So I have searched for this info on the forum and elsewhere, I have read most info and seen the staff screenie, however:

Do we know for sure if staves will work like OB and Morrowind - as in they simply fire one specific spell

-or-

since spells are now assigned to hands, will they be (imo) more sensible and provide a boost/augment to the equipped spell (i.e. damage/duration bonus, magicka bonus, etc)


Also, do we know for sure if they can be used to block and/or melee?

I really can't choose. I'd have to see which one handles better. The staffs in Oblivion were just horrible.

I would like it if you had a fire spell (or whatever spell) in you right hand, then put the staff on your right hand too, so that the fire spell would be boosted to a super fire spell.

I'd rather it just amplify spells or decrease magicka cost or some bonus. Also allowing you to use it as a melee weapon or a small defense.
Maybe some more rare staffs will have a basic power to them and mix with the certain spell you have equipped in the same hand.

Thats how I would do them.

Both, have all amplify and some unique staffs have special spells attached to them

If they simple added a bonus, there would be no point in not using them. Sure, every mage in a book carries a staff around with em...but this here be Skyrim. Most mages don't have staves. Actually, in Olbivion most of em had daggers...for one reason or another.

At any rate, I'd rather have staves be tied into the marksman, or now archer skill, so that your hand eye quardnation is thrown into the equation. But they shouldn't simply just amplify abilities. Then we'll have dual wielding stave mages all over the place. If I had to choose anything, I'd rather have the ability to send your magicka into the item to charge it if its out of energy, as a quick little charge of energy to keep it going till you can recharge it with a soul gem.

I'll be happy if I can use staffs as my main blunt weapon for a monkish sort of character. After countless sword-wielding warriors in OB, beating bandits with a stick sounds refreshing.

I favor the traditional, single spelled-staff. For artistic reasons. If you had a staff that could do any spell, well, you wouldnt need any more. By having a certain spell, the staff can have a certain look to it. So if you were in a tomb and finally got to the last bit, opened up a dusty-intriquet chest, and got staff that could do anything..... there goes your artistic theme for that staff, and catchy name. Seems to general. Now... what ID love to get when i open that chest is, "Congratulations, you have just found the fire staff of ancient Nordic Magician Mr.Flames-a-lot," and then it has an intriquetly designed shaft, a red glowing stone with stylized carved flames around it. It would fit so nicely with the power, and becomes more of an antique, rather than this generic I-never-need-another-staff-again-therefore-lose-the-fun-of-becoming-the-ultimate-staff-collector staff.