But you would still be disarming the opponent via skill with an equal weapon, not shouting it out of his hand with magic.

Eh, I'm of the opinion that the use of the Thu'um in the duel was strictly symbolic anyway, since the general consensus seems to be that Ulfric would've beaten Torygg without it anyway. I'm pretty sure that Ulfric thinks that, lol, and IIRC doesn't he even say something along the lines of sending a message by using the Thu'um, or was that with regard to the challenge itself? I can't remember.

At any rate as a symbolic thing, Disarm might've been even more appropriate, but IMO it would've looked far more dishonorable and might even have lost him some support and street cred ("did you hear? Ulfric had to shout the sword out of Torygg's hand in order to beat him" - not good, lol).

Oh my, that would have been a very bad thing for him! *laughing* Dear me.... what a BAD light that would have put him in, not that using ANY shout was a "good" thing.

Personal opinion incoming: of all the stupid things Ulfric has done, using the Thu'um in that duel was the most abysmally stupid. If you're planning to kill a weaker, younger, less apt opponent, you do NOT bring the big guns to bear. You beat him on HIS terms, not yours. But then, Ulfric is.... not all that bright overall.... so it's all of a piece.

My opinion of Ulfric is generally positive, that said, I see the use of the Thu'um there as purely symbolic and intended in part to emphasize the fact that the other guy doesn't *have* the big guns, literally and metaphorically. I think it was intended to highlight his strength and his willingness to use it vs. Torygg's supposed weakness and what Ulfric sees as his almost traiterous (with regard to Skyrim and its people) capitulation to the rule of the Empire in the wake of the WGC.

He would've beaten Torygg anyway, he didn't need to use it (whether this is objectively true or not is irrelevant... I think it's safe to say that Ulfric believed this) but he chose to use it to send a message about the power of Nord traditions and in particular the ones that existed long before the Empire came into play and which were to some extent instrumental in its founding. That, I think, would be especially meaningful to those who believe the Empire has lost its way, its spine, whatever, or are still on the fence about it with regard to how Skyrim is currently faring under Imperial rule (and the Thalmor incursion that comes with it).

I don't really see it as stupid. I don't know that it gained him any support he didn't already have, but I don't see where it cost him any that was already there before it happened. It forced some people off the fence to be sure but I think that may have been part of his motivation for it. It was clearly intended to Make Things Happen and boy, did it ever.

Heh. I have ZERO use for Ulfric, so we'll agree to disagree entire.

Lol, I intend to marry the poor unsuspecting fool so the less "use" others have for him, the better!

Uh. I wish you joy of him.

eh, seeing how the the blades organization is how old and theres still a well known spot for dragon lore being esbern. Also esbern states when u enter the temple that the oath and prophesy on the wall, every blade knows by heart. I feel liek its always been there, just suppressed. i mean the blades is still a secret orgainzation to which we dont even know the blades oath and many taditions and whatnot are or were kept secret. Also the blades main goal and oath entailed following and protecting a dragonborn amd his leneage on the fact the original one was a dragonborn hence the ultimate dragonslayer. so i believe it been there, just suppressed mainly. i mean the blades knew that this day would come since all know the prohecy by heart. it just wasnt in ur face with it.

I don't doubt that the Blades organization was suppressed, but based on evidence in the game (there's only 2 left, and they had no contact for a very long time, and didn't even know the other was alive), I think they were so effectively suppressed to be no longer a functioning organization, and cannot be called one. It's one thing to say that The Blades were dispersed to no longer exist as they once did, so we are starting them up again, and another to imply, as Delphine does, that she has the authority to assume an ongoing identity and purpose as The Blades. Especially when there's just two of them and no continuity in regard to running the organization, and they have invented a new purpose (with reference to a very old one) now that dragons have popped up.

If all Blades knew that we had to prepare for a return of the dragons, then why didn't I know, considering I've been a career Blade in every game? This is just a purpose resurrected from a legend that happened to have come true.

I agree. At their current state they should call themselves dragon Hunters. But I can see why they still do it if its something they are passionate about, the blades can always be rebuilt aslong as theres one surviving and people who will join. Id feel more comfortable if I was an emporer and they were guarding my back, but I mean they do guard and serve ya protecting dragons. Just not hand maid servent way they did with the emplrers, more like they do it on them putting themselves on equal or close to equal grounds with ya.