The Iron Sword is the best looking sword, no question. All the other swords look typical cheesy fantasy. A true swordsman needs no showy 'badass' looking edges or carvings.. these curvatures only impede the proper execution of a strike. The Iron sword is the most aerodynamic, and practical. It does the job it was meant for. The higher end stuff, Daedric especially would be the last choice of the swordsman.

Iron sword FTW.

Its a game.

In a fictional universe.

With magic.

I really think they can afford to make fancy swords and still retain practicality.

Iron and Steel both look realistic.
Nordic Sword is my favourite.


What you think is the best is not what everyone thinks

/thread

Cool opinion bruh.

Ancient Nord Hero and Nordic Carved swords are the best because I wrote so.

umm... I am guessing you don't know much about the Real World History of the sword?

many nations IRL had created their swords to be "Cheesy Fantasy" as you call it, and armed their armies with such weapons...

Actually, the only people that would have used a Sword with the design of Skyrims "Iron Sword" would have been the poor peasants, simply because they could not afford anything better..


and as your statement "no true swordsman would want something like that", a True Swordsman would want whatever felt the most comfortable in hand, but was also the most deadly....
as such, an Iron Sword would be the second last thing they would want, second only to a Bronze Sword..

I'm the complete opposite to the op, i think they should really make more whacky, fantasy looking swords. Like miraak's sword, that was pretty far out there, more like that please beth!

Skyforge Steel Sword > Iron Sword.

No it's not. http://www.uesp.net/wiki/File:DB-icon-weapon-Nordic_Greatsword.png is

But if you play on PC get the "immersive weapons" mod, that has plenty of normal, boring weapons. I'll stick with my Glass Greatsword.

but yeah, I am looking at the designs of all craft-able 1hand swords in the base game, and all the designs, and other than Orcish and Daedric, they all appear to be based off real swords used by Various armies throughout history..

i think the http://images.wikia.com/elderscrolls/ru/images/8/84/Orcish_Sword.png looks kinda similar to http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121103050250/deadliestfiction/images/2/2c/Kukri.jpg Not exactly the same but i think they got their inspiration from it.

hmm, never noticed the Similarity between a Kukri and the Orcish Sword before..

good find!

If you're going for realistic, you might as well pick steel over iron.

In any case, if you don't like fantasy The Elder Scrolls is the wrong franchise for you.

Nay, http://www.uesp.net/wiki/File:SR-icon-weapon-EbonyGreatsword.png.

Dem curves.

Steel says hello.

Dragonbone says you're a joke.

Forsworn sword says "Yeah whatever"

Fantasy FTW, in my opinion as reflected by my choice of swords (http://static2.nexusmods.com/110/mods/110/images/29730-1-1358628238.jpg and http://static2.nexusmods.com/110/mods/110/images/29730-2-1357809461.jpg).

A Daedric Sword, with its smooth curved blade, would be ideal for close-range fighting, far better than a straight sword which relies on hacking. The saw edge and spikes would also cause vicious wounds, plus a fear factor against the enemy. If an Ebony Sword looks anything like an Ebony Greatsword, it would have a similar effect in the curve, plus some hacking power. A Glass Sword's flair towards the tip adds to its hacking power and creates larger, more fatal stab woulds. An Elven Sword also has the scimitar-like advantage somewhat, but other than that is basically a single-edged normal sword. An Orcish Sword would have the scimitar effect, and hacking power due to flat sections. A Dwarven Sword is a standard sword.

Dull old blade can barely cut butter.

Ebony greatsword reminds me vaguely of a katana for some reason. Maybe not a katana, but it has the same sleek, deadly look of one IMO.

But actually, while you have a valid point that the Iron Sword may be closest to RL...this isn't RL. I think. Sometimes, it's hard to tell

Exactly... I feel like the Iron Sword would shatter like glass if you attempted to use it on someone with armor. Cheap excuse for a weapon.

*yawn* ZZzzZZZZz

http://i.imgur.com/umff3JI.jpg

That is a sword.

http://i.imgur.com/1dC33yx.jpg

The most unique and original sword, Bethesda's brilliant art designers designed.

http://i.imgur.com/QI9QZTD.jpg

yes, there are similarities...

The Katana was made a thin single edged blade with a curve, that way the wielder could Unsheathe and strike with the same swift movement (an action that was difficult with the swords used in the west during the same time).

looking at the weapon Models, the Ebony Swords in Skyrim share this design..


so, I once again point to the OP, its not a " cheesy fantasy design", as there are sword IRL that share the designs concepts..

Exactly! nice screen shots

Not a single weapon in Skyrim comes even close to looking as stupid as the swords as big as ironing boards in WoW!

i agree 100%