Stormcloaks are too mainstream.

[Hal10k]

Its most likely from Bethesda pushing the stormcloaks as the protagonists. The opening scene has you "wrongfully" sentenced to death by Imperial soldiers and you kill like ten Imperials before you even leave Helgen. After that you are immediately sent on a quest to join the Stormcloaks.

Actually, at the beginning of the game, after the dragon attacks, you can run towards either the Stormcloaks or the Imperials. If you head towards the Imperials, the rest of the opening plays out in pretty much the same way, but with the roles reversed. It's a split second decision that some players might not even realize that they're making, so circumstance winds up coloring the players entire perception of the war.

 

[Prosis]

It's a very neat mechanic, to have the player choose their faction in such a tense moment.

I think most people go with the Stormcloaks because the Imperials were trying to execute you. I can't fathom why someone would run torwards the guys who had your head down and the axe raised, regardless of how "pro-Imperial" you are.

Of course, those are in character reasons, more of a roleplay thing. I haven't actually played the game, so I can't say which faction is more reasonable in the long run.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

I think most people go with the Stormcloaks because the Imperials were trying to execute you. I can't fathom why someone would run torwards the guys who had your head down and the axe raised, regardless of how "pro-Imperial" you are.

This actually is a good explanation for why I overlooked the imperials. In that scenario I assumed the Stormcloaks would be the ones to escape with. Never crossed my mind the imperials would help a prisoner of questionable moral character escape.

Although I vaguely recall that happening once before... hmmm....

 

[bungle]

The Empire isn't as strong as in previous games though,. It has drastically shrunk due to the war and various states declaring independence. There isn't a Septim emperor so the Nords have no reason to feel like they owe allegiance anymore, especially since the Empire sold out mankind's greatest hero just to cling to the last areas of land it has. There is a Dunmer in Windhelm that thinks the other races aren't doing enough to win the Nord's respect and the reason for much of the xenophobia (in Windhelm atleast) seems to be down to the Dunmer not fighting the cause. This happens in real life, a group of people migrate from one country to another and refuse to integrate or protect their new home, they are treated with suspicion. The Dunmer are not fighting for the Stormcloaks, if Ulfric really was the racist many believe him to be, he probably would have refused to let them settle, or maybe even kill them all. He is fighting a war and is probably financing it aswell, this leaves very little spare money to upgrade the standard of living. Fable 3 does a good job of pointing out the responsibilities of being in charge, to get things done, sometimes you have to be ruthless.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

Most people go with the Stormcloaks because the Imperial Legion tries to cut your head off at the beginning of the game. They're supposed to be the bad guys. It might be reasonable that they would assume I'm with the Stormcloaks, but even so, in that situation, I'd do everything in my power to see them burn.

this.

plus i'd rather not be on the empire/thalmor's side, i just don't like them...

plus after doing a raid on one of the fortresses filled to the rim with elven empire doucheblasts, it felt great picking them apart.

plus


STORMCLOAKS

beast name is beast.

 

[bauke67]

I was with the empire in the last game already, it'd be boring to do that again.
Besides, I wanted a viking. And the stormcloaks seem more vikingish than the empire.

 

[Vegosiux]

People go Stormcloak because that way they can "stick it to the man" without real consequences, mostly, I believe.

As for the argument about the Imperials wanting to cut your head off - how many of the people who use that as justification have joined Dark Brotherhood, that ALSO tries to kill you? My bet is on "plenty", so that's consistency out of the window right there. But if they want to enjoy a "Raaaah, kill all non-Nords" game, who am I to judge? It IS a game after all.

 

[ecoho]

How the hell do you think the Aldmeri are going to invade Skyrim? I don't know if you've tried, but I suggest you consider how hard it is to leave Skyrim without being able to fly over mountains. Skyrim is incredibly, mind-blowingly easy to defend because every single entrance is a narrow mountain pass and this is a world where it is not only feasible but fairly easy to bathe a small area in magical fire that will kill most normal people on a constant basis.

This is also a very solid point. However, Skyrims position and easy to defend nature is not really argument in favour of either side. If the Stormcloaks win, they stand a chance of being able to defend Skyrim, if the Imperials win, and they break the peace treaty, the same applies to them as well.

Even if the Imperials lose all of their territory and are totally dominated by the Dominion but for Skyrim alone, I would still rather the Imperials were the ones left to defending what's left of it, as apposed to a group of rebels that are more interested in Nord supremacy than building a fair kingdom, under a King that can barely run two cities and a couple of villages.

im sorry but i wouldnt want the current empire running anything. I mean lets look at the facts if the imperials hold up in skyrim they would still be fighting rebels even if ulfric loses, same if the stormcloaks win they'll still be fighting hold outs. The only way this would end in any good way for the whole of those involed would be for the imperials to allow ulfric to rule and after as you stated he failed go back in and restore order, or if he did manage to rule effectively the empire gets a strong ally to the north in a highly defendible area that they can have attack the enimey they have a treaty with without true suport therefore never actualy breaking their word.


