User blog comment:Zippertrain85/"Why the Empire Should Prevail Over the Stormcloaks! Part 3 (Economics)" Refuted/@comment-5.15.64.89-20140104163145

Well,your point is very valid so far,but l for one think the whole of the Stormcloak Uprising was pretty useless,in the bigger picture.Only thing it did was speeding the next war between the Dominion and the Empire.

That said,I don't have much love for either the Empire nor The Stormcloaks,but the Empire seemed a reasonable choice in the end.Why?I'll illustrate it here as best as I can.

Firstly,the Stormcloaks,at their core,still fight for the reinstitution of the worship of Talos.Secession from the Empire seems to them the most viable and immediate way.

The Empire,on the other side,fights primarily to keep control of the province,as the loss of it would weaken them considerably.Now,I'm sure all of you know the Empire,in its current state,is formed by Cyrodiil,Skyrim and High Rock.Morrowind,apart from being quite ruined after the Red Year,is very anti-Empire,this being supported by the dissolution of House Hlaalu(big Imperial supporters,as everyone knows).Hammerfell,as we know,are also anti-Empire,as of the White Gold Concordat.

As of now,these would seem as very reasonable reasons to join the Stormcloaks,as the Empire is really in dire straits.But let's think this through,shall we?

Firstly,based on the treatment of the Dunmer and Argonians in Windhelm,we can assume trade between Morrowind and Skyrim would have slim chances of growing,due to the attitude of the Nords.If we look at it the other way,Morrowind and the Dunmer are still in-debt to the Nords for Solstheim,so that might ease the tension of.

Secondly,in favor of Zippy,and by association,of the Stormcloaks,trade with Hammerfell would be mostly assured,as the two provinces are anti-Thalmor and anti-Empire.

But these leaves them with only two possible allies,no?Black Marsh and the Argonians have some good resentment toward the Dunmer,and if an Independent Skyrim would ally with them,the Argonians wouldn't stand for an alliance.

High Rock is under Imperial control,and in the case of another war,it would be a prime target for the Dominion,with slim chances of resistance.

Cyrodiil,being the seat of the Empire,would not have any contact with Skyrim,and in the wake of the war,it would be  the first place to fall,I believe.

This leaves Skyrim,Hammerfell and Morrowind as the only resistance in the way of the Dominion.On top of that,all 3 provinces are somewhat weakened,as of their respective disasters or wars.

Oh,and let's not forget that Valewood,Elsweyr and Alinor are in full force,being untouched by wars for the last 200 or so years.

That paints a grim image,doesn't it?

The Uprising is mostly a religious matter.Nords don't like the fact that they're not able to worship Talos,and so they join the Stormcloaks.But I don't think anyone really has a clue what will happen after they get their right to worship back and drive out the Empire.

Now,the next war with the Dominion is pretty much inevitable,and both sides state this.What really gets me is this:Do you think the White Gold Concordat will be enforced by the Empire once the war starts?Do you really think this? I,for one,don't.Which means that by siding with the Empire,not only you help it strengthen itself for the next War, but you also(although it is not presented in the game itself)restore the worship of Talos that the Nords wanted so much.

With that,I rest my case.Good day.