Edit - Adding disclaimer - This is a THEORY based on visual evidence and evidence from previous TES titles

Okay, I'm making a new thread here to discuss what info we have about the new armor and weapon designs. To start, I will post some examples of the new Elven and Glass equipment.

http://www.elderscrolls.com/skyrim/media/screenshots/ice-wraiths/ of a Glass bladed sword (compare to previous Elven swords in TES for its shape), which strangely matches the design elements of Elven armor. And the Elven armored PC(?) with it http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://gamrfeed.vgchartz.com/galleries/2011-04-01/skyrim-screenshots-040111/skyrim-screenshots-040111_1301675133.jpeg&imgrefurl=http://gamrfeed.vgchartz.com/story/85312/new-skyrim-screenshots-not-a-joke/&usg=__WWEjIFOUQOjOGAPk_J4buxNUoXk=&h=360&w=640&sz=133&hl=en&start=63&zoom=1&tbnid=H_amQK04X-VKaM:&tbnh=83&tbnw=148&ei=QkiZTYjyCoeFtgfiu6CHDA&prev=/images%3Fq%3DSkyrim%2Bnew%2Bscreenshots%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox%26rlz%3D1I7SUNA_en%26biw%3D1899%26bih%3D902%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C598&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=90&vpy=424&dur=453&hovh=168&hovw=300&tx=162&ty=96&oei=v0eZTfDfCemV0QGv7YHtCw&page=2&ndsp=67&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:63&biw=1899&bih=902
See the sword in the trailer lit up at 1:35 as well. Here is a screen http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://attackofthefanboy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Elder_Scrolls_V_Skyrim_Screenshots-10.jpg&imgrefurl=http://attackofthefanboy.com/news/elder-scrolls-skyrim-dragon-shouts-collectible-powers/&usg=__E_F9so6g_btp2uwVdFaZBNQiBHY=&h=347&w=620&sz=47&hl=en&start=63&zoom=1&tbnid=MZkkNYB0fJboTM:&tbnh=81&tbnw=145&ei=5keZTbqXBcKBtgf1saz3Cw&prev=/images%3Fq%3DSkyrim%2Bnew%2Bscreenshots%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox%26rlz%3D1I7SUNA_en%26biw%3D1899%26bih%3D902%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C367&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=721&vpy=532&dur=3672&hovh=168&hovw=300&tx=153&ty=99&oei=v0eZTfDfCemV0QGv7YHtCw&page=2&ndsp=67&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:63&biw=1899&bih=902

EDIT: EDIT: EDIT: My new opinion based on closer inspection - The sword is of Elven shape, but with a glass blade and hilt piece. The Elven mace below is nothing like the sword, but it does go with the new Elven armor. See below.
Here's what appears to be a possible http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4lrm97dBqNo/TTBT9yT0JnI/AAAAAAAAAWc/7xFGXKipUOM/s1600/skyrim_007.jpg that resembles the concept art for the Elven mace, but at close inspection appears to be a simplified version. The Elven armor concept art seems to have been slightly simplified down to the in-game design as well. Both still appear to have the feather motif in place.

Now, since those are cleared up, here's the REALLY interesting stuff:

1. Here's the http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4lrm97dBqNo/TUFlgdpS82I/AAAAAAAAAYc/33no52rLlgs/s1600/artofskyrim_006_elvenarmour.jpg to corroborate what I've said about the mace and armor screens

2. Here's the http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4lrm97dBqNo/TUFlwb82vlI/AAAAAAAAAYs/J3KOH-Y0YDM/s1600/artofskyrim_008_elvenfemhalberd.jpg. Look closely at 1 and 2 side by side, and you'll see it's not Elven armor she's wearing at all. Notice the green tinted flanges of thin glass material on the helmet, gauntlets, shoulder pieces, briastplate, knees, and small pieces on the armored "skirt" piece. That's glass armor right there. Now, compare those details to the screenshot with the glass-bladed mace below.

3. And here we see the new http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4lrm97dBqNo/TTBUbM33FKI/AAAAAAAAAX0/-SE1Q1VIF0Q/s1600/skyrim_018.jpg. Now compare the flanges on the glass mace, armor, and even the longsword. A design theme that ties them all together, and differentiates them from Elven.

