Personally, I unanimously favor the Empire, having played through both. A unified empire is simply the best hope for defeating the Dominion... Assuming the Dragonborn doesn't decide to step in and crack skulls some time soon. :toughninja:

Not the mention how the Empires (*cough* roman *cough*) infrastructure can benefit the Nords. I mean sure, they don't have it bad off now, but I'm always one to support scientific and cultural progress. Not the mention, I hate genuine racism.

Please elaborate on your votes below.

Agree 100%

I don't know, I just pictured how It would be if the empire lost Skyrim...
The land of the warriors... The empire needs them...

It would be the weakened Empire vs the Stormcloaks vs the Dominion...
That wouldn't be nice

(Of course, the empire would want Skyrim back)

Either side winning is what the Thalmor wish to avoid. Both choices have their merits.

Well, that's true. I can see how the Stormcloak's and their guerrilla tactics can be just as effective against the dominion as they are the Empire. Then again, Guerrilla tactics are more for offense than defending your country. You don't have much choice on how to deal with your opposition if they're going to wipe out a city. You just need to take them on in a slugging match to save it.... Assuming the Stormcloaks know nothing of Tsun Tzu and don't attack the dominion first.

The Empire all the way, I think that the Empire has the best chance of beating the Dominion. I have not finished the Stormcloak's questline yet through. Mostly due to my love for the Empire.

as the jarl of whiterun says
mutual benifit
skyrim gets lots of trade from the empire
the empire gets a strong ally to defend the northern border

The Empire is the best hope for defeating the Dominion, so I support the Empire.

I support the stormcloaks to the enth degree. The nordish way of life should not be put at risk by the empire and it's failed treaties. Ulfric is ready to rain hellfire on the thalmor and what we need is a man who is willing and eager to fight, cowardice is for cowards or in this case imperials.

Sure, but it's not "the empire" per say that's trading with Skyrim. It's marchants, and merchants just go where the gold is.

The Empire, of course. In all seriousness, if Skyrim is completely lost from the Empire, then that Empire likely has a much less successful chance at defeating the Thalmor-controlled Aldmeri Dominion. I doubt that the Stormcloaks, even if they managed to conquer and unite Skyrim, would have the manpower (and magic power) to ultimately defeat the Altmer and send them back where they belong; the Imperial-occupied province of Summerset Isles! They must be stopped.

I would say Stormcloaks. Have some faith in the Nord people for heavens sake, they are a hardy folk. The empire fights like legionaire troops, mass troop movements...marching in kind of style...facing the Thalmor up front like that might end bad.

Stormcloaks.

Before I favored the imperials, believing that an unified empire is needed to fight off the Thalmor. But after experiencing the severe lap doggedness of the empire I've changed my mind.
It doesn't matter to save the empire if the empire isn't worth saving. The empire sold out the High rock and the nords to the Thalmor. An empire that can't even save its own people isn't worth saving. Whats worse is that it betrayed its own people and sold them down the river.
Only imperial support cities have the presence of Thalmor. The nord's actually have the balls to say no.
I support state rights when the federals are too weak to help its citizens.

I hate the thalmors as much as those who support the Imperials as a meas to defeat them. Only I don't think this will be the case. The red guards held off the Thalmors on their own, when all the imperials ever did was buckle and submit.

The Empire was found by Talos himself. Therefore, the obvious reason, for the sake of coherence is the empire.

I found it funny that you put "The Stormcloaks remind me of braveheart." Now, if only Skyrim was warring the Imperials. But that is not true. The historic rivalry sits between the Nords and the elves.

The only reason Hammerfell was able to defeat the Thalmor is due to the Empire. If it wasn't for the Empire's victory at the Battle of the Red Ring that wiped out much of the Thalmor's armies, Hammerfell may have never fully push out the Thalmor. Also the Imperial general that was recalled back to Cyrodiil left a large number of discharged legionnaires to help push back the Thalmor in Hammerfell.

At first I had heard rumors about the Empire becoming weak and corrupt and falling apart from the inside, much like modern day America. And if theres one thing I HATE, its modern day America. But the situation is much different. While I have the upmost respect for Ulfric and his cause, he and the stormcloaks are letting pride get the best of reason. They needed to wait, the civil war in Skyrim is just delaying preperations for the War against the Thalmor. Plus the Stormcloaks have quite few similarities to the Thalmor.

Which faction did you plan on playing first before the game released?
Thalmor.
Now that you've had some time with Skyrim, which do you favor?
Thalmor.
Why do you favor your faction?
Thalmor
Have you played both factions yet?
Thalmor.

Hammerfell. Not High Rock. High Rock is still part of the Empire. Cyrodill, High Rock, and Skyrim are the only remaining nations of the Empire. High Rock is actually the province in the best shape; the Dominion invaded Hammerfell and Cyrodill.

I was neutral before the game was released, but I now support the Empire. I waited until I had enough information to make my decision and I'm glad I made the right choice. After seeing how Argonians and Dunmer are treated in Windhelm, it was clear I wasn't going to be a fan of the Stormcloaks. Then I read "The Bear of Markath."
Then I saw how nice things are in Solitude. I walked to Castle Dour and signed up with the Legion.

For the Empire!

Bah! So many Imperial boot-lickers in this thread. Disgusting.

Enjoy being unified as the Thalmor crush you with their thumbs, while your masters bay for the scraps the Dominion deigns to give them. Such good little hounds!

For Talos! For the High King Ulfric!

@ Pistolero: :rofl:


@ Levanon: I think what the empire needs is a new leader (Nord, for a change.) It would be epic if we could lead an army and defeat the Thalmor once and for all, just like Tiber Septim.

What Empire? Those pretenders who sit in their high seats and defile every principle the Empire was founded on? No! The old empire died with Martin Septim, and it's high past time for a new one!

I dislike the empire but the stormcloaks are [censored] wits.

The Stormcloaks remind me too much of the Tea Party or Nazis. I don't like those things.

(On a side note, it amazes me how many people are turned off to the Stormcloaks simply because of a little Nord-Centrism. Are our modern sensibilities so easily offended? Really, anyone who's played an Elder Scrolls title should know that Nords hate spellcasters, outsiders, and elves.)

only reason i picked the stormcloaks is because the argonians can now come in and take over.

I do not forgive easily which the Empire has come to regret, Stormcloaks.