The Empire or The Stormcloaks?

[Da_BossMaN69]

I'd side with the Empire, worked with them for the last four games, why break tradition. But seriously, how could you not want to join them. Im going to stop every single criminal scum I see violating the law, Police Brutality all the way!

Plus, they're armor looks cooler, and I usually side with the more 'keeping the "peace" type solider ( like americans in Iraq, etc)

[legoless]

I'd side with the Empire, worked with them for the last four games, why break tradition.

That was all exclusively under the reign of Uriel VII, though. You might argue that the Empire under Mede is completely separate.

[Da_BossMaN69]

I'd side with the Empire, worked with them for the last four games, why break tradition.

That was all exclusively under the reign of Uriel VII, though. You might argue that the Empire under Mede is completely separate.

I'd still join simply because they're an Empire, I usually side with the empirical types in the games, but I never know, the storm-cloaks may be more involved than the empire is so I could join them, but if its as one sided as it was with the NCR in New Vegas I'll definitely join the side with more quests/interactions. But I'd prefer it to be the Empire.

[b3rgx]

For me, i don't know enough about the politics to pick a side right now. All i know about the empire is that it stands for unifying all of tamriel, but what was their purpose, and what do they stand for as a government?

And all i know about the stromcloaks is that they want independence from the empire. Is it because they feel opressed by the empire, or do they just want to rule over their own people? And where do the stormcloaks stand? Is their demand for independence genuine, what do they disagree about with the empire?

either way, i'll eventually side with both, on seperate playthroughs, but for right now, i don't know WHY i would side with either of them.

[Revenant]

whichever one does a better job convincing my I suppose
and of course whichever has the best perks

[Chaos the N'wah]

Depends on their approach, my first character will be a Khajiit and has no stake in either faction

[Alchemist]

In Oblivion my Dunmer constantly rebelled against The Empire for their cruel law enforcement practices, biased hiring practices, and lack of loyalty to the public sector. By that I always assumed the Fighters Guild was government sanctioned and the Empire let it rot.

The Stormcloaks seems pretty similar to me, although I have a feeling its members could be in it to empower themselves. While I always pictured a rebel operation as traditional fighting with arrows and steels, it appears these rebels are mages, right? I'm interested in seeing what kind of guerilla tactics they can think up. If they could somehow take alteration a step further towards druidism, that would be amazing. With this tidbit of information that the Army is tracking down and killing Stormcloak dissidents, I believe I'll definitely join the Stormcloaks. I know it's a fine line, but at least the Oblivion Empire wasn't ordering dissident assassinations simply by association.

[Ronok]

I'm thinking Stormcloaks but...I would like to talk to the people and their views and the leaders for Imperial forces and Stormcloak forces before I decide which is the best choice...

[Penguin _Overlord]

Rebels fo sho. Seems to me their fighting for independence, like real world countries. Empires more like trying to stomp out a rebellion.

[Nocturnal]

I'm thinking Stormcloaks at the moment because the Empire needs to taken down a peg or two in my opinion.

[MasterRokon]

I'm thinking Stormcloaks but...I would like to talk to the people and their views and the leaders for Imperial forces and Stormcloak forces before I decide which is the best choice...

note: this spoiler is ofthe leaked intro, click at your leasure.

Spoiler:

I dont think you get to choose later, in the leaked gameplay you choose follow either the stormcloaks to safety or the imperials, i have a feeling this is where you choose either or

[M.Beata]

I honestly can't decide, because I'd like to learn more about them in-game before I choose (listen to rumours, observe, etc.). However, I think I'll roll a Nord who sides with the Stormcloacks, and an Altmer who sides with the Empire, and of course a Dunmer, possibly two (one for each).

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

Haa the Breton are human (p.s.hi )

[Pobatti]

I'm thinking Stormcloaks but...I would like to talk to the people and their views and the leaders for Imperial forces and Stormcloak forces before I decide which is the best choice...

note: this spoiler is ofthe leaked intro, click at your leasure.

Spoiler:

I dont think you get to choose later, in the leaked gameplay you choose follow either the stormcloaks to safety or the imperials, i have a feeling this is where you choose either or

I've been thinking it too. That seems to be the jumping off point for equivalent series of quests (dependant on that choice) that eventually culminate in you officially joining their ranks.

