You see enemy attacking, you move away. That's dodging, happened a couple of times in the videos already.

They could make it like what would happen in real life- ie. You'd fail most of the time. In fact why don't they put hit detection on blocking? I'm pretty sure they way it's set up in the game is you just became a wall when blocking, rather unrealistic.

Well, if Oblivion is anything to measure against, then no. You'll still take damage when blocking, just less than if you don't block. So they could make 1 handers crappy for blocking, 2 handers better and shields awesome. Dunno how it's gonna be though.

You wouldn't really get hurt if it only hit the shield anyway. What I meant was there are no gaps in the defense, blocking gives you a forcefield. Any guesses why a shield is more protective then a thin blade?

I'm agreeing with you, I'm just saying that in OB you'd take damage even when blocking with a shield.

In Skyrim, I think it would be unfair to people who fight with 2 handed weapons if dual wielders could block with the same effect as a shield, and still put out more damage and faster attacks than anyone else. You'd be stupid to NOT dual wield if that was the case.

So you can't even parry when dual-wielding huh? Well, before I knew I was mainly going to go shield/sword anyway, but at least I was going to try equipping a spell in one hand. Now, I won't even bother. Blocking is an incredibly important aspect of melee combat, and to remove it so you can play medieval Rambo with two weapons seems idiotic.

I don't know about others, but when I see the re-released E3 video and see the player character just get hacked up without consequences by marauders without blocking, it destroys my immersion and the tension of combat. Why bother fighting with tactics and trying avoiding deadly enemy blades if all they do is make a red bar go down? I realise this was part of Oblivion as well, but I personally roleplayed by having my shield up at almost all times. In fact, my favourite part of combat was hearing the mighty impact of a dremora's mace on my sturdy shield, knowing I had avoided a painful if not fatal blow. It was also lovely to throw a spell in the midst of combat without having to give up your shield or blocking ability for it.

It's a shame, because block is practically my favourite skill and I was looking forward to having it expanded and its frontiers pushed by the new combat system's mechanics, specifically parrying. I guess I won't be dual-wielding at all (no suprise), but I am terribly dissapointed I might have to abandon using magic in combat if it means giving up my shield (doubly crushing since I tend to play as a battlemage).

I am however consoled by the fact that a mod will inevitably address the issue after some time has passed.

lol yup I cringed every time the player walked INTO a very drawn out swing by the enemy. It's like playing diablo. He did manage to dodge a few by backpedalling, but I saw no sidestepping. Just as well I guess, I've never actually seen player-controlled parrying in any game.

Blocking while only wielding one weapon, be it 2h or 1h, yes you can.

Blocking while dual wielding, unless shield in one of the hands, no you cannot.

It is 100% confirmed.

Wow, you definitely are in the minority to choose block as one of you favorite skills. I always thought block was a little ridiculous in OB but not surprised it wasn't scrapped in Skyrim because it's a good skill for fighters. It looks like block is done better in Skyrim this time around and may use it when I do play a battlemage.

Personally, im gonna play Dual wield.

Bit letdown that you cant block in someway, but oh well, just need to deal with it. Probably by running about like a maniac try to not get hit, but that could be fun on its own.
I dont really see why people think it would be overpowered if you could block and attack with dualwield.

It's a singleplayer game.
If dualwield was the best combo in game, would you really not be able to just play with a 2 hander or 1h+shield if thats what you prefer?
Chances are some spells might be more powerfull than Dualwield, but im still gonna play with swords..

If it was multiplayer, i could *maybe* see the point

Personally, I think they made a few too many sacrifices simply to run with the control scheme they wanted; Parrying being one of those and another being that magic can't comfortably be used along two-handed weapons or Sword+Shield combinations. So if one wanted to play a Paladin type character that uses restoration magic alongside his Mace and Shield, he'd have to keep switching around his equipment to do so. To me, having to do so feels like a work-around rather than a carefully designed system. Bow users will too have to faff about to use magic, and worst of all are the dual-wielders - who can neither block nor cast magic comfortably.

I suspect it'll cause a natural division between martial based characters and magical based characters, akin to Morrowind, where characters are less likely to unintentionally delve down the paths of magic. Comparatively, in Oblivion characters tended to inadvertently push their Restoration skill pretty high, since magic regenerated naturally, you had a readily available healing spell and you could always have it equipped. This made many characters become dual-classed or Jacks-of-all-Trades without players really incorporating that into their plan. Now, while I'm sure there'll be people who like that, I'm personally a bit divided in opinion, because I like playing Jacks-of-all-Trades such as Bards or simple Adventurer type characters. Oddly enough, they (Todd, I believe) have stated in the trailers that they wanted to step away from making players "Choose" what they wanted to be at the start of the game, but have the player instead grow into the classes they want to play. The effects of "Two Hands System" I suspect will be completely contradictory to that, coaxing people into set roles or "Classes" because it's far more comfortable using the system that way.

For me it'll no doubt cause a bad case of Altitis (The mental disorder in which you make too many alternative characters ) because I will be unable to comfortably incorporate all the elements of the characters I like to play in just one. Not due to the restrictions of the skill system, but due to the limitations of the control system. I was pleased to see that Dragon Shouts don't occupy any hand slot at least. It should spice up the gameplay for Dual-Wielding characters. Amusingly, the only conceivable reason they would set up this system is to allow Dual-Wielding to begin with, and they probably get the worst deal of the bunch. :shrug:

Only at the forums. :rofl:

I don't think people understand what I mean when I say block.

of course I wouldn't want to be able to block with the same skill as someone with a shield.

But a weak parry should be part of combat for dual wielders, be them have dual wielding blades or mixed blade/magic combos.

It makes no sense to just play "spam attack" and"kyte the enemy" to win, seems like a massive waste.

Shouldn't you be able to block on pc with like the scroll wheel?

The overpowered argument is stupid.

I mean cmon.

Why couldnt you just let 2 wielders block but make it MUCH less effective? Doesnt this seem better and less drastic than simply removing blocking altogether for duals?

Why is it BLOCK WITH EVERYTHING or NO BLOCK AT ALL - are you all really that blind to see there is a happy medium?

If you want balance,

Give the shield 80-100% of damage resistance
A 2 handed weapon 50-75% damage resistance
(there could be perks for these)
1 handed weapon 30-45%
and give dual wielders 25% damage reduction (or less if you really want to punish them

THIS is balance. Not removing blocking entirely. The 'balance' discussion should have (by bethesda and you guys) be focused on ''How much do we have to reduce dual wield blocking effectiveness by?" and the thought of cutting it completely should have never even come to play.

Listen Bethesda just make it a perk, a chance to auto block when dual wielding swords. There, 1 script 1 perk at the sky, and 1 animation.

Dual Wield blocking actually SHOULD be some kind of Perk

"Ability to block with 2 weapons - Reduce Damage done by x%" and make multiple levels of it to increase effectiveness.

This would solve it all:

People with shields would be happy since they can take tons of damage and are the best blockers by far
BUT for dual wielders - they have to use multiple perks to become truly a master at it (and even then, it would be MUCH MUCH less effective than a shield can ever be) - The perk tree would basically make way for a more defensive dual wielding build if you chose. (because despite what they say, dual wielding is not ALL about offense and they shouldnt force you to be) - It also balances itself because by using multiple perks on it, you are missing out on other weapon perks.

edit: ^^ the autoblock a la morrowind isnt a bad idea either. multiple levels of perk could make it more likely.

I REALLY hope this is moddable

No they're not. If you assign a one-hander to just one hand then the game assumes you want to go sword and fist and thus disallows blocking. If you assign your one-hander to both hands then it works like two-handers (press off-hand attack for blocking).

Damn that means no left-handed blocking in any form.(twas my last resort )

Source?

Lots of misinformation here.


Blocking with bow, two handed weapons, shield, torch possible.

Blocking with one handed weapons not possible. Doesnt matter if its one or two onehanded weapons.

The game does not assume you want to use your fist in your empty hand. hand to hand is like a two hand weapon.

you cant equip a one handed weapon like a two handed weapon.

source: lots of different tweets from pete hines

If you don't want to be all offensive, just don't use dual-wielding. It's like me complaining because I can't be as effective at damage using a shield and a sword as a person dual-wielding.

This ^
And I'm gonna use mods to deal with the no blocking .

Ok, people saying that it's stupid not being able to block and blablabla. What bottom would you use to block? You use the triggers to fight. How do you put block in without turning the controls a mess?

By using a keyboard....

If I had a list in front me me of what every button did, I could figure out a way to make it work in minutes.

Bethesda people do this FOR A LIVING. That ''problem" of not enough buttons should be a laughing matter to them. I guarntee it isnt as mathematically impossible to make happen as you guys make it sound.

Seriously, I refuse to believe they were like "well shooot.... we ran out of buttons.... guess we cant block!"