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So, we have the whole Stormcloaks vs Empire thing, but who do you think would win, if each side was an evenly mached fully equipped modern combat unit?

If possible, please explain your decision. I am eagar to here your reasoning.

I think the empire would win. They have a major port, Solitude. Whiterun or Solitude would be the major target of a stormcloak attack, but Solitude is a big naval port, and will likely have supreme defenses. Whiterun is the weakest, because there are nothing but flat plains to retreat to, but the stormcloaks have the aid of mountains, like the throat of the world, to entrench and bombard whiterun with artiellary. However, I do think the plains of whiterun would make a good airfield.

...The Stormies have Dawnstar.

Eltee wrote:...The Stormies have Dawnstar.

They do!? Opps.

In modern warfare especially, if given relatively equal numbers and resources, soldier discipline wins. The Imperials would wipe the floor with Stormcloaks.

You just said they were evenly matched...

Whomever has the nuke(s)....

this question doesn't really make to much sense I mean neither side shows anything to show that they could even cope with modern tech to produce efficent strategies.

GhostOfNumenor wrote:Whomever has the nuke(s)....

Yep. Wouldn't put it past Ulfric to smuggle a dirty bomb into Solitude harbor.

because you can't beat Gurrialla warfare. History has shown us that.

Elegost wrote:

vorenus73 wrote:In modern warfare especially, if given relatively equal numbers and resources, soldier discipline wins. The Imperials would wipe the floor with Stormcloaks.

Well not always, I mean look at the Taliban The force of the US the UK can't beat them even the Soviet Union couldn't beat them.

The Stormcloaks use Gurrialla warfare tactics and in a war they may have the edge, because you can't beat Gurrialla warfare. History has shown us that.

The Empire has half of (very fanatical) Skyrim on their side, not just under their rule.

the empire... they have the power and they are an... empire

'nough said

-Sonix

If they're...*evenly-matched*...wouldn't that inherently suggest a 50/50 chance of either side winning?

Imperials. Half of the Stormcloaks are trained and they have all the small cities. The Empire has Whiterun, which is uphill, which has always been a huge military advantage and also they have the Companions. Also Solitude is easily better fortified than Windhelm. And Riften would be taken very very early since it's right next to Cyrodiil.

Evenly matched militarily but, the Empire has the Thalmor. That alone tips the scales. Though the Thalmor's motive's are *cough* unclear.
Whiterun can be easily surrounded and sieged. At least supplies cut off. Those northern coastal cities ar the key.
Since Solitude would be the most difficult city to take over then I have to go with the Imperials.

Question:Is the Imperial Army only comprised of Imperials or do they have other races in their force?

SpikeSpeigel wrote:Question:Is the Imperial Army only comprised of Imperials or do they have other races in their force?

The Legion accepts all "true sons and daughters of Tamriel."

I think the Stormcloaks are more likely to win, ultimately guerilla warfare in terrain that's unfamiliar to 90% of the Legion Legates has no possible outcome other than a long, drawn-out war that results in a Stormcloak win, but at the same time that's exactly what the Thalmor want so it's unlikely that they would want to interfere.

I think the Legion would have more men, due to the fact they have more provinces and the Thalmor, but, I think the Stormcloaks would go for ambushes, just total guerilla warfare. Maybe a small Tet Offensive around Whiterun. It'll be a lengthy war, and even after all Stormcloak supporting towns have been conquered, probably the stormcloaks will just hide in the woods and mountains, ambushing patrols, raiding Legion encampments. Just a lot of hit and run. Now I have an idea for role-playing.

Edit: I think the average Stormcloak knows the lay of the land better than the average Legion soldier. Same for the Legates and General Tulius. He's in SKyrim since a short time, so he needs a lot of help from people more familiar with Skyrim.

In this battle I make an analogy to the Roman Empire vs the Germanic Barbarian tribes. Rome kicked ass initially, the barbarians had later success because Rome fell apart from the inside, and because new tribes just kept coming and coming and coming.

Crepe the Ashlander wrote:I reckon the Imperials could muster a large enough force to make a sort of D-Day landing on the northern shore in Eastmarch, and this would hit the Stormcloaks very hard.

The ice might be a great handicap. They need great ships to get past the ice, or have the men go aboard at the start of the ice fields, which might cost many lives. Also, the winter is a harsh enemy. They would need to go uphill, in the snow, lacking defences.

vorenus73 wrote:In this battle I make an analogy to the Roman Empire vs the Germanic Barbarian tribes. Rome kicked ass initially, the barbarians had later success because Rome fell apart from the inside, and because new tribes just kept coming and coming and coming.

I was thinking exactly the same.

You can easily beat guerrilla warfare, you just have to be a mean and evil [&@%!] to do it. Simply kill off any race that isn't you to ensure you kill those hiding among them, horrible and evil yes, but if one is willing enough that's what you'll have to do to win, and the Thalmor are those [&@%!].

Considering the Empire has so much political influence, I'll have to go with the Empire.

The Stormcloaks win because they want it more. The Imperial soldiers really just want to go home, and resent being deployed to Skyrim. The Stormcloaks have nothing else to lose, and go all guerilla terrorism on the empire. Eventually, the empire burns out all it's resources, stretches its taxpaying citizens in Cyrodil too far, and collapses. The Thalmor or some other faction takes over the lightly defended Cyrodil and has little interest stretching back into Skyrim.

If the Imperials "win" in Skyrim, the Stormcloaks never actually go away, and the insurgence keeps rekindling. If the Stormcloaks win, the Imperials pack their bags and go home.

Will Zurmacht wrote:

SpikeSpeigel wrote:Question:Is the Imperial Army only comprised of Imperials or do they have other races in their force?

The Legion accepts all "true sons and daughters of Tamriel."

Advantage: Empire