So I wanted to create a thread that would be open to all whether Imperial, Stormcloak, Thalmor, etc. I want to know what all of your opinions are about where it will take place, whether the Empire will bolster its strength, who might win, where the most important places of the next war will be, all that stuff. I do not intend for this to be a Civil War debate thread but instead a discussion on the broader outlook of what might transpire in the events to come for the TES series. I personally used to think the Stormcloaks had the right of but now I see the Empire has the best chance of fending off the Aldmeri Dominion. What are your opinions on the things to come?

I know that whatever happens, the Argonians won't really care. TES VI: Argonia!

4E201: Thalmor launch an invasion of Skyrim under the pretense of "The Empire amassing draconic weapons of mass destruction".

4E400: Skyrim, Hammerfell, and Morrowind are all razed by various means (by the Thalmor, Ansei, and the Thalmor again, respectively)

4E1001: After 600 years of guerrilla warfare, Imperator Titus Mede Septim Tullius Stormcloak the Dragonborn XXXIII declares war on the Aldmeri Dominion, which now includes Yokuda and Argonia in it's lands.

4E1002: Landfall

5E1: The Digitals are created by the Whispering Guild of the Velms-Synod as a means of Aedric Reinforcement of the Universe.

5E9: Groups of Old-Tamriel Scavengers go out to kill the remaining parties of the Thalmor, as vengeance for the destruction of Tamriel.

5E9^2E100+4E2: The Anti-Thalmori Administration of Post-Landfall Survivors of Nu-Tamriel use dragon skeletons to fashion giant robots to go back in time to try to prevent the Landfall.

[/speculation]

I take it that The Empire might have Void-ships to combat The Dominion's Sunbirds?

Lol are you being serious or are you just trolling?

Aldmeri Dominion collapses. That's a given, since there won't be another ES game if they win (blowing up Nirn tends to do that for a series.) The Empire will likely fall or continue to falter for a brief period of time until a new dynasty with strong leadership takes it over and restores it to glory. Stormcloak or internal feuding, either-or becomes the new leadership.

It's likely that TES:VI will be on Summerset Isle, but that's if they want to wrap up the storyline immedately. If not, They'll likely take us through Elsweyer (to close up the Dominion's influence) then to Valenwood (to really hurt them) before headed to Summerset Isle. At least that's my speculation based on my understanding.

They would have been rendered obsolete by the Pre-Digital technologies of Timeline-Divergence Combat.

Basically, they would have fought with retcons.

@I love Sanguine: I'm not trolling per-se, I'm just fooling around trying to be funny/clever.

I'm starting to derail this thread, but basically, my real feelings are that either, we're going to get another Warp in The West, or TES VI is going to take place in the Second Great War against the Second Aldmeri Dominion to milk it.

The Dominion would obviously lose, because if they won, they'd retcon the universe out of existence.

I think if they really want to draw it out then have Hammerfell for TES:VI then have Elsweyr for VII then Valenwood for VIII then finally the Summerset Isles for IX.

My bad I didn't mean trolling like some people out there that get on my nerves I only used the term loosely but fooling around is what I meant lol.

I know. It's all cool.

I would really like if they made the Empire win and have it stronger than ever. After the AD is defeated they would have to reclaim Morrowind and Black Marsh (A good chance for a Black Marsh game then) and if they did the Empire trying to regain a foothold in Morrowind then have both Vvardenfell and mainland become explorable.

Sorry for still being a little new to the forum but what do you mean "derail" the thread? I am still not good with forum terminology lol.

Well, Hammerfall was covered under TES II: Daggerfall, and since they successfully repulsed the Thalmor, it'll be difficult for gamesas to shoehorn them in as a Dominion Battleground.

Remember, the Thalmor are all for weakening the Empire. They got it when they invaded Hammerfall, causing the empire to disown Hammerfall (meaning they lose a bunch of resources and men from Hammerfell.) Yes, a perfect victory would've been with Hammerfall under their control, but Hammerfall as a self-governing nation that isn't allied with the Empire is also good.

The Thalmor just need to destroy the Empire, Thalos Worship, and the "towers" that keep Nirn together to secure their victory. The Empire needs a good shove (which they can't provide just yet as of Skyrim.) All but one or two of the "towers" are gone, and Talos Worship has become an underground cult rather than a full-blown Religion. They are pretty close to their goal as of now.

Elsweyer provides a good bloody nose, as the Thalmor have some foothold with several lords there. They control Valenwood, and the Summerset Isle is their home nation.

By not actually talking about the topic at hand.

It happens sooner or later here usually, but I shouldn't let it happen so quickly.

Anyways, back on topic, the Thalmor are probably going to be the focus of the next game, so I think the Great War will probably happen soon.

Hammerfell didn't get kicked out; they seceded. The end result is the same, but still. IIRC

Also, they need to destroy the concept of Men itself (well, it's ambiguous, but still) to succeed.

Well I still believe that Hammerfell is still in the picture. I know not all in-game books are reliable as the Lore of TES flip flops a bunch, I think that the author of the book The Great War gave a bit of a hint at the end when he said the Empire and Hammerfell need to reconcile to brighten the possibility of defeating the dreaded Dominion. They could actually do a lot more with Hammerfell than you think, as they could start the next Great War in Hammerfell. There are so many possiblities of how this can start in Hammerfell so I will not go into all of the options, but I think Bethesda has a great avenue for Hammerfell.

Point of contention. Its actually stated in the http://www.imperial-library.info/content/great-warthat in order to uphold the concordant, Hammerfell had to go because they continued to fight. I'm sure that the Redguards are slightly embittered by that fact, and probably didn't want to leave if it was up to them. Not sure how what their relations with the empire is at the moment though.