But in my opinion they tried to kill me and i sure as hell going to try and kill them back.

 

[Jodah]

Well, to a lot of people the Imperial army is bad because they tried to kill you at the very start...Kinda hard to forget something like that.

People go Stormcloak because that way they can "stick it to the man" without real consequences, mostly, I believe.

As for the argument about the Imperials wanting to cut your head off - how many of the people who use that as justification have joined Dark Brotherhood, that ALSO tries to kill you? My bet is on "plenty", so that's consistency out of the window right there. But if they want to enjoy a "Raaaah, kill all non-Nords" game, who am I to judge? It IS a game after all.

That's different because the Brotherhood, at least, makes it possible to defend yourself. The Imperials weren't even going to give you a trial, much less let you fight.

 

[maddawg IAJI]

True, but the Stormcloaks didn't try to execute you within the first 5 minutes of the game. Also, if you go deep enough into Imperial territory, you'll find the same problems. Markarth, for example looks like a sad and depressing stony town that is completely controlled by a single noble family. Everyone either works in the mines or is constantly being harassed by the Forsworn who will harass any trade you plan to do. (And before you say that the Silver-Bloods are mostly in support of the Storm-Cloaks, the Jarl still accepts Imperial rule.)

Both sides have some pretty bad ruling habits man.

 

[badgersprite]

I think the best way I can phrase this is: The Empire are 'wrong' but have all the right reasons, and the Stormcloaks are 'right' but have all the wrong reasons.

I have to admit, I'm shallow too, though. I sided with the Legion because, attempted execution aside, all the Imperials were nicer.

 

[Vegosiux]

That's different because the Brotherhood, at least, makes it possible to defend yourself. The Imperials weren't even going to give you a trial, much less let you fight.

Wait, you're serious. Let me laugh even harder. The only reason DB "gives you a chance" is because they can't exactly get you bound and gagged with you roaming the world. And DB doesn't give you a trial either, if you're marked, you die, as long as the man for the job is competent, the only reason they fail at killing you is the fact that their assassin botched.

DB isn't the Morag Tong, they don't deal in "honorable executions". They deal in "hits".

 

[andrat]

After what I did to the Empire during the Dark Brotherhood story line, it only seems right to join up with them.

 

[Jodah]

That's different because the Brotherhood, at least, makes it possible to defend yourself. The Imperials weren't even going to give you a trial, much less let you fight.

Wait, you're serious. Let me laugh even harder. The only reason DB "gives you a chance" is because they can't exactly get you bound and gagged with you roaming the world. And DB doesn't give you a trial either, if you're marked, you die, as long as the man for the job is competent, the only reason they fail at killing you is the fact that their assassin botched.

DB isn't the Morag Tong, they don't deal in "honorable executions". They deal in "hits".

But that's my point. The Brotherhood lets you defend yourself. They are, basically, giving you a trial by combat. It becomes a test of prowess, if you are skilled enough to beat their assassin you live another day. The Imperials just decide to kill you, no questions asked.

 

[thiosk]

Down with the stormcloaks. The empire will rise again.

Also, the Forsworn are totally lame-sauce-on-a-cracker.

 

[CommanderKirov]

NORD SUPREMACY that's why.

Besides, Aldmeri do not stand a chance on invading Skyrim, it would be like Napoleon trying to march onto Moscow again.
And let's not forget that Nords have the Thu'ums as their secret weapon.

 

[WanderingFool]

I dont know who or what this "Stormcloaks" is, but it sounds like the White power groups in America.

 

[Helmholtz Watson]

It seems from the many polls that have been taken on the subject, that most Skyrim players seem to be going with the Stormcloaks, and I can't figure out why. In the following post, I will make four points, after reading, feel free to respond and argue with my points.

4) Last, but not least, the Stormcloaks are racist nationalists, that think the fact that they are the "correct" race means that they should be allowed Skyrim, and that other races should not have authority or power, because they aren't the right race. Homeland or no homeland, these guys are basically the Skyrim equivalent of the BNP.

The Stormcloaks just racist? What? So wanting to rule your own home country instead of having a imperialistic group run it, is wrong? The way I see it, the Imperial Empire is like Britain, and the Stormcloaks are like the Irish, Indian or Chinese. They have a RIGHT to self-sovereignty (both the Stormcloaks and the Irish/Chinese/Indian).