Not sure what it is, but for me Jarl Balgruuf is one of the most charismatic of all Jarls. What are your thoughts on the man.

Most favorite quote: "You might be a guest in Dragonsreach, but you're starting to try my patience."

http://www.uesp.net/w/images/thumb/0/00/SR-npc-Balgruuf_the_Greater.jpg/600px-SR-npc-Balgruuf_the_Greater.jpg

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Balgruuf_the_Greater

when PC is playing a light armored character gives him a heavy steel armor and when PC is playing a heavy armored character gives him a light armor - Scumbag Jarl balgruuf.

also he joins the imperials when the imperials in solitude burns his Ancestor

http://imgur.com/UInPBnN

I don't feel too strongly about him one way or another. He is respectable enough as a Jarl, and of the pro-Empire Jarls, I think he is the one that would be the best High King for Skyrim. And by that I mean that he seems willing to think for himself enough to not sacrifice Skyrim on the altar of Cyrodiil, even though he did side with the Empire against Ulfric.

He's probably my favorite Jarl and the one I come across most often. And I think the voice actor did a good job.

He is a noble leader who wants to avoid shedding the blood of his own people. He cares for the lives of his subjects and resists entrance to a pointless war.

He is my favorite Jarl. I don't care if he is cowardly for not picking a side, I value a leader who prefers peace over war.

One of the few Nords whose brains are in their head, rather than in their arms.

Balgruuf is actually quite high up on the list of Jarls, especially when they're are so many that are unlikeable. The only ones I like better are Ravencrone and Free-Winter. Vignar Gray-Mane isn't bad either, but I hate 'Strong Nord woman' and Brill, but generally I like Balgruuf and his court with the exception of his children.

He's really the only "Storyline Jarl" that doesn't let the stupid Civil War get in the way of protecting his people from the return of the dragons. He may be a little naive thinking he can avoid taking a side indefinitely, but I like him because he tries to do right by his people, rather than blindly follow one side or the other.

He's an okay guy. And cares about keeping Whiterun safe, while trying to remain neutral in the CW.

He is an alright jarl that should keep a closer eye on his kids. But really, what was he thinking

Plus it does kind of bother me that after you do all of this stuff to help him and the city out, he kindly offers to sell you a house. Wow, what a guy!

Maybe Balgruuf is not aware of

.

I find Him and a true descendant of Olaf, the Draugr. Fortunately Stuhn will test Him

He's overrated big time in my opinion. And dishonest about the whole neutral thing. Irileth says herself that they waste guards to go fighting the Stormcloaks, which doesn't sound neutral at all.

Iv'e never heard her say this, when or where does she say it ?

The meaning behind the statement isn't clear cut either. Could be a reason as to why i.e they harass the hold.

We don't see or hear about any of them doing so, and if that were the case, there'd be no reason to send guards. And of course, Ulfric made it pretty clear they weren't going to make a move until Balgruuf made up his mind, which with that dialogue seems rather odd. Seems obvious his mind was either made or at least leaning from Ulfric:

http://cs.uesp.net/index.php?game=sr&formid=0x000c02de

UESP is so handy, I love that site.

Does this dialogue occur when Whiterun is still neutral in the CW ?

'Fighting' could be used loosely perhaps, for assigning more guards to the side of Whiterun that boarders Windhelm's threat.

It's said by her whenever you talk to her about Balgruuf, neutral or otherwise.

I guess it could, but eh, if it was, it was worded extremely badly. The game has a red flag over the hold, so its not like they do a great job trying to hide their leanings. There's dialogue in the UESP files that show once upon a time, Balgruuf was supposed to join either side, but now I don't know. Rather muddied.

Either way, I'm not much of a fan. Like most things, the supposed relationship he and I were supposed to have came off as shallow and forced. I did the man a solid by killing a dragon, he did me a solid by rightly awarding me a thane spot and pointing me to the greybeards. Now if he paid for my house...then I would have liked him more and felt bad about disthroning him. But alas, this was not so. Lydia's pretty nice though, hehe.

Ulfric wants to force him to side with the stormcloaks anyway.

While the Empire lies and tricks him into siding with them. One was blunt and one was dishonest.

I like the jarl, but alas in a civil war he nuetrality is spotty at best. Waving a red flag over the place, accepting gold to hush, and having a personal grudge against Ulfric (that imho sways him away from the independence side) basicallys implys he's not as nuetral as everyone believes him to be. If he was indeed nuetral, then he woukda sided with the stormcloaks if u were stormcloaks or sided with the empire if u was proempire. Seeing how he ALWAYS sides with the empire, shows he not nuetral at all, he's just never been tested. Once he has, he shows hes not nuetral but proempire

I don't see what this has to do with Balgruuf's, in what is in my opinion, dishonesty. At least Ulfric's intentions are honest, "With us or against us" being perfectly clear. Which is the only mentality one can really take in a civil war, since it will catch up to you eventually. I believe Kentucky found that to be true in our own civil war.

That said, I can understand Balgruuf's reasons, and for the most part he's not a bad dude, he just handled that situation badly, tried to play the politics until the last minute, then got burned. If he was leaning Imperial (Or SC, for those who insist he was completely neutral) he should have picked a side quickly. With Whiterun's position in Skyrim, it was clear war was coming to his doorstep inevitably before. Perhaps he thought since for the most part the war was just some skirmishes, that it would never escalate. I can give him that, even though it was a foolish assumption, imo.

Great point.

At least the Empire is doing it without trying to harass the people or their homes.

Not a fan either. He's just not written that well. His one saving grace is that he's no worse than the other Jarls.

CW debate approaching!

hahahaha exactly

Ballin'