Hmm, I dunno about this one, I think I'd take the mostly multi-ethnic Empire over the Nordic ethno-nationalist fascists who are set up to weaken the Empire by the other ethno-nationalist fascists, the Thalmor.

Critical support for the Empire?

[–] Saeculum@hexbear.net 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The Empire is an extractive regime funnelling wealth into the imperial core of Cyrodil at the expense of the provinces. Not only that, but the provinces are extorted for the majority of the manpower of the imperial legions, with the officer core being made up of the Cyrodilian nobility.
The Empire knowingly permits slavery amongst it's subjects, and it's history is one of a succession of revolts.

The proto-fascist Stormcloaks are preferable to the extant fascism of the Thalmor and the mature imperial project of the Empire because it still has the potential to move in a less harmful direction, as the feudal regimes of the west and south of Skyrim do not share most of the exclusionary value of the northern holds.

[–] Frank@hexbear.net 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Pretty sure they abolished Slavery following the Red Year in Morrowind, as the Dres that were the biggest reserve of support for slavery were all eaten by the Argonians when they bulked up on Hiist sap so the Hlallu king had enough influence to end the practice without the possibility of a Dres-Redoran-Indoril uprising.

Also, Ulfrick is a huge dork and is not good enough at break-dancing to defeat the Thalmor in the one arena that truly matters. He's also presumably racist towards monkeys, and we're gonna need the Imga if we're going to pull this off. Even with Numidium Tiber Septim could only force a draw with the old Altmer. What chance do we have without a bunch of ballet-doing gorillas?

I really think our best chance is quickly putting down the Stormcloak revolt then using the death of Emperor Mede to steer a charismatic Bosmer leader on to the throne, then use mixed loyalties in Valendwood as a lever to break Elsweyr off from the Dominion. If the Empire can demonstrate that it's a credible challenger to the Dominion we can probably get the Hist on board purely through shared interest in maintaining the status quo of reality, then start constructing Battlespires in the northner parts of the Tamriel in preparation of eventually invading Summerset Isle from the one direction they're not expecting; ~~space~~ Oblivion!

If we can figure out where Vivec fucked off to and assemble a strategic mythic alliance of Paarthunax, Vivec, the Mane, the Dragon Born, the Nerevarine if they're still around, and whatever other quasi-divine pro-existing legends are wandering around I think we have a good chance of yelling "TAMRIEL EXISTS" loud enough to deafen the Aldmeri high wizards to all other possibilities.

[–] ClimateChangeAnxiety@hexbear.net 0 points 1 year ago (2 children)

When I was a kid I would always play evil characters, especially remember in KOTOR playing full dark side and the dark side options in that are fully “steal the baby’s ice cream” “kick the hungry dog” kind of evil options. Now doing those things makes me feel guilty sadness

[–] Zymi@hexbear.net 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I remember in KOTOR 2 your character has a dialog option that calls out the banality of the evil choices. I forget the exact words, but basically your character laments the opportunities they are provided beyond basic cruelties.

Found it cuz it was bothering me:

"These small acts of cruelty bore me - to take money from others, to insult them, to threaten their lives. " "I command the Force, and yet these small cruelties are all life presents me with. "

[–] Frank@hexbear.net 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

DAE KRAEIA SO SMART TOTALLY BLOWS MY MIND GREY JEDIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!?!?!?

[–] Gosplan14_the_Third@hexbear.net 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

She's not though lol

KOTOR 2 spoiler

She was both Jedi and Sith in the past, and over time she came to despise the Force and the effect it has on people and pretty much everything else - her goal is to destroy the force and let people have free will (by proxy. She doesn't care, but that would be the effect, were the death of the force not mean the death of all living beings in the galaxy). Far from a "lol fuck the light side, fuck the dark side, balance is the best" viewpoint.

She's far from perfect; a peak Machiavellian with contradictory beliefs - and focused entirely on her feud with the force, completely uncaring of the lives of the people of the galaxy. She is, however, a very fascinating character and it's a shame the money people rushed Obsidian into an early release date.

KotOR 2 is still one of my favorite games of all time.

[–] Smeagolicious@hexbear.net 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Amazing character with stellar writing (with some of the restored content it’s even better), who is absolutely wrong. I love that she can have complex layered motivations for her actions, can cause players to question why they make certain moral choices, and still be absolutely wrong in the end. It’s great, and I feel it’s missing from a lot of game media.

[–] AmarkuntheGatherer@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 1 year ago

Except of course, she's right. Her goal of destroying the force is one of the noblest in the entire franchise. The force takes away people's free will on an individual level and hurls the galaxy into conflicts that cost billions of lives in a seemingly infinite loop.

That isn'tto say her ideas are particularly applicable to us. Chosen ones and those individuals worth billions can't exist in our reality, but do in star wars. We've got people who were positioned in critical junctions and could achieve what many others couldn't, yet Kissinger (rip bozo) wasn't Nihilus.