As long as it doesnt get to the level of Final Fantasy carrying-a-sword-twice-my-size Im fine with somewhat large weapons. Besides its not real life, its a fantasy about heros.

I don't mind weapons being over the top, as long as it's not overdone. TES style weaponry is fine (it is a fantasy game, after all).

I just don't want to see stuff as over the top as JRPGs. No Nords with buster swords, please.

I'm not sure how realistic a daedric weapon can be to be honest with you.

That said, I'd like weapons to start in a realm of realism, and the high end weapons can get a little crazy.

Jesus Christ... looking at that axe made me realize how brutal you must be to strike another man with that thing.... imagine the blood... the screaming... maybe a limb being severed :sick:

Hell I enjoy competing in MMA but that is no where close to that type of hostility required to maim a man like that.
Guns truly have allowed even the weak and less visceraly apt to become skilled killers

I guess it took a real world image to remind me what it means to tear a man in half with a metal object

Weapons in a game should be allowed a bit of "artistic license" to be a bit overly decorous, and perhaps even inefficiently large, but when they start to move into the "dysfunctional" stage, they really need to be reigned in. A 5 pound chunk of sharpened metal is already too heavy to be manipulated and controlled quickly enough for combat purposes, and a lighter weapon will have an advantage in most circumstances. A few rare items, like Daedric weapons not built for human wielders, might be heavier, but those would be the exceptions, and only usable to a limited degree by a "normal" character. If you've ever used an 8-10 lb. sledgehammer, you'd know that it takes quite a bit of effort to bring one up and overhead, and changing your mind or direction in mid-swing isn't likely to turn out well. Forget about fighting with it, unless the opponent isn't looking your way at the moment.

The "mega-warhammers" in previous games are a prime example of silliness for the sake of trying to "look cool" and failing at it. With a head the size of a major appliance, either they're far too heavy to be picked up (despite the fact that you can haul 4 of them around the game world with you), or else have to be made of some form of lightweight foam. Their performance against goblins in the last game would certainly suggest the latter, because they had about as much effect as hitting with a foam "nerf-hammer".

It would still open your skull like a ripe cantaloupe.

If you don't think a small weapon can be brutal, watch the Patriot... you know the scene with the little tomahawk.

As long as the equipment looks raw, crude and somewhat realistic, then I'm a happy gamer.

But keep the warhammers, I like the warhammers we already have.

Weapons certainly need a major realism boost. Some very exotic weapons, like Umbra or daedric ones can look silly, but normal warhammers should look similar to the bec de corbin shown in the OP. There could be heavy mauls, but they'd be largely ineffective in combat unless it really only depends on damage output, not on speed, weapon durability, fatigue etc. That is, only when fighting though, but slow enemies. Bashing through objects and large animals and such. But the weapon would suffer as much as the thing it hits, and it'd be way too slow to effectively parry with it.

Heck yes.

I like the way weapons lookt in Oblivion...okey the Silver weapons looks goofy, but otherwise I′m fine with it.

When I play the TES games I just can't get over how stupid looking the warhammers are, made ten times worse because the character swings them like they were a claymore. It's just horrible, they need to make a big change to that. Use the historical type of warhammer.

I think what would help "realistic" weapons in TES games is the "finishing" moves they ahve now. Having a realistic warhammer like the one pictured, no instead of your usual huge "warhammer" look (IE Thor's hammer style) you can instaed have it actually puncture armour, smash into people's heads, etc. Very similar to a military "pick" that they also used back in the day.

As far as artistic license, I think this can work fine on realistic weapons, adding small details like etchings on a blade, or detaling a hilt, but the overall "shape/bulk" of a weapon, I'd like to see look more realistic and less over the top GIGANTIC huge Warcraft style weapons.

It all depends on how much material weight in the world of Oblivion, the steel warhammers surely shouldn't be big as a mans torso, but the elven could be a bit bigger, as I imagine it would be light weight.

I'm not concerned with weapons looking very cartoonish although on the other hand I'm kind of hoping magic weapons won't have an annoying sound effect when you swing them. Kind of wondering how the smithing thing will work out if you can do more than repair like if you can pick a blade type you've seen around added with a grip from a totally different style weapon stuff like that mix and match or if it's just hammer a peice of metal into a cookie cutter type design.
Suppose I rather like some fantasy looking blades with serrated edges or whatever although I don't like things like axes and stuff that looks like a giant candlestick with a blade stickin out somewhere.

I like the low fantasy feel their going with.

I do think warhammers are a bit to huge though. But its fantasy so I'll let it slip. But I'm judging from Oblivion warhammers, haven't seen any Skyrim or at least remember any.

