Which is better imperials or stormcloaks

While you can obtain from fighting and not pick a side, both the Imperials and Stormcloaks have valid reasons on why they should win control of Skyrim. The outcome of the war does not affect the main questline in any way, but picking a side forces you to declare your values and fight for the Skyrim you want to see in the future.

A huge chunk of Tamriel's history involves conquest by the Imperials, whose military might and organized soldiers have led to their dominance. That's why they're pretty much the most powerful faction in Skyrim during the game, though bruised and battered by a recent war with the Altmer. That automatically makes the Stormcloaks a rebel group, the freedom fighters, and the underdogs — the David to the Empire's Goliath. They want nothing more than to free the Nords and Skyrim from the clutches of the progressively more oppressive Empire who even goes as far as banning certain gods from being worshipped as a part of their unfortunate treaty with the Thalmor.

Say what you will about the Empire, but their methods of modernization, economic know-how, and focus on the rule of law and order bring stability to the chaotic and frigid Skyrim. While it's true that Skyrim does have its High King, this position is easily contested by other Jarls, often making the seat of power in Skyrim a black hole of power struggles. As expected, this isn't great for the people and the economy.

The Empire knows just how to quell the power-hungry Jarls and keep the Skyrim holds in check. They also bring in a healthy amount of trade and commerce. While the Empire's modernized policies are good, it's clear that General Tullius or most anyone in the Imperial Legion that isn't a Nord themselves has, at best, a very poor grasp on Nord culture and tradition, making their presence and authority feel alien and invasive.

To most of the Imperials, Nords are brash barbarians. Ulfric Stormcloak, being Nord royalty himself, understands well how to preserve the valued customs of Skryim, thus retaining their cultural identity. The Empire, on the other hand, would gladly forgo these values if it makes assimilation and day-to-day business easier.

Here's the key problem with the Nords' ways — they're quite xenophobic. Ulfric Stormcloak himself is the flagbearer of this bandwagon, giving another, much darker layer of context to the "Skyrim belongs to the Nords" line, as they do truly mean the Nords and the Nords alone.

The Empire, however, is not that prejudiced against other races so long as they keep the gold flowing and abide by the Empire's rule. They even accept Nords into the Imperial Legion during the conflict, and perhaps more impressively, Orcs — a famously ostracized and shunned race. Based on their characteristics, the Imperial Legion and the Empire might sound a bit standard and consequentially boring.

Although there were many other ways that Ulfric could've accomplished his ends, he challenged Torygg to an "honorable duel" that he knew he had no chance of losing. He may not be the only NPC with dirty laundry , but he's got a pretty big pile of it. The Empire has classically been the primary leading power in Tamriel, but after its recent war with the Aldmeri Dominion, it seems to be on the verge of collapse.

Its holdings are the lowest that they've been in ages, and although they managed to reclaim Cyrodiil from the Dominion, the terms of the White-Gold Concordat keep their recovery in check. In fact, if the Dark Brotherhood questline is to be taken as canon, the Emperor himself has been recently assassinated. This no doubt triggers internal strife and political conflict that further erodes its ability to govern itself, much less Skyrim. King Ulfric and his generals are definitely shown to be capable tacticians, having been able to raise, arm, and lead their motley rebel forces in such a way that it puts their military might on relatively even ground with the Empire's forces.

However, it's worth noting the Imperial Legion has been battered and depleted by their recent conflict with the Aldmeri Dominion, and even before then, they were on the verge of losing that war. Ulfric's Stormcloak rebels might give a broken Empire a run for their septims, but they'd be ripe for invasion by the Dominion while they recovered from the liberation of their homeland.

One of the most contentious stipulations of the White-Gold Concordat, and by extension, one of the primary driving forces behind the Stormcloak rebellion, is the banishment of Talos worship. Free worship of all Nine Divines is one of King Ulfric's biggest sticking points when it comes to recruiting more troops. Even if the Empire restores order in Skyrim, it'll be a tenuous peace at best. The banishment of Talos worship isn't something the Nords are ever going to find themselves entirely on board with.

So long as it remains in effect, pockets of resistance, if not further rebellions, will continue to plague Skyrim and steadily drain the Empire's dwindling resources.

The Stormcloaks see the White-Gold Concordat as an unforgivable affront, if not an outright betrayal of everything the Empire should stand for. You don't see why I used spoiled milk analogy for Stormcloaks and Imperials because you are not on the same page as me. Posting links to ESO quests will not change the fact that both ARE spoiled milk and it will not change just because you claim it isn't.

