As any history book teaches us, an Empire stretched beyond it's means collapses in upon itself. Where citizens of a distant province may loath the Empire, the inhabitants of it's capital may deify it. The opposite can also be held true.

Looking across all of Tamriel, and what we currently know if it's different peoples and cultures, and their general archetypal personalities... do you think the whole of Tamriel would be better off with or without the Empire in it's current incarnation.

Currently the Empire has held Tamriel together peacefully, though united it by force. Obviously the immediate conditions following the collapse of ANY empire are generally devastating, but what of the lasting result? Would Tamriel fair better united under a single body, or with each kingdom left to it's own devices?


I'd like to hear your opinions and arguments on the subject

If each province agrees to elect a chancellor like figure and these all form some sort of unified senate like form of government then it could be beneficial but even then it might not work as planned as even democracies are not always effective. It all depends upon the actions of the people holding power and how efficient they are, not what form the government takes (although a dictatorship would probably be horrible, although you could define the Empire as one soo?).

If I was born in one of the provinces, I would probably fight for independence, but if I was born in central, I'd try to convince freedom fighters that the Empire brings them nothing but good. Unification is good for economics, but bad for cultural diversity, so I guess I'm not sure because it's for each individual to decide what type of country they want to live in. Because regardless of what government style it would have, feudal, democratic, or whatever, the society as a group, as a whole, always has the ability to decide, that's how empires rise and fall...

Edit: I think I took a shortcut there. I meant that I'm unsure beacause since it's each individuals decision, it's hard to say what would be best for one province, not to mention the whole Empire, which consists of millions or billions of individuals...

I'm sure it'll make things in Tamriel more exciting...

LONG LIVE THE CYRODILIC REPUBLIC!!!!!

Too many useless nobles around. Except for Hassildor, the counts and countesses are mostly useless, Ocato has no connection with Imperial society, he's an altmer battlemage and didn't seem to do so well against the Daedra so there's no reason for the people to like him or support him. Indarys in Cheydinhal might even support a Dunmer annexation of his county, and since the Oblivion crisis would have burnt most of the harvest to cinders, no one should have anything to eat. Its an interesting situation.

Why go to Skyrim? Let's stay in Cyrodil and overthrow the Elder Council!

In terms of a suspenseful plot that provides more potential for interesting avenues to explore, I would find the world to be better off without an Empire. The absence of an overarching authority makes things nicely convoluted, which is a worthy trait to have in a game.

But in terms of an in-game assessment of whether or not Tamriel would benefit from an absence of that central authority, it's fairly difficult to say. It would certainly provide opportunities for old grudge-matches to be settled, allowing for open wars where open wars are due. It could mean no agreed-upon code of laws to protect people. It could lead to a drop in the quality of living for all the economic classes save the most resourceful. And yet it could also open up pathways for smaller self-governments that can structure things locally to suit their own peoples' needs better, amongst other things.

I feel it would make life far more risky, and it would increase the individual potential to rise or fall in the world by a great amount without the Empire to keep things in stagnant check.

I guess I'll go with each of the provinces being independent but still remaining peaceful and continue trade with one another, so united in some ways but still very much in control of their culture and whatnot. I originally voted for unsure cus it really depends upon how events playout soo? Ha ha still unsure I guess

From what i understand if the Empire were to fall then a few provinces would raise hell and try to get there independence, along with beating up provinces that they dont particularly like.

Bad! Bad! BAD! I am very sad about the events of Oblivion and a little disappointed. I always play Imperial and the fact that my favorite race is probably going to be treated like crap in TESV saddens me. Honestly, I may not even play TESV if it is post Empire.

The Actual denizens of Tameriel would probably be worse off with no Empire. .. in terms of game play and a wider range of possiblities, however, the spiraling chaos of The Empire's fall would doubtless be of far greater value.

It would possibly better, but it is always hard to speculate the outcomes of such events. The provinces would be rather okay without an emperor (oh wait, they don't have one). I mean, they already have queens and kings (Helseth, Barenziah, etc.), so I don't see why they would die out. And keep in mind, they already are at war with one another, removing the label of "empire" wouldn't do much worse.

I don't think people in the game world even think of the continent in terms of the provinces. I think they think of it in terms of who controls what. The higher up you go, the more you have to worry about your underlings taking care of territory, so people only think in terms of who the next person up the chain is putting the boot to you. I don't see a concept of unity or nationalism in Tamriel.

Long life to the Empire!

well, there are hundreds of heirs to the throne, the legions are stable enough, Guilds are calm, so as long as the new emperor or empress isn't crazy, corrupt, or lazy, Tamriel should be fine.

