Glass as a material in the Elder Scrolls is not the glass we know, but a hard volcanic mineral. And the comparison to cars doesn't go all the way, since some ornaments would be at the expense of utility when it comes to swords. Different designs and material give different effects. And just because something is harder than another material doesn't make it more suitable for a weapon. And to make a comparison to cars, using weak, fancy weapons would be like driving this http://www.nbmarine.se/a_ford/klar_natur.jpg in an F1 race just because you like the way it looks.

There have been beautiful arms and armour throughout history, but most were not used in battle. For instance, you may find great helms with elaborate lions on top, eagles and other decorations, but they were mostly used for parade purposes. In battles the knights generally went for a simpler, yet more useful design. Looking fancy is all fun and game, but it's not worth getting skewed in battle on an ugly sword because you ignored risks elaborate designs brought. I admit it, it may very well be appealing to walk around in Skyrim with something like this http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/Dagger_horse_head_Louvre_OA7891.jpg but it would take a lot of work to make, yet it wouldn't be very useful in combat. But in the end it depends on how elaborate the weapons are, of course. I guess you'd be able to find a few decorations which would not compromise the utility of the weapon, but pure decorative weapons were usually not a good choice for real battles. They are more likely to get you killed if they don't work properly, and having an ordinary steel sword damaged in battle is not that much of a deal compared with an elaborate weapon which cost you a fortune.

In the TES world silver is stronger than steel it's why it's always on a higher tier. and you are one of the little kids I'm talking about. Rather than understand what I'm trying to say you keep confusing real world with what is in Tes.

Hi,

I`m swedish and I would advise you to take a look at some viking sword hilts, viking filigree gold jewellery, viking glass jewellery and norse wooden churches.
If we weren`t superior craftsmen and traders there would not be Kaupang and Hedeby trading hubs and Gotland merchant republic.

Best proof of our superiority is the "celtic" ornament style found in the British Isles. Pure norse style. Noone copies inferior art AFAIK.

Poor? Maybe until we started raiding...

Rgds, Haldir

Ahh the celtic circles are so gorgeous as with most of the art. Please tell me do modern swedish still contribute such gorgeous art pieces?

Hi,

touched a nerve here per chance?

And yes, we still contribute gorgeous styles. But after a thousand yrs they look different.

Rgds, Haldir

For those who want to have a look at a few Viking swords, here goes. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ecceNGxc1zA/TfLiVcPMMpI/AAAAAAAAAO8/sDB2DOha1Ls/s1600/VikingSwords.jpg And also, Viking swords were not all that superior. There are accounts of Vikings in England having to stop in battle to bend back their blades with their feet after having them bent in battle. From what I've gathered in the books I've read, they got better towards the latter part of the Viking age, but Frankish swords were usually imported and known for their great quality.

Now this sounds much better. This is actually a sentence that I whole-heartedly agree with.

Irish wolfhounds were capable of killing lions and dragging an armored man off his horse. Who cares what they look like?
But I agree it would be good to see another model for a dog in Skyrim, a breed more commonly associated with wintery landscapes.

You're overreacting. Nobody did anything like this. It's a forum and some of your ideas are quite controversial, it's natural that people won't always agree with you.

I don't even know where to start.

Yes, you're right, many weapons throughout the ages were both fancy and efficient in battle. Their fanciness came mostly from slightly differently shaped blade or ornamented hilt. The point, however, is that most people carried regular, definitely not fancy weapons. The reason was simple: money.
That's in real world, though. Games have their own rules. Some things, however, shouldn't change; we need just a bit of realism. For swords bigger than a man go play Final Fantasy. For swords made of gold... Well, I don't really know. Because some materials just don't make a good weapon. A pretty one, yes. But not something useful in long and frequent battles. And this is what we have a problem with.
There are weapons fancy, yet strong.
There are weapons strong, but plain.
And there are weapons that just look pretty and have no practical use.

Using the tractor anology, I agree sport cars are faster. But if you had to drive through snow and mud, and traverse streams, would you rather use a sport car or a reliable off-road vehicle?