Empire IS exactly like spoiled milk scheduled to be thrown away and you are now trying to deny the fact that the Milk called Imperials is spoiled milk when on its bottle says Expired by July While constantly trying to draw people's attention on the Stormcloak Milk that says on its bottle expired by June No matter how factually correct or how hard you try to convince what people already know about the Stormcloak milk doesn't change the fact that the Imperial Milk are also spoiled and you'll get tummyache for it.

Calling this analogy weak or wrong doesn't change this fact. I am not going to keep either one. I don't want to get stomachache so both are getting thrown away period! You want throw away the bottle of milk that has expired for a month and drink one that has expired for a week, go ahead. Do not tell me what I can and cannot do. My message and point has been. I want to keep a neutral stance. I don't believe the Imperial Legion can overcome the Stormcloaks with their current forces during events of Skyrim.

There are even facts in the game where no progress can be seen from either side if I choose to do all the quests except Civil War during the game. Thus I choose the most simple conclusion stem from common sense: The Imperials may have an advantage it is far from being able to overcome the Stormcloaks. This point is far stronger than you think.

I do not claim that joining or otherwise supporting the Imperials is the only option, rather it is that which offers the greatest benefit and the least detriment. These are two detached sentiments. I do not seek out that which has a nice look or sound as you imply in saying that three Imperial provinces look better on paper, but rather what decision is more likely to yield better results. You continue to provide a fifty-five per cent likelihood of Imperial victory, yet you have never provided a substantiated explanation as to how you reached this seemingly arbitrary numerical value.

You also seem to be neglecting that the discussion being held is predicated on the assumption that there is an eventual ending to the Civil War in an Imperial versus Stormcloak victory paradigm. We all know that whoever the Dragonborn supports will be the victor or if the Dragonborn denies support that there is a seemingly indefinite continuation of hostilities. However, we make the assumption that the war will eventually end with one party victorious and we must then necessarily observe how likely it is that one party wins without the Dragonborn in such an instance.

The monumental size of this strawman approach to debating, whether intentional or not, is utterly unbecoming of any good argument. None have argued the contrary. None have said that the Stormcloaks cannot win or that the Imperials must win.

The more you repeat this, the more you strike blindly at nothing whilst your opponent stands behind you. Those who make effective arguments make a claim and then explain why that claim is correct. This is indicative of the futility of your argumentative style. I spent two paragraphs over nineteen lines explaining why statements you made were factually untenable. Instead of attempting to mount any defence of the words you have authored, you abandon them hoping that the opposition will forget you made such easily rebuttable statements as you also know that the only viable response is one of concession.

I was referencing ESO quests because I was providing you proof that the claims you had made were false, not as a rejection of an analogy I have indicated is fallacious. The circumstances of those references are disconnected to your analogy since the analogy poorly attempts to describe the moral and effective palatability of the Imperials and Stormcloaks where as the provided references disprove the claim you were making that the Dominion would not be able to sail to Skyrim.

Again, you have demonstrated your inability to comprehend different points and details therein, despite the fact that such points were clearly separated and prefaced with disconnected points made by yourself. Your analogy is fallacious as you are unable to provide a sufficient interlinkage between the two situations. Allow me to provide you with questions that may help you understand that there is a disconnection.

We are telling you that what you want to do is devoid of logic. Again, you are reiterating what you think without substantiation. We understand, due to the numerous times you have declared it, that you prefer neutrality. You say no progress can be made if the Dragonborn does not become involved, a statement which is obviously true. This does not mean that the Imperial Legion is not at a significant advantage to eventually be able to win the war and nothing else you have said effectively contradicts this.

I am merely someone who stated a fact that is not acceptable to you and caused you to be triggered. That is why you badger me so much over an opinion. I need to start from common sense huh? This is just a limited list of your belligerence. I will say this, though, and I want you to understand thoroughly: belligerence in arguments is fine to a degree.

It is not fine, however, when you imply you are being peaceable and are the victim of unfair badgering when it is obviously not true.

It indicates that you are being intellectually dishonest with those you are engaging with. I am never the victim. There is no limited list of my belligerence. Just your attempts to make me look dishonest.

I have never been completely invested in arguing which side is better. Due to how little is truly known, I choose to talk about vague stuff like How I think Aldmeri Dominion has better chances vs anyone in this conflict based on the fact that Thalmor have been actively working against the Empire and succeeding in making Valenwood, Elsweyr, Hammerfell and parts of Skyrim break away from Empire.

Her prior experience is primarily that of a narrative designer for video games, although her writing has covered all formats from screenplays and novels to stage scripts. A graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, when she isn't writing she works on digital media projects and other types of fiction writing. Ky currently works out of Ohio and enjoys spending her free time either playing RPGs or running with her dog. By Ky Shinkle Published May 18, Share Share Tweet Email 0.

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