Yes, I misspelled conundrum. Anywho...

Ever since I got a list of spells and schools of magic for this game, I have been aiming for full conjurer using heavy armor and bound weapons, and that's exactly what I'm doing. So far, I'm having ZERO problems melee'ing anything down between my dual bound-swords and my atronarchs, and loving every minute of the blue-glowy frenzy.

HOWEVER one thing I can't seem to figure out or get an answer to is whether or not one-handed perks affect bound sword, or 2-handed perks affect bound battleaxe? Using a bound sword raises your one-handed skill, but I'm hesitant to spend those precious perk points until I know for certain. Anyone got any insider info? Or do I need to save a few perks up, create multiple saves, and just do trial and error?


edit: Bump.

Using a bound sword in combat raises your 1-handed skill, so I'm guessing yeah, it'll be affected by perks.

I mean, it's a weapon that uses one hand. That's basically all there is to it.

The only thing your Conjuration skill affects is the base strength of the weapon you summon.

Well, rather than waiting on getting levels and thus perks, I fiddled around with an extra save and the console command and managed to get a few stray perk points. I used Lydia as my test dummy, because let's face it she's not good for much else, and gave her a few thwacks un-perked to gauge the average dmg.

Unfortunately I can't figure out any commands to let me see dmg done, so I had to gauge via her life bar.

Anyway I perked up, put 4 points into one-handed, and smacked her again. I did notice a considerable increase in damage done consistantly, three times to avoid any critical hits. Incidentally, she also got mad and shield-bashed me to death. Too bad she doesn't fight that hard against monsters.

So anyway, I think I went an answered my own question, though I don't have the numbers to back it up. If anyone knows the console commands that assign numericals to health or damage I'd be much obliged.

Yes, weapon perks affect bound weapons.

First - pick a mage to test on since they have no armor. Armor will just make the test harder.

Open the console - use your mouse to click on the target. You should something like "(0001c1a3) flash on the screen. That is picking the target of the console command. Then type in getav health. Take a swing with your sword and repeat. Open console, click target, type in getav health. The difference between the two numbers will be damage you did. Have to be fast though, because NPC's will regenate health outside of combat.

My own tests show the bound weapons, at least the sword, are not nearly as good as a upper end sword. Even Superior Dwarven Sword was out damaging a Bound Sword.