I hope the games steer far away from involving a PC in the Second Great War. I want to read about who won and why, rather than playing the war out in a TES game. Fighting wars isn't really what TES games are about.

As for the war itself, I think the Empire will somehow win. They are the child of Bethesda and have ruled Tamriel in all of their games (minus Skyrim). Skyrim was necessary to show that the Empire isn't infallible, but I think they will bring it back in strength.

Even if the Stormcloaks win the war, a dedicated Thalmor attack into the Empire or Hammerfell might prompt the Stormcloaks to come to their aid. Afterall, the Stormcloaks HATE the Thalmor and they know just as well as anyone else that if the Empire or Hammerfell falls, they'd be close on the list of next ones to go, due to worshipping Talos and all.

IMO Hammerfell and Skyrim will be reconciled with the Empire during the Second Great War, victory will be achieved, and Skyrim/Hammerfell will fall back into the Empire. Perhaps a Nord Emperor will sit in White-Gold Tower as part of the deal, and pro-Empire ideals and Talos worship will once again become prevalent.

The only way I can see a TES game involving a player-character in the Thalmor's downfall is if the war ends in Imperial victory and the Thalmor become a renegade group like the Mythic Dawn that maraud around Tamriel attempting to blow up Towers, and its up to the PC to save the towers and strike the Thalmor base or something. As far as fighting the Thalmor while they are the head of the Dominion, that just doesn't fit TES' vibe. You wouldn't be interested in exploring and doing side-quests if you were fighting a full-blown war with the Aldmeri Dominion.

I could be completely wrong of course, and perhaps Tamriel will fall under a new empire for the first time in history. Perhaps all of Tamriel will be the Aldmeri Dominion lol.

EDIT: When looking at a map of Tamriel, Summerset Isles, Valenwood, and Elsweyr combined are barely a bit largely than Cyrodiil. Its possible Beth won't release a new game for awhile and we'll get all three provinces shipped in one game. Or maybe just Valenwood/Elsweyr, or something, because those two provinces combined don't even equal to Cyrodiil's size.

The sload rise again, led by Grand Slug N'Grub, and launch an invasion on Alinor just for the lulz. Azura seizes the opportunity and rallies the Khajiti against the Dominion. Redguards and various other volunteer races prepare a navy and raid Alinor's northern coast to stop the sload before they get any further. They are helped by the PSJJJJ, but unfortunately a group of desperate Thalmor manage to invade Artaeum and activate the Eye of Magnus in order to devastate their foes, which results in another lovely dragon break. Time stops for some time, and after that snow whales have returned to Skyrim.
Yeah.

Of course!

i have a similar feeling, specially if the Dragonborn has some role to play in Thalmor conflict, it will all be done and dusted when the next one comes in, Bethesda will wait for the next generation consoles more than anything imo, will be a year of dlcs atleast.

The empire may be back, maybe independent nations, again depends on where they take the dragon born, does he have a similar fate to Talos, if so empire is back and swinging.

This might not be too far off from what might happen. We know the Sload survived and remain isolationist. If they unleash another plague, it might devastate and weaken the Elven lands significantly before it is controlled, which might give the Empire the opportunity it needs to win another war.

Then there is the Pyandonea wild card. Do they side with the Dominion, attack the Dominion, remain neutral, fight a war with the Sload, or what?

It would be cool to see Vivec return and whoop some Thalmor ass though.

I think a coup in the Summerset Isles wouldn't be too taboo as there are many Altmer in Alinor that absolutely detest the wretched Thalmor. In fact that one Altmer who's story was published by that Imperial scholar wanted to stage a rebel guerilla group in Alinor before they found out about him.

I'm telling you guys, if the Empire were able to bag the Dunmer and their Telvanni mages and combine them with the Breton wizards and witches of High Rock then the Altmer would be done. Of course like I said before, the Empire would have an easier time killing Mehrunes Dagon than getting the Telvanni let alone the Dunmer people at all to back them up in the 2nd Great War. I would love to see the Empire come back stronger than ever with a real emperor instead some guy who inherited the Ruby Throne from some warlord from western Cyrodiil. I think it would be really awesome to have either the Sload or the Maormer come and rock the Dominion from behind which would definitely give the Empire even more time to secure their remaining provinces and prepare their armies.

The political situation sits on the edge of a knife for 30 years or so until the hero born to uncertain parents arrives first by carriage and then by ship to a prison in Firsthold. He is freed in Firsthold by a group of Altmer rebels who escort him to Artaeum to be counceled by the Psijics. The Psijics, who saw the return of a hero to save Tamriel from Firsthold, guide him to retrieve certain Dwemer artifacts that have appeared throughout Summerset starting with pieces of the Orrery in Firsthold. The hero also gives practical help as an agent of the rebels. Finally the hero is able to summon Numidium from Aetherius in Alinor in the final assault of the rebellion. In the final chamber the previously unknown head of the Thalmor, an ancient mage from the 1st Era who may or may not have been an Ayleid transports the hero to a final battle in a realm or Oblivion where he has been constructing a magical Tower to break Talos. The hero kills the Thalmor leader but something strange happens, and even the Psijics are unsure what will happen in the future, and thus the stage is set for Landfall.

EDIT:

I don't know about looking forward to a "real" emperor, honestly. The importance of the Cyrodiilic emperors prior to Martin's death was that they were all metaphysically connected to Alessia through the Amulet of Kings and their connection with Akatosh, their existence as Dragonborn. With the Amulet smashed, Akatosh's Covenant is... well, not broken, but no longer in force. Cyrodiil is no longer important in the great, wondrous scheme of things, basically. Unless there's a need for another covenant or connection between the Divines (or some other god or gods) and the mortals who live there, Cyrodiil has for the moment lost its mythic importance, and will therefore accept rulers who are no different than ordinary men. Without any future Divine or et'Ada-like interference, I daresay that there will be no more "real" emperors.

Edit: I admit that I prefer the political alternative that you provide, Uvirith, seeing as the first story you gave is pretty much a copy-paste of Skyrim. I have no idea whether or not you intended that.

The Psijics will make all of the Summerset Isles disappear at once. The disappearances of Arteum were just test runs. The Psijics will justify their decision, saying, "The Isles have grown unstable. They cannot remain here, or else they may destroy your Tamriel and this Mundus."

Personally, I think the Psijics sould just make thier island appear over a city and crush it via materialization.

"Ohh sorry Thalmor guys, was Alinor always here? I could have sworn it was more to the east.... oh well".

I meant a "real" emperor along the lines that they are something of a hero like Tiber Septim because right now the Medes are so mundane it is not even funny. I hope they introduce more of a story where Cyrodiil is risen back to its glory and the Imperials rule Tamriel again. It feels like everything is in shambles and it doesnt feel as grand as it did in Oblivion, I sure hope they put that back in the next installation.

I intended it be very Bethesda-esque, funny how that makes it sound like its been done before

I too would LOVE a High Rock campaign, filled with political intrique where Speechcraft is suddenly the most important skill. I think a well done High Rock is the only thing that could overtake my love for Morrowind.