Spoiler:

I'd imagine, to begin with, that early decision will culminate in your next set of instructions (once you're free to explore) being to meet with the respective leader of the faction that the person you chose to follow belongs to. For example, take the Stormcloak route and the fellow suggests you meet with their Jarl, although you don't officially become a Stormcloak until you've completed several of their 'initiation' quests.

[OblivionDuruza]

Spoiler:

Well, Riverwood is where Rolof is from, so siding with the Stormcloacks must send you there to Avlor (or is it Alvor - the blacksmith guy). Perhaps this means that Stromcloacks are canon, seeing as Beth used that branch for Hands-Ons?

[ArgonianDunmer]

Whichever lets me cause more chaos, for my main assassin that is. For my Argonian, I'll probably go Stormcloacks, for my other Dunmer I'll probably go Empire.

[Kenny_Biff]

I'm going to play both sides eventually, but I think I'll start with the Storm Cloaks. The player has never gotten a chance to rebel against the empire before in a game since you've always seemed to work for it's benefit (Oblivion, Morrowind) so I'm interested in what will happen when you fight against it.

[Rhcpftw]

I really hope we won't have a generic "Evil vs Good" situation though...Like one side being manipulated by Alduin. Divided views are far more interesting than "teh evilz"

[OblivionDuruza]

So very true. I have a good feeling, that both sides will be 'good' if you chose them, and 'not so good' if you don't. We'll have to see though.

[Rhcpftw]

Edit: Never mind, probably shouldn't talk about spoilers.

[Dracomagne]

Spoiler:

I really doubt Bethesda would make you choose your side that early. We'll know in less than a week (!), but they're known for letting the player decide his own path, and I don't think they would spoil that openness so early, just by following one guy rather than the other.

[legoless]

I'm going to play both sides eventually, but I think I'll start with the Storm Cloaks. The player has never gotten a chance to rebel against the empire before in a game since you've always seemed to work for it's benefit (Oblivion, Morrowind) so I'm interested in what will happen when you fight against it.

Ever heard of Redguard?

[Pobatti]

Spoiler:

I really doubt Bethesda would make you choose your side that early. We'll know in less than a week (!), but they're known for letting the player decide his own path, and I don't think they would spoil that openness so early, just by following one guy rather than the other.

Spoiler:

That wouldn't spoil the openness though. People were very quick to realise that you could choose to follow either the Imperial soldier or the Stormcloak guy - the game makes it obvious too. Throw in the fact that the player would know the two factions are enemies of each other and it's clearly in the hands of the player to make an 'educated - at that point' judgement which side to go with. Since the game is about 'following your own path' there is no right or wrong.

It's not like there has never been any hard decisions made that early in Bethesda games before. I think people are confusing being able to review and adjust all your decisions at the end of the tutorial (at the sewer exit in Oblivion, vault 101 exit in Fallout 3) as not being forced to make any hard decisions at all. Don't forget, in Fallout 3 you did make some hard decisions early on - for example how you dealt with the other Vault residents - and the Overseer - before you escaped the Vault did impact a later quest. That's in addition to setting up your SPECIAL, taking the GOAT etc.

In Fallout 3 it was possible to screw up the tutorial level in such a way that you'd lose the possibility of getting one of the bobbleheads, a couple of companions, that sort of thing. The decision in Skyrim doesn't appear to be so heavily weighted - it appears to just select a different path for you to follow along one quest-line rather than lock you out of content.

[beny15]

I'm going to play both sides eventually, but I think I'll start with the Storm Cloaks. The player has never gotten a chance to rebel against the empire before in a game since you've always seemed to work for it's benefit (Oblivion, Morrowind) so I'm interested in what will happen when you fight against it.

Ever heard of Redguard?

In redguard you really didnt have a choice.....

[FrostyInferno016]

Given that the Empire appears to have yielded to the Thalmor after the war...they're weak in my book, and the Nords should start regaining their former glory in Tamriel. Anyone who sides with the Thalmor is a true enemy of Skyrim.

Stormcloaks FTW

[Arch-Mage Matt]

Considering I haven't followed any news on either of the factions... a rebellion without an apparent reason should be put down.