This might make the animators' lives a little harder, but I would like to see a few more generic attack and block animations played out in fights. Maybe more animations exist and which one is chosen is based on some appropriate variables, angle between enemies, distance, types of weapons/shields, etc.

I think this would make just general attacking and blocking (not power attacks) seem more like an actual intelligent fight between two entities; even though you'd be doing the same thing as attack, block, rinse and repeat.

Does anyone else agree with this?

Nobody.... really? I know I don't like repetitive attack/block sequences.

Well, considering the track record of Bethesda's animators.. I'm pretty sure anything beyond stale, lifeless and simple will be a miracle.

Well, this being a "new" engine and all, maybe Bethesda's animators got a break and can make better/more animations more easily.

Have you taken a slow-mo look at the official trailer? We're still plagued with awkward, jittery, stale animations. Even the idle hand animations are below par. But, yes, hopefully we'll see some more improvements. Havok should help at least with making them more fluid, but so far, I'm not very impressed to be 100% honest.

Well.... I guess if I can't settle with better animations per say, then I could settle with more combat animations of the same caliber. Regardless of their quality, it is my theory that the bulk of melee combat can be made more appealing through animation illusion. You would not be really intelligently stabbing the guy in the right spot, but it sure looks like you did.

Honestly, they need a new animation team. The current one is just not up to par with the rest of the industry or the rest of Bethesda's creative team. I imagine they're quite attached to their employees, but they need to be replaced with new talent. You don't run a business by keeping the people you like around forever. You run a business by keeping people who do their jobs well around. Man up and replace your animation team.

I guess my being impressed with the new animations makes me a freak...

I was pleasantly surprised by some of the new animations... especially the dragon animations.