serves as a nice tie-in to Dragons, and the the Elk's list of 500 Companions.