I apologize if this is well known, but I certainly didn't know about it. I was reading a build on The Skyrim Blog and it detailed a way to block while dual wielding. http://theskyrimblog.ning.com/group/character-building/forum/topics/character-build-the-swordmaster is the build.

Anyway, it is done by having a single one-handed weapon in your right hand and blocking with it. While blocking open your menu and equip another one-handed weapon to your left hand and close the menu while still holding the block button. Your character will be blocking with the left weapon and holding the right weapon above them and if you block bash you'll do a swipe with your left weapon. This makes me think like they were originally going to implement dual wield blocking because there are animations for it.

Here are some pictures:

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/577890220547300742/95ACEF63D072EF399EBE19AC49C6B394A1903D6D/

http://cloud-3.steampowered.com/ugc/577890220547302030/BAD5F61A5FA99904C552F0775EF7BB2BFE1C9ACF/

http://cloud-3.steampowered.com/ugc/577890220547303266/16593FEEAAF95C61FF9BDEB4CA24B9B1C6E31B18/

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/9247/?

Sure, but this doesn't require a mod.

"Don't try blocking if you have two weapons. You will only get confused. Much better to hit twice anyway." - M'aiq the Liar

Fair enough.

You are right though. Bethesda was originally going to implement DW blocking. Yet they couldn't for some reason.

Good to know, not a fan of dual wielding myself so doesn't really affect me one way or the other.

For once, M'aiq speaks the truth!

"Some say Alduin is Akatosh. Some say M'aiq is a Liar. Don't you believe either of those things." - M'aiq the Liar

M'aiq stopped lying as of TES IV, if I remember correctly. Now, I think it's supposed to be a joke that he is called "the Liar".

I've never successfully managed a DW build, but I think it could be done. You'd need to combine it with exceptional armor, health-absorbing weapons, and/or the right shout(s).

This can help out the console users.

Because there is no available button for that.

One of the directions on the D-Pad(360 controller) could have been used since only 1 or 2 of the directions is being used. The only problem would be that it would have been awkward the try to block.

Maybe he's a "liar" because he's meta about the TES universe?

This is good to know as I have started a dual wielding character.

However I do have a DW question.

If I were dual wielding two axes does the hack and slash perks work for both axes?

This could mean some pretty sick extra damage with some home made damage over time poisons on each weapon.

Sadly none of the speciality perks are worth the investment. While the Axe perk is the most effective of the three, it still is only minimal increase in damage because it based off of your "base" damage and even then the % is too small.

Yeah I played a dual wielder with heavy and a dual wielder with light armor, they work just fine it just isn't my speed really. Will admit that dual wielding plus all 3 tiers of Elemental Fury can get ridiculous damage output.

Fixed.

I don't get what is the philosophy behind not allowing blocks with two weapons.

Perhaps when it comes to using weapons 'block' is not the right word, but rather parry. Many sword styles, afaik, are based around 'offense is the best defense'. Yes, that is true... however, these same styles are based around parrying and feinting your opponent to effectively expose them for a lethal strike. You cannot do either in Skyrim because weapons pass through each-other instead of clashing so 'blocking' would have been a... decent compromise.

I would really love a game in the future that actually creates the impression you are a whirlwind of steel as you hack with your weapons fast enough to offer both, deadly offense and decent defense.

Good thing there are mods that let you block, at least.

Trying to block using a weapon designed for killing with one hand each isnt going to work, as most of the weight will be away from your hands, and if you just have one hand trying to block, what will you do? Watch as your swords giveout and let that bandit decapitate you? It's not that they 11/11/11'd it, it's just that it didnt make sense.