I know that its probably not in the game but wouldnt it be cool if there was more than just one universal style for sword fighting? I mean in oblivion everyone had this silly way of sword fight by just swinging their blade back and forth. Now being a Fencer myself i know for a fact that there are thousands of techniques in sword fighting and in OB there was only slashing, which in fencing we call chicken scratches. I would love to see some diversity in the battle field. Sword fighting is an art and should be constructed that way.

Im not bashing on OB or anything but it was a little disappointing when i picked up my first sword and all i did was swing it like a mad man even as a master in blade... I think that it would be a great thing to have in the game so that over time you learn from teachers or your enemies different techniques... By that i mean you dont just slash around, i mean it was as simple as turning your blade sideways to block any attack. I think you should be able to thrust and parry and fleche....

Same with other weapons as well, hammers, axes, ect... Opinions?

While I admit that having proper sword fighting in a game would be amazing, it is likely that no game is going to do it extremely good in a near universally appeasing way. That is, its fully possible to create a combat system that uses real combat techniques, but it probably wouldn't be too fun for the player unless the dev made a system that implemented those techniques and concepts, but in a "easy to pick up, hard to master" sort of way.

Quite honestly Mount and Blade is the only game I've seen that comes close to realistic combat and even then. There were many times where (I know how to use a sword as well. Not fencing, but I none the less could hold my own. Even more so if I had a shield) I would naturally, if I had full control of my character, to bash into my opponent so I can control his body to where I want it or so I could yank his shield and throw him to the ground. And there were other times where there would be clear openings that I could not abuse purely because the system could not allow for it.

Anyway my point should be getting across now. But if we're not talking about a system thats that accurate, then yes I would love to see a proper parrying system, a good shield bash system (that isn't stupid. Just pushing out with your shield is more likely to open you up for an attack than actually affect your opponent unless you're right on them and even then that requires a good bit of strength due to the lack of momentum you'll have to make up for), and what not.

idk about realistic fighting styles but it would be cool if the fighting animation added more flurishes the higher your skill got.

Yea your right, it was kinda silly in Oblivion in that your character always swung a sword the same way. I would like for Bethesda to provide some variety this time around for Skyrim, I also hope they include fighting styles for blunt weapons like axes because those are the weapons I use most.

^^Thats a start.
Source: http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1189517-part-02-todd-howard-interview-norwegian-magazine-gamerno/

What? How did I miss that?
That is a really huge deal!

well it kinda existed in OB in the first place, in the form of power attacks used with acrobatics perks

I mean im not asking for an extremely realistic system for sword fighting as i realize this would be very difficult, but all im asking for is a better overall combat system that isnt just slash and bash... I mean like throw some stabs in there or thrusts... I just felt like a lumberjack going through my enemies like firewood... Im also very excited that they are making combat how it should be, only one of you will make it out alive. I want to feel the thrill of a good fight not just me like "oh let me deal with this guy and then that guy and whatever..."

I want to have to think about who im fighting and not just be able to run into the middle of a huge group of enemies and dispatch of them as easily as if i was fighting one... Even Assassins Creed, that had a decent combat system, i could easily dispatch of 20+ enemies. People back in the Medieval ages didnt just run around willy nilly challenging everyone they met, combat was something that was avoided if possible. While i understand that it shouldnt be uber difficult to kill enemies its just i should have to think before i attack...

Also just to clear things up im talking about general combat not the finishing moves or anything just the combat...

Maybe, not likely, bethseda will put a combat custimation page in which you can choose different styles of swings. Like you could choose offenseive or defense styles and then choose certain attacks gained by being higher in that combat skill or by what you've learned from trainers. Those particular individual moves could be different styles like akaviri or The Blades styles.

This, i would even accept the combat style of GTA 3 where you could go to different schools and learn different styles of fighting... I also think the whole controlling of the swing is huge and amazing but i would still like to see stabbing

If we'll be able to control our sword-swings like you can in Mount & Blade (which is only one possible conjecture that can be made from Todd statement) then I'm sure we'll be able to stab in a similar manner as well.

This is a problem of the skill system. Everyone who trains that skill is the same, now only sightly different with perks. And a style that is simply chosen doesn't fit with TES, because we learn by doing. We would need a way to learn a style by practicing that style, not just suddenly picking it up because we chose a perk. Be it a overriding perk gained after training under a master trainer, or a way to vary the skill bar and change it into a skill tree that allows for different styles to be chosen based on how one plays...it needs to flow with the you learn by doing thing.

Hmmm...Perhaps different Master Trainers teach different techniques? Thats an unlikely but fun possibility

It could be a cool idea but idk I think maybe it would make it to complicated.

Sword techniques are most-likely still universal to all NPCs (because it'd be way too much work otherwise) but there are now finishing moves that allow you to thrust your blade deep inside your enemy's chest. How's that for chicken scratches?

I don't really like the idea myself. Going too far in that direction will end up meaning having to memorize all sorts of attack/keystroke combinations and timing sequences while in combat. In Oblivion, I never even bothered with the disarming option since I just couldn't be bothered trying to get that particular attack combination right. I was quite content with the basic slash attack, with the odd power swing. While I can certainly see some people enjoying that sort of complexity, I wouldn't want it to end up becoming a requirement in order to become effective in battle.