As we know the High King of Skyrim will be killed in the beginning of the game and there will be a civil war. pretty sure the wars between those who want to stay in the empire and those who want to leave the crumbling regime. i have a feeling we might play a role in the war (why wouldn't we) do you think we could pick sides which side would you wanna be on the empire or the others. I'd pick the side to leave the empire because why stay on the side where people are leaving more and more and by this time Black Marsh and Elsweyr both left the empire. ALSO what do you hope our reward at the end of the war or game should be since we have "noble-ish blood" we should get some kind of new status rather than some armor and let go like oblivion i know its a stretch to say new Emperor but maybe new High King or some thing close like advisor

So which side would you choose and what would u like to be our ultimate reward?

Good thread, I was thinking about this earlier today.

I haven't totally decided on what my character is going to be, but I have an idea. And the concept that I have in mind right now would most likely fight to keep Skyrim in the Empire.

I have always loved the Empire, but this new empire may not be the same empire I grew up with. I have no idea what the Mede reign is like, so I'm unsure.

In the end I'd like to see the start of a new Empire. I'd like our character to be a reincarnation of Wulfharth/Ysmir/Shor and be instrumental in the formation of a new empire. Thats the only "reward" I require.

Well, technically we will have dragon blood in our veins, just like the Septims did, so maybe we could revive the failing empire and re-light the dragon fires. We won't be going to Cyrodiil though, so the most we could hope for as far as being on the Imperial side for the civil war is to rally all the imperials in Skyrim. Or conquer all the Imperials and watch their crumbling empire burn

Personally, I want the game to end with me sitting on a throne of skulls, king of Skyrim. One of my men will as me:
"Dovahkiin, what is good in life" to which I'll reply:
"To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women".

I will see the empire crumble, axe in hand the Mede reign will fall.

The side with the most delicious snacks.

THIS!!! lol

Being the cold, indoctrinating dictator I am, I would not secede from the empire - I would depose the new, weaker and less established emperor with a coup-d'etat, using mercenaries and political assassination where necessary to retake Skyrim and use its growing population to draft a considerable army. From there I would naturally move into Morrowind, put down the Argonians, and reestablish the slave trade whilst setting up trade routs in Blackmarsh. Elsweyr would be an afterthought, and the real threats would be Orsinium and High Rock. Mmyes. Too much Total War.

No, but really, I'd probably side with the Empire. It's kind of your heritage, after all.

Given the fact that they haven't really said much about the sides yet it's kind of impossible to pick.

In what way? Being dragonborn does not mean you are a part of the Septim line and even if it did, the Empire is now the Mede Empire.

Depends on the Mede empire. If I like them or not.

Time to put the rightful heir back on the throne! So that I may take his life myself... though suicide is never the answer....

I wouldn't say "heritage" more like divine right. All of the past Dragonborns have either: rises to power, achieved a god-like status, or been born royal. Two of those have always been correlated with an Empire over Tamriel (not just Imperial).
There is no doubt are fates are tied to the Empire. I'm guessing more along the lines of Wulfharths involvement in the formation of the Septim Empire, mainly due to the fact we can't become Emperor.

I'd like to be part of the seperating side. This is because it fits with what Skyrim 'is', or what it represents. It is the land of vikings, savagery, freedom, strength. It seems the most likely to seperate, and it would fit with everything Skyrim is throughout the lore.

If we did get a reward at the end of the game, I'd like to have some kind of high status (in the blades or other similarily noble guild). However I'd like actual priveleges for my position, such as being an advisor of sorts, etc. (perhaps bonus quests?).

iv been thinking bout it for about a week now since there will be no real power in Skyrim if you think bout it no King or Emperor. I would try to take Skyrim out of the Empire to make it its own thing instead of a part.

i already got a portion of my character planned out just from what we know now and some things from oblivion (i know it maybe weird to have a character made in mind MONTHS before the release)

i would like the reward to either be High King or like general or military advisor
i think it would be cool after the main quest and all is said and done to repel some invading force like Black Marsh or the Thalmor

The Empire must die. There's no sense on having peace and prosperity if that means to lose your identity. And it's the Empire's own fault, for trying to impose their cursed culture everywhere on Tamriel, so they better not come weeping anywhere.

I'm not a fan of people that ditch something that's crumbling (story wise). I far more respect people willing to stick it out even in bleak times. This transfers to MMORPGs too. You will see more honorable people that stick with a guild even during tough times, and people that are more selfish that will leave a guild at the drop of a hat when things no longer suit them or they see greener pastures.

I don't have much respect for turncoats like that (and it's a bit worse with an MMORPG since they are real people ditching other real people for their own selfish whims) so it would take the Empire being pretty wicked for me to support the rebels. Forget "culture" as some excuse for disorder and petty tribe-like factional disputes. An Empire can keep the peace and put down any trivial squabbles like that. The sooner a (good) Empire unites all of Tamriel again the sooner the quality of life for all of its peoples can be better.

Definitely staying true to the Empire. They seem to represent a very Rome-like society in a time when order is needed desperately. That whole "Rebel against order! Break stuff!" mentality is cute and all, but stability trumps utter disorder every time.

As much as I love the empire, I believe that it's time is over. As a certain someone said in Morrowind, it's time for a change. Only time will tell, whether it's a good change or not, but change it will be.

Turn Coats is one thing, but ideological differences are another. After all, are you saying that USA should have stayed with England? I am English and even I think that'd be a foolish notion. It's easier to let other people rule or to be a ruler of such a system, it's much harder to rule yourself but much more rewarding. Skyrim shouldn't split into tribal villages, it should turn into a country that rules itself, rather then being ruled by people miles away in another country.

I'm not sure. Since the empire is not the same I saved in OB(more or less) I truly cannot tell. I would stick with the Septim empire, but now it is the mede empire so I have too see hoe they run it first.

As interesting as this would be, I'm not sure we'll be able to make any real difference in Skyrim...

What happens to the lore if you choose to side with the rebels and Skyrim secedes? Is that canon, even though someone could just as easily side with the imperials? How would this play out in the story of the series?

The easiest way for gamesas to do this would be to have one faction set to win no matter what you do, whether that be the Rebels or the Loyalists. I can't think of another way they could handle it without having to do a retcon or never mention Skyrim again.

Where did you find out that Black Marsh and Elsweyr had seceded by the start of the game? Sorry if this is obvious news, but I've been out on the lore lately as well as release news. In either case, I believe I would fight on behalf of Skyrim's independence. With Morrowind in turmoil at Oblivion's close (and still most likely not unified by the impressions I was left with about the situation there by Skyrim's beginning) Skyrim could reclaim the lands that were taken from it by Morrowind in their last war. This is a task that would not be able to be done if Skyrim were a part of the empire. I believe that Skyrim can very much become a new empire, were it to expand into Morrowind and Colovia, IMO.

Anything against the empire, and imperials. (i'm friggin racist!!!!!!!!)

I'd probably roleplay as a innocent civilian for the beginning. Then ill pick a side.