Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-5262726-20150722204556/@comment-24696651-20150802175847

Focus more on the smear campaign, trying to rally public opinion against the Stormcloaks and convince people to join my army to stop the Stormcloaks (who I've indicated I will be fighting at some point.)

Ask the smiths and alchemists to develop improved smithing techniques for iron, trying create steel from it using the carbon from the coal of the forge. Give them free access to the iron stockpiles.

Train half of the soldiers with the crossbows. Give the carbine crossbows to all cavalrymen and train them with it.

(Wouldn't people want to join a guild that's closer to them, rather than going halfway across Skyrim?)

See if the Stormcloaks are fighting any major battles/sieges, and if there are any undergarrisoned cities.