Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-121.216.87.214-20130131113203/@comment-6368743-20130208030832

i think people are overstimating the strength of the Thalmor. people forget that one of the main reasons the thalmor were so successful in the great war was that they started it off with an unprecedented suprise attack; if the empire had been able to prepare, the aldmeris dominion would not have been nearly as successful. now, he empire is maintaining its forces more properly in anticipation of another war. people also seem to forget that the only reason the thalmor set up the white gold concordat was because the empire had won a huge victory at the battle of red ring road (there is a book in-game on the battle if anyone is interested). this victory exhausted the thalmor, forcing them to set up the treaty. this is partly why i think ulfric's war is stupid and only helps the thalmor (which the thalmor themselves say via logs in their embassy). a united empire, with skyrim, high rock, and cyrodiil, would have a good shot at victory.

as for the dragonborn, however helpful he/she is in terms of combat/strategy, the idea of the dragonborn would be a potent symbol for mankind (assuming the DB isnt a jerk) to rally behind.

i also think people underestimate titus mede II. he isnt perfect, true, but he isnt a coward. he led a large number off the troops that defeated the aldmeris at the battle of red ring, and he was actually at the front, fighting. people act as though him not being a septim makes him a terrible emperor, but many emperors of the septim dynasty were total failures.

personally, i think the empire and the emperor have done pretty well, given the crappy hand they were dealt.