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Greetings to you

I'm back with yet another poll! Now I know you've missed me but I've been busy.

But enough chit-chat, let's get polling (which sounds extremely sexual) - Which faction will you join?

Personally, I think I'll join The Empire first. Of course I might change my view entirely when the game comes out, but throwing Chain Lightning around at rebels sound satisfying.

What do you think? Oh, and for those who don't know, the Stormcloaks are the ones who fight for Skyrim's independence.

I'm sure I'll eventually have a character that sides with each, but first playthrough I don't think I'll join either.

Now this is a tricky one - I would typically side with the Empire in every case. Even though this isn't the 'same' Empire that it was 200 years prior in Oblivion and Morrowind under Uriel Septim, we really can't judge their motivations and ideals at this point. Since we also know little about the Stormcloaks too, there's enough scope for either to be heroic or villainous.

I can even forsee a situation where they're both 'good' - they've both been wrapped up in bigger events that have conspired to set them against each-other, so no matter which side you choose it will probably always be the 'right' one.

For my first playthrough, I'm sticking with the Imperials - if only until I can get used to either being against them or the desire to find out more about the Stormcloaks becomes too compelling for me to resist. If I end up feeling like I've chosen badly, well there's always a second time around and more reason to go the other way.

I like the Stormcloaks for the whole "Independence of Skyrim" thing, but the Empire's got sooo cool uniforms..

There is already a topic on which guilds you'll be joining, but whatever.

I'll probably side with the empire first, depending on how corrupt it may have become over the last 200 years.

Join stormcloaks for the awesome motivation of theres, and then kill imperials for their "cool" armor, its a double win with stormcloaks for you.

My first character is propably my classic Dunmer Fathis Aren who uses stealth and wealth in his adventures. The stealthy, ranger-thief character could support the stormcloaks (imagine an ambush on imperial troops...), but if the Empire has done anything to help Morrowind, he will support the Empire. If Skyrim would be independent, the Nords could possibly attack Morrowind and if it is in a fragile state at the time, it would be bad for Morrowind. So, probably Empire. I save the "smash some Imperial heads with the new animations"-thing to my battle-axe wielding Nord, Fjalmir...

Traitor!
I of course shall side with whoever allows my elves to bring humanity closest to the brink of destruction.

Stupid rebellious Nords need to be put in their place. I'm gonna side with the Empire, even though I'm unhappy with their alliance with the Thalmor.

I'll probably side with both at one or another. The Empire first though, since my dunmer is a bit predisposed against Nords. They haven't been too nice to her.

I wonder if the game implodes if you side with the empire as a Nord...

The universe has been divided by 0!

I can't see this as even questionable! The empire tried to cut your head off That sort of puts the off your xmas card list, beside the storm cloacks are true and brave and noble from what the opening shown, The empire are snootys [&@%!], never have liked em, can't wait to crush some imperial skulls!

And what about the Battle-Born? Aren't they rivals to the Stormcloaks?

...

Bloody hellfire people, if you're going to reference leaked information, use a spoiler and state what the spoiler is referencing, e.g. 'According to the leaked intro...' before it!

Hum...have they really, well I guess that you off the hook old bean.

That would be great!
I'm on Xbox myself but I'd change that in a heartbeat.

Stormcloaks. 1. Nords! 2. Badass name.

That doesn't speak for the entire Empire, just that particular regiment. Given that this was a rushed decision on their part due to the war situation with the Stormcloaks things like that can occasionally happen. It's clear that none of the soldiers want to kill you but they're following the orders of their leader who's obviously following some very strict 'damage containment' strategy.

There were bad elements in the Empire in both Morrowind and Oblivion. Don't forget that in three of those games you start out as a prisoner of the Empire - and with no explanation of your crimes. You could potentially have been unjustly imprisoned in each case, similar to how you end up 'caught up' in the war between the Empire and the Stormcloaks.

Clearly, they were (generally) on the side of 'good' during the Oblivion crisis, whether that was because of the way Uriel VII ruled the Empire remains to be seen. Now that the Septim line has gone, there's a big question mark hovering over them now that has not really been there before - and I'm not expecting things everything to become clear until the bigger picture can be seen - that's why I still have a lot of faith in the Imperials.

Besides, as fans we'll pretty much (all of us) want to experience the game from the point-of-view of both allegiances eventually so the decision isn't really difficult at all - the second time around I'll go Stormcloak once I'm more familiar with them

I'll be joining the Stormcloaks on my main character, and blast Rage Against the Machine while I do.
But I'll have characters doing each.

if there is a possibility i would like to play a double agent.

First playthrough, stormcloaks for sure.