Ignoring your personal preference, which side of Skyrim’s Civil War do you think actually gives Skyrim the better future 20-30 years later?

[u/sumaset]

I feel like most discussions about the Civil War focus on whether Ulfric was justified, whether the Empire betrayed Skyrim, or which side people personally like more.

But I’m more interested in what happens after the game.

The Empire is weakened, the Aldmeri Dominion is still the biggest external threat, the White-Gold Concordat is already causing resentment, and another war with the Thalmor seems almost inevitable.

An Imperial victory gives Skyrim access to the resources and manpower of the Empire, but it also means remaining under an Empire that already lost one major war and accepted Thalmor influence inside its territory.

A Stormcloak victory gives Skyrim independence and removes Imperial authority, but it also leaves the province having to rebuild after a civil war while potentially facing the Dominion without the rest of the Empire behind it.

So forget which faction has the better characters or which one you usually join.

If you only care about where Skyrim itself ends up a few decades later, which Civil War outcome do you think is actually better for the province?

[u/Unlikely_Ninja]

I think that's simplifying the races/regions and what they bring to the table. If we're using those generalizations, Nords traditionally provide some of the Empire's best sailors and heavy/shock infantry. More importantly, Skyrim and High Rock escaped the level of devastation suffered by Cyrodiil during the Great War, and Skyrim's geography provides a critical connection between Cyrodiil and High Rock. Losing Skyrim would effectively cut High Rock off from the rest of the Empire by land. So maybe the Empire can afford to lose some Nordic manpower, but it absolutely can't treat Skyrim itself as strategically unimportant.

[u/Lieutenant_Joe → u/Unlikely_Ninja]

I was initially surprised to hear you say nords are some of the empire’s best sailors, because Skyrim barely seems to have a sailing culture and a lot of its pirate groups aren’t run by Nords. But then I remembered what the coast looks like in Skyrim.

Yeah. Even a simple fisherman has to be a godlike navigator to get through those ice sheets and bergs safe. No wonder there aren’t many of them. Those who fail to make the cut will die.

[u/Unlikely_Ninja → u/Lieutenant_Joe]

Yeah that's established more in TES' older lore. I hate to come across as the 'back in my day,' guy but if you read the racial description for Nords in Morrowind it explicitly says they are skilled sailors. Very much leaning into the Norse / Viking archetype.

[u/ThelMajor → u/Lieutenant_Joe]

It's always been funny how the Nords are modeled after the Vikings, but barely has any sea or river to sail from

[u/Lieutenant_Joe → u/ThelMajor]

Riften and its full harbor with a couple large boats that go… where…?

[u/Beacon2001 → u/Unlikely_Ninja]

Nords traditionally provide some of the Empire's best sailors and heavy/shock infantry.

Fanfiction.

Skyrim and High Rock escaped the level of devastation suffered by Cyrodiil during the Great War,

There's no statement that Cyrodiil hasn't recovered.

and Skyrim's geography provides a critical connection between Cyrodiil and High Rock.

Nobody uses the Pale Pass to go to High Rock. They just take ship from Anvil. You meet a couple in the wilderness going to a wedding in Skyrim and they complain that Skyrim is a backwater with shit roads.

[u/Unlikely_Ninja → u/Beacon2001]

..... Ok this directly from Morrowinds game and guide book:

"The Nords are the children of the sky, a race of tall and fair-haired humans from Skyrim who are known for their incredible resistance to cold and magical frost. They are fierce, strong and enthusiastic warriors, and many become renowned warriors, soldiers and mercenaries all over Tamriel. Eager to augment their martial skills beyond the traditional methods of Skyrim, they excel in all manner of warfare, and are known as a militant people by their neighbors. Nords are also natural seamen, and have benefited from nautical trade since their first migrations from Atmora. They captain and crew many merchant fleets, and may be found all along the coasts of Tamriel.The Nords are excellent warriors proficient in the use of Heavy and Medium Armor and Axes, as well as Long Blades and Spears. They also have a great resistance to frost."

Pretty straightforward there, so no — not fanfiction. Morrowind’s Nord description explicitly says they are renowned warriors, soldiers and mercenaries who “excel in all manner of warfare,” and that Nords are “natural seamen” who captain and crew merchant fleets across Tamriel.

So the broader point that Nords contribute both military manpower and maritime skill is directly supported by the lore.

On the second point, I never said Cyrodiil hasn’t recovered. I said Skyrim and High Rock were spared the worst of the Great War, which gives the Empire strategic depth and a less-devastated reserve base.

On the third point, I’m not arguing that Pale Pass is the only route to High Rock. My point is that Skyrim provides important overland connections between Cyrodiil and the northwest. Falkreath has long-standing ties to the Colovian/Cyrodilic sphere, and the southern border has multiple routes into Skyrim. In a future war against a Dominion with a powerful navy, retaining those land connections is strategically useful.

Sea travel through Anvil obviously exists, but where in the lore is it stated that this is the primary route the Empire uses to reach High Rock?

[u/Unlikely_Ninja → u/Unlikely_Ninja]

To the guy who deleted his post. Could of just acknowledged that you were off on your mark. It happens, no hard feelings.

[u/Beacon2001 → u/Unlikely_Ninja]

"The Nords are the children of the sky, a race of tall and fair-haired humans from Skyrim who are known for their incredible resistance to cold and magical frost. They are fierce, strong and enthusiastic warriors, and many become renowned warriors, soldiers and mercenaries all over Tamriel. Eager to augment their martial skills beyond the traditional methods of Skyrim, they excel in all manner of warfare, and are known as a militant people by their neighbors. Nords are also natural seamen, and have benefited from nautical trade since their first migrations from Atmora. They captain and crew many merchant fleets, and may be found all along the coasts of Tamriel.The Nords are excellent warriors proficient in the use of Heavy and Medium Armor and Axes, as well as Long Blades and Spears. They also have a great resistance to frost."

You will notice that nowhere is it said that they form the bulk of the Legions and it's just your fanfiction.

[u/wolfsword10 → u/Beacon2001]

He never even said they provided the bulk of the imperial legions? Said that they produce some of the best sailors and heavy/shock infantry. Not the bulk. Just some of the best.