what faction will you join and why

[Skrofler]

They do exist, but they are the enemies, working with Mannimarco to keep control of Cyrodiil.

*squints*
And this, somehow, makes them the 'bad guys'?

I hate the game already.

Of course they're bad, or at least the Tharns are for entering a pact with Molag Bal that enslaves the souls of potentially everybody in Tamriel, but that's beside the point. The reason for Cyrodiilans to be unplayable is because it doesn't fit the setting of the game. It's a four faction war where Cyrodiil is the weaker part so it becomes the battleground for the invading player factions.
Zenimax obviously made a choice on greater PvP design where they wanted a setup similar to Dark Age of Camelot where you have one part of the world for PvP and part for PvE - no world PvP mixing with the PvE experience. They also wanted the races tied to each faction, so no Dunmer may join the Covenant or the Dominion for example. Given these circumstances one province had to become the battleground and they couldn't have Cyrodiilans running around in the player factions.

[Dark Spark]

Just sayin'— Imperials look good in black. Kinda wish we could play on that.

[all_freed]

Wish I could play this game, It'd be nice to participate in a massive online game after so many years. But will need a better comp.

I watched the vid from bethesda youtube channel and this is what I remember:

Covenant: believes in stability brought by the Empire and wishes to restore its power.
Pact: believes the Empire will treat them as a minority and the Tharns are dealing with necromancy and Molag Bal
Dominion: wants to return Elven supremacy back to Cyrodiil and their leader (sorry can't remember her name) has a personal vendetta against the Tharns

I'd only support the Covenant if they put someone like Prince Juilek Cyrodiil. I'd only support the Pact if they put someone like Empress Katariah (wife of Pelagius the Mad). I wish I knew more... but from what I know of the first two and the Dominion, I would never support Elven supremacy.

[Tesknowitall]

Elven supremacy was the original state of the continent, big chunk of elves there. Then through wars and deals things kind of settled down until the Nords rose and started taking land. The aldmeri dominion was good back then, they weren't hungry for overruling power. That's why the Empire happened and there were some big misunderstandings like that Great War that formed the Thalmor and their White Gold Concordat - so in this year it's kind of fair to call the Dominion evil because the thalmor want to mess with Nordic and Imperial religion.

But I'm rambling... Main point is they weren't nasty in this time... Only later

[Pilaf The Defiler]

Just sayin'— Imperials look good in black. Kinda wish we could play on that.

They were the main antagonists in Redguard. It makes sense for them to be the opposing force now and then. The soldiers just take orders. They put their swords in who the generals tell them to, and the generals are controlled by the Elder Council and Emperor. The person on the throne is a Tharn currently, and the Elder Council are his crooked necromancer buddies from the Niben valley who consort with Daedra. It's not so much that the Imperial Legion is "evil" as they're misled by corrupt and power hungry people.

[Hissien]

Like a certain Septim we all know and love...

I really am glad we will get to see the perspective of all of the factions. Hopefully they will be distinct beyond the fact that "WE ARE DIFFERENT GRRRR!!!".

[Dark Spark]

Just sayin'— Imperials look good in black. Kinda wish we could play on that.

They were the main antagonists in Redguard. It makes sense for them to be the opposing force now and then. The soldiers just take orders. They put their swords in who the generals tell them to, and the generals are controlled by the Elder Council and Emperor. The person on the throne is a Tharn currently, and the Elder Council are his crooked necromancer buddies from the Niben valley who consort with Daedra. It's not so much that the Imperial Legion is "evil" as they're misled by corrupt and power hungry people.

I like 'em better and better with every word.

[Pilaf The Defiler]

And to the person saying "There were no Imperials before Tiber Septim", that's not necessarily true.

It is, but it isn't. There were several human Empires before this game takes place. The First Empire was the name for the large kingdom carved out by the early Nords. It has no connection with what we call the Imperials, but it was the first imperialist expansion of humans.

