yes, they took out ALL two-handed weapons, despite bethesda and game informer both mentioning one-handed AND two-handed weapons, and went on about dual-wielding weapons... bows are also gone, since they require two hands to use between the bow and the arrows.

seriously, i have seen so many ignorant posts today, im thinking of leaving this forum for a few months... its been THAT bad!

think, people... USE YOUR BRAINS FOR ONCE! :banghead:

also, incase anyone hasnt figured it out at this point in my post, the stuff about weapons i was goin on about, was SARCASM.

im sure we'll be able to use magicka and wield weapons at the same time, even two-handed ones, it wouldnt make much sense to limit us like that, i think the characters can afford to let go of a two-handed weapon with one hand for a second to cast a spell.

From what ive read no two-handed weilders will not be able to use magic. hopefully the hotkeys will help out

@zero it could make since dependin on how they balance it out, for instance they could improve the damage majorly for two-handed weapons. accordin to GI mag, bethesda is makin it where each hand is seperate, so lookin/thinkin about the control scheme they will more than likly give 2-handers a 2nd type of attack bc there is 4 buttons in total for combat (2 blockin, 2 attackin)

lol. Theres a way, cast magic with something other than your hands.

With all due respect, there are some crazy ideas in here about this topic. Hotkeys? Magic stance?! No magic casting for two-hand weapon users or even the inclusion of two-handed weapons? There's already a picture in the Game Informer mag of a character with a claymore on his back.

I have a feeling your character would simply rest the claymore on his/her shoulder, then fire the spell out of the free hand. This would be faster, and more realistic. I figured this would be something easy to discern. Obviously, a person who uses 2 handed weapons is not going to have to do something weird to be able to cast magic. I truly think you don't have to get all crazy about "hotkeys" just yet. At least, not in this discussion.

there is a picture that confirms 2 handed weapons in skyrim, but anyways that was my concern with this new combat system will it be possible to cast a spell while holding the weapon in one hand for a second, maybe there will be a penalty to cast time or magika cost?

I hope so.

I don't really mind either way; I'm quite happy with a system that prevents spells being cast while wielding a two-hander or one-handed + shield, on the condition that items and spells can be swapped out smoothly and easily during combat. Having my characters throw their shield across their back or sheathe their two-hander in order to conjure is quite appealing so long as the interface and the character anims make it quick and cool-looking.

On the other hand (pun quite intentional!), if it's restrictive for any players then it's perhaps undesirable in general, and it seems a bit arbitrary in-world; I'm not aware of anything about magicka in TES lore that requires a free or open hand to channel it.

If you want to cast a spell as a 2H user you will probably have to switch your hand slot to a spell, cast the spell, and then switch back to your 2H.


Or I could be wrong and there could be a independent casting hotkey that always uses your alternate hand casting slot.

In Morrowind you had to put your weapon away to cast magic. In Oblivion you could cast with one hand, so still hold a weapon. I think we'll have to wait for more information to see how they will deal with two handed weapons and magic. It wouldn't be that difficult to use one hand on a claymore long enough to cast a spell. As for the two handed weapons; page 52 of the GI article shows what I think is a two handed sword. Rather nice one, imo. Page 59 shows a two handed axe user facing that spider. Page 55 has the one handed casting we saw in Oblivion, with a broadsword, if I'm not mistaken.

I think you will simply hold the weapon in one hand and not be able to attack for a moment as you cast the spell..

I'm sure I remember hearing about some kind of loadouts in the menu u can hot key to the dpad, so you can have several set ups, you'll just have to take a step back cast some magic then draw your sword again. I don't think you'd just hold it in one hand as spells must be equpt to a hand just like equiptment, unless you can equip both magic and a weapon to your hands and spells are just less effective when wielding weapons.

D: Can′t we have bucklers with wrist-wraps allowing you to cast spells with the left hand cos the buckler isn′t held but just strapped to your arm D: ?

I really want to be able to have a mace + shield and cast defensive spells...

according to GI mag thts not goin to happen since each hand is now seperate and can only have one thing in it at a time.
so its either:
1) 2 shields? maybe
2) one-handed weapon and fist
3) 2 one-handed weapons
4) one-handed weapon and shield
5) one-handed weapon and spell
6) 2 spells
7) sheild and spell
8) spell and fist
9) shield and fist
10) two fist
11) two-handed weapon

I like the system I think they have in place I'd go for:
Up-double fire spells.
Right- shield and hand axe.
Left- two different buff spells, prob defence and fire dam.
Down- shield and restoration spell.

As far as I know, 2 handed weapons = no.

And goodluck using a broadsword as its a weapon type that may be left out, like in Oblivion.

Its easy enough to fire off a spell while wielding a two handed weapon by taking one hand off the hilt.

A better question might be how youll do it if youre duel-wielding a weapon in each hand.

Since you don't actually need to hold a two handed weapon with two hands while just carrying it I'm sure you'd just take a hand.. (right or left depending on which hand you have the spell toggled to) off the hilt and cast a spell. While swinging a weapon you'd need to have both hands on the sword. I'm thinking it'll be like that for everything. Even if you have a sword in one hand and a spell in the other I doubt you'd be able to attack with them simultaneously.. but maybe I'm wrong on that point. That would be pretty cool to swing the blade with one hand and cast a spell at the same time.
That brings up another question I had floating in my head. Will each hand holding a weapon or spell be controlled with separate triggers on the controller or separate keys on the keyboard? Left hand attack/block, Right hand attack/block? That would make fighting much more fun.

Number 7 it is then, and I′m not taking any offensive spells so unless I get to hit things with my shield I am going to end up doing 0 damage and I mean it, I′m gonna play without causing harm until I find an item with reflect damage on it then.

I doubt you can cast spells while holding a weapon because they said you "equip" a spell into your hand.

im guessing they will make it so that the spells of your choice are an the hands that you choose, while you can only cast when the weapon is sheathed. This is not confirmed what so ever its just my prediction.

With two handed weapons, I think and this is just my opinion, that the weapon will only take up one slot but uses both hands. and then you put a spell in the other hand. When you cast the spell you remove one hand from the hilt and cast teh spell. Because a two handed weapon is bulkier and heavier, you will probably take longer to put your hand back on the hilt and continue pummeling people, monsters or whatever. Of course this could be wrong because you would kind of have an unfair advantage. Casting spells, blocking, and casting magick.

Dual Wielding since a spell takes a slot adn a sword also takes a slot, I think you will not be casting spells. This means the only reason you will dual wield is for increased attack speed, from usign smaller lighter weapons, or something.

Bows and Crossbows (if included), I think willnot be able to cast spells.

Thrown weapons depending on whether tehy need to use one hand or two, might be able to cast spells.

Spears (if included) would be both. Since their are one handed spears adn two handed spears.

Why is two handed weapons like claymores going to be a problem when casting spells? Oblivion just had it where the character would hold the weapon briefly with one hand while the other casts the spell.

You won't, you'll have to choose between dual wielding and casting. Sounds balanced to me.

Ummmm...couldn't you cast spells with a two handed weapon in oblivion?

Yes but this game has dual-wielding, and since spells can also be "equipped" we are wondering whether or not you can use them while using a two-handed weapon or if you have to sheathe/unequip it to cast spells.