I dont think so even when uriel was emperor things were tense summerset isles will want to break away probally valenwood to i think the empire is on its way to collapsing its like the roman empire it slowly got picked apart until it was a shadow of its former glory

Remember that according to lore the exports from Morrowind keep the empire fed. The more Imperials that starve, the better

But it probably wouldn't change. There are regions in every province where the empire holds no power, and what will happen is simply these regions becoming larger no matter what way the empire is brought down, through peace or war. Same thing, really, just with no figurehead.

Tameriel is Faaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrr more stable with the Imperial Empire ruling over it than has any other major force in its past, Bosmer and Kahjiit are just itching to go at each other, Nords are still eyeing territories of Morrowind, High Rock would definently return to its fueding states and the only chance for the orcs to actually have a homeland will be blow clean off the map if the Redgaurds have anything to do with it. not to mention the Argonians and Dunmer will continue to be at odds and the slave runs will increase. Tameriel will be thrown into absolute chaos if there wasnt a Ruling body with a Ban stick waving over their heads.



Woe is Boethia if she desires such plot to come to pass

The Imperials can't seem to defend Cyrodiil against the Renrijra Krin, though, and there already is a civil war in Morrowind as well as a Nordic invasion. That's not really stability, that's just a confidence trick. Yes, there is a Daedric invasion but if the Empire was capable of keeping order across a Continent then it can hold back Mehrunes Dagon, or at least not leave provinces such as Black Marsh to fight the Daedra themselves.

Irrelevant to the thread, but Gallowglass, I just had to ask, I love your icon, is it a Dark Elf or a Mazkan, though. Was not sure. Uber cool either way.

When Vivec and Alamexia was at their prime they BARELY held off Dagon, and they needed Sotha Sil's help to banish him. if they desired the Tribunal at their prime could have pressed forth against the Empire but didnt. most likely because they were satisfied with their aquisition of their powers and faith of the people. Dagon is no push over and even then the Mythic dawn was several steps ahead of the Blades during the Oblivion Crisis, I doubt the legion itself is equipped to properly address problems of Daedric origin, since it was believed that Sotha Sil's Pact would prevent another event regaurding the Princes attacking Tameriel on thier own. (Dagon didnt attack on his own he used a loop-hole in the rule which didnt state that Daedric summoning by mortals wasnt allowed, thus mythic dawn)

Also Im not sure if the Pact was broken at Almalexia......but with the ousting of the Dragon fires and the Summoning by Mythic dawn he was in his rights yes?.



Relevant Post ---- Legion is no where near the level of readyness to deal with a Daedric Prince assualt....maybe a few daedra....but not a prince.

But Byzantium still stood and only fell through plague and I hope that the Cyrodiliic Empire isn't so much a mirror of Rome where that would happen.

I think that even if some broke off, not all would; Skyrim would stick with the Empire and if Helseth continues to take power then maybe even Morrowind. Hammerfell would probably stick it out with the Empire and perhaps Eslweyr and Orsinium. But due to their culture the Altmer and Bretons would almost undoubtedly secede.

I'd see the redguard breaking off before the bretons.

Better! Where "Better" = more interesting

Conflict is at the heart of the need to have a hero to save the world.

Dunmer

Back on topic, this is what I think Tamriel will be like on the collapse of the empire:

Morrowind has another Tribunal - House Hlaalu, House Telvanni, and House Dres. The former will have lost much of its army in fighting the civil war, and the latter will be bankrupt as it relies on slave labour. House Telvanni will lean far more to traditionalism now that they cannot stay out of politics, and will apply their rules to much of Morrowind, restricting the movement of Imperial goods and trade but allowing Dunmeri traders to earn a fortune. The Kingdom of Morrowind will possibly be renamed the Kingdom/Khanate of Resdayn, and will continue raiding Black Marsh for slaves.
The Renrijra Krin and their support amongst the tribal chiefs has brought northern Elsweyr under the control of the insurgents, who now have ambitions other than reclaiming the land around the Niben, and Leyawiin and Bravil have lost any political support they had (and they didn't have much) as they are far from the disputes of the other cities of Cyrodiil. Southern Elsweyr will probably be at war with Valenwood, and will be ruled by an Imperialised merchant class who act as advisors to the Mane.
Summerset Isle will be ruled by local warlords who are allied to the kings of the major cities, and Skyrim will be in a similar position. Orsinium will be trying to prove itself as a legitimate city, and will either strike out against the Redguards and Bretons in an attempt to consolidate its position as a sovereign state or attempt to make an alliance with either them or a Nordic city.
High Rock will be in a similar position to Summerset Isle, perhaps with less local warlords, and I doubt that places like Black Marsh will have changed much.

? In the Rumors in TESIV, there's mention that Dres and Indoril have completely collapsed.