User blog comment:AveryWood/Reasons Why Going With the Empire is Better/@comment-1967485-20120818180540/@comment-1967485-20120820172429

@TheEpicShot: First of all, 3-4 Imperial legions were involved for the battle for the Imperial City. Half a legion, made up of and led by nords, held back the entire Thalmor Main army, WHILE being attacked from both sides. (So they were being attacked from three sides). If this is so, an entire legion could hold back the entire Thalmor Main army easily. Also, The Imperial Legion mustered all available troops...IN THE AREA. There were more legions (5,120 troops) in High Rock and Skyrim. 2nd, "Military Tactics" in general don't matter, the Legion uses Roman style tactics, ranks, uniforms, and weapons. They're not going to randomly change all their crap. Not to mention it Titus Mede II did not care about what his military advisors said, encouraged, or disapproved off.

@Sabre255. First, thanks for replying like a civil human.

1) The Empire IGNORED the beast-races drifting to the Thalmor. The Thalmor were secretive and seclusive, but they still made small, hostile acts toward the Empire, like planting agents in Imperial areas (This was before the Great War). Not to mention the Thalmor claimed to have used "powerful magicks" to bring back moons, which the Empire ignored, while the Khajiits praised.

2) From what I know, the reason the Empire surrendered wasn't because they were all obliterated with 2 guys left and the Thalmor had a vast reserve of troops left, it's because Titus Mede II didn't listen to his advisors and surrendered. He also ignored his advisors when the "Ultimatum" was delivered by the Thalmor before the Great War. Also, Thalmor Forces suffered heavy loses in Hammerfell (As a General "discharged' a large amount of "Invalids" before he left), and as Mer can't populate as quickly, I doubt the Thalmor had more soldiers, or at least more than the Empire.

3) Yes, I totally agree. The thing is that on an equal front, the Legion would win by numbers. From what "The Great War" says (Written by legates, officers, and survivors), the Thalmor started the war with diversionary tactics, as well as suprise attacks against the Legion. Remember that the Imperial City WASN'T their objective. At first the Thalmor just wanted parts of Hammerfell, as well as other lands/territories included in the Ultimatum. Then they notice how horribly the Legion was set up, mainly because the Oblivion Crisis troubled the Empire so much.