I wish there were perks that would increase the swing speed of 2 handed weapons. I love the look of 2 handed swords but I cannot get myself to use them because they swing sooo slow. Also is there a video of the kill cams for greats words? Another thing I don't like is the original kill cams for then. Are the ones from 1.5 better?

Try a lighter sword, that should swing a bit faster.

However, have you ever tried to swing a great sword or a Claymore in real life?

No I haven't tried to swing one in real life but then again I'm not the dragonborn! And I can't use magic. I want to try and use elemental fury I wonder if that makes it much faster.

I agree that two handed swords swing a little bit too slowly.

While I haven't swung a claymore around in real life either, I'm also not the 6'6 tall, rippling muscled Nord that can carry around 300 pounds and jog all day long in heavy armor.

All swings for all weapons should increase in speed as you level them up.

That would be so awesome if all weapons did.

Elemental fury incereases swing speed significantly. Keep in mind EF adds a temporary enchantment on your weapon, so only non-enchanted weapons can use EF.

The problem with Skyrim's swords is, there are only full blown 2handers or strict 1hander swords. No in betweens, thus making 2h swords look and feel almost always too slow, whereas 1h swords feel too small (especially when using a shield)

And I agree, head cut finisher is too much like an execuition without any real fighting dynamic. However, all other sword finishers are much more interesting than hammer/axe finishers.

You need to combine heavy armour with two handed weapons then you can take a few hits and slice there head off in one go.

I forgot about this. So if I have the perk that allows two enchants, and only have one on my battleaxe, will EF take up the 2nd slot I didn't use and be effective?

A friend of mine used to have a Sword Shop. He took great pride in creating accurate and realistic weapons. I was surprised at just how heavy swords really are and how hard they are to swing. In fact, I could see myself getting one swing in with a great sword or a claymore and then spinning myself into the ground like a top trying to stop the sword on the other end. In fact, I can't see how anyone who would swing and miss could not leave themselves open for a deadly counter-attack before they could stop the sword and get ready to swing again.

Those guys in the movies that swing big swords real fast, they are not swinging real metal swords. About the only types of blades that I can see getting real speed are Katana's, Samurai's and other thinner swords like were typical in Asian Sword Crafting.

Use the Elemental Fury Dragon Shout. Once you unlcok all three words of power (Su Grah Dun), all your weapons will swing 50% faster. Also, Ancient Nord, Honed Ancient Nord, and Nord Hero BattleAxes and Greatswords swing slightly faster than most other Two-Handed weapons.

There is this shout called elemental fury, it makes you swing your weapon faster for a short while.
Reloading does not take that long.

The weapon can't have ANY enchantment on it. BUT there are a couple 2H Weapons that I know have a specific enchant and still allows for EF. Such as Wuuthrad and Longhammer* (*Best). Longhammer has an atk speed faster then even a Greatsword, EF can be used with it, and you can enchant it (but I'm sure you won't be able to do EF afterwards).

Elemental fury is insane, with just 1 shout i can get off like 3 attacks in one second (1 handed) but a full maxed elemental fury is 70% faster, I imagine you'd be swinging fast, only problem is it lasts 15 seconds and it's recharge is 50 seconds iirc

Short stabbing swords are much more effective a claymore looks good but thats about it.

Greatswords in real life are far from heavy. Even the largest ones only go up to around 7 lbs.

they ranged from 7-11 lbs, but thats not entirely the thing, the weight is spread across the majority of it making it very hefty to start a swing and recover. To use a weapon like a claymore in reality the key is momentum, let each swing build into the next. Thrusting is a bit simpler than a slash as well but that isnt an option in skyrim.

As for the game, I wish that you could carry the momentum of each attack better but if you practice with it in the game you can learn to judge distance and speed together to avoid issues. Also Elemental Fury is an excellent way of boosting speed temporarily. I do sort of wish there were perks to boost speed but alas it is not so.

Most of the smaller swords were about that weight, some of the larger ones can go heavier, perhaps in the 10 to 12 pound range. However, inertia, with regards to the length of the weapon's added leverage to that, makes accelerating and decelerating a blade not easy, which is why most sword moves are circular in nature, to come around to a new attack, rather than swing back and forth.

there are a few mods that give perks that increase it to 20% or 30%

Just get the Longhammer.

A sword that weighs 10-12 pounds would not be practical in any way.

http://www.thearma.org/essays/2HGS.html
http://www.truefork.org/DragonPreservationSociety/Swordheavy.php
http://www.myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=8043

Can we all just agree to research things before we present them as fact? k

European swords commonly had heavy pommels to balance the weight out; it wasn't spread out evenly by any means. European swords were quick and expertly crafted weapons.

does anyone know if the 2-handers are bugged by not actually handing out more damage than 1-h?

i remember a thread awhile back from a pc guy stating that was the case, i think.

Keep in mind that all weapons had a purpose. Light and fast cutting weapons like the katana where great at slicing open lightly armored peasants. They would not fare well against armor - even chain mail would stop it. Claymore were designed to kill heavily armored targets. Armor can stop slashing DMG, but has a harder time stopping the kinetic energy from a two hand weapon.

Just like today, people are not going to use a weapon for long if it is inferior.

No way two handed swords swing slowly, I have always used two handed maces and now that I use the great swords I am relieved, I also Like the perks for swords more.

Claymores and other two handed swords were NOT purpose built anti-armour weapons. Mail is by no means easy to penetrate and the katana is not a particularily light sword. Swords as a whole (excluding falchions and other cleaver type weapons) are light, fast weapons.

http://www.thehaca.com/medsword2.htm

read the section on greatswords.