Note from Billy Pilgrim: This is a slightly tweaked version of the description from Nikola231's original Oldrim mod. I just ported it to SSE (with permission) and added a couple of features (see bottom of description).



Probably to save money and time, Bethesda decided to make all guards look all the same and just change their color depending on the city they are protecting. To fix this problem I found armors and weapons from the Nexus and combine them in to one Guards mod. They all have backstories and reasons why they use such armor and weapon styles. Now these backstories are all made by me, something  like fan fiction or something, but there is logic behind why they use what they use. These are Skyrim’s new guards.


Solitude
The capital city of both Haafingar Hold and all of Skyrim , Solitude is  probably the richest city out of all nine cites and it is the headquarters to the Imperial Legion. Guards of such a important and rich city should wear something fancy. Trained by captain Aldis they are honorable knights, wearing the colors of their home with pride and wielding large two handed sword that can cut through almost anything. Billy's note: The Solitude guards in SSE no longer have the HDT physics-enabled drapes due to technical limitations.

Markarth
In the city originally built by dwarves, guards rely on the strength of their walls and so they rely on strength of their own. They build armors by using what was left of dwarven metal and use dwarven weapons found in the city. Their armor is strong and can take a lot of damage. They are trained to use dwarven hammers and with those they can smash through any foe.

Dawnstar
During the fourth era Dawnstar’s citizens were suffering from nightmares. Fearing that the source of the nightmares was unnatural, like daedra or the undead, the town's guards took silver swords and silver shields so they could deal with such an enemy if they found it. Even though their gear is primarily for undead, they are still able to defend the city against almost anything.

Morthal
Morthal is the only city that is not built on the main roads of Skyrim. They don’t have strong walls so their best defences are the guards of the city. Clan Axe-Bearer lived in the city for many years - they taught the guards some of their skills - so the guards' weapon of choice for generations has been axes.

Whiterun
Also known as the heart of Skyrim. In the fourth era civil war rages Skyrim, and Whiterun is the only city that has not chosen a side. Knowing that both Imperials and Sormcloaks are waiting for right chance to take the city, Jarl Balgruuf the Greater decided to prepare his men for war and gave the order to begin producing new gear. Whiterun has the advantage of heaving Eorlund Gray-Mane as smith - he provided guards with light ebony armor and large ebony shields. He also provided them with his own craft - Skyforge steel swords, much stronger than a regular steel weapon. (To make the choice of ebony make more sense I recommend mod Ebonvale Settlement).

Falkreath
Falkreath is not the most interesting place in Skyrim. The city is most known for its graveyard. The guards of Falkreath are badly equipped. Having a lazy and narcissistic Jarl does not help either, since he was careless enough to not provide them with new gear. Guards are left with weak armor, a small shield and Iron weapons. Unfortunately for them they are by far the weakest guards in Skyrim.

Winterhold
WInterhold is the coldest city in Skyrim. The guards of Winterhold need outfits that can keep them warm. Their armor is covered in cloth and fur so they can handle extreme cold. After the destruction of the city, the Jarl appealed to the college to help with defense. The college provided the city's guards with enchanted swords that freeze their enemies.

Windhelm
Standing against the Empire are the Stormcloaks, and their home is Windhelm. The people of Windhelm are proud Nords and so are their guards. Their armor is designed to honor the original empire - the empire built by Tiber Septim - and their weapon is replica of Wuuthrad, battleaxe used by Nord hero Ysgramor. Forged by Oengul War-Anvil and enchanted by Wuunferth the Unliving, these axes are not strong as the original but still provide extra damage to elves.

Riften
Unlike in the other cities, the guards of Riften prefer ranged weapons. They use bows and arrows, with a small dagger for close quarters. Their armor is light, sacrificing durability for mobility, keeping the distance and taking down their enemies from a far. Their bows are extremely powerful. They can kill regular soldiers with only few shots, but they are also slower to fire than regular bows.