Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-72.74.78.209-20141019230536/@comment-24902649-20141207205035

Well, that and well-designed fortifications. And Windhelm's a war city--there are killzones for archers atop the walls everywhere, and the most important building is the most heavily built, and the highest.

Solitude, on the other hand, would be hell to wage a war in. The side with the most soldiers would win that battle, simply because they'd be the only ones left by the end. Which I guess works for the Empire.