Board Thread:Skyrim/@comment-120.28.157.86-20140406014559/@comment-26893431-20170224122212

YinyangElementofduality wrote: Neutrality is only going to be doing what the Thalmor wants if you completely hands off and not know what you're doing.

In the game, you may have come across quests that seems to foreshadow involvement with the Thalmor, Stormcloaks and Imperials. These are the ones that will affect and get in the way of the Thalmor.

They are extremely subtle and requires insights that some may consider overthinking. Take the most obvious for example: Finishing all of the College quests and bringing the College under the control of the Dragonborn. In addition to the potential benefits of a school of mages diligently studying magic unlike those in Cyrodiil... Ancano's antics can let the Dragonborn pull reasons out of his ass for the greater good as to why this college full of mages studying magic diligently needs to help the Empire for mutual benefits.

If the Dragonborn only do nothing aside the main quests as you said, killing Alduin, Harkon, Miraak and get stuck in Apocrypha... then the Dragonborn wouldn't have time to help the Empire or Stormcloaks beat either side or do any of the super long list of things necessary to create a "Thalmor-Scream in horror and live forever in nightmares" neutrality situation. Then it will be a Thalmor-controlled neutrality situation for the Stormcloaks and Imperials. Seeing Ulfric chickened out and never seen going out for another tactical contest with Tullius until he has a clear advantage, chances is they will continue to stalemate in the Thalmor favor.

Even if the Dragonborn do destroy either Stormcloaks or Imperials, but leave them to fight the Aldmeri Dominion. There is no way the Empire or the Stormcloaks have a better chance against the AD during Great War.

Stormcloaks wins, Empire weakens further. Empire is pretty much half as strong as it was during Great War, meaning at half strength in Great War. Great War, they were unprepared and supposedly weakened. Losing the Civil War and losing half of its lands is an indication they are prepare to fight but only at 1/2 strength.

Empire wins, Empire was still drained from the fighting and was weaker than it was in Great War due to loss of free access to Hammerfell troops. But it evens up with Empire being prepared to fight.

Without this theoretical small but extremely powerful 3rd Faction controlled by the Dragonborn that will force the status quo of the Stormcloaks, Imperials and Thalmor to collapse completely this may requires an insanely excessive amount of work on the Dragonborn's side but it will create the so called Thalmor's worst nightmare situation because if things go my way, no one dares to move because you'll make everyone think your dangerous faction has sided with their enemy faction and if they make a move, they'll end up getting hit by both fronts.

If this situation does not come to pass, the Thalmor wins no matter who wins. Because Empire will weaken, making things easier for them to take it down. No, neutrality is still doing what the Thalmor want, regardless of how you twist and turn it.

You're basing things on pure speculation, baseless speculation for that matter. The moment Ulfric makes a move to Whiterun is when the tables will turn and the Thalmor will be unable to do anything about it.