I think TES has found a nice balance between realistic weapons and fantasy weapons in my opinion.
They are mostly all realistic weapons though, only decorated so they look more fantastic.
Yes, even 2 headed hammers are realistic; my 80 years old grandfather can take sledge hammer in one hand as if it was a pencil and knock down a concrete wall in 5 minutes as if it was made from styrofoam.
The point is, just few decades ago, average strong person was physically much stronger than today average person.
In medieval times (witch Tamriel seems to be in when compared to Earth), below average person was physically stronger than today above average person; so 2 headed hammer is not unrealistic when you think about it.
Now, was it actually used, I don't know. :spotted owl:
Anyway, I like that all weapons are mostly realistic, but I would still kinda enjoy to see a buster sword-like weapons.
Even though, I'll be fine if I don't since current ones are pretty good.
Only wish we had staffs, spears and some more kinds of weapons though.

@Lithary; Yes, a strong man can wield a heavy hammer. The question is, why would he, if he could as well get a lighter one? Dead is dead, and the real warhammer was very lethal. Why use something heavier? Why trade speed and the ability to parry for something that is only more effective against walls?

Sledge-Hammer type weapons were used in medieval times, though, I'll give you that. By support units, sappers and such, who'd normally not fight at the front line and who'd use their sledgehammers that they normally use for working as a weapon. However, that was due to their lack of better equipment. Those who could get their hands on a real weapon probably did.

ive got a thirty pount sledgehammer in my garage which is the biggest i could find at the store. they might make bigger ones but i havent seen them. it is a fraction of the size of the ones in oblivion. i would estimate the oblivion warhammers to be around 100 pounds if not more. that is completely unrealistic for a weapon. and in oblivion you apparently can swing them just as fast as a katana or a claymore. so either gravity acts differently on an object depending on whether or not its sharp or not which is bogus.......or they designed warhammers that had large volumes but were less dense, which is also bogus. you want as much force as possible on as small an area as possible.

if you havent go look up some warband gameplay videos........that is what the weapons should appear like with some minor changes so that they are unique to nirn. i like the bladed mace that is in the photos alot.

I hate fantasy cliche "warhammers" which are actually oversized sledgehammers with passion.

In my opinion, many weapons in Skyrim should tend to be more realistic. If we have semi-standard material "progression" (will use one from Oblivion), then we could have something like this:

Iron - absolutely realistic, crude, without any decorations. That warhammer which someone said is svcks (it isn't, it is a weapon designed to kill plated knights with one well-placed blow, it is way more lethal than just about any sword) is a good illustration. Though maybe Iron weapons need to be more gritty, with rust and signs of repair.
Steel - realistic, but not crude. Basic. Common. Standard. Maybe even "meh" for someone. And that's okay. When everything is over the top, nothing is.
Silver - similar or same shape to Steel versions, but with brighter material color (naturally) and ornamented slightly. Bonus points if it is shown that only damaging part of weapon are made of silver / covered by silver, while most other stuff is steel/wood.
Dwemer - steampunkish, not realistic, very old-looking. Silly geometry is fine here.
Elven - realistic, perhaps somewhat asian, decorated with shiny stuff. Doesn't look old, always in best shape.
Glass - uh, I hate it. If it is necessary to put in, well, how about making swords Aztec style, like their fine macuahuitl? (Google for it if you don't know how it looks.) Obviously, Aztec sword-club is very crude and primitive, while our fantasy Glass saw-sword should be very refined. Scary decorations are welcome.
Ebony - actually I think it's good to have ebony weapons as realistic ones. They are second best to Daedric, and I think some people would be happy to stay with these and not with crazy-looking Daedric. Niche, yeah, but creates room for variations. If we have two Evil Looking Black Spiked Greatswords, one with golden hue and another with red hue, and red one is better in damage, then everyone will use second one. If we have Evil Looking Black-Red Spiked Greatsword and Nice Fit Black-Golden Close Historical Replica, then we will have a divide, and that is good.
Daedric - go nuts here.

I would like some viking themed weapons plus some weapons like dawnfang off of shivering isels

I never said it was unrealistic to use war hammers PERIOD. http://www.realmcollections.com/images/pl/Other_Weapons_German_War_Hammer_M600366_1753.jpg was something they probably used during those days.

Just the kinds you see in high fantasy can get a little rediculous. Like http://www.morrowind-oblivion.com/images/daedric_warhammer.jpg.

I don't mind if someone give me this hammer: http://static.hlj.com/images/sta/sta64211.jpg (bottom row, second from the right)

I ahve no issue with large weapons, so heavy that a 'normal' man cannot lift. Bust a massive weapon that only a few men could wield I have no issue with.

Eh.. I prefer more over-the-top stuff myself. Jewel-encrusted hilts.. big fat scimitars with rings on the back edge..a skull on the end of my staff. Makes it more fun in my opinion.