The first empire in Cyrodiil was founded by Alessia in the First Era. Her dynasty never really controlled much land, but they made a covenant with Akatosh and controlled White Gold Tower and part of Cyrodiil. This gave them symbolic power if nothing else. She was the first historical Dragonborn, mostly because Miraak's story was obscure and lost to time.

Her line died out and for a while Cyrodiil collapsed as a nation, but pretty soon a warlord named Reman Cyrodiil appeared and united the land again. What's more, he and his heirs managed to conquer the other human lands and even sign truces with the Elves and beast people. I'd say by this point the people in Cyrodiil could be called "Imperials". The captured Akaviri soldiers and advisers actually helped form what's known as the Imperial Legion by teaching them military strategy from the east, which gave the Legions advantages over the armies of their enemies.

Reman's dynasty eventually died out and the Empire dissolved. Cyrodiil is all that's left of it. Wealthy aristocrats known as the Tharns took control after a few hundred years, but are opposed on all sides by factions who feel the Tharns and their allies are unfit to rule White Gold Tower. That's the basic political setup of the game.

[FletwerdofRohan]

I`m defenatly going for the Daggerfall Covenant. I like thier idea of "taking up the torch" for humanity and keeping the elves from pushing them off Tamriel (with the backing of the Orcs of course). I also heard that the have some sort of democracy, which i find kinda cool, trying to bring a more advanced age. Of course, having my two favorite races, The Orcs and the Redguards in there dosen`t hurt either. The only thing i find confusing is why the Orcs wan`t to help them, as they are constantly at war with the Bretons and Redgurds, and there doing this for the humans as well, so i don`t see why they would put there whole nation at risk to help two races who have constantly pillaged thier kingdom and slaughtered their armys.
(sorry if im a little sketchy on my ESO knowlage, did this whole research thing in Febuary and haven`t looked at it since, other then last night)

[Avron the S'wit]

The enemy of my enemy is my friend, I guess. I'm not sure why the Nords and Dunmer would team up, either, given their long history of warring and dislike, but the whole idea of the three factions joining together is nice. It also serves for a great opportunity to play distrust with people within the factions, which I think is lovely.

I'm glad to see people interested in the Covenant - I look forward to bumping into you guys.

[Enodoc]

The only thing i find confusing is why the Orcs wan`t to help them, as they are constantly at war with the Bretons and Redgurds, and there doing this for the humans as well, so i don`t see why they would put there whole nation at risk to help two races who have constantly pillaged thier kingdom and slaughtered their armys.

I agree that it a bit sketchy there. I think the reason that was provided is that, under the Second Empire, Orsinium was granted provincial status. When the Empire collapsed, there was no recognition of this status any more, except within the other races of the Covenant. The Covenant, in order to gain the support of the Orcs, has agreed to officially restore Orsinium's provincial status if they take the Ruby Throne.

[FletwerdofRohan]

Thanks, now ill feel right helping the rest of the covenant if im a Orc. (Probably gonna be a Redguard though)

[Street_Assassin]

I want to join each faction if purchase teso. They batter let us create more than just one character! I want to be nord for ebonheart , Redguard for covenant and Khajit for dominion! I hope races will have same attributes and skills as in Skyrim or at least very similar

[Conan]

Nord, bc I love this series as much as the books of Conan, so I've began every game with a nord character named Conan (except for Cyrus obviously) knight but magic user, like the ebony warrior

[Water Shaman]

While the odd alliance in the pact interests me, I think my main character will be in the Dominion.

I like kitties, and I like Elves. Yay for the Aldmeri!

[DikaSmausha]

If I do play, I will likely join the Ebonheart, being a Dark Elf. Maybe Covenant though.

[DarkEastwood]

I'm a huge fan of orcs, so the Covenant is probably the direction I'll go. One thing I'm interested in, is how easy it'll be to have races use non-traditional play styles (ex. An Altmer being a warrior). I tend to do that

[Skrofler]

I do the same and my orc will be either a ranger or a battle healer.
Since cross archetype characters (Altmer warrior etc.) weren't a problem in Skyrim, which is where combat and ability ideas in ESO takes off, I don't see why they would a problem in ESO. At the most there's some perk that you won't get good use of but what's the big deal?