So perhaps Bethesda likes showing us some odd variety. Elven armored characters with Glass weapons. And of course the Iron swords and bow as well, used in conjunction with Iron/Leather armor.

Additionally, here is the http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4lrm97dBqNo/TUFlfgtiZ1I/AAAAAAAAAYE/g2GtrsgTo60/s1600/artofskyrim_003_orc.jpg.

So, there you have it. Now, what do you guys think of the new armor and weapon designs here? And do you think the Elven armor/sword color variation is based on lighting, or something else? How do you like the new Glass and Orc armor designs? Furthermore, what would you like to see as improvements for the other armors from TES that will return in Skyrim?

Edit: Side note - Based on the shape of the faded halberd with the female in glass armor, I would bet that's a glass-bladed halberd as well.

I'm fairly certain everything you said was glass is elven.

Then how do you explain the green glass pieces on the mace? Or the armor? Aside from the fact that the armor on the female is nothing like the Elven armor we have seen multiple times.

Sorry, they're not the same. Look more thoroughly. Compare the colors and designs to Oblivion's as well. You'll see the differences.

They look cool, I like the variety in Skyrim's armour.

I'm still hoping for mamoth-fur armour.

just wanted to post this here

http://voidedchaos.net/glass_sword.png

Good theory, but I think they are elven armor also.

Seriously you make good points....Im not really sure why it looks greenish....?

But I still think its elven.

Edit ^ Now that sword DEFENITELY doesnt look like glass to me.

maybe they're going with a different look for glass equipment this time. I think it definitely could be glass, and almost looks a bit transparent if you look closely. It doesn't look anything like the material used for the elven mace.

It could be glass. I'm leaning towards glass, because http://elderscrolls.com/skyrim/media/screenshots/wolves-heal-mace/ looks more elven. But that mace could also be Dwarven for all we know. I'm more inclined to say Elven, because it looks too curvy to be Dwarven.

I edited the OP with my new theory. Thx to deathcoffee for urging me that the pics of the sword seem to have some glass blade and hilt pieces surrounding a normal yellowish-metallic core and hand guard.

See for yourselves and tell me how that female's armor looks anything LIKE Elven armor. I think they've decided to make a better, more practical glass armor design, which looks absolutley badass and 50x better, imo.

EDIT: Just noticed another huge detail. The flanged detailing near the very end of the sword blade follows the same flanged pattern seen on the glass-bladed mace and the gauntlet and knee pieces on the female in glass armor.

I think that female armor design looks cool, but I hope the glass armor has more glass pieces. I loved how Morrowind had tons of little glass shards interspersed in the armor, but I hated how Oblivion's glass armor was all smooth and flat, no sharp pieces like the Morrowind version.

Those actually seem like accurate guesses as to what kind of material the weapons/ armor are made of. Thanks

I think the mace is elven.

Forging is in. Use your *imagination* :sorcerer:

I'm not sure which it is, but compare it to the old Morrowind glass http://members.shaw.ca/rado907/armor/light/mor-glassarmor.jpg

Now, at first you might look at it and go, there's nothing in common. But if you look again, you notice that the Morrowind glass armor had a base made of who knows what with shards of glass accenting it or embedded at vital points.

Now keep that in mind as you look at the female armor the OP posted. It's gold with lots of green accents. It very well could be that they went back to that type of glass armor, as opposed to Oblivion's molded glass armor.

I personally think that they are elven weapons and armor but I don't know what to say about the mace though

Lol, thx Danger Dan. I just don't think those screens and concept art are anything but preset armor designs. I mean, don't get me wrong, I am still confused about why that sword is Elven shaped when everything else about it points to it being a glass weapon to match the glass set.

I mean, look at the glass-bladed mace on the screenshot, you'll see the hilt doesn't match the Elven armor either, but it would look perfectly at home in the hand of that female in glass armor.

It seems apparent to me that we're being shown "mismatched" armor with weapons to get a diverse view of some of the new gear. And it makes sense for the game's progression as well. For instance, I remember finding my first Glass longsword in Oblivion while I was still wearing Dwarven/Mithril armor pieces.

