Something that I'm confused about, and potentially worried about, is the ability for any character to eventually learn every skill in the game. If I heard correctly, you start out with a limited specialization, but as you progress you can eventually learn every skill in the game if you wanted to. So my concern is, will every character be the same by end game?

Also, is there any advantage with focusing on fewer specializations, and sicking with a few to excel at? i.e. If I make an Orc Warrior, and I don't want to use any magic, and I just want to use my two-handed axe, heavy armor, and pure martial abilities- will this be viable and possible? Or as a Dragon Knight or Templar, are we forced to use magic? If I choose to ignore magic, will it allow me to improve or use more martial abilities and skills that would otherwise be taken up by using magic?

I just thought it was strange we don't have a class that focuses purely on martial skills and has nothing to do with magic - you know like every other Elders Scrolls game. I just hope I can make an Orc warrior, and have absolutely nothing to do with magic. But am I missing something here?

I dont think you can learn every skill in the game, but even if you could, remember you can only have a limited amount of skills on your skillbar. The skills you bring on the battlefield will define your role.

You can indeed build a character to be a pure melee fighter that relies on stamina and health and doesnt use any magic skill at all, i am probably going to do that.

TL;DR dont worry you can roll your orc warrior

I see, well I hope it will be viable. Every combat video I've seen, there has been nothing but magic users, and Spellswords and it bothered me. I was just taken back when the four class archetypes are all magic influenced, and I wasn't sure if we're forced into this. I just hope there will be large benefits to barbarian, soldier, warrior, marksmen, ranger classes etc that choose to focus solely on martial combat and weaponry, and ignore magic all together. Seeing most Orcs, Redguard and Nords degraded into fancy magic users would really kill the immersion for me; I hope to see a clear difference between benefits of "Might" vs "Magic" users.

On this topic, will Spellsword characters be able to block now, or will a spell in their off-hand disable their ability to block? I'm assuming they can block and still use magic from their toolbar?

I think the videos are putting a lot of focus on how "flexible" the character system is, thats why they show so many hybrids.

Dont worry, pure (or almost pure) melee builds are going to be effective.

I wish i could answer freely but im terrorized by the nda

Dammit man, tell me the truth!

Well, I won't worry then, but I'd really like to see less magic, and more combat abilities. I'm confused if this combat is really more like Skyrim, or a typical MMO, because in some vids I see very mobile combat, and then others it seems very stationary.

would you say there's more armor sets in this game than any previous Elders Scrolls game previously? I've seen racial armor sets for each culture, but I'm hoping for Heavy, Light, and Cloth sets for each specific racial group as well - same goes for weapons. I'm particularly hoping for some really nicely made Khaajit and Argonian gear that we've never had access to before.

I think, and don't quote me, but I think there may be enough skyshards thrown across the world let you have tons of skills, if not all

Theoretically you can, according to the Konk, but it will take you a very, very long time. You will also be less of a master in every skill and more of a moderate in every skill. As on of my buddies used to say, "jack of all trades in everything, but a master in nothing."

It will probably benefit you to practice in all the crafting skills, but only specialize in one, two or three of them. Heck, you can decide to not specialize in any of them and just make a character that is purely combat.

But to me that's just boring.

I agree it's strange to not see pur warriors type,even if y dont want use magic it seems all is done about that.And after long Time to look at fighter skills i feel litlle frustrated ,too few controls and survival skills or only not enough skills?
Mecanic of thé game is différent from games i havé play, i think Time Will help us and thé only good thing we CAN do for now is to choice a classe.

I feel there should be a 5th class that is all about martial skills and even survival ones, and nothing with magic for RP purposes, and for practical ones. Where do the Devs see feedback from the fans?

Heh, my father used to say "Jack of all trades, too lazy to master anything"