Your character will have access to a number of skill lines. There's (at least) one skill line per class, one per race, one per faction, one for vampires etc. So as you level up you put points in these skill lines. I suppose you can compare them to traditional talent trees. They serve the same purpose at least.
Since race is only one of these many skill lines I don't think it will matter at all since you can just use those points elsewhere. This won't be the case if perks get increasingly expensive further down the line though, or if you will eventually earn enough points to complete all skill lines.

But, no, huge disadvantages such as Altmer weakness to magic obviously won't exist. Multiplayer games are all about balance.

[Tiber-Septim]

Dominion makes sense as I would greatly enjoy exploring 3 provinces I've never explored before Ebonheart has Morrowind and Skyrim both of which I've already explored. This is considering the fact it will take me awhile to reach the level cap and unlock the remaining provinces.

[Elenath]

Definitely going with the Dominion first and foremost. I really want to see Summerset Isles, and I love Altmer.

I really hope I can join the other factions as well, though.

[Just_Mad]

Definitely Dominion, Bosmer and Khajiit are my two favourite races in ES games, and associated lore...
I wonder if the bosmer will keep their cannibalistic customs... If they do, it's a sure advantage, allow me to help you all imagine it.

The situation:
'Oops, darn, okay guys, looks like our healer is down'

The reactions:
Ebonheart Pact:

Hidden:

'We must duly respect the fallen, cremate him and spread his ashes!

Daggerfall Covenant:

Hidden:

'Great, now the orcs are going to call him weak whilst the bretons will want to go all necromancer on that corpse...'

Aldmeri Dominion:

Hidden:

'It's okay guys, we can heal by just nomming on this corpse...free heals?'

All joking aside... I would assume that the racial bonuses we have grown accustomed to are going to be almost insignificant, in the name of balance. Perhaps there will be boosts for each race, Altmer and bretons are better with magic, bosmer and dunmer with archery, etc, but I think even that would have to be balanced so each race had something-Innate weaknesses though? I doubt it...

Well, darn, it looks like I'll just have to buy it and find out...such a... fortuitous shame.

[Jun Satou]

Could have sworn I already posted here. (>_<)'

I'm going with the Pact... Dunmer is my favourite race and I'm sick of fighting against Nords recently. Argonians seem like cool, slippery allies that will be of great use in being more rough than the Khajiit.

I favour Destruction Conjuration and Single Handed, not to mention more of the Sneaky type too. Really I can't point out what class my character is I usually bash them to death with anything or use any type of destruction magic I have available, then take their souls.

And I find some of the opposing races pretty irritating...

Redguards; Do you get to Hammerfell very often?
Altmer; I'm sure you've made note of whose been the most arrogant during your play-through, Dragonborn.
Orcs; They'll be sending collectors, to do their work for them, and to collect One-thousand Septims.
Khajiit; Most people simply view them as pickpockets or Skooma dealers.

[Msirae Faythung]

For the Ebonheart Pact naturally - though I fear the people who discovered TES in Skyrim will all be Nords! I'm going to be a Dark Elf mage (cliche I know!), shame you can't join the Great Houses at launch though.
The way I see it:
The Aldmeri Dominion want control of the Imperial City for Elven supremacy.
The Daggerfall Covenant want control of the Imperial City for Human supremacy.
The Ebonheart Pact seems largely concerned with dealing with the threat to Nirn rather than anything else - this (as well as my love for Dark Elves) is why I will be a member of the Pact.

[SwagMaster]

Daggerfall Covenant. I'm playing as a mage Redguard plus I like Breton and Redguard lore, but I wouldn't mind seeing the Summerset Isles either. With that said, Daggerfall or get rolled over.

[Mr.Argonian]

Dominion makes sense as I would greatly enjoy exploring 3 provinces I've never explored before Ebonheart has Morrowind and Skyrim both of which I've already explored. This is considering the fact it will take me awhile to reach the level cap and unlock the remaining provinces.

You haven't really explored Morrowind, just Vvardenfell, which I believe isn't even in the original launch of ES:O.