So as everyone already knows, Skyrim is a quality title: it has great graphics, a compelling story, and a strong environment to tie it all together. But after playing this game for so long as mages and rogues, I wondered why I wasn't playing the melee builds as often, or having less fun with them and I have come to this conclusion: Melee combat is dull.

I'm not saying it's bad, far from it. It has much improved since Morrowind and Oblivion, but it needs to be addressed. There is no real variety to any of your attacks, it is slashing back and forth with whatever weapon your holding with no variation on maneuvers. The only things that mix it up are shield bashing, and power attacks. Now I understand the concepts behind them (breaking through a block, or briefly stunning an enemy) but it's a system that rewards turtling and duller combat.

Sure there are the "specialty" power attacks that have an X% chance of doing Y type of effect but it is never effective as simply bashing your opponent and slicing, so why expend all the stamina on something that rarely works?? It's frustrating.

Then, anytime there is a tougher enemy, the game lets me pause the action, and down all the potions I want to instantly max out and fortify my health, or refill my stamina meter to my hearts content. At least Oblivion limited the amount of potions you could take. Why is that balancing not present here too? Especially seeing as the Alchemy tree seems to have gotten a boost.

Also, why do we have such a limited set of weapons? Now don't get me wrong, I love how Bethesda handles the Swords vs. Axes vs. Maces type of differation, (Swords for criticals, Axes for bleeding, and Maces to ignore DR) But there is just so much more that just feels......missing that is present in other RPG's that it makes Skyrim feel a little shallow.

Like for instance, where is parrying? Or Riposting? Or pirouettes? There is a huge piece of swordplay that is just plain missing in Skyrim. There are no finesse type of moves present in Skyrim. Attack variation other than slicing and dicing just isn't there.

So having read all of that, you pretty much have an idea of what Skyrim is lacking in the Melee department. I know many will rise up and say "If you don't like it play another game" But that helps nobody. I am merely noting faults in a game and a Series that I love, and would like to see improvement on. If you have any opinions or comments on my observations, please respond to the thread and lets discuss Skyrim's Melee gameplay and see on how to improve it for the better!

It's probably due to engine limitations.

That is a fine thought, but there is a many pronged answer.

Here's how I could see it done with implementing parries with the current system.
I'm sure the engine could handle more advanced maneuvers, when you take the perk that slows down time for a shield bash opportunity, that same window of time could easily fit in with a parry instead. All they would need to do is implement an animation for the PC to "parry" the blade and the enemy animation of recoiling and being thrown off guard.

Also, for character archetypes in Skyrim, Melee combat makes up roughly 33% of the skills which govern how to approach combat. And since Skyrim has plentiful combat opportunities, I would hope Bethesda would make it deeper, and more entertaining, with it playing such a huge role in the game. Engine limitations are going to be on Bethesda for picking the one that they did. It isn't our fault we are lacking features present in many RPG's and competing titles due to the engine.