Earlier, I was having the feeling that you could not be able to block when dual wielding. After reading the GI update about combat, this feeling had grown and worsens, as is said that you could block with shields and with two-handed weapons, without mentioning one-handed weapons at all. Maybe there are not mentioned, because the paragraph included block and bash but my conclusion is other.

It seems that there is one button assigned to each hand. In the case of the shield, the action being a block or a shield bash, is decided by the time you press the button. Apparently the inability to block affects not only dual wield, but one-handed weapons as a whole.

The (apparent) lack of a system, similar to the one used for shields, for one-handed weapons, could be because power attacks will be used again.

IF I am correct, as an idea for future TES tittles (as I suppose it's to late for this one), or for mods, I think, the same way pressing the shield button some time change the block into a bash attack, power attacks could include a block in the beginning of the movement, as waiting in a menacing pose before attacking, didn't make much sense anyway.

I was worried about one-handed blocking not being mentioned in the article, too. So, if the item equipped determines the action taken when a given hand is clicked...

Click with shield = block
Click offhand with two-handed weapon = block
Click any hand with spell or one-handed weapon = attack

Disappointing if so, I'd really like to be able to block with hand weapons and fists.

I really hoped you'd be able to use two buttons per hand. Then for a one handed weapon you had a strike and a block button. Maybe if you press both weapon buttons at the same time you block?

I've been thinking about this as well and came to similar conclusions, although we'll have to see what is implemented. If we think about the simplest playing configuration on the xbox controller it would be:

Dual wielding 2 x 1 hand weapons/spells
RT--attack/cast with RH
LT--attack/cast with LH

Shield + One Hand weapon
RT-attack with RH
LT--block/bash on hold

Two-Handed weapon
RT--attack
LT--block

This leads to multiple questions such as:

Can you cast a spell with a 2Hand weapon equipped?
What in the world are the RB and LB buttons used for?
What about casting spells with a bow equipped?

(Sorry PC gamers, it just seemed easier to talk about this in terms of the few buttons on the 360 controller).

Edit: Replaced "Sword" with "Shield".

From what I got from the page was that you dont hold down the block button to block. You have to time it and tap it because if you hold it down your going to bash. Im hoping blocking uses up stamina a bit more so you have to manage what you do, sorta like deamons souls. As for blocking with dual wielding this does bring up a wonder. Perhaps if when using two one handed weapons or just one you have to hold down both buttons to block?

Hopefully a one handed attack swing becomes a parry if your attack is simultaneous with their attack. As per the article, blocking is about timing and hopefully that applies to weapons as well as shields. It would be really nice if they did actually calculate when two actual swords collide.

The idea of blockin when pressing both buttons is interesting, although in the case of sword and spell, maybe they preffer to do some sort of magic slash.
It would be really fantasic if they calculate two attacks collisions.
Ironically, I really hope you can't block arrows without a shield this time.

For Xbox/PS3

Right Trigger: Attack/Cast Right Hand
Left Trigger: Attack/Cast Left Hand

Right Bumper: Block with both hands
Left Bumper: Sprint (?)

Could be. The GI article made it sound (although it wasn't clear) like blocking with a shield was the same as attacking if you had a weapon equipped (i.e. blocking with a shield is done with the attack button) instead and holding down the block button would produce a bash. It also said you could block and bash with 2handed weapons as well. So we'll see. Luckily, these are the things the devs get paid to work out so I am confident it will be the best system we've seen to date.

I can't imagine that they'd give us dual wielding and not let us block.

You have a point, but maybe the dual wielding is only a consecuence of the new two hands system and they consider both dual wielding and one-and-free wielding, suboptimal choices that didn't deserve more atention (or maybe I'm being prety pesimist here).

why? it was the only defense soldiers had against archers by that time.
what I hope is that you can't clock them with a SWORD

Yeah, you shouldn't be able to block arrows with anything but a shield.
Unless there's a high level perk for Jedi skills.

I think you two had misunderstand me. When I say that I hope you can't block arrows without a shield, I was saying preciselly the same you are saying.

I'll allow myself to quote someone's post that illustrates my point better than anything else:
"OH MY GOSH, THEY DIDN'T MENTION RATS!!!!!!!!! NO RATS IN SKYRIM!!!!!!!!!!!"
Just because it's not mentioned doesn't mean it won't be in. Remember that post anytime you get that same feeling.

Not a block a well timed parry will be better and nice to see some weapon clench where more skilled or powerful character win duel.

I appreciate that you tried to comfort me, but I had not reach to that conclusion only because they didn't mention one handed blocking (they didn't mention that you'll have legs either), is a combination of where they didn't mention and the explanation of the blocking system, along with the apparent fact that each hand gets one and only one button. I may be wrong and lets hope I am, but I really think one handed block may be out this time.