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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2017 9:09:37 GMT
I'm curious as to which you all picked, and the reasons for it.
I've only completed the civil war chain on a single occasion years ago, and that time I sided with the Empire because it was my first play and I wasn't devoting a lot of thought to the problem. I'll also add that I've never paid any great attention to the ES lore, and Skyrim is my first ES game, so I'm not too knowledgeable about it aside from stuff that's presented in the game itself.
On this current play, I started the game with the Alternate Start mod, so I was never a prisoner. I don't have a very detailed background for my character, but I do have him as a Redguard/Nord mix, who mainly grew up in Hammerfell. Other than being half Nord, he doesn't have any personal investment in that side of it. With that in mind, I'm trying to look at the issue a bit more objectively.
I don't agree about the ban on Talos worship, and I think the Thalmor are rather terrible. However, on the Stormcloak side, I'm noting a strong undercurrent of racism toward elves (sometimes blatant by some NPCs), which doesn't please me and is a great deterrent in my siding with them. I also don't like Ulfric's actions in The Reach and the Markarth Incident, and think that he led to the problems Skyrim is currently facing. And while this is subjective, I do find it interesting, and telling, that several NPCs seem to think that "Ulfric only cares about Ulfric," and that this is mainly all about a power grab for him.
I'd like to see others' thoughts on the matter.
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Post by Davrin's boobs on Jul 18, 2017 3:53:28 GMT
My current playthrough can be sum up with "I avoid this quest altogether. They can all rot while I'm gathering my own harem of hot dudes and monsters"
In my first playthrough and canon I didn't do it either, those humans and their nonsense wars.
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Post by Jarovbees on Jul 18, 2017 6:32:45 GMT
It really depends on what kind of character I want to play, honestly. Skadi, my devout and patriotic Nord warrior, joined the Stormcloaks without hesitation. Ylva, my Nord mage, was largely indifferent and just wanted to study magic, thanks. (She thought the Stormcloaks were the worst stereotypes of her people rolled into one, but didn't give enough fucks to actually go and fight them.) Sharis, my dunmer, was the same way except substitute 'magic' with 'steal things and fuck with people'. My Altmer picked the Imperials not out of Thalmor sympathy, but because the Stormcloaks were promoting or at least indifferent to anti-elf sentiment. The state of Windhelm really pissed her off. I'm contemplating another playthrough with an Altmer who joins the Stormcloaks in an attempt to boot the Thalmor out of Skyrim and thus keep them as far from her as possible.
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Post by phantomrachie on Jul 24, 2017 13:00:16 GMT
As bad as the Empire is, the Stormcloaks are a bunch of racists led by a man exploiting their fear to gain power. Ulfric is an ass and I enjoy killing him or watching him be killed.
The Thalmor don't really come into it for me, they win either way. A successful Stormcloak rebellion weakens the Empire and a failed rebellion means the Empire needs to spend additional resources in Skyrim instead of on their border with the Thalmor
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2017 8:59:10 GMT
I'm Nord trash, so I go Stormcloaks.
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Post by Crimson on Aug 31, 2017 1:33:05 GMT
Empire > that rebel scum   I couldn't support those casually racist Nords as a proud Bosmer in my first run. Don't have much love for the Thalmor either, but, better to side with the Empire than Ulfric.  Stormcloaks just remind me of this... They took our Talos!  |
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Post by pessimistpanda on Sept 1, 2017 3:42:25 GMT
I always roll Khajiit and I generally stay out of it, but if I HAD to pick a side, I'd go with the empire. Fuck the stormcloaks, they don't even want me in their city, so why should I give a shit?
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Post by dgcatanisiri on Oct 6, 2017 9:35:52 GMT
It's not a fun decision, because on the one hand we have one side telling others who not to worship, and on the other we have horrifically racist dicks. But, ultimately, I lean towards the Imperial side, because, first of all, they're less racist than the Stormcloaks ('Skyrim belongs to the Nords' feels uncomfortable five, six years after Skyrim's release and the hate and bile being thrown towards 'outsiders'), and also... I legit feel like Ulfric is out for himself. Like, I watched a YouTube comparison of the conclusions of the two sides, and it felt like the villain willing while watching Ulfric gloat over Tulius. He might have had good ideas and even noble motivations, but his actions show a man who is out for his own glory. That's honestly part of why I refuse to have my Dragonborns be the ones to slay him, to 'make for a better tale.' Something like this shouldn't be done for the narrative, but for the right reasons.
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Post by Lee on Oct 6, 2017 10:09:29 GMT
To me both sides are horrific people. one is openly racist, and the other is killing anyone who disagree with them-which isn't any better really? eh...I sort of hate bethesda's urge to make all factions pretty shit.
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kalasaurus
The Beastmaster
Posts: 387 
Likes: 1,446
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Post by kalasaurus on Oct 26, 2017 13:15:59 GMT
I voted "avoid", but if I *had* to choose, I'd go Stormcloak unless playing Alternate Start. It's really hard for me to get behind a group that almost had me executed  But, I couldn't go Stormcloak as anything but a Nord. Otherwise, avoid, avoid, avoid! |
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c_cat
Dashing Rogue
Posts: 37
Likes: 202
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Post by c_cat on Oct 26, 2017 18:37:02 GMT
I didn't vote because I prefer the Peace Treaty option. But non of my later characters have killed a single dragon, I just choose a direction and go adventuring.  |
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lilyena
The Beastmaster
Posts: 685
Likes: 3,235
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Post by lilyena on Oct 26, 2017 20:17:11 GMT
For me it's about 70/30 in favor of the Empire. I don't like the Empire much either, but unless I'm playing as a Nord it doesn't make much sense to go that route.
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Lady Artifice
Grizzled Warrior
If I could, I'd probably upholster everything in gathered satin. Everywhere would be Versailles.
Posts: 293
Likes: 1,619
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Post by Lady Artifice on Oct 30, 2018 0:15:50 GMT
I think the value of alternate start cannot be overstated. Gods, the freedom.
Which is also to say that my answer is avoid it on the characters I have a strong empathy toward.
If I had to choose a side, I'd go empire, mostly because I'm a bit of a consequentialist..and because of their (for me) preferable aesthetic, and the racism on the other side. But it does stick in my craw that they tried to execute my character.
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izut
The Beastmaster
Posts: 570
Likes: 1,451
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Post by izut on Nov 10, 2018 20:51:36 GMT
Empire! I've tried going with Stormcloaks once and nope, not my cuppa tea at all. Besides, they're with Thalmor - Ulfric is their agent. Not to mention, I always play as a bosmer archer so I see no reason to why should I support a bunch of criminals who want to slaughter me and other non-human, non-Nord people and creatures. Avoiding picking one of the sides isn't for me. I want to enjoy the whole picture of the game so I even join the brotherhood and enjoy all the contracts they give me  |
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