Dual-Wield / Two-Handed / Sword & Shield

Me? no, its a sword & shield build.
I have an enchanted Blades sword. Added shock and half magicka.. might be too much though only lasts a few hits.
I need to reread the enchanting rules for weapons, not satisfied with my weapons.

Beowwulf said:

Tried unarmed and a shield?

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Iv never really gotten into unarmed fighting all the time. I havent tried unarmed and a shield but I do like having a shield and destruction magic in the right hand.

whatever suits my character best. Be it a 2-handed brute, or a stealthy dual-wielder, or an honorable knight with a blade and guard/shield.

I tend to find myself liking two-handed weapon, though it is based on what I am playing in terms of build.

Irishman said:

shadowkitty said:

I don't know if I like the two handed weapons. They are a little slow for me.

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Have you heard of the Longhammer? its an orcish warhammer that swings as quickly as a mace! Its found in... hang on...

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:The_Longhammer

Bam! so much easier

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So I discovered a common glitch when obtaining the Longhammer. Sometimes it's not lying next to Rahd. I seriously could not find it until I Googled the problem and found that sometimes it sinks through the table and either sits on the ground under the table, or is stuck to the underside of the table. You can still get it, just go into sneak mode so you are lower down) and move towards the table until your crosshairs fall on it. Just for anyone else's info if they go in search of it.

shadowkitty said:

Irishman said:

shadowkitty said:

I don't know if I like the two handed weapons. They are a little slow for me.

Click to expand...

Have you heard of the Longhammer? its an orcish warhammer that swings as quickly as a mace! Its found in... hang on...

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:The_Longhammer

Bam! so much easier

Click to expand...

So I discovered a common glitch when obtaining the Longhammer. Sometimes it's not lying next to Rahd. I seriously could not find it until I Googled the problem and found that sometimes it sinks through the table and either sits on the ground under the table, or is stuck to the underside of the table. You can still get it, just go into sneak mode so you are lower down) and move towards the table until your crosshairs fall on it. Just for anyone else's info if they go in search of it.

Click to expand...

Yeah I read that to. I had no issues (superior ps3 ya see ) though.

All things equal I would definitely say 2 hand sword now after playing around a bit more. The play style is a bit more tactical. Even tho the stamina requirement is much higher you get much more control and still have the ability to block and bash.

I wanted to clarify that I prefer two-handed weapons that are one-sided, meaning there is one side for cutting. Just a vanity thing I guess.

The more I play the more I lean towards sword and shield. I'd question the claim that dual wielding doubles damage output. I think you could swing twice with a single weapon in the time it takes to swing with two weapons at the same time. Also dual wielding seems clumsy to me because swinging with two weapons at once (regular or power attack) is a static attack and very easy to avoid. With one sword you can walk forwards while swinging or do a moving power attack. It's a lot easier to hit opponents like mages who run backwards while shooting

I don't think there is a big enough damage difference between two handed and one handed weapons to justify losing the shield and two extra enchantments that gives you. I also like that sword and shield users can switch their sword for a spell, cast that, then switch back to the sword- all the while holding onto the shield in their other hand.

The potential of dual wielding with the right perks and elemental fury is pretty awesome though. It's just more of a challenge when enemies are moving about a lot

Snake Tortoise said:

The more I play the more I lean towards sword and shield. I'd question the claim that dual wielding doubles damage output. I think you could swing twice with a single weapon in the time it takes to swing with two weapons at the same time. Also dual wielding seems clumsy to me because swinging with two weapons at once (regular or power attack) is a static attack and very easy to avoid. With one sword you can walk forwards while swinging or do a moving power attack. It's a lot easier to hit opponents like mages who run backwards while shooting

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With dual wielding, you dont always have to do the double standing power attack though. You can still do a running attack, sideways and backwards. The attacks look different whether you use left or right hand as well... Although that standing power attack is one of the highest damage dealing methods in the game, if it hits!

Irishman said:

With dual wielding, you dont always have to do the double standing power attack though. You can still do a running attack, sideways and backwards. The attacks look different whether you use left or right hand as well... Although that standing power attack is one of the highest damage dealing methods in the game, if it hits!

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You mean you can do moving attacks with two weapons at the same time? Or just use one hand while holding two weapons? If it's the latter your left hand may as well be holding a shield

You're right though, it can be a devastating attack. Once or twice I've been taken by surprise by a forsworn carrying two axes. I've occasionally been left dumbfounded when all of a sudden I've went from full health to dead within the space of a second, but then it isn't a move they can ever pull off twice. When I reloaded and tried again I waited for them to do their power attack and hit thin air, then stepped in and took care of business. If it's possible to be moving and attacking with two hands at once it's not a trick the AI know about

Snake Tortoise said:

Irishman said:

With dual wielding, you dont always have to do the double standing power attack though. You can still do a running attack, sideways and backwards. The attacks look different whether you use left or right hand as well... Although that standing power attack is one of the highest damage dealing methods in the game, if it hits!

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You mean you can do moving attacks with two weapons at the same time? Or just use one hand while holding two weapons? If it's the latter your left hand may as well be holding a shield

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No, just one hand or the other. It would be cool having a charging two handed attack though...

I completely am with you on the preference though. The sword and shield combo is my favourite. A well timed shield bash is an easy way to turn the tide of a battle. I love having a stand of with 2 or 3 melee opponents with my trusty shield as well.

fyi - Vegetable Soup turns you from a competent combatant into a raging animal though. I HIGHLY recommend it

Irishman said:

No, just one hand or the other. It would be cool having a charging two handed attack though...

I completely am with you on the preference though. The sword and shield combo is my favourite. A well timed shield bash is an easy way to turn the tide of a battle. I love having a stand of with 2 or 3 melee opponents with my trusty shield as well.

fyi - Vegetable Soup turns you from a competent combatant into a raging animal though. I HIGHLY recommend it

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It seems like they dropped the ball with dual wielding a bit- it would be far better if dual attacks weren't static. I want to like it because of how cool it looks

I haven't purposefully picked up a food ingredient since I started using alchemy. No way I'm going to be using my salt piles for restoring 10 health when you can make regenerate magica or slow potions instead

Snake Tortoise said:

I haven't purposefully picked up a food ingredient since I started using alchemy. No way I'm going to be using my salt piles for restoring 10 health when you can make regenerate magica or slow potions instead

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The difference between them is that potions last for 30sec-1min. Soup lasts for a whopping 720seconds! 12minutes! Thats enough time to clear out most, if not all caves and ruins without worrying about opening your menu again. Also, the ingredients (except leeks) are all found in abundance in barrels all throughout the world.