It works the same with weapons. I don't know where you get your info, but silver is not a good material for a blade. If you want, I can explain why, but later, because I don't really have time now. In short, it's too soft. There are ways to make it harder, but it still can never be better than steel for a sword. When making a sword, you can make a silver hilt, but not a blade. Silver is also too expensive, but that's a whole different story.
Same with gems. If installed into a hilt, they only change the balance. It's workable. If merged with a blade, well, that's an epic failure right there. The blade would be weakened, good for a baron, but useless for a warrior.
You know, IRL people who could afford decorative weapons and armor didn't wear it into battle. It was good to show off in public, but when on the battlefield, they preferred something that was plain, but could protect their lives. There are elements that can be added while not diminishing the weapon's effectivenes - an ornament, a fancy crossguard, stuff like this. But you're going a little too far with your ideas.

Now to the point. I AGREE that we need better looking weapons (look at the top of my post). But I refuse to understand why ornamental weapons should be more common. They're expensive, they're only used by the rich. I would feel stupid if my character without one coin in her pocket looted a fancy, silver-plated sword with sapphired installed in a pommel off the first bandit she met. It would be Oblivion's thieves in glass all over again.
I'd feel even more stupid if I went into battle with a golden sword. Or with a warhammer that's twice as big as me. Or with anything that's not even remotely realistic.

Hi,

look once more at my post. I talk abt. hilts and their decoration. It`s quite true that frankish blades were imported and highly regarded, but they were furnished to swords in Scandinavia according to the owners taste and purse.

And main combat weapons for us were axes and spears anyway.

Rgds, Haldir

I won't be happy with TES weapons until I get a rocket launcher.

True, but then it kind of reinforces the point about quality vs looks. And also true about combat weapons, except for nobility, rich freemen and warriors of high status. The sword was a sign of high standing as a warrior and also of wealth, so it wouldn't be that common but valued highly.

The best swords came from http://www.kriscutlery.com/mm5/graphics/00000001/TSLG.jpg in the medieval

Never mind, I read it quickly and took it as weapon rather than sword. Moot post.

I'm unsure what you're referring to, but I'm interested in learning more so would you mind posting a link or two?

If Bethesda tries to make realistic/practical weapons, they're failing utterly at it. All axes and maces have ridiculously oversized heads and would be simply unusable. Swords fare better, but only iron, steel and dwarven 1H designs look believable. Bows are best, mostly because other than the longbow they're all the same model just with different textures.


Erm, no. We might have much better understanding of the processes involved, but that doesn't mean we can make significantly better steel than people in ancient times. In the end, steel alloy is still a steel alloy, no matter how you make it. Consider the famous Wootz(Damascus) steel, which was developed in India in 300 BC, and still remains one of the best, if not the best, steel alloys ever made(for blades).

Agreed

Hi,

googling for something like "vikings in the british isles" will probably inundate you with interesting links.

Rgds, Haldir

Thanks, I'll look around a bit and see what I can find.

I am speechless at this thread.

actually, in TES, silver (aparently) is stronger, and sense we are talking about the game we abide by the game's rules

anyway, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_M%C3%AAl%C3%A9e_weapons#M.C3.AAl.C3.A9e_weapons, we should have at least one weapon form each weapon type (not gunpowder though) if you ask me and ornate weapons (something for a theif to steal, ya know? noone has anythign to steal and what would be better than a gold sword?)

I wanted there to be some good looking weapons in Skyrim, and there is, but maybe there should have been unique guard weapon in each hold.
Example:
Whiterun- Frost War Axe
Solitude- Ice War Hammer
(they have unique designs as well)

Also included in the dungeons you raid.
Example:
Bleak falls Barrow: Frost Broadsword
Dustman's Crypt: Health Draining Mace
(with unique designs)

Also, it should be optional to fit armour onto clothing if your a good enough smith or something.
Example:
Leather Chest guard on Mage Robes

And Bring back weapon reapairing!

They look really good and all but there is something I dont understand....

Wast necessary to write you were a female? I mean I know is off-topic but it looks so...unnecessary, like calling for attention just for the fact you are a female...or maybe I'm missing something, if that's the case then ignore it ^^

On: I really liked the weapons but I'm pretty sure they are all collectable items