Oh ok I get what your saying. As for Hammerfell's secession, I believe Titus Mede II's renunciation of Hammerfell being a province of the Empire was actually a great strategy.I believe that if he didn't it would only aggravate the situation with the Thalmor even more because if Hammerfell were still a part of it then it would be like the Empire still fighting them within its borders. Even though Titus could have tried to make the Redguards see that it wouldve been better to agree to the terms for the time being, the next best decision was the one he made. He can still reconcile with the Redguards as they aren't as horribly stubborn like the Dunmer are.

Ohh nice. This will be fun.

Having more experience with the Stormcloaks, I think I'll assume they won the War, and I'll explain what happens (from Skyrim;s point of view) from what I'd do if I where leading.

Firstly, here's a map of Tamriel, so as to help explain my ramblings:

[img]http://images.uesp.net/c/c3/TamrielMap.jpg[/img]

Firstly, I'd make ties with Hammerfell and some of the Kingdoms of High Rock (those closest to Skyrim's border). Hopefully I'd be able to create a league to oppose the Dominion. I'd also begin trade with the Dunmer.

At home, I'd consolidate my power, and begin a project to expand my economy to prepare for the War. I'd begin mass agriculture in the Rift and Whiterun Hold and rebuilt industry (smithing etc). I'd evaluate the situation in the Reach. if it is not economically or militarily viable to keep it, I'd immediately evacuate the population and retreat, posting the soldiers from the Reach on its borders to make sure the Forsworn aren't going to begin harassing the rest of Skyrim. Hopefully by doing this, the communications routes to Hammerfell won't be ruined. Ideally, I'd be able to bring the Reach into my alliance, but I'm not going to be that optimistic. I'd also make it top priority to instigate rebellion amongst the Nords of Bruma, or if that fails, take it by force. Its a key position, as it is situated on top of a steep rise up the Jerall Mountains, and helps guard the already defensible Pale Pass, making it the ideal Bulwark to defend Skyrim from both the Empire and the Thalmor.

This position should be enough to allow Skyrim to rebuild. Hammerfell has probably already rebuilt (after 20 years or so).

So onto the War itself, in this position, its pretty clear that the war will be focused on the seas between Summerset and Hammerfell, and the Province of Cyrodiil. Cyrodiil itself will probably be divided between North and South, with Colovia being a massive warzone. The North (Bruma, Cheydinhal and Chorrol) would fall in line with Skyrim and Hammerfell, with the south (Anvil, Kvatch, Skingrad, Bravil and Leyawiin), will fall in line with the Dominion. Naturally, The Imperial city would probably be the focus of the War, however, looking at southern Colovia, we can imagine that that area will be the focal point of much of the conflict. I can't imagine that Hammerfell would be able to take and hold that area by itself while also focusing on a naval battle, so Skyrim will need to commit at least half of its forces here. The outcome of the war will probably be decided here.

If Colovia is taken by Skyrim and Hammerfell, before we march on the White Gold Tower, we should try to take at least the Aldmeri city of Arenthia, again like with Bruma, as a Bulwark between the Dominion and Skyrim/Hammerfell.

The Naval battle will be another crucial point in the war. The Aldmeri, Nords and the Redguards are all famous for their navies. While we can imagine that the Aldmeri navy would utilise Battle mages to sink enemy Ships, we haven;t really seen any Aldmeri ships (or at least I haven't) to understand their strengths and weaknesses. Neither do I know much about Redguard Ships. However, I'm pretty sure that Nordic Ships include viking logboats, not necessarily designed for strength, but their speed could be very useful in an engagement. If the Nords have developed larger, more aggressive ships, i do not know. However, I could imagine that both the Nords and the Redguards would be able to match the dominion's magic with ship borne artillary (catapaults etc).

Regardless of the outcome, I can't see the Next Great War, in this scenario, providing a clear victor. That would have to wait for the third Great War at least.

And yes, when you think about it, its truly a horrible nightmare of a situation. It it truly the 'Season Unending'.

Not canon, and maybe you know it already, but it's as close to canon as we can get regarding Aldmeri battleships:


http://www.imperial-library.info/content/forum-archives-michael-kirkbride

I don't see The Stormcloaks having a big impact on the next great war,even if their win is made canon by Bethesda.
To the War then...
1.The Thalmor are going to Invade the Border Provinces first...Like Hammerfell or maybe even High Rock as it has one of the last remaining towers(Adamantine).
2.When this happens The Empire and Stormcloaks and The Redguards will join forces against a common enemy.
3.A hero will emerge from the ruins of the invaded provinces and Destroys the Dominion Warmachine.
4.He/She is hailed the savior of the Empire and all of Mankind and is made General of the Imperial Armed Forces.

I hope for a Dominion hero who destroys the mannish Empire once and for all.

Then it'll be the end of The ES games....as the Dominion will end the Kalpic system and ascend to pure sprit form.

Nah, I hope more for the next game set on the Summerset Isles and we are playing in the role of some Altmer Chosen One, rebuilding the Crystal Like Law or something and destroying the extremist Thalmor with their Munds Razing plans. Something have to be done to make the Dominion somewhat likeable.

The problem is the Dominion and the Thalmor are now merged into an indistingiushable Goldblack anti man machine...
This destruction would have to be coup from the inside and can't originate on the Summerset Isles a Valenwood origin would suit it more.

This.

But I'm thinking not about "likeability" (I'm too hardcoe for remembering about out-of-universe concerns), but about the very fate of the Altmer. Mundus is most likely safe, and all those plans of those idiot Thalmor may well backfire on that grand of a scale that there won't even be any legacy in form of a question like "Whatever happened to the Altmer?" - they'd get every goldenrod removed from the mythic.