@MashmalloMan has given a good summary, and I agree with his assessment that 1 hand + rune/magic would be one of the more convenient ways to implement it. This has been one of the most discussed options that I have seen.

Although while it does avoid the issue of needing to make heaps of new weapon models for all the motifs, it would still require a massive amount of itemisation change across the game, ie: while the rune/bracelet whatever won't need a physical model designed, it would still need to actually exist as an item, likely for every set in the game, and then have to be added to all the drop tables. Because it needs to be an actual item with a set, trait and enchant, otherwise you would end up with only 11 set pieces instead of the normal 12, as well as losing the offhand trait and enchant vs any other setup. Unless they do something funky like make it an item that simply activates the skill, but also makes your main hand count for two set pieces, double enchant strength and double trait strength.

One other possible method that I haven't seen discussed as much in detail but occasionally gets indirectly suggested would be to extend the direction they have taken with making light and heavy attacks scale with highest resource, that is to make the existing weapon options viable for both magicka and stamina. Currently this is restricted due to the weapons all having fixed damage types, as well as a lack of skills that support it. But there's no reason that we couldn't just have all the existing weapons and then get one or two new skill lines that allow the normally physical weapons to do some form of magicka damage and have magicka skills that require those weapons to be equipped. And vice versa for staves (possibly skills that allow using staves as a melee physical quarterstaff).
This avoids the itemisation issue above, and it also opens up basically any possibility with the current assets. Some challenges/disadvantages I see with this approach would be:
1) how this skill line gets "activated" vs the existing weapon skill lines - could be that it works in parallel with the existing and then has passives that are do something like "while XXX skill is slotted, light and heavy attacks deal <insert alternate damage type> damage" and "while XXX skill is slotted, heavy attacks restore magicka" (and then the converse for stamina as well).
2) Given that it basically opens up any possible combination of weapon and stat, it could be a balancing nightmare. (as opposed to something like 1hand and rune, where you can do much more targeted changes if something is imbalanced)
3) It doesn't have the wow factor of "NEW WEAPON" which would be a first for the game since release, and instead is a rework of existing weapons and some new skills.
Although I do like that this really expands of "play as you want". I mean if it was done well then suddenly: want to be a magdk but use a fire dealing 2H sword? sure. or a magblade with two magic dealing daggers? sure. or a stamden with a staff and whack things? why not. or a magic archer sorcerer? could work. So many possibilities.

MentalxHammer wrote: »

1h mag skill line with passive stating, "you use magicka for break free, dodge, sprint, and bash." Would do wonders for balance

This is a very cool idea, although I'd want the skill line to be hybridized, this should be integral to the design of the weapon skill line, could make for some interesting builds for Stamina builds even. And really.. it can be it's own passive so people can opt out if they like the same way we use to opt out of taunting via heavy attacks with Ice staves.

@ExistingRug61 Great idea as well. My problem with your idea is that I don't think it's worth selling and hard to market. It could just be a quality of life feature in a free update, there wouldn't be any skill line or items needed. Just like light/heavy attack dynamic scaling or abilities like soul trap and destruction staff skills, they could change behavior based on highest resources.

If we're talking about some type of new system for a Chapter release that they would want to sell, the 1h + rune is really the only viable option I can see for sellable and manageable content. Despite that, I'm very skeptical it would ever actually happen, so I'm inclined to believe we would just get some type of quality of life update for dynamic scaling or nothing at all..

If I'm being realistic. Best case scenario is they focus on making a universal skill line like Spell Crafting since it avoids the itemization issues you brought up and can be used by everyone, it also hits that nostolgia mark they aim for with chapter releases and now that we know the next chapter is "Gates of Oblivion".. it kinda makes sense to revisit what made the older elder scrolls games so much fun - spell crafting. It would be very to sell and market to general audiences instead of.. "Hey buy the new chapter so you can use any weapon with any build you want." I mean you can already do that now, it's just not optimal, but 100% viable.

Paraphrasing here, but the quote was similar to something like: "We want every class and build to be viable, but not necessarily optimal." This is why every class lacks something, but can at least get something close from another guild/world/weapon/set/potion. It's intentional by design and forces you to think about your build, but allows anyone to play how they like. With power creep, you can really do anything up to 4 man dlc vet dungeons for end game with any combination of sub optimal sets and skills as long as you understand how to do a rotation and follow mechanics. Overland where most people play this way is a cake walk by design, enemies have 30k hp, yet our solo dps for end game builds can reach 40-50k dps easily.

They've openned the gates a little more by allowing dynamic scaling for light/heavy attacks which is very nice, but there is a whole list of issues they'd have to figure out if weapon skills dynamically scaled their damage type and/or resource. You can already use a 2H Sword or 2H DW as a magicka build and do pretty well with it. Most of the passives provide some form of benefit and I'd like them to make other passives more viable as well.. Eg. Swords work well for +8% damage, but Maces only do physical penetration, Staves only do Spell Penetration, Bow only gives weapon crit, Daggers only give weapon crit. Those basic passives could easily effect both sides of the coin, especially since those stats were suppose to be combined into 1.

The real issue with using the "wrong" weapon right now is how CP drags them down because you miss out on 11% physical damage or 4k penetration, etc, then again, why fix it if CP is suppose to be completely redesigned in 1-2 patches. This may no longer actually be a concern, no one knows.

Sure..The skills don't work well right now, but at the same time thats somewhat to be expected for using a melee weapon on magicka character or vise versa. Luckily for Magicka builds, most of your skills come from the class by design anyway with only the aoe weapon dots as 100% necessary for pve simply because of the enchantment/ability altering back bar set effect.

So TLDR:

1. I can't see ZOS marketing hybridized versions of current weapon skill lines as something you need to purchase, therefore it could just be half-baked in a free update to allow a little more versatility, but not completely destroy the game balance.
2. While I'd love a 1H + Rune weapon and it seems like the only financially viable and marketable option, I still don't really see them going that route because of the itemization issues you listed, even if it avoids Motif problems. We would also need 5 new ability altering sets for the existing content, loot table updates to everything in the game for at least the rune and drop table pools would become even worse by introducing more cannon fodder into the mix.
3. Focussing on some type of universal skill line like Psijic Order in Spell Crafting is in their nature, while also avoiding itemization issues, it hits that nostolgia feel for marketing, is in line with a chapter like Oblivion and anyone can use it so anyone would want to unlock it. More money, easier workload so why not.

But yeah. I'd love for hybrid versions of current weapons and I'd love a new weapon, I just don't see it happening any time soon for this game based on their history.

prepstar wrote: »

*It has probably been written on an occasion or more, but I am just not seeing a thread pertaining to this particular discussion. so if you know of any, please feel free to let me know where I could read upon those threads! Thank you in advance.

Mate, there are plenty of threads discussing potential new skill lines. I've commented in probably at least half a dozen in the last few months.

In summary, ESO requires a new MAGICA - WEAPON skill line. Many ideas surround the ability to duel wield a 1h melee weapon, along side a magica weapon or magica use - battle mage in nature. My preference is for effectively a duel wield magica weapon skill line, (so NEW magica weapons, tome (magic books), rune (think fantasy lore dwarven magic), open hand, wand, etc, there are plenty of options available. This duel wield magica weapon skill line will also allow the selection of a melee weapon in one hand with one of the magica weapons in the other... this will require some thought from the devs but it is certainly possible.

Any talk of stamina based melee weapons/skill trees needs to get in the bin for now, they already have 4 skill lines with 5 varieties of weapon available (6 if you count shields). Magica only has staffs with one offensive skill line.