EDIT: @Mitheledh - My thoughts exactly. I think what they've done is try to make the concept of glass armor more plausible, and look more "realistic" for Skyrim by having it made up of an underlying base material, with decorative, sharp glass pieces to accent it. I'm already in love with the new look. It blows away anything they did with glass in Morrowind or Oblivion, imo.

I am very excited about the new armor/weapons we have seen. I believe that the sword in question is not elven because in oblivion elven weapons curved especially the short sword. The http://www.elderscrolls.com/skyrim/media/screenshots/ice-wraiths/ in the trailer does not curve at all. I also think that it is most likely not glass because I do not see any glass on it like I do on the http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://skyrimguild.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Glass-Mace-in-a-Dungon.png&imgrefurl=http://www.nextgenupdate.com/forums/general-discussion/327353-some-new-skyrim-screenshots.html&usg=__W2tm8EsvqTVH4ntw-uJP0e5I6NE=&h=360&w=613&sz=361&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=i8HRD5wNBvLBMM:&tbnh=125&tbnw=213&ei=2GKZTf2QCaTliAKfocX4CA&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dglass%2Bmace%2Bskyrim%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D667%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C17&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=415&oei=2GKZTf2QCaTliAKfocX4CA&page=1&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0&tx=96&ty=50&biw=1366&bih=667 So my conclusion is that we do not have enough information to really identify any weapons or armor but that this particular armor and sword look really cool.

Look closely at the blade, it's green and almost looks transparent. The snowy area or a possible design change could explain why it doesn't look neon green like old glass weapons. http://voidedchaos.net/glass_sword.png

In Morrowind was there Dwemer armour? I'm trying to remember. Cause I duuno, but I reckon that "elven mace" looks more dwarvish to me, and there has been mention of the return of Dwemer themed dungeons etc....

Yes there was Dwemer http://members.shaw.ca/rado907/armor/heavy/mor-dwemerarmor.jpg and http://www.imperial-library.info/sites/default/files/tdgtd_dwemer_weapons.jpg in Morrowind. Incredibly different from what was in Oblivion.

Right the blade is greenish but not the same green as the elven mace. Also look at the metal holding the sword together it is the same as the armor. So I have to say the sword and armor are the same type.

Edit: Comparing this concept art - http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4lrm97dBqNo/TUFlgdpS82I/AAAAAAAAAYc/33no52rLlgs/s1600/artofskyrim_006_elvenarmour.jpg - to this screenshot - http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4lrm97dBqNo/TTBT9yT0JnI/AAAAAAAAAWc/7xFGXKipUOM/s1600/skyrim_007.jpg - has finally convinced me that it's Elven, but just slightly changed in design from the concept art.

I think the second mace you linked to might be the elven one. It has the feather motif going up the shaft of the weapon.

agreed

The differences between the female in glass/elven armor and the confirmed elven armor we've seen can be pretty easily explained by the wearer obviously being female. All the images we've seen that we know to be elven are the male version of it, so what does the female version look like? We don't know, because we haven't seen anything that has been confirmed to be female elven armor, nor have we seen anything confirmed to be glass armor on either six. Now, certainly, the design looks different from the male elven armor, but some of the armor's in Oblivion had pretty different designs for the male and female versions too, so that doesn't prove anything, the overall style on the other hand seems similar, and the golden parts look like they could be the same material, not sure about the greenish parts, though, I can't see enough details to determine if they're supposed to be glass or metal, though the color looks similar to the sword that may or may not be a glass sword, but that doesn't really prove it's glass either way, because not every armor and weapon that has green parts is automatically glass, and exmining the details on it, I can't really tell if it's supposed to be glass or not. Though if it is, the design, at least, looks better than it was in Oblivion, and maybe even Morrowind, from a technical standpoint, it still isn't quite what I'd feel glass should be, but the shape of the items at least looks pretty nice. Still, we can only speculate as to what any of the armors or weapons we've seen are, except where it's been confirmed what they are.

Well it's really hard to compare the sword and the glass mace. First the glass mace is a really bad picture (is there a better one out there?) And the one with the mace has a lot of yellow light from the fires, while the one with the sword has a lot of blue light from the snow. So I think the difference in the green hue could have a lot to do with the lighting in the two scenes.