Let's say you want to use a bow and just a bow. You get your 6 buttons all filled in and boy are you happy. But, wait. You have 6 other buttons you don't have access to because you don't want to switch to another weapon, you just want to keep using your bow.

Can you switch bars without switching weapons?

Ha ha you're old.

Wait, damnit so am I.

Umm, no clue, but seems like you could wield a weapon just to slot 6 new powers. Or maybe wield a second bow with diff. abilities.....

Not a stupid question, just one no-one has an answer to.

Here's my guess though: if it's two separate bows, then yeah you'll be able to switch between them. It likely won't make your second slot mutually exclusive with your first.

Yeah pretty sure the two action bar loadouts can be set to w/e you want. Don't see why not anyways. So you could have one Bow loadout for just attacks and another loadout with more AoE or CCs.

Yeah, I know if you have two bows you can do it. I was talking about one bow, but two different skill bars to switch between.

If punching is in, not saying Unarmed skill, just able to attack with no weapon at all, then you would be golden.

But worst case, carry two bows, or sword'n'board JIC the SHTF.....

well we don't know exact Howe it work but at least you can jump between 2 bowes, and then you can have 2 of the same bow. But whit only 1 bow its hard to tell, but i say probably not sins its base for abuse, then you don't have 6 skills but 12 skills in the game for your spec whit 1 weapon.

its maybe even so that its divided on range and close combat ...

No offense, but I could not disagree more with that statement.

How in any way, shape or form is that abuse? You still have to switch bars, just like anyone else. It's just that you keep the same weapon in your hand.

Gotta side with Frak on this one. If he goes to the trouble to acquire two identical bows (or near enough if one is "unique" quest reward) then why shouldn't he be able to use all 12 slots for bows?

Don't forget it would leave him without any other weapons special powers....no melee/blocking abilities etc.

Yeah, this is something that I don't believe has been answered yet. I'm going to say, no, that you won't be able to use the same bow and have 12 different skills for it. You should be able to switch between two different bows, but I doubt they would allow you to have 12 skills for one item. But that's just my thought on it.

And it's no way an abuse at all to have 12 skills for one type of weapon. We don't even know how the weapon swap system is going to work. Will it require a ton of stamina to do? Is there a cooldown on it? Can you only do it once in combat? There are too many questions still unanswered about this system to really know how exactly it will all work.

Don't see why they would'nt allow you to use the same weapon in both loadouts. Its the exact same as getting two identical weapons and each having their own loadout.

Except you have to actually get two identical weapons which would take a little more effort and a LOT more luck and ESO weapons use randomized stats so even if they are the same bow the stats will likely be different.

I also doubt you will be able to use the SAME bow in both slots. But two bows of the same stats if you are lucky or they are crafted in the same way then yeah sure.

Actually that randomized loot thing was just a rumor started by an article with bad writing. Its been refuted by those who have played the game. Can see here, note the few site admins there who have played the game and refute the article that makes this claim: http://tamrielfoundry.com/topic/dynamic-gear-stats-a-possibility/

So again using the same weapon in two loadouts is the same as having two identical weapons with their own loadout. Would be silly to allow one and not other when they are the same exact thing.

Not sure which side you are on

+10 Stamina on one bow, and +8 Stamina and +3 Health on another....both 42 DPS......Umm, not seeing a big difference there as it pertains to wielding both.

I'm not saying that it's not possible for them to allow people to use the same weapon for the two different loadouts. I just believe that they aren't going to allow that. There is no bases to my claim it's just feeling that they won't allow it at all. If you want to use two different loadouts for a bow then you will need to get two separate bows.

I agree this is a virtual certainty. No equipping the same weapon to both slots.

I wouldn't imagine you couldn't do that, but you'd be limiting yourself quite a bit, I would think.

Probably right, I just don't see why.

If the spells/abilities are tied to the weapons power (ie does 150% of the equipped swords dmg) then it isn't feasible for you to leave your starter sword equipped in that slot. Thus you have to spend more time in the game continually upgrading that weapon slot.

Also, otherwise they might as well just give us 12 slots on our single toolbar right?

Umm.... I'm not following you. What does your starter weapon have to do with this conversation?

No, you still have to switch bars. Look at it from a melee point of view, because there are more of those. If I used a sword and shield on my first bar(let's just say two sword skills, 2 class skills and 2 fighter guild skills), then switch to two weapon style and had two weapons(my original sword and now another in my off hand), but now had different skills on the new bar, it would be the same thing. I would still have that same one handed weapon in my hand for all 12 slots.

Go for mage/archer mix.

You can freeze and teleport then switch to bow and boom

Got to agree with Pangscar here. Why would they prevent someone using the same weapon on both loadouts? Forcing people to carry around two identical weapons would be daft, and contrary to the TES freedom they're going for.

Great question though, can't believe l didn't think of it. Someone want to throw this at them for future AUAs?

Gaah! Now you've got me theorycrafting. I thought at first that it'd be an obvious handicap, but I realize that being able to wield 12 skills in your chosen role could well be worth losing the flexibility of a different weapon.

It would be really useful for every weapon type. They may limit it to where you can only switch to other weapon types, but i dont see why they should. If youre using a bow, youre screwed when you get close range so it will balance out in the end. It would definately be really fun to play around with, like if im camping on top of a keep ill be using 12 bow skills, but when im in the open i can use bow and knives.

You said you didn't understand why they wouldn't let you equip the same weapon in both slots.

So the starter weapon comes in because by making you use a second weapon, and since it's almost a given that the abilities scale of the weapon you use......

If you are using the same weapon equipped (not 2 of the same type etc, the same weapon) swapping bars is a formality, so why bother? Just give us 12 slots, 10 regular, 2 ultimate, and let us fill them up with whatever we want. Sword based abilities would use the equipped sword for damage, etc.If you only had bow abilities slotted, then they would just scale off the bow you had equipped.