Hoping agaisnt all hope that Bethesda reads this...

Adding even more to the tactical element in combat, as well as overall character individuality and individual play style, would be the inclusion of staves as physical weapons, not only as ranged spell casting tools. Even though this is a very specific area, I think it should receive attention because the staff is perhaps the most iconic weapon for certain classes/play styles. For example, as a spell casting weapon it 'represents' wizzards/mages/magic users in general (this is how staves functioned in Oblivion), but as a regular physical weapon it 'represents' the traveller/pilgrim/bard (this was how they functioned in Morrowind).

Therefore if staves will be available to use as spell casting tools (which we saw in the trailer), I think it would be perfectly logical and fair for players leaning towards the traveller/pilgrim/bard tpye of gameplay to have the option of a staff as a physical weapon (1- or 2-handed, I don't mind), that you would use to strike at enemies. After all it's the most iconic and representitive item for that kind of character.

Whether this is implemented or not, an excellent touch would be instead of keeping the staff 'sheathed' the whole time like other weapons (in Oblivion you kept it on your back), the character could walk around holding his/her staff in one hand the whole time, much like a deceptively harmless walking stick. When 'unsheathing', they would simply ready it in an attentive stance. Even this I think would address my concern of visually defining and representing the traveller/pilgrim/bard type of character.

This, belive it or not, would probably be my biggest concern for Skyrim and the thing I would want to see most lol. What to do you guys think? Hope this idea receives support.

I wish this is in Then i would play a monk (well not at first but mayby second-fourth

I think this is a good idea. Variety is almost always a good thing.

One thing I think I might like are magic staves that double as blades for the mage. Dragon Age 2 has this so you can use ranged magic attacks when enemies are far away, but slash with the blade on the staff when closer.

Sorry, I completely forgot to mention a monk-type character, they would also be perfectly relevent and something i would consider playing as if my idea is used in the game.

Would be nice, but i doubt it :[

polearms have already been confirmed. a staff would be classed as a polearm. since just having HALBERDS and nothing else would be kind of silly, it's probably safe to assume that there will be offensive staves as well.

Wow your hopes for this game must be tiny indeed if this is your biggest concern. Although I somewhat agree with you, not to the extent of using a staff as a walking stick but the idea of being able to bash an enemy's head in with it. And think about a walking stick from this perspective, you will be playing Dovahkiin, a walking legend that fights dragons, I don't think you need a walking stick to help you up a hill.

Yes, I would like this very much for my shaman.

Perhaps instead of blocking with staves, we could have a physical attack?

It could work, the staff could primarily as a physical weapon and doulble up as a spell-weild
(that may have issues with console controllers though, which makes me wonder what they are going to use bumpers for since spells are equipped as weapons)

I really hope we get fighting staves awell. Personally I'd love to be a monk character who'd act as peaceful as possible but when povoked would kick your a ss with his staff and fists