Which side did you join?
Which side do you prefer?
Another question, when you talk to friends who also have Skyrim, do you insult each other if they joined to opposing force?
For an example, last night (7 December, 2011) I was talking on the phone with my bff and I found out he was an Imperial. I'm a Stormcloak. So I told him we can no longer be friends. Then we went off on insulting each other with Imperial pig, and Stormcloak dog, and such. Hell I even backed my argument that Stormcloaks are better (comparing them to the nickname Stormcloak Dogs) and said that dogs are loyal and friends. Pigs just roll around in the mud and are stinky.
Anyway, feel free to add your little arguements with your friends and what not on here ^^ It shall entertain me!
I agree that the Thalmor are the real problem, and I'm still as of yet undecided. I'm leaning Imperial though, as Ulfric's division and dissent is merely helping the Thalmor conquer. Granted, the Imperials do try to kill you at the beginning of the game, so it makes that leaning a little... uneasy.
I didn't choose a side. The whole strive between the Imperials and the Stormcloaks is a Thalmor "divide & conquer" conspiracy. As long as they keep fighting each other the Thalmor will essentially rule Skyrim. The Stormcloaks and the Imperials should unite and kick those dominion bastard back to their isles. This will bring freedom and prosperity to Skyrim under the enlightened reign of the Empire.
I prefer the joining neither option and I wont kill Parthunax so I guess that makes me mostly Greybeard but if I had to chose it would be the Imperials because I cannot abide the racism of the Stormcloaks and Uljfric did not challenge the High King to a fair fight he used 'the voice' which is like whipping out a bazooka against a sword and then he ran away like a girl leaving the man who helps him behind, who we see executed, to face the music. Also, the only reason the Imperials are in bed with the Thalmore is because of the greater good. Of course there is self interest there too but if they didn't tolerate them they could wipe out the last of the Empire and everyone else too. If Ulfric became High King. With his arrogance, lack of diplomacy and self-serving attitude I think he'd have the Thalmore baying for blood within a year.
I haven't had an argument yet but I might say "Imperial Traditionalist Martyr!" or "Stormcloak Facist!" or "Thalmor Psycho Nutter!" if moved.
I side with the Stormcloaks myself. Yeah Ulfric seems to be a selfserving, prejudiced prick( If I could kill him and take over the rebellion myself I would.) but clearly the empire is a waning power now, they wouldn't have had to sign such a one sided treaty otherwise. I say disband the empire let those provinces that would fight band together to fight the Aldemeri Dominion and let those that wouldn't submit to the Dominion.
I chose the Stormcloaks on my first character, but I realized my mistake after the Thalmor Embassy quest, and I regretted it. Now I'm on the side of the Empire. My friend chose Stormcloak, and that makes me wish for multiplayer PvP sometimes :/
I do murder every single Thalmor I come across though >:)
But the High King was weak. The Nords want a powerful and honorable king. If he doesn't have the voice, the ancient power of the Nords, he was obviously a lazy and crappy king. The Nords aren't like the Imperials and their politics, they're barbarians and vikings. Yes, I don't think Ulfric deserves to be king but if it was someone else who wasn't a power hungry racist killed the High King I would applaud them for that. And in the case of the Nords I already do a little bit.
So far, I have had one character that ended up not choosing sides after learning more about Ulfric, and another character that was Stormcloak all the way. I intend to start another character eventually who chooses Imperial, or to have my first character change her mind and go Imperial. I just haven't found a way to get a believable role play out of that yet.
For me, I think both sides have good points, and which side you choose depends entirely on the character you are playing. If you have time, take both sides and see both stories.
So far on my playtroughs only sided with the imperials so far. I don't like how Ulfric does his things. He's spilling innocent blood on his own people and for the other races. The empire thinks at a larger scale and prevent the Thalmor from invading any further.
But those are just my personal thoughts
~Magnus