Why can't I join the Garlean Empire and kill people?

Really.......... /facepalm. Too soon.

If I could I would. Then again if I could jump, I would jump off ever higher cliffs to watch myself die.

It would be grand if there was a quest line / quest hub that allowed players to descent against the cities. The only example I can think of, of anything similar is that goblin in Limsa that wants to find out information in return of "jingleshine."

I would defect too. Ul'dah is kind of boring. Maybe the Empire would feel a bit more like final fantasy.

The Empire doesn't appear to be at war with the city-states.

They aren't attacking anyone. They seem to be trying to manipulate the city-states and the beast tribes to fight each other. I won't say much more than that (because much more than that would be speculation). They did occupy Ala Mhigo and I'd love to go there - I'd love to take it back! But they really don't seem to be interested in the city-states themselves.

I think it has to do with the battle in the opening movie more than anything else.

so what? I'll join someone else then.

Who do I have to join to kill someone around here?

Chocobo squad. After 50 years of cleaning chocobo doo-doo, you 'll allowed to ride one and impale people on a spear, if you can survive to the smell

I'm think about it too... full role-play, just give us sm chance!