Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-26213507-20150715194939/@comment-26801133-20150721212712

I love how everyone is trying to make one side look better than the other. What people don't realize is that both the Imperials and Stormcloaks are both pretty equal as factions, even if they have different views. The quests (with the exception of The Battle of Whiterun), their armies, the main figures and the outcome are, in the end, all the same. So when you choose a side in the Civil War, you choose from personal preference rather than from facts (like choosing between the colors red and blue). I doubt that choosing either side will have a significant impact on any future storyline of the Elder Scrolls series.

As for my personal choice, I stand with the Stromcloaks. The reason is that I don't agree with the motivations of why several of the Jarls of Skyrim supported the Empire, which were: security and trading. The Empire kept most of the Imperial army defending their own land and could only lend a single, meager Legion of soldiers to keep order in Skyrim. If they didn't conscript Nord sympathizers into the army, the Stormcloaks could possibly have proven to have been an even greater force than Tullius' army. Which is funny, considering the Imperials are trying to make the Stormcloaks look like a small group of troublemakers. Oh, the irony...

As for the prosperous trade with the south, it is true. Skyrim won't be able to export their goods and import supplies as much as before. However, the Empire is also leeching gold and other resources because they are devastated, leaving the people of Skyrim impoverished. Even if Skyrim loses wealth from trading with the Empire, they will at least keep and maintain control of their own resources.

And let's not forget the Great War. In order for the Emperor to save his city, he sold away Hammerfell and left the Redguards to fend for themselves. Theoretically they could do the same thing with Skyrim, if they deem it, in their minds, necessary. Even though Ulfric may be greedy and power hungry, his and the Stormcloaks loyalty to their homeland will ensure that Skyrim won't just be left to the Thalmor on a sliver plate.

As I see it, the only one who will look after Skyrim's best interest is Skyrim itself. Not a crippled Empire.