This is something I haven't noticed before, but I can't find any indication that weapons or armor can be damaged. I don't mean visual degradation, but actual loss of efficiency through use. The smithing description says only "IMPROVE weapons and armor" (which I take to mean adding more stuff to the item, improving its base damage/armor rating), and I can't see a "health bar" for weapons or armor in the videos (unless lowered efficiency is only shown in the damage/armor rating itself).

Any word on this? Are all weapons and armor now indestructible?

Hopefully it is not in the game. But if it is in a "hard mode" then that would be fine with me + would make "hard mode" a little more interesting (if it is even in the game that is)

Edit: but to answer your question, i'm not sure.

The engine has already a degradation system built in from the previous games.
It would be stupid not to use it.

But you're right, there's no skill to do that. Let's hope armorer is merged into smithing.

It may not be in (I don't know for sure though). Considering we can 'upgrade' weapons it may be that the upgrade itself degenerates and has to be applied again. I hope it is in though.

I'd bet money it's in and merged with the new smithing skill.

i would like some visual degrading that whould be sweet seeing chips in your sword and your armor starts falling appart

Yeah, seems to be out. God forbid players should ever have to cope with penalties ...

Remember Todd saying you can improve your weapons on the grindstone, maybe this means to repair/resharpen them when they lose their effectiveness. And for armor repair, that would be done on the anvil (I think there is an anvil). So, although there is no skill for repairing armor and weapons, at least there is/is most likely a way to get it done in game. This is speculation, but I feel I'm very close to the mark.

edit: this could be apart of the smithing skill

Actually, there are some up or down pointing arrows on some weapons/armor. That could indicate it's health.

Ugh, this is one of the few concerns I have for this game. I may not mean a lot to some players, but to me it would be a major bummer if they took this out. To me, the more challenge the better and less challenge means less fun. Having to repair your armour and weapons means more planning ahead. I remember back when it was confirmed that repair hammers were out, and that you could only forge at a smithy. This made me really happy, as I thought this would bring you a good incentive to visit towns regularly (which you didn't need to do that often in OB).

But many things right now point to it being out. There's no condition indicator on the equipment screen, and the blacksmith Todd speaks to in the demo doesn't have an option for repairing your gear... Only to use the forge, which would mean all characters would need to repair all their stuff themselves. Also, repairing hasn't really been mentioned by any source.

This is the thing I would like to have confirmation on the most right now. If it's not in then I'll live with it, but it will be the first big disappointment for me.

I for one hope it is in, but I also agree with it being offered to harder difficulty only

I posted this in another thread with the same topic:

Todd has already declared that the current UI is not what it will look like in the end. There will be more information about weapons, etc., and the ability to compare weapons, showing stats of which is stronger, heavier, etc. etc.

Maybe there will be repair hammers to make temporary fixes, but I would think smithing is where the repairs--and improvements--will be made.

On a side note, I also think Skyrim will have VISIBLE armor degradation, and this assumption is based entirely on the dragon priests cloak being singed by the fire ball and holes were put in it. There's obviously cloth degradation in the game, so one can hope there will be visible armor damage. This might also help explain why they combined greaves and cuirass to allow for visible damage.

I would hope that weapon and armor degradation is in. It was a bit too severe in Oblivion (needing at least 3 swords and 2 sets of armor to complete a single Oblivion gate is a bit redonk), but I do believe it should be in.

I had always imagined that the Armorer skill that we know from Morrowind and Oblivion would be combined with the new Smithing skill. I guess we'll see. I've been curious about that myself. Again, here's hoping degradation is in.

Too be honest, weapon degradation in oblivion always felt like a hassle to me. I'll only be happy if it's in if we can see damage on our weapons and armor.

Yeah it is definitely confirmed , you can repair your armor and weapons with the "smithing" skill as well as improve them at a workbench (or something similar ).

I found it a bit tedious, honestly. It always puzzled me that ancient Daedric artifacts and legendary magical armor could break so easily despite existing for thousands of years. I guess the Champion of Cyrodiil and the Nerevarine don't treat the equipment too well.

i hope that its in and that you can only repair equipment at a forge. obivions and morrowind systems were silly because you dont fix sword and axes with hammers.