Hey guys I just started playing Oblivion and I just can't seem to understand the combat system when using a sword and shield. I come from playing Skyrim first so I am wondering is there a way to bash with your shield? How do you do power attacks? I hold RT on my xbox 360 but it doesn't do any more damage than my regular attacks? Also I just can't seem to damage enemies such as bandits and and what not. I literally slice at them with my sword over and over but it hardly takes any of their health off. I don't have the instruction manual since I bought the game used so I can't read up on how everything works in this game. I tried searching for videos on youtube as well but there all about powerleveling, which I don't want to do.

I'm having a hard time

I don't think that you can shield bash in Oblivion like you can in Skyrim. Instead, your power attacks stagger enemies.

From memory, power attacks are done in the same way as they are in Skyrim - hold the attack button. As a PC/PS3 player, I'm not sure how this is done on Xbox - I'd assume from your post you just hold down RT? Like in Skyrim, this is governed by your fatigue, meaning you'll need enough fatigue to perform a power attack.

As for your last point ... All that I can say is turn down the difficulty as needed, and keep your equipment up-to-date. Most of us around here play with the difficulty bar set to about half way - not insanely difficult, but not too easy. As for equipment ... Everything is strictly controlled by your level. As you gain levels, lower-leveled enemies (for example rats) will disappear and be replaced by more powerful enemies, such as minotaurs. Be sure to keep your weapons up-to-date with your level. Bandits dropped leveled weapons, making them a good source of weapons.

Good luck - and welcome to Cyrodiil!

In addition to the previous advice...

Make sure that you keep your equipment in good repair. Weapons and armor degrade in combat, and have to be repaired (either using repair hammers, or paying a smith or fighters guild porter to do it.)

Train your weapon skill. A novice in a particular weapon isn't going to be very effective. In fact, in building a character, you should have included at least one melee skill as a Major, so as to start with that skill around 30 or better. In fact, you don't have a power attack unless the skill is at least 25.

Short swords and daggers are faster (you can hit more often), but they have less reach. Bear that in mind if you're up against an enemy with a two-handed long-reach weapon.

Hey, Sol, Baa’s still got rats in her game and she’ been level 51 for near four years now, and she plays just left of half way. You know, you can’t even kill the things with an arrow when they are standing up. We don’t disagree with your thesis, just digging a digger. Always wondered how you guys keep your coffee in your mug down there, being upside down and all.

Also, make sure you are repairing your weapon. The more worn your weapon, the less damage it will do.

::edit:: Drat, ninja'd by glargg.

This might be of some help: http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Swordplay

Well, for the most part they disappear I haven't seen an imp in far too long, save for the one in the Anvil Mage's Guild.
And clearly we walk on the ceiling! Well, our kangaroos do, and we clearly ride kangaroos

Fun! Thanks for the explanation.