Game changes due to Stormcloak/Empire Allegiance.

[Travalanche]

I've recently got back into the game and already know all about the philosophical differences but I'm wanting information on the hard facts and the after effects for each.

I know the forts that are occupied are different for each, which faction has the most usefully placed ones for dragon attacks and what-not.

Does one faction introduce more bugs after completion? I noticed that after I sided with the Empire and they took over Riften there would always be a couple of stormcloaks that patrolled near the town which caused a fight and multiple NPC's died due to the small battles over time, including the one you do the nirnroot quest for.

I'm just looking for the safest bet pretty much.

[Ebony Dragon]

This is something that I don't think has a clear answer to.
For instance, I cannot complete the quest for that Helm of Winterhold because of my alliance with the Empire led to his usurpation, so I cannot get rid of it now.

[Street_Assassin]

I don't think there's too many changes besides jarls being replaced or dead and added few conversation lines to npcs about their new jarl and how stormcloaks/empire affected them. Besides bugs that deal with jarls I think there's not that many changes. I did one re play of game where i finished all war quests first and many npcs acted like nothing happened after that anyways. Also Season Unending won't trigger if u finish war quest before it.