Player should be able block in dual wield - mode but the effectiveness would not be as good as when blocking with a shield. It would be somewhat more effective than blocking with only one weapon, though. It makes no sense that a player can block with one weapon but not with two. Perks might be a nice differentiating factor here. You could get a blocking perk that boosts your shieldless blocking ability in addition to those that boost your shield block. This way you could develop the path you choose.

The player should be able to block, or parry with any weapon in his hand(s), other than a dagger(s).

I'd be fine with it. Infact, here's my idea of how the balance should play out:

Shield + Anything (Weapon/Spell) = 100% effective, get full use of perks
Dual Wielding OR 2 Handing = 75% - 99% effective, some perks don't work
1 weapon + anything (spells, torches) = 50% - 75% effective, some perks don't work

With this system, you can block as long as you have a weapon (good for battlemages) whilst still granting advantages to those whom devote to a more martial path.

Thoughts?

The basic idea is same as mine so I pretty much agree. The actual percentages are obviously something to tweak with testing.

Yeah I agree, good place to start at any rate. It just seems like battlemages are penalized too far for not being able to block.

Well,When sparing with my cousin with our (dull) swords and knives,I've used two weapons,and you don't tend to raise and hold it in a blocking postion as it can starts to hurt in the shoulders,I just parry and come in with the other sword,that said,it's not the most practable style for swords,better for knives. Wikipedia says they used to fight with a dagger on the off hand and a sword in the other..

I will point out we're not trained,at all,just mucking around,not an expert. :shrug:

Absolutely. Its something very possible to do. Its something that anyone using 2 weapons in real life could do, and to not have it in the game feels un-natural and to be honest kind of really stupid. Let us block, just less well than someone with a shield.... pretty simple. I usually play with damage at least doubled, but blocking protection increased (in Morrowind or Oblivion) in order to make combat more dangerous and blocking well more important. With this ridiculous restriction, someone dual wielding will be at an extreme disadvantage.

My opinion exactly, I hope they introduce some sort of block/parry/dodge so there are actually tactics in a fight. A decent dodge would be fine, or maybe something like "Assassin's Rush" from Fable.

i for one agreed with parrying with two weapons for the sake on not making this game a slash slash game, blocking with a shield will just making blocking easier. plus you'll be able to block arrows. and hopefully spells as well.

What happens if hold down both triggers when duel wielding? If you can block it will definately be less effective than a shield.

Isn't blocking with duel weapons already allowed? I think I saw it during the gameplay demo from G4TV, when he was fighting that one bandit with the shield. (The one that got his throat sliced, but didn't die)

I would love to see parrying. It bugged me how in Oblivion all you ever did was blocked. In real life, it would actually be pretty stupid to block with a sword. You would have to perry or the attackers weapon would easily out do you, crashing both your sword and theirs into you. But if you parry, you redirect their force away from you, and it's much more realistic and easy to do. You should only be able to block with large blunt weapons like two-handed hammers, and maybe some axes. Parrying would be great, and improve gameplay so much...

The player should be able to block/parry with every weapon IMO, although blocking with a shield would be much more effective. Swords/daggers/axes should also take a lot of damage while parrying with them.

two of us have already pointed out that there WAS BLOCKING IN THE GAMEPLAY VIDEO (just caps so for people to catch more easily). right after the guy in the cave gets his throat cut, there is a blocking animation, literally right after, it's kinda easy to miss

Mr. Neefe there is indeed an animation after the throat-cut, but you and the other person are deciding it is a block. Unless you know more than you are saying, you are simply speculating the meaning of the animation as if it is fact. I do hope you are right though.

You missed the part about how effective parrying is. That is to say, it isn't effective.
And it was this way in Oblivion. Using your logic, why use a shield in Oblivion, you can just use a sword, or a claymore, that shield is just extra weight since they are both equally effective, oh wait, they weren't.

It's insane that some of you actually think dual wielding players shouldn't be able to block/parry. If it was confirmed in the gameplay videos absolutly none of you would argue about it being overpowered, its the most basic ability in a swordfight.. Can you imagine how boring it'd be wacking at enemies without being able to defend yourself? If that was the case NOBODY would even consider dual wielding unless they were playing at the easiest setting because not only is it boring, it also cripples you immensely.

I can't really come up with anything more to say about it because that's all there is to it. It'd be downright stupid to leave it out of the game, period. :facepalm:

No.

With DW, you get twice the offense, for no defense. It's a trade off.

It's a little thing called balancing. DW with blocking would be OP.