How many of you actually use maces and axes? For some reason I always tend to use swords(if I'm not using magic), and rarely use makes or axes. Swords just seem much better on oblivion. I hope that in skyrim maces and axes are more beneficial in there own way.

It's been confirmed that swords will have perks for increased critical strike rating, axes will have extra bleed damage, and maces will be able to ignore armor rating.

Unless there is incentive for me to use a mace, I never would.

Axes on the other hand, I think would feel very 'homely' in Skyrim. Land of the barbaric Nords and all that..But generally speaking I would use 2h axes, and 1h swords. Just feels right.

I use them on certain builds, but mostly stick to swords as there is usually more variety and they are just cooler IMO.

There perks so far seem more impressive to the the sword perk. If that is any indicator, they'll have their uses.

Though I plan on using only bound daggers and katana, I forge myself, on my first play through.

I'll most likely be a stealthy Marksman, and I'll probably use a Dagger/Shortsword and Night Eye/Detect Life too.

now that all our skills contribute to leveling it might be possible to use more than one fighting style. I might need a second weapon for close in work. If the armor of enemies is so tough that having armor penetration is an advantage then sure, I'd use one without hesitation.

Normally I'd use a bow and spells but after playing these styles to death I have created characters who use nearly all of the weapon types.

I use Axes when playing the role of a Vikinger or an farmer.

In Skyrim,I hope to duel weild two short swords and daggers as a steath charter on first play through....

Because the main PC I'm planning for Skyrim won't be a combat intensive and more of a crowd-controlling illusionist type, I guess it would be one-handed axes (apply bleed damage and run like a cockroach!) and ranged weapons, maybe occasionally using mace for facing the fully armored opponents.

It's all on the story, I made a heavy armor wearing mage in oblivion and because of the Knights of the Nine I found myself using the mace way more than often. Basically since this game allows you to improve on any weapon, what ever comes across my path I will use if it's worth using.

I believe weapons now have their own buffs. Maces ignore armor. Axes cause bleeding. Forget what swords do. I don't know if those are there from the start or through perks though. But they also said your better off specializing in one category of weapons than being diverse.

Swords (Particularly Shortswords) in Oblivion were the best weapons available. There was no reason to use Axes or Maces over them, because the weapons all felt so similar, it basically came down to DPS, unless you were roleplaying/metagaming.

Axes and maces are good for some builds, but if im using weapons its probably a sword.
Personally I want them to feel different, in Oblivion they felt the same. There were some stat differences, but the difference was hardly noticable...

i prefer using what most do not use.
EVERYONE uses SWORDS, it's ridiculous!
i like to use 2h axes and maces.
if i dual wield i believe it makes the most sense to not just dual wield 2 different types of weapons, but even further, dual wield an axe and a mace!
an axe can do piercing dmg (if it has a spike on the tip or back) and slashing dmg just like a sword and looks much more awesome.
maces can do blunt dmg, which knocks out enemies and bypasses armor etc.
IMO i think it makes sense to get the most types of DMG for a fight than just having 1 type of dmg.
PLUS, the swords are just way overdone and so TYPICAL, and maces/axes just look so AWESOME!

Even worse, the abundance of choice (especially of the magically enchanted ones) for blades eclipses over the "blunt" weapons. Add to that the fact that damage over time-wise the blunt weapons are actually lacking in efficiency, then we got ourselves an essentially ineffectual skill.

OP. I understand what you mean.

I see it this way;

Axe = I feel clumsy
Club = Feeling stupid
Sword = I feel cool

Due to perk trees there is clearly a reason for all of them to be usefull.

I will be switching in between bow and arrow and a dual wield combo with hatchet and shortsword . Always loved hatchets

I've always been about Archery. Melee-wise though, i prefer Daggers and Short Swords, since they're light and easy to carry.

I'm a thief as well, so i dont want to be lugging a heavy axe around....gets in the way when im trying to carry my Stolen Goods away

I always had this in Oblivion, forcing me to use a sword.

Axes and blunt weapons need a lighter variant to compete with short swords; hatchets and batons would be good to see.

I dont know why everyone is on the sword bandwagon. Not that it matters because ... well I wont run into any of you guys in my game. IMO maces carry with them a sense of power that axes and swords just dont have. Why would you use a 2h sword as a barbarian when a 2h mace is so much better at cracking skulls?

The bow has always been my main weapon, but when in melee I've fallen back on the sword and shield combo. I like what I've been hearing about the various weapons in Skyrim--how they are trying to differentiate them with perks. Combined with the fact that all skills contribute to leveling, I think I will be more inclined to try different weapons, and maybe use different weapons for different purposes (someone above mentioned using maces on heavily-armored enemies, things like that).

Archery baby....nothings better than Sniping your opponent down.

The purpose of Swords for me is for defensive purposes.

I'll just use my trusty classic longsword & shield combination. Or a bow / Longsword.