When you equip an article of clothing it's immediately put on, even if you were in the middle of a fight. While you can't do this for weapons. Is it magic? Is it some special skill only the "chosen one" gets?

Well I think other than lore this has more to do with common sense, this is just some part of the game if it was made too real it will get excessively frustrating. In common sense this is impossible (even if it's alteration magic how come all the warriors do that too), besides think about it a character carrying all that much stuff doesn't really make sense either. But I'm fine with this and I wish nothing to change on this aspect of the game.

Owh come on Gez. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVJ-XrWXT0Y.

Does someone actually have a viable alternative to fast equipping that doesn't bog down the gameplay?

Sure.

No equipping.

Edit: My original post, and all it's responses were deleted. "Sad-face "

I half-expected http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6tlw-oPDBM. Which is what happens when there isn't fast de-equipping as well.

I figured it was a gameplay mechanic: the reason you can't change weapons in mid-swing is that it's impractical to switch an animation in progress; also, a really diligent weapon switcher could exploit this to get rapid multiple blows with different weapons.

There should be no reason other than a mechanical one why it's possible to change an entire suit of armor while swinging a two-handed axe, but it's not possible to load and fire a crossbow at the same time.

Please don't spam this thread, even if it was facetious from the beginning. I've deleted a few spam posts and responses to them.

Actually, in Oblivion, I'm pretty sure that you can't equip anything while swinging a weapon, excluding the use of potions. Although, it was a different situation in Morrowind. I rather enjoyed having two sets of armour in that game. Occasionally, I'd have one that was enchanted with CE Sanctuary, and would equip it when being attacked, but would switch to my Fortify Attack suit when I was attacking. Good times.

Edit: Gah, I miss Firefox and it's Spell Checker.

And how exactly does that not bog down gameplay?

OK, you've got me...How about removing gameplay all together? That way, it's impossible to bog it down.

in morrowind you can switch to a lockpick while swinging a weapon it either kills the enemy in one hit or makes them invincible. so sometimes you can fast equip weapons during a fight

We earnestly discuss TES General-style spam satire now?

Yes. The forgotten arcane art of Speedy Disrobing was taught to the Egg-Vehk by spirits from beyond the veil, as stated in the 36 Lessons:



However, some Temple Zero theologians speculate that fast-equipping was brought into the patterns of Aurbical possibility by Angyal-i, the Yoku Goddess of Can't-Decide-What-To-Wear, whose sphere encompasses cocktail parties, neckerchiefs, female jealousy, and wardrobe malfunctions.

I love you Astion. Really interesting information.

I learn something new everyday. Here I was thinking that it had to be game mechanics. Astion, you have enlightened me. Thank you.