I forged ahead and completed the Civil War quest line today. In summary? It was okay. I guess my main problem with it is that it's highly repetitive: take this fort, take that fort... I guess the pace the game allows you to complete the quest makes it feel like there isn't really a war going on. I mean, outside the things you have to do in the quest, you never see anything about the war. No squads of Stormcloaks or Imperials patrolling the lands of Skyrim, no random battles between the two groups, you can still visit the cities that are on different sides despite your commitment to one side, etc.
I agree with your take, in particular the bolded points. There were a few missions that mixed things up on the Stormcloak side - ambushing a wagon of supplies, using blackmail to gain intelligence on the enemy, freeing prisoners, etc. - but there were too many forts to capture. The city battles were better, as there were sub-goals woven into them, but for #3 plays out a whole lot like fort #1.
The lack of consequence to picking a side was my biggest beef. I should not be the Stormcloak war hero and be able to waltz down the streets of Solitude to buy arrows from their fletcher for use in taking the next Imperial fort. In addition to being silly, it prevents my actions from having any real meaning, and from making me feel like the word is taking note of me.
Skyrim uses dialog from people that makes note of different events I've driven (so and so was assassinated, the College of Winterhold found something, etc.), but that is not an effective substitute for actual consequence. The state of the world after the war is pretty much the same as it was during the war.
Find I enjoy Skyrim the most when I'm not focusing on one quest line, but nudging it along as I fold other tasks and questing into the mix. That way any repetition on things like forts or assasinations is dilluted.
On an unrelated note, tonight my hunt for Dragon Priests begins in earnest. I've hit level 21 and am now potent in archery, sneaking, Illusion, smithing, enchanting and alchemy, which are the core skills for my character. All are in the 40-60 range.
I'm taking great pleasure in being a hunter/scavenger. I only forge and enchant weapons and armor from materials I have mined or harvested myself on my travels (one exception, I needed a bit of moonstone to cap off my suit of Elven armor - naturally I find a bunch right after). It feels great to head back into town with 100 lbs of furs and ore in tow, then smith, improve and enchant them, for money and use.
I've found a half dozen dungeons new to me on this romp, and they were all great. I cleared out two huge ones deep in the south, which had some great loot and design touches.
Also got a new side quest. All I can say is I wasn't expecting much from a Guardian Mud Crab, but boy was I surprised. :lol
