Why can Imperials join any faction?

Zama666

yes, I am asking why!

They seem to get along with everyone...but in war...does that work

Is it because they are diplomats?

Z

LunaFlora

because there isn't really an empire right now.

Zama666

LunaFlora wrote: »

because there isn't really an empire right now.

Thanks @LunaFlora

Any thoughts on which faction Imperials would lean to?

I would like these Imperial Empire return... Ah, Cyrodiilicia....
(Oops was that out loud...)

Z

WrathOfInnos

They would probably lean toward Daggerfall Covenant. Imperials and Bretons are similar in culture, appearance and religion. Imperials also seem to respect the warriors of both Redguards (who are also man, not mer) and Orcs (who are known to be excellent soldiers in the empire). They are also the most likely to make a lasting and unified alliance across Tamriel.

I don’t see Imperials getting along well with Nords, even in this era. Too much structure vs freedom conflict. Imperials have been known to fight or ally with Dunmer at various times, but are culturally very different. Argonians would be wary of Imperials after a long history of invasion and slaughter (both ways).

For the Aldmeri Dominion, they will eventually form an alliance with Imperials, but not in this era. In fact AD want elven rule over the empire, and will start another war long before finding uneasy peace.

Zama666

@WrathOfInnos Love it!!

I realize they don't love the Nords (who does? Oops out loud) but EP was about a bunch of disparate groups working together.

AD seems like a match due to their structured ideals and arrogance.

Since I am not versed in the Lore in depth as others ( trying but its all over the place, like a Nord in a china shop),
I'd love to hear your thoughts or that of others!

Tankz!

Z

Necrotech_Master

lore reason: the empire doesnt really exist (as noted above)

game reason: it was the bonus for buying the imperial edition of the game that you could start them in any faction, separate from the "any race, any alliance" account upgrade (originally given with as preorder bonus)

MaisonNaevius

When people talk about "Empire", they usually talk about the first Alessian Empire, the second Reman Empire, the third Septim Empire, and the fourth Mede Empire.

In ESO, we have the Empire of Cyrodiil, but this entity was officially dissolved between the base game and Blackwood Chapter.

As for the question of whether Imperials can join any alliance, I will say that they are not really attached to one of the three alliances. They are free electrons even if my heart would say to logically join Colovia.
The most suitable faction, however, is Daggerfall Covenant because they desire to restore the Second Empire.

Aliyavana

Daggerfall Covenant aligns most with Imperial ideals and they’d feel at home at high rock honestly from the way it is

Danikat

Anyone of any race can join any alliance, and not just because of the account upgrade - there's numerous NPCs who live outside their race's homeland or alliance, including some who joined various military forces in other alliances. They'll all have their own reasons for doing so. There's an Imperial in Alinor who says her family has lived there for generations and she's never actually been to the mainland.

Also a lot of Imperials left Cyrodiil after the Soulburst, either because they don't want anything to do with the 'Empress' and the Worm Cult who had seized power, or simply because most of Cyrodiil became an active warzone, and they all had to go to the Alliance's lands. I suspect many simply headed to the closest (relatively) safe location, but others may have headed for somewhere they had family, friends or other ties, or headed for the alliance they supported or thought had the best chance of conquering Cyrodiil. Those ones may be more likely to fight for an Alliance, so they can retake their homeland and move back.

They probably face more suspicion than soldiers of the Alliance's main races, and likely a fair amount of racism too (it's always been a problem in Tamriel) but I think the only real requirement any of the alliances have is showing you're willing and able to fight for them.

Zama666

@Danikat that makes me think they would bond with the Ebonheart Pact - mixed races, and not overly domineering.

Tankz for those thoughts!

Mik195

Because paying for the Imperial race and then paying again for amy race/any alliance would be mean?

jaekobcaed

I always understood it as this: the three alliances are all gunning for the remnants of the Second Empire. Pragmatic as always, the Imperials make personal judgements as to which of the alliances they believe has the highest chance of winning. Rather than trying to fight a war on three fronts, they ally with any alliance they believe can win and, hopefully, give the Imperials a better chance of going back to some semblance of normalcy once the war ends. If they take a neutral stance, they'll get caught in the crossfire and go extinct. However, this is far from perfect: join the wrong side and they could be accused of aiding the enemy of whomever wins the war.

Honestly, I didn't think about it too much but that's essentially how I always saw it.

Side note: I wish ZOS would make Imperials playable for everyone. I bought the Imperial Edition back in the day but I'd be more than okay with them making Imperials playable for every player. Ten years have passed and keeping one of the races locked behind a paywall (especially when their initial purpose was somewhat nullified with One Tamriel) just seems to be unnecessary at this point.

Zama666

@jaekobcaed interesting thoughts.

Would Imperials fight imperials if they are in different factions? I would think Imperials would defect to the winning faction.

Actually, I wonder what the number of Imperials out there in terms of ESO population (Lore wise)

As for keeping it behind a paywall, it is not that much, but also makes them a bit more 'special' Spec wise they are pretty balanced.

And I bought the Imperial Edition, make it free, you gotta give me T-shirt for my tune that says

I am the I'm in Imperial. Original Imperial!