i wouldnt let the spells' names fool me if i were you... i mean, the names of spells hardly had effects that matched how cool they sounded in oblivion.

ice spike will likely just be a simple blast of ice, as will every other ice-related spell.

It sounds like that's the case. The article mentions getting a perk that lets maces bypass some armor; so yeah, I'm guessing we'll see general weapon type determined by skills, and specific weapon preference determined by perks. Actually strikes me as a rather elegant way to handle weapon specialization.

Why are people assuming that they've merged so many skills? It went from 21 in Oblivion to 18 in Skyrim... that's only 3 fewer. Wouldn't it make more sense if they merged some of the magic skills, and then maybe athletics and acrobatics? My guess is that axes still go under blunt, I don't think "1 handed weapons" and "2 handed weapons" will be skills. I also really doubt they'll be merging sneak and security... because those aren't really the same thing. I mean, you don't have to be sneaky to be a locksmith.

Also, you said they'll merge sneak and security "like in Fallout". Actually, in Fallout they have 'sneak', and they also have 'lockpick' (aka security).

Well, Enchanting got added, so 4 Oblivion skills need to go (one of which we know is Mysticism). And we can see the magic skills in the article, and they're all there (again, except for Mysticism), so we know the cuts aren't coming from there.

*Cuts self on Axe*

"Ouchy, don't feels too blunt to me, doc."

I would prefer making each skill stand out, then Beth just adding in more skills that are not fleshed out.

Quality over Quantity, imo.

That being said, the new perk system (well, new for TES anyway) should add deeper customization than another skill or two. Personally I'm glad that Beth is taking some bold steps. TES is my favorite series of games, and it's important that it changes.

Oblivion Skills--21
Blade
Blunt
Hand to Hand
Armorer
Block
Heavy Armor
Athletics
Acrobatics
Light Armor
Sneak
Security
Marksman
Mercantile
Speechcraft
Illusion
Alchemy
Conjuration
Mysticism
Alteration
Destruction
Restoration


Skyrim--18
That we know of

Alchemy
Illusion
Conjuration
Destruction
Enchanting
Smithing
Restoration
Conjuration

Skyrim if Speech and Mercantile were mixed as well as Athletics and Acrobatics. Removal of Mysticism, addition of Smithing which would contain Armorer. Since I accidently missed Enchanting I fused Sneak and Security. Changed hand to hand to Unarmored since it can include simular things.

Blade
Blunt
Unarmored
Block
Heavy Armor
Athletics
Light Armor
Sneak
Marksman
Speechcraft
Illusion
Alchemy
Conjuration
Alteration
Destruction
Restoration
Smithing
Enchanting

Perhaps...when they make an expansion, the expansion will also include 3 more skills!

I mixed the skills that really could be confused for eachother and well honestly made sense being one in the same. If they added skills in an expansion they would have to be special and not something thats like something we already have. I think they just took things that made little sense being its own thing and put it with something simular in nature.

Actually, axe will be under one handed or two handed depending on which type you're using, war axe or battle axe respectively. Also, armor skills are condensed from what I understand.

@GkrewZ: Enchant is in. How do you miss one of the 6 confirmed skills.

The whole 1-handed and 2-handed thing is just....where did people get that idea? Not trying to insult, but what from the article gave you the impression that it will be that instead of Blunt and Blade? Also the armor? Condensed? I don't have the mag yet, so I'm not sure where people are getting this info from.

I had a moment and forgot, I modified the post fusing Sneak and Security into one and adding Enchanting. My bad.

Not sure, but I get the impression that when dropping out skills like this, limiting to 1H and 2H is more "acceptable"?

In one way I agree. Axe as a skill sits smack in the middle of blade and blunt wrt what you can do with it. How about a falchion? It's often listed as a sword but I feel it sits smack in the middle of sword and axe. Does that demand a new skill, why or why not? Try classifying a naginata as a sword, polearm/staff, or spear. It has a little of everything. And where would you put a scythe? I think it is better to generalize it into one and two hand weapons, which is usually easy, than trying to categorize everything correctly with a limited number of categories.

In another way I don't agree. In the real world I'd expect different schools for different weapons. This can only be done by expanding the current skillset though. But having skill and perks is probably getting too far, and if perks are removed we're back to morrowind which lacked everything in combat. Also, expanding a lot of extra skills for one specialization, means problems of finding anything suitable for other specializations.

So despite being a "the more the merrier" fat wrt skills, this move is actually one I think makes sense.