If you've payed attention to any of the ESO videos, you will notice that the players are always duel wielding. At least when not using magic or a 2 handed weapon. Does this mean there's no place for single handed combat in ESO? In real life, duel wielding has massive down sides and requires far more skill then using a single sword, like you can not swing with as much power as you could if you griped your sword with both hands.

I much prefer single sword style over duel wielding, but it looks like I'd be at a massive disadvantage in ESO because it would essentially be playing with one arm tied behind my back.

Also, it looks a bit jarring when you have an entire army of people duel wielding, as it's an uncommon style.

If you grip it with 2 hands, that's a 2 handed weapon, why not just use a bigger 2 hander meant for that fighting style?

If you gripped your sword with both hands it would become 2handed sword...... As the game is a game in the game each hand is considered power, if you want a 1handed sword then put a shield in your other hand to become more defensive

In my experience most rpg games have some negative consequences for the second hand also wielding a weapon.

I share your concern, but I don't think it will be a insta win strategy. I guess we will see as times drags on.

That depends on your agility. 2 swords > 1 sword

Saying a one handed sword used with 2 hands is the same as a claymore or something would've made my fencing teacher flip out. Griping a sword with 2 hands does not make it a 2 handed sword. You will not always be griping your sword with both hands. Your off hand in some styles is used for grappling and punching. The weight of a 2 handed sword is far greater then a longsword or broad sword, as most 2 handed styles use a continuous momentum of the blade, wile longsword are more precise.

"-if 1 sword is 100 power, then 2 swords are 200 power!"

I doubt many will know that quote here.

No.

If 1 sword is 100 power, then 2 swords are 250 power!

Dont forget perks ;,,;

Well this isn't a real life simulator its a video game.

Bottom line is equipping just a single one handed sword will in fact be pretty much gimping yourself in ESO. (note I said "In ESO" not in real life) If you don't want to dual wield then your options are either use a shield in the other hand and gain its benefits or just use a single sword and gimp yourself by having an empty spot in your gear.

Are you telling me that's the reason you chose to fight with two swords?

I understand but like i said you can only make a game to a certain realistic of the real world. In the game's case having nothing in your left hand is putting you at a disadvantage. Your left hand has no negative, it just an open slot for an item, eigther a shield (defense) or another sword (offense) or go 2hand weapon.

While i agree that in some cases just weilding a 1hand sword would have some advantages i think putting a shield in your hand would bring many many more advantages. A small lightweight buckler for example would not slow you down

I know my two weapons will be dueling each other.

Actually dualwield is kinda fantasy thing only. Reality is that it is incredibly difficult to pull it off. Most common combo you would see in late medieval is a sword and dagger, or looking to the east, Mijamoto Musashi using both katana and wakizashi. You can notice the pattern that sword and smaller bladed weapon were used, not two weapons of same size

I can't remember any kind of soldier/warrior fighting with one one-handed weapon only.
it was either one-handed and shield or two-handed or two weapons.

that's not even necessarily melee weapons as the same goes for firearms. you won't shoot a pistol one-handed if you could use both hands.
and since you already use both hands you wouldn't go to war with a pistol but with a big M16 or something like it.


and please don't come along with fencing...
fencing was never more than art and sport.

Actually i think duel weilding axes was more common than swords

Duel weilding axes: look like the king of murder mountain.
Duel weilding swords: yeah that's pretty cool.
Duel weilding maces: ambidextrous caveman.

Hopefully duel weilding has some drawback or single weilding (with no shield) has some kind of advantage.

Umm, No. You don't hold any firearm with one hand unless you're just showing off or don't have time for proper aiming. With pistols, you mainly use the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weaver_Stance which a key component of it is using both hands to control recoil. If you try to go "guns akimbo" the only thing you'll end up doing; is missing. So your point: Use a bigger gun? A rifle isn't always practical in the same way a 2 hander isn't. You don't dual wield sum-machine guns because you want more control, and you don't duel wield swords because you want more power and control.

I think the OP was thinking something along the lines of the Samurai, who wielded a one handed weapon in both hands. Or if you prefer, a jedi, if that's something a little more relevant to the majority. Bethesda could seemingly intergrate this with ease into the game by making it so wielding any one handed weapon with both hands gives you 1 1/2 times the normal damage and a much higher accuracy rating, or armor penetration. Whatever works.

I'm a personal fan of this iconic fighting style. Just a man and his sword against the odds. As far as wielding a giant two hander..... Have you seen Braveheart? Giant two handed swords are more akin to great axes than swords. I don't have it in mind to run around with a claymore all day.

If I cannot play ESO without having a one handed sword in one hand, and a trout in the other... I'm not playing.

Why not just ask for a weapon model that is a smaller 2 hander?

I wanna dual wield shields.

Best. Tank. Ever.

Not if you have powers of a sith >

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7hBZNsPnyg

If they gave you a herring as a playable weapon, then there wouldn't be a need for dual wielding.

There could be a really good duelist buff that would make one-handing really good and appealing but not Over powered.(if anyones played the ACE mod for skyrim you know what I mean)