I like the fact enemies can pull off an execution type move. Usually it is when I'm getting my butt handed too me anyway.

Maybe if you get you're speech high enough you can ask the enemies not to be so mean.

Are you sure?

The finishing moves are just animations. They only play if the attack would have killed the enemy anyway.

Edit: Should have read the full thread.

I'm GLAD to hear this. I've yet to have it happen to me, but I had seen a dragon nom a guy and I immediately thought "why doesn't he just do that to ME?"

Yes. This is a pointless complaint. The enemies aren't magically 1 hit killing you, they would have killed you with one hit anyway. This way just means they're doing it with style. I mean, would you rather they just did the standard slash animation and you fell over dead, instead of going out in a blaze of awesomeness as the dragon swallows you or the bandit runs a sword through your heart?

You have to remember that just like YOU can get critical hits in combat, so can the enemies, so just because their last few hits didn't do as much damage doesn't mean the next one won't be devastating.

Would be nice if they prevent you from drinking a bunch of potions during the death animations lol

Are there any animations for destruction?

Adds to the sense of danger with fighting.

My only issue with this is how can 2 Falmers in the same cave on the same run through have such dramatically different stats. Level 19 ork with dwarf armor and elf mace, good attack and armor, massacre 1 in 2 hits then have the exact opposite with the one in the next room? Second one took 2 full shouts and 10 smacks with the mace (that I'm positive hit) and he was hittin for over 100 point damage. Seems like a glitch in the game as much as people not playing well. I tend to run into random extremely overpowered enemies. Not often but once in a while 1 enemy in a group will be 5-10 levels higher than the rest. It's something that should be checked by the devs for sure. Dragons killing me in 1 or 2 hits I'm good with but a mudcrab hitting for 25 or 30 points (yes it happened to me) I have issues with.

I got 1hko'd by a bandit leader when I had full health once, didn't really upset me but I could see how it would be REALLY annoying if you've gone a long time without saving or getting an autosave.

Also, I wonder if mudcrabs having finishing moves

OP - if they've already hit you enough times that you're down to a third of your health, it's not a "one hit kill" when they kill you.

The only problem with finishers is that if they start they're unavoidable(You could likely dodge a regular attack) and don't require you to actually be able to attack at the time. I've gotten a finisher right after a power attack when I shouldn't have been ready to strike again yet.

Still. Keep your health up. Enemies can critically hit you too. Learned that lesson quick.

Only thing I don't like is that their 1HKO cinematic isn't effected by their attack speed. Slow striking enemies don't even have to land their attack; they just have to start their attack animation while you're in range. There are many times where I could've easily staggered/disrupted or gotten out of the way before I was hit, but the cinematic decided to cancel my action and hold me in place.

edit: ^^ beat me to it

In tough fights my heart jumps when it goes to the kill motion. I don't know if im getting smammered...or if im doing the smammering! its a thrill

What Cecillf2 and Gigan said. There's been a few times where I've an arrow strung, about to release, and then the animation kicks in, freezing my character, while the enemy takes a few seconds to wind up and gut me. If the animation hadn't played, I would have fired off the arrow and possibly killed or